Running up the middle FUTILITY

i feel u. i don't understand the sense of this ish either :/

Originally posted by HearstFan:
I understand "running the ball to keep the defense honest" - but our philosophy of running up the middle is an exercise in futility -- it doesn't work. Here is the breakdown from the Rams game by yards per run (not counting overtime):

Left End -- LT -- LG -- C -- RG -- RT -- Right End
7 +3 +2* 0 0 +3 -2
+23 +9 0 0 +4 -1
+1 +5
+1
+2
-3
+2

19 Runs
37% up the middle for 7 total yards, 1 yard average
11% LG, 2 yards, 1 yard average
5% RG, 0 yards
11% LT, 12 yards, 6 yard average
16% LE, 31 yards, 10 yard average
11% RT, 7 yards, 3.5 average
11% RE, -3 yards, -1.5 average

"Up the Middle" LG-C-RG totals:
53% of runs, 9 yards, .9 yrd average

I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO RUN UP THE MIDDLE 53% of the time for a 1 yards average gain to keep the defense honest!!!

I will give them credit (and Staley and Wragge) -- when they finally woke up realized the LE runs worked, they went to it in Overtime and ran 3 times there. Ironically, they also ran 2 times up the middle, for 6 yards each! in overtime.

I imagine watchingGore run into the backs of his lineman in a clogged up middle is just as frustrating to all the fans. What is the world are the coaches watching or trying to achieve!

We're actually 17th in the NFL running between the guards. And we do it 70% of the time. 6th in the NFL in Adjusted Line Yards between the Guards. That's impressive considering we've never had a 4th quarter where we're running the clock out...

Thanks for posting all of the stats. I have been begging for the niners to run plays to the outside all season. With Gore and Westbrook this is a possibility. The added value is the big d linemen have to run side line to side line, this tires them out, helping in pass protection as their legs are not as fresh.

I loved the play calling. It is not niners topic, but the Patriots know they can not out man handle the steelers. They throw the ball, and use multiple te sets. this frustrates the steelers defense.

Yesterdays game plan made ithard on the rams defense. changing up the plays is what is needed. when the game first started I told my sone that this will be a run up the middle to gore. the niners faked it to gore and hit vd for like a 30 yard game. whoo hoo