Foster/Rice Mutual Admiration Society

[CloakNNNdagger]

Dueling running backs Rice and Foster Share a Mutual Admiration

Whenever Ravens running back Ray Rice carries the football or catches passes Sunday, Arian Foster intends to keep a close watch.

And it's not because the Houston Texans' star is required to observe his counterpart when he's on the sideline at Reliant Stadium. It's because Foster simply wants to.

He would hate to miss a glimpse of a relatively rare breed in NFL circles: a fellow cutting-edge, all-purpose runner.
Whenever Ravens running back Ray Rice carries the football or catches passes Sunday, Arian Foster intends to keep a close watch.

"I think me and Arian and a few other guys, Matt Forte, I just think that we evolve with the change," Rice said. "The change is being the pass-first league. Arian Foster can catch just as good as he can run, but obviously we all get paid to run the ball. We get paid to make plays as well. I just think the way he catches the ball sets him aside from other backs. You got to know where he’s at all times.

“Sometimes it’s our job to be a decoy. Those are not the stats that get talked about, but if you know where Arian Foster is all the time and he runs a swing route and he takes a linebacker out, the window opens up for Matt Schaub to make a throw. It’s the same over here with me with Joe Flacco. We got to be able to catch just as good as we can run.”

Foster has been less of a factor in the passing game this season, with only 11 receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown, but he's caught 138 career passes for 1,386 yards and five touchdowns.

"He can do both, that's what makes him difficult," Ravens linebacker Albert McClellan said. "And he's fast. Everybody knows he's a one-cut guy. So it's not like he's dancing or trying to outrun the edge. He's pretty much just sticking it in there and making one cut."


"Ray's obviously one of the best in the game today," said Foster, who like Rice is a two-time Pro Bowl selection. "I have a lot of respect for him. He's one of those guys I look forward to watching every Sunday. I'm a fan of him."

 

[Ryan]

We've hardly used Foster in the passing game this year and i'm not really sure why.

 

[Hervoyel]

We've hardly used Foster in the passing game this year and i'm not really sure why.

That's something that only the smartest guy in the room could tell us and he ain't talking.

 

[ThaShark316]

Seems like when we call a screen, it's getting blown up.

Gotta mask it better/sell it better, I'd say.

 

[CloakNNNdagger]

You have to have an effective coordinated Oline to run screen passes ......if the Dline is getting deep penetration every play they won't work for beans.

Then again, why go the the trouble of throwing an ineffective screen pass when you can just go back and fire a long incomplete pass into double coverage.

 

[76Texan]

C'est la vie!

You run a lot of screen passes to Foster, some fans complain that AJ and KW are just a shell of themselves.

At some point in the past, some fans wonder what happened to OD?

Now that OD got some, and KW got some, some fans wonder what happens to the screen passes to Foster.

It goes round and round.

And when we passes "too much", some wonder why we don't run the ball more.

And so round and round we go!

 

[DaTruthExplodes]

We've hardly used Foster in the passing game this year and i'm not really sure why.

we hardly ever use it despite the fact that it was successful and we have a talented running back to use it. We have a lot of weapons that is always being under utilized like keyshawn martin, lestar jean, ben tate and james casey.

They could be doing sooo much more if given the reps, but you know kubiak is a offensive guru and im just a poster on texantalk.....

 

[76Texan]

we hardly ever use it despite the fact that it was successful and we have a talented running back to use it. We have a lot of weapons that is always being under utilized like keyshawn martin, lestar jean, ben tate and james casey.

They could be doing sooo much more if given the reps, but you know kubiak is a offensive guru and im just a poster on texantalk.....

So how many times do you think we need to run Foster per game?
How many times do we need to set him up for a screen pass?
How many times should we use KMart, Jean, Tate, and Casey.

Put down some numbers, and let's decide to cut AJ, Walter, OD, Graham, Posey, and the rest.

I understand that your purpose here is to stir the pot, but at least make it somehow valid.:mariopalm:

 

[76Texan]

we hardly ever use it despite the fact that it was successful and we have a talented running back to use it. We have a lot of weapons that is always being under utilized like keyshawn martin, lestar jean, ben tate and james casey.

They could be doing sooo much more if given the reps, but you know kubiak is a offensive guru and im just a poster on texantalk.....

But I gather you're right!

Let's run Foster 30 times a game, throw him 10 screen passes.
Run tate 15 times, throw him 5 screen pases.
Let's target KMart 10 times, Jean 10 times, Casey 10 times.
And that will be more than the number of offensive plays we can afford.

But at least we can cut all the rest, from AJ to KW, Posey, Graham, Forsett, etc.
Hell, we don't even need Schaub because TJ can do all that.

Man, that would save a lot of money.

Hell, we can even cut the OC, the HC, the DC and everybody else, too.
We don't even need the owner, F it, who needs him.

 

[DaTruthExplodes]

So how many times do you think we need to run Foster per game?
How many times do we need to set him up for a screen pass?
How many times should we use KMart, Jean, Tate, and Casey.

Put down some numbers, and let's decide to cut AJ, Walter, OD, Graham, Posey, and the rest.

I understand that your purpose here is to stir the pot, but at least make it somehow valid.:mariopalm:

But I gather you're right!

Let's run Foster 30 times a game, throw him 10 screen passes.
Run tate 15 times, throw him 5 screen pases.
Let's target KMart 10 times, Jean 10 times, Casey 10 times.
And that will be more than the number of offensive plays we can afford.

But at least we can cut all the rest, from AJ to KW, Posey, Graham, Forsett, etc.
Hell, we don't even need Schaub because TJ can do all that.

Man, that would save a lot of money.

Hell, we can even cut the OC, the HC, the DC and everybody else, too.
We don't even need the owner, F it, who needs him.

I never said run foster 30x. In fact i think he is being over used. Kubiak uses him to run out the clock instead of using tate or forsett and kubiak should use foster for more meaningful runs, not throw away runs.

Casey needs to be targeted more out of the full back position. Before ben tate got injured, he could barely get any reps despite the texans having TOP advantages. TAte would have easily rushed for 1k last year if he had gotten more reps. He was severely underused.

Martin and Jean need to be incorporated more into the passing game. Walter has not produce as a #2 wr and i dont want to hear about "well he's a great blocker" as if the other two cant block for sh*t. Its not like we run a lot of HB toss edge runs. Most of our runs are between the tackle.

stop trying to go to extremes to try to disprove a dissenting opinion.

Its pathetic.

 

[76Texan]

Its not like we run a lot of HB toss edge runs. Most of our runs are between the tackle.

OK, l'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

We're going point by point.

On this one, I don't know what your point is; however, I still need to point out that:

1. In a graphic shown during the Packs game, we've been running the hell out of the edge as compared to other teams for a few years now.

2. According to FootballOutsiders, we also run off tackle a heck of a whole lot more than last year.

Now you need to go back and look at those things because I don't really need to show you.
If you know me around here, I always back up what I say.

I'd like for you to back up a little of what you're claiming if we're going to continue.

 

[76Texan]

Now, the second point is that Foster had 149 carries and 11 catches this year. 160/6= 26.67

Last year, in 13 games, he had 278 carries and 58 catches for a total of 336 touches.

336/13 = 25.85

Foster is getting more touches this year than last, what are complaining about?

 

[76Texan]

And what does it matter who runs out the clock when it's like take the ball and go down?

And it's not like Tate had proved himself not to drop the rock on a little more meaningfull occasion, and he's not healthy anyway.

And it's not like we don't have Forsett in there either.

There's also the delicacy about having a guy in there just to end the game.
How do you think you can build their confidence?

You talk like you have chess pieces in your hands and you can maneuver them anywhere you want; well, this chess game isn't that simple.

 

[76Texan]

Now after we're done with who runs out the clock, your next point is we should target Casey more out of the backfield (keeping in mind that you also want to target Foster out of the backfield), that definitely means that OD and KW and AJ need to run more decoy routes.

So what the hell do we have to pay all those guys that much money for?

You might as well fire Kubiak and his OC on the spot! The GM, too!

And it's not happening.

 

[kiwitexansfan]

We've hardly used Foster in the passing game this year and i'm not really sure why.

I think we've decided to find out just how durable he is by running him into the ground to see just where his breaking point is, then we will know what not to do for the rest of his career.

 

[Ryan]

I think we've decided to find out just how durable he is by running him into the ground to see just where his breaking point is, then we will know what not to do for the rest of his career.

Not suggesting more receptions in addition to his already 25+ carry average. I'd rather him get more chances in space and reduce the big hits over the middle.

 

[Corrosion]

I had Rice as my top rated back in that draft class .... Dude is special.

 

[Playoffs]

I understand that your purpose here is to stir the pot, but at least make it somehow valid.

Hell, we can even cut the OC, the HC, the DC and everybody else, too.
We don't even need the owner, F it, who needs him.

We're going point by point...

Now, the second point is..

And what does it matter...

Now after we're done...

 

[Texan_Bill]

We've hardly used Foster in the passing game this year and i'm not really sure why.

I have a theory... With Foster being a great blocking back on pass plays coupled with a revamped right side of the line, maybe he's being asked to stay in for blocking more than in the past. Just a thought.