On Evans: I'm as big an Evans fan as there is, but I don't want to see him in a game until his ball security issue, revealed in pre-season, is remediated. I don't have a clue as to how good he is at pass protection. Akers wasn't much, either, and I saw Evans as potentially a more powerful, decisive runner than Akers.
Both weigh 215 - or did last season. That's also Marshawn Lynch's playing weight. Lynch didn't lack for power at that weight - Akers does. While Evans is not another Lynch, he leans more toward being that kind of a running back. Like you I want to see what Evans has - when he's well-rounded and ready.
Freeman meanwhile can take over short yardage and third down duties, giving Williams a rest. He's big, powerful, and fast enough to make ground-gaining runs, sees creases and holes develop, anticipates and makes powerful quick bursts through them. I look for him to suit up and have a role against Cinncinatti as a short yardage, third down rotational back.
However he does it, McVay needs to call more runs - especially late in games. That said, there has to be a threat for the runner to go more than 1.9 or 3.2 yards per carry - the D has to respect the run. Downfield blocking is a big part of that. The reporter who watched plenty of all-22 confirmed what I thought I was seeing - players were missing assignments and "not there" to get the one or two blocks that would spring a runner after he clears the first and possibly second level of the defense.
It's not a simple issue. It has many facets. The holes have to be there. If not, the runner needs
oomph enough to plow through what there is and get some yardage anyway. Williams shows a surprising ability to squirt through where Freeman will burst through or plow through. When the runner gets through, the blocking downfield has to be there.
The playcaller has to be consistent and persistent, waiting for the running game to develop. A good running game fatigues the defense and that shows later in the game.Very often Lynch didn't get uncorked for big gains until after the half. When he did, Russell Wilson became more effective. Count the players in the box. A defense that has to respect the run late in the game and at the same time play against the pass is in trouble.
As to Tomlinson, I want to see him too. Is there a matchup question against bigger receivers? Going into Cincy, has Spoon fully recovered from the cheap shot, or will his time be split, allowing Tomlinson to see more snaps? Kendrick played well against Seattle - except when he didn't. Is McVay weighing Tomlinson's rookie-isms and proclivity for hot-headedness against Kendrick's known quantities?
In the past coach McVay has shown a real reluctance to play rookies. He's over that this year, so my guess is there are things we're not seeing that the Lake/Pleasant/Morris/McVay brain trust is that keeps Tomlinson off the field.
McVays overriding philosophy is to put the players in who give the team the best chance to win - not to see how they'll do. It seems to be working - and with that in mind I'll curb my impatience to see Evans or Tomlinson on the field.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2023 08:36AM by mtramfan.
