This Will Improve

I'm not sure about more explosive runs with the 2 backs we have, but I sure expect more ypc and more td's rushing in the red zone.

Mason was 19th in explosive runs (phrasing) last year with 23. I think we’re going to see more 10+ yard chunks coming if not 25+ gallops. Mason is top 5 in guys I want to watch this season.

It will improve, but maybe not as much as we think. With terrific red zone route runners in Addison and Jefferson, and a big target in Hockenson, I think we'll still pass the ball a lot in the red zone. Here's a hot take: JJ McCarthy will have more rushing TDs than Aaron Jones.

the Vikings short yardage game was awful last year.

Mason played in the same system in San Fran. He's gonna absolutely kill it in Minnesota!

To be honest, we should absolutely see more explosive running plays than last year, because the bar is so low and improving our OLine should help with that. I also think there will be a handful of those young QB scrambles that might bump the number up. I do think we are hindered by our play designs, our lack of desire to call run plays, and probably JJM being a first time starter. If JJM can’t keep defenses honest, it will be hard to get big explosive plays in the running game. I kind of think we’re improving the running game by talent acquisition alone, and think we’ll get more of those 5-10 yard runs that you might get when you have enough talent to run simple plays well, but I don’t see us getting those runs where the play design fools the defense and a guy makes one guy miss and is running for 30 yards.

medaille wrote:
To be honest, we should absolutely see more explosive running plays than last year, because the bar is so low and improving our OLine should help with that.  I also think there will be a handful of those young QB scrambles that might bump the number up.  I do think we are hindered by our play designs, our lack of desire to call run plays, and probably JJM being a first time starter.  If JJM can’t keep defenses honest, it will be hard to get big explosive plays in the running game.  I kind of think we’re improving the running game by talent acquisition alone, and think we’ll get more of those 5-10 yard runs that you might get when you have enough talent to run simple plays well, but I don’t see us getting those runs where the play design fools the defense and a guy makes one guy miss and is running for 30 yards.

Agreed on the bar to clear being so low. If this team could establish a short yardage run game-- "we need 2-3 yards on this down"-- to even keep defenses honest it will go a long way. Last year team's were just sitting on the pass in these situations because our run game was so bad. And we'd still pass it.

IOL was the team's biggest weakness last year, so I'm excited the powers that be made it the top priority in the offseason.

For this to change KOC has to fight the urge to revert to his prior tendencies. Historically when he is the guy calling plays he was always in the lower thirx of the league for rushing attempts.

May take a few games for all the new guys to gel. He has to be committed to the run so they can get into a rhythm. Rather than immediately abandoning the run at first sight of struggle.