Omar Kelly: Dolphins’ commitment to run is part of team’s resurgence

Who doesn’t want to see dynamic offensive plays, jaw-dropping passes and massive runs?

Football fans crave that type of entertainment, plays that produce chunk yards and deliver points and end-zone celebrations.

But NFL teams can and do win games — even playoff matches — with a consistent diet of 4-yard runs.

Maybe even 3-yard runs if the third-down execution is sharp.

Even though we’re in a pass-happy era of football, pounding the ball, running the rock still wins games, especially in December and January, when teams are sometimes forced to change their styles of play because of the winter weather.

Add up those 4-yard runs and defenses are usually on fumes when the fourth quarter arrives. That’s part of the reason every defense’s number one priority is usually to stop the opposition’s run game.

Defenders can pin their ears back and hunt quarterbacks when offensive balance doesn’t exist. Miami made that mistake early, and have become diligent about altering the team’s approach the past few weeks.

Before Miami’s four-game winning streak started, only the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers threw more passes than the Dolphins, which was crazy considering the approach wasn’t working. Miami’s coaches openly admitted the offense was too one-dimensional, and out of balance, and stressed that those two issues created a nightmare from a play-calling standpoint.

During the past month the Dolphins have juiced up the run game, attempting 29.8 rushes per game, which exceeds the NFL average (26.3), and is 10 more carries per game than what the Dolphins had called in the previous month.

And even through the team’s yards-per-carry average isn’t impressive (3.4, which is second-to-last), the commitment to the ground game has been consistent, and Miami’s coming off its second straight 100-yard rushing performance.

“[Running the ball] opens up the offense for us, keeps us out of passing situations,” said Jesse Davis, the Dolphins’ starting right tackle. “[Defenses] have to play both sides of the ball and not just think about pass rushing.”

That’s why run games matter. They force opposing defenses to play a team honestly. It helps to create more favorable down-and-distance situations.

Of the 13 teams that average more than 115 rushing yards per game, only Jacksonville (115.1) isn’t in the hunt for a division title, and/or a playoff berth.

The NFL averages 4.28 yards per carry, and 112 rushing yards per game. There are 14 teams that average 4.3 yards per carry or better, and of those teams only three — the Lions, Jaguars and Eagles — possess losing records heading into this week’s games.

“For offensive linemen it’s huge on us. It’s a pride thing too,” Davis said when asked about establishing a rushing attack. “We want to run the ball. We want to get first downs. We want to convert our short yardage [plays].”

Run the ball effectively and your team might be able to own time of possession, and as a byproduct the defense might not have to chug their Gatorade before getting back on the field after a short offensive possession.

The Dolphins rank second-to-last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (80.2), and yards per attempt (3.4). Only the Houston Texans are worse.

Miami ranks 23rd in rushing attempts per game, averaging 23.8 attempts per game. But all those averages have drastically improved in recently weeks, and the balance created has been catalyst for that improvement.

Running isn’t sexy, but it’s a fundamental part of football.

And it is obviously the foundation of the run-pass-option (RPO) offense, which the Dolphins use as their base.

“[Running] allows you to control time of possession, which we’ve done the last month. We’ve been able to be efficient on third downs. We’re doing well there. If you can get a manageable third down then it makes your job a little easier as a passer,” said co-offensive coordinator George Godsey, who serves as Miami’s offensive play-caller. “Everybody knows the ball is probably going to be thrown on third down, especially in certain distances. Being able to beat the rush with the throw and still be able to get the first-down yardage is very important.

“In order to get that manageable throw, you need to get positive plays on first and second down running. They don’t always need to be chunk [runs]. For us to stay ahead of the down and distance has really been golden.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/31gn4V6