Here's a thought. It's either incredibly dumb or unbelievably brilliant. I haven't decided which yet. Sanchez was pretty outstanding today as we all know, completing 80% of his 15 passes for a pretty solid YPA of 12.1. Whoever we play next week is going to gameplanning for our running attack. That's our identity that's who we are...But if we take a risk and come out throwing for like first two drives? Just a wide open, aggressive passing attack. If it's a disaster, we switch back the running game for what we've always done. I think this tactic is something to consider because whoever we play next week is, simply, a really really good team. The element of surprise could really help us get an edge, and if Sanchez is up to it--based on today, he is--Isn't it worth a shot?
No, running the ball has gotten us to the playoffs and into the 2nd round of the playoffs, use the running game to set up the passing game.
Or we could realize that we played the #7 rushing defense in the league today and will either face #20 or #24 next week...and keep pounding it. Both of our potential opponents next week have better pass defenses than run defenses, and we'll take full advantage in the same way. Nevermind the fact that high percentage throws and heavy doses of the run both serve to sustain drives and keep our offense on the field...and the opposing offense OFF the field. Or are we not concerned with the big play abilities of Peyton Manning or Philip Rivers if we give them ample opportunity?
the pass was effective because we are great at the run and they needed to load the box. Running to set up the pass is our system. We don't have Peyton Manning and no reason to try and be him. Ball control, clock control, win. Bad idea. I'll go with incredibly dumb.
You don't seem to be accounting for the fact the line will be absolutely stacked. They will be chomping at the bit for the run after preparing for it all week at the start of the game. I respect the consensus though. If this many people think it's dumb, it's probably dumb. But I wanted to throw it out there (no pun intended).
they stacked the line today, and it resulted in sanchez making limited, but very high percentage throws. that needs to be the gameplan next week, and i assume it will.
The line was stacked all day today and we rushed it for 171 yards, the good old saying rings true, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Keep on pounding the rock.
So did Cincy. Shawne Merriman said earlier this season that he was pissed he didn't get a chance for any sacks because teams were just able to run the ball down the Chargers' throats. Early in the season, teams were on pace to make SD the most rushed on team in the NFL. Everybody ran on SD early and often. What changed? They started blowing out their opponents and taking the run out of the game. They win by luring teams into a shoot out. You can't compete with them that way. Churning the clock, keeping their offense off the field, THAT is how you beat them. Stacking the box has had NO effect on the Chargers' defensive success this season. You can run on them no matter what, and we should.
If we play SD I'll cosign your post. But if we play Indy, it's not like we lit them up last week: We averaged 4.6 yards a carry and that was against some of their back-ups in the second half.
I can't believe this is even a question. Weren't we winning in the first half of the year when this was our gameplan? Weren't we losing in the middle of the season when we started letting sanchez throw more because we thought he was already the sanchize! The jets have shown us enough times that the only way for them to win in the 2009-2010 season is to run the ball (splitting carries between your 1 and 2). I say one and two because right now its shonn green before it was leon (hope his leg heals well). This is not a knock on Sanchez, he's been great late, but he still is the rookie we know he is.
If we are to win the Super Bowl, chances are Sanchez will eventually have to air it out and be effective. We should stick to the run unless we get down 2 scores late in the 2nd half
Sanchez had a good game for one reason. We did not ask him to do much. We pounded it down there throats and picked our spots down field. This can be the only game plan if we are to stay succesful. Just for the record I hope we play the bolts next week. I think we match up much better against them.
There is no doubt we will have to throw more against Indy or San Diego. We will be playing in warm weather and going against potent offenses. Running will only work for so long..all of that said I hope we are playing San Diego.
We are a running team. We could throw the ball since Defenses are keying on the run. However one problem is that Edwards can't catch the ball and Sanchez is prone to interceptions. Thus its seems wiser to run the rock, run play action and pound the rock some more. It doesn't seem that too many defenses can stop our OL at this point.
