Running DD north and south?

[Grid]

You notice that almost all of DDs running plays were right up the gut? is that because he was still injured and couldnt cut back?

He was making big yards when we would move the whole line one direction and let DD cut into whatever hole he wanted to.. but this time we just kept giving it too him and expecting him to run it right up the middle.

 

[midknight]

I'm telling you.. it's Chris Palmer.. DD has some success, and palmer decides to feed it to him, and run himup the middle.. total lack of creativity on Palmer's part, especially when he does that on 3rd and 2...

 

[midknight]

while i understand that on 3rd and 2, a run is the right call.. i disagree that it's the right call after you've done it over and over and over and over.. run DD up the middle, i mean... and i gotta say.. would it hurt to throw it to the flats? i mean, the entire d-line was keying on DD, why not throw it to the FB in the flats?

 

[Grid]

my point was that DD had greater success when we used him as a cutback runner.. he would follow the line and then cut back through a hole and make big yardage.. but in todays game we didnt do that, we just gave him the ball and ran it up the middle.

our running game today looked more like our running game from last year.

 

[midknight]

true Grid.. running game today looked like an ugly flashback to last year.. it think in that respect.. maybe it was the O-line not being able to move the D-line of Minnesota...

 

[JustBonee]

I liked DD a lot last year, but so far this year I don't see him having the same success. He is used way too much, with zero results. Rethink all that DD running, coaching staff, and get a new plan.
And Wells is rewarded with being benched after his good game last week. I don't get it. Spread that ball around.

Carr to Johnson seems to work just fine, and also to the other WRs.
If they would have let the ball fly in the first half, maybe we wouldn't have been fighting to play catch up!
The talent on the team is being suffocated. They can't move forward if poor coaching decisions are holding them back.

 

[Panther5407]

I think DD fighitng for the starting spot last year was the reason he played so well. He would get the ball and just hit the hole. Now, he gets the ball and starts to dance, you can go watch him in tapes(if you have them) but thats what alot of people have noticed about him. Plain and simple, DD just hit the hole and don't dance and slow yourself down.

 

[JustBonee]

Yeah, no dancing needed. It's puzzling after watching Moore, the 4th string rookie for the Vikings get 92 yards on the ground & 90 yards in receptions... it shows Domanick still has a long way to go to prove himself.

 

[TexanBacker93]

The one I always question is common from a lot of coaches and a lot of teams. 3rd and short and they run a sweep. On 3rd down the potential for breaking a big run outside is outweighed by the defense looking for the run. I rarely see a first down in those situations. I'm a believer that on 3rd and 2 or less if you can't run it up the gut and get the 1st down...you don't deserve it. Or.....how about this for an idea....run a play action and pass to Miller or Bruener in the flats or right behind the Mike's that just committed to the play fake.

 

[jr0ck]

And Wells is rewarded with being benched after his good game last week. I don't get it. Spread that ball around.

well IMO he did his job as a back up and did what the team needed him to do against the raiders. DD has earned his spot and it's going to take more than a few "bad" outings for it too be taken. i think it's good the coaches are sticking to their guy for now, but if DD doesn't start to show glimses of last year in the next couple games(3 to 4) i can understand a better distribution of the carries.

maybe it was the O-line not being able to move the D-line

i think this is at least as much of the problem as the play calling/DD's choice of "running style". i also agree with the idea that if aint broke, don't fix it. last year DD ran for 1000+yds w/out zone blocking, and although it sounds good and looked pretty good in the pre-season, something isnt working right now. maybe im optimistic and a little biased, but i do think DD has shown he can be a feature back, we just need some consitency on the o-line and a revised game plan.

 

[Corrosion]

i mean, the entire d-line was keying on DD, why not throw it to the FB in the flats?

How about a lil Play Action and throw it DOWNFIELD ! (See the connection between Culpepper and Moss on 3rd and 1 ..... ((All this with the threat of a 4th strind RB making the safety bite and a very good corner getting burned )).....SIX )

The problem is the gameplan , and the mindset of the coaches , they are content to just keep the game close and have a chance to win late . That was all good last year and in year One BUT not this season . With the offensive weapons the Texans have they should be trying to score at every opportunity (especially since the D cant seem to stop anyone on 3rd down (with the exception of Minnesota in the second half ) . You build a gameplan around your players , not your players around the gameplan .

In respect to DD's overall performance this season , i think a lot of his troubles can be attributed to injury and lack of Practice / Training Camp time . Last season after missing a large portion of time early he didnt crack the line-up until week 6 , essentially giving him a second training camp to prepare hinself for the remainder of the season . That being said , i do think he is a Good RB although not one which can be ridden all season , for the Texans to be successful it will take contributions form others in the running game , IE J. Wells , Tony Hollings both should see significant playing time (Wells has earned it) . I do expect to see DD's numbers get better as the season wears on .... they arent very good right now , 70 carry's , 208 yards , 3.0 ypc , 3 TD and 2 FUMBLES are far short of what he is capable of if healthy . Historicly players who miss large portions of training camp dont start the season well . The good side here is that he may be fresh down the streach and IF the Texans still have play-off hopes can have his best days late in the season .


just my

 

[JustBonee]

.. DD has earned his spot and it's going to take more than a few "bad" outings for it too be taken. i think it's good the coaches are sticking to their guy for now ....

That's the problem.
Since there are only 16 games in the season, how can they afford to wait until week 12 to correct what is wrong NOW.

 

[HJam72]

I agree with a lot of what's being said about the coaches, but I just want to talk about DD right now. Someone basically said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I think if DD were a car right now, he'd be way overheated. He's taken us a long way, but if you wait 'till he proves that it's broke, we're going to continue losing in mass. Wells is ready, or at the very least deserves more opportunity to prove that he is. I can't believe they didn't use RBBC in this game, like they said they would. That's right isn't it (I didn't get it here--thanks FOX)? I KNOW I read somewhere that DD was the only RB to get a rush in the game. Of course, the passing game is their strong suit now, anyway. Those coaches don't know who to play at that position and it's time for them to just admit it and let the players decide who's better right now. I don't think anybody really knows who's the best right now, but I know that Wells has done the best this year. When we finish this season, it's gonna be THIS YEAR that counts.