What happened to it?
Let's look at each game so far.
Game 1: Pittsburgh 192 yards 17th ranked Rush D
Game 2: New Orleans 122 yards 11th ranked RD
Game 3: Baltimore 85 yards 7th ranked RD
Game 4: Tennessee 176 yards 22nd ranked RD
Game 5: Pittsburgh 192 yards 17th ranked RD
Game 6: Jacksonville 69 yards 14th ranked RD
Game 7: Oakland 39 yards 29th ranked RD
Over 120 yards in each of our first 4/5 games. Over 175 yards in 3 of those games. Only 85 yards against Baltimore, but they have the highest ranked rush defense we have faced.
After the second game against Pittsburgh:
Only 69 yards against Jacksonville. Jacksonville has a decent rush defense, but still a considerable drop-off.
Today was rock bottom. Only 39 yards against one of the league's worst at home.
Possible explanations:
1) Alex Mack is actually Bruce Banner and becomes the Hulk on game days. Losing Mack was huge and it would certainly have an impact. But this large?
2) Teams have caught on and have started prepping for the run. Making Hoyer throw the ball more. Our weapons aren't that good. Hoyer isn't exactly Peyton Manning and here we are?
3) We waived starting FB Ray Agnew. He played against Jacksonville but was waived after. Somewhere he is smiling because we looked even worse without him.
4) Chemistry issues? Tate's return has certainly clogged up the back-field. West was inactive for a game. Crowell barely played today. Has the rhythm been disrupted?
What do you think the biggest factors are? How can they be corrected?
Let's look at each game so far.
Game 1: Pittsburgh 192 yards 17th ranked Rush D
Game 2: New Orleans 122 yards 11th ranked RD
Game 3: Baltimore 85 yards 7th ranked RD
Game 4: Tennessee 176 yards 22nd ranked RD
Game 5: Pittsburgh 192 yards 17th ranked RD
Game 6: Jacksonville 69 yards 14th ranked RD
Game 7: Oakland 39 yards 29th ranked RD
Over 120 yards in each of our first 4/5 games. Over 175 yards in 3 of those games. Only 85 yards against Baltimore, but they have the highest ranked rush defense we have faced.
After the second game against Pittsburgh:
Only 69 yards against Jacksonville. Jacksonville has a decent rush defense, but still a considerable drop-off.
Today was rock bottom. Only 39 yards against one of the league's worst at home.
Possible explanations:
1) Alex Mack is actually Bruce Banner and becomes the Hulk on game days. Losing Mack was huge and it would certainly have an impact. But this large?
2) Teams have caught on and have started prepping for the run. Making Hoyer throw the ball more. Our weapons aren't that good. Hoyer isn't exactly Peyton Manning and here we are?
3) We waived starting FB Ray Agnew. He played against Jacksonville but was waived after. Somewhere he is smiling because we looked even worse without him.
4) Chemistry issues? Tate's return has certainly clogged up the back-field. West was inactive for a game. Crowell barely played today. Has the rhythm been disrupted?
What do you think the biggest factors are? How can they be corrected?