The Running Backs, Wide Receivers and other offensive questionmarks...

[The BIGSTUD]

He didn't fumble tonight so maybe he fixed it and didn't need to use Tiki's method.

[reese125]

I mean did you really want us to make you feel better or were you really again just stating your displeasure with the running situation with tossing in a couple of minor strengths to not be a total cynic?

Its pretty apparent what you see is what you get from the other RB's, with the exception of Westbrook having a better year than last

feel better 

[rjs246]

I want someone to explain to me how this running game is going to be effective. I don't see it. I see the individual strengths of the players listed, but they don't add up to a successful running attack to me.

[The BIGSTUD]

Westbrook will get like 850 rushing. Moats will get like 650, and we'll fill in the rest with whatever. That's like over 1500 yards including a 3rd back combined.

ZING!

[General_Failure]

I want someone to explain to me how this running game is going to be effective. I don't see it. I see the individual strengths of the players listed, but they don't add up to a successful running attack to me.

Every back except Buckhalter appears capable of running behind this O line. So, it doesn't really matter who's back there as long as they can cut back and hold on to the ball.

[reese125]

I want someone to explain to me how this running game is going to be effective. I don't see it. I see the individual strengths of the players listed, but they don't add up to a successful running attack to me.

Every back except Buckhalter appears capable of running behind this O line. So, it doesn't really matter who's back there as long as they can cut back and hold on to the ball.

diagree wholeheartedly

[reese125]

I want someone to explain to me how this running game is going to be effective. I don't see it. I see the individual strengths of the players listed, but they don't add up to a successful running attack to me.

well your spot on my friend. Westbrook and the consistent progress of the OL is your answer.

Its the same as the other successful running teams in the NFL. Not comparing either if these RB's to Westbrook: Ladanian has himself, LJ has himself and Alexander has himself, Steven Jackson same thing, Dunn has Duckett with the only exception in a 1-2 change of pace punch (which we dont have)--all with the succesful blocking of the OL.

You dont need multiple RB's to be successful. All RB's have certain strenghts, but you have to have established skill with it. Westbrooks skill overshadows all of the Eagles RB's. Now if he gets hurt, consider our running game piss poor...bottom line

[rjs246]

I want someone to explain to me how this running game is going to be effective. I don't see it. I see the individual strengths of the players listed, but they don't add up to a successful running attack to me.

Every back except Buckhalter appears capable of running behind this O line. So, it doesn't really matter who's back there as long as they can cut back and hold on to the ball.

Yeah I can't say I actually agree with that. Westbrook seems capable of running behind this line so far in the preseason. Other than that, no one seems to have broken through in the slightest.

[The BIGSTUD]

If you really want an optimistic view for the backs look at the 2003 backs. Westbrook then was very successful, as were Duce and Buck. Now Buck isn't what he was then, and Duce isn't here, but Moats has more big play ability than either of those, and it still remains to be seen if we'll even sign or trade for a RB. So you sacrifice a little stability for more big play ability, and this offensive line is better than 2003's so we should have bigger holes.

[General_Failure]

I want someone to explain to me how this running game is going to be effective. I don't see it. I see the individual strengths of the players listed, but they don't add up to a successful running attack to me.

Every back except Buckhalter appears capable of running behind this O line. So, it doesn't really matter who's back there as long as they can cut back and hold on to the ball.

Yeah I can't say I actually agree with that. Westbrook seems capable of running behind this line so far in the preseason. Other than that, no one seems to have broken through in the slightest.

Reno had a couple of good runs tonight. Marty Johnson has done well with the backups. Mahe, Perry, Westbrook, and Johnson all have at least one carry over ten yards. The blocking is there even with roulette wheel of RBs, FBs, and pass-catching TEs.

[The BIGSTUD]

Moats didn't look good tonight, but he had no blocking. He played very well last year when he got on the field. I don't get all this negativity with Moats all of a sudden. He bangs up his knee in camp and has one fumble, and all of a sudden he's a bum.

His fumble problems aren't THAT bad. At least last year they weren't. He fumbles a few times here and there, but he's no Perry from the Oakland game.

[rjs246]

You see, the problem I see with the 2003 comparison is that Westbrook is still Westbrook but we have NO IDEA what the other backs have to offer.

Buckhalter might have something left in the tank, but who's going to depend on that? He's definitely not the same Buckhalter that we had in 2003.
Duce was a great blocker, a great receiver and an adequate runner. Moats, we think, is the complete opposite. Can't block, can't catch, but has homerun potential.

If there was some sort of 3-headed monster this year, it would be WAY different than 2003 and far less consistent.

[The BIGSTUD]

Moats didn't impress you last season? He came in after having trouble learning the offense and busted like 2 or 3 50 yard runs in a span of 2 games. He settled down a bit after, but he shows flashes of big play ability. Whether he can consistently do it remains to be seen, but again, he didn't run behind the first team line tonight.

Moats is very fast. I don't think he'll have much trouble making plays.

[Munson]

Moats has seemed to work on his catching abilities. But after Westbrook, do we really need any of the other guys to be better then average at catching the ball?

Moats need to learn how to hit hte cut back lanes like Westbrook (and Mahe so far in pre season), so that his speed will be used to its full potential. Other the nthat, he does pound the ball up in there, and behind our first line he should do okay with that. He did a good job with it last year, playing with some scrubs on offense.

Buckhalter didn't do okay with pounding it in there tonight, but lets give him more then one pre-season game before we decide. He's had a good camp so far. Lets see how he performs in the next game. If he sucks it up again behind the first line, I think we can say he's effectively done. He doesn't have the knees to hit the cut back lanes, so if his power isn't working, he's screwed.

Basically I think you undervalue/underappreciate what Westbrook brings to the table and overvalue your view of him as "injury prone". If you weren't so stuck on his apparent proneness to injury, you'd love our RB's.

Moats is like Westbrook, but a better runner then a pass catcher. You've only seen him in one pre-season game this year, and he was behind the 2nd/3rd team o-line

It will be okay, rjs. I promise.

[Feva]

One thing  to remember with Buck is that it's tough to come down on him alone for his running tonight because the O-line was shtein for opening holes for him to run through.  I honestly couldn't see anyone, including Westbrook, doing much with the lack of opportunities that the O-line produced.