The Matter of Eddie Lacy

http://blogs.discovermagazine....ilemma/#.VCnwvhZ4WSo

 

"In short, pigeons succeed because they don’t over-think the problem. It’s telling that among humans, it’s the youngest students who do best at this puzzle. Eighth graders are actually more likely to work out the benefits of switching than older and supposedly wiser university students. Education, it seems, actually worsens our performance at the Monty Hall Dilemma."

Lacy and the running game will get going. I am far less worried about this then say, our run defense.

 

Teams will start blitzing Rodgers again. MM spoke today about the versatility of Cobb including using him out of the backfield.

 

I suspect it will finally dawn on MM to start screening again, sticking Cobb in the backfield, using Starks and then I think the lanes re-open. Tretter also becomes available to practice starting next week.

 

It's going to be very interesting to see whether MM goes back to Tretter or sticks with an improving rookie.

Keep Linsley at C and put Tretter at T. He has to be at least as good as Sherrod at swing tackle, I'd assume. Besides, there's no guarantee Bulaga's coming back next year. Maybe the Ivy League guy could be the replacement.

Lacy will become the beast we know him to be.  I ain't worried.

See above. Not concerned.

This isn't difficult.  If Tretter can't stay on the field, it is the improving rookies job.  Until Tretter can stay on the field he isn't a player.  He must have the injury gene. 

not worried about Lacy but I'd like to see Starks get more carries. 

When it comes to Eddie and rushing------- R-E-L-A-X!!!!!

Thru 4  games, Eddie is running like he doesn't want another concussion.

Flanny

       
       
This. Two concussions in less than 1 1/2 seasons. My guess is he wants to be "shiftier" because he doesn't think he'll last if he keeps trying to run people over.  He's probably right. Unfortunately, a "shifty" Lacy isn't nearly as effective as a "run you the *#!¥ over" Lacy. I hope he figures it out.

I certainly can't say what it is, but Lacy has a different 'look' thus far this season.

I don't want to believe anybody ever "plays scared", but this may be as close as I could describe. PLVA may have hit it on the head.

 

Nothing worries me long-term; Lacy should do fine. The OL is apparently suffering from memory loss this year; they've forgotten how to block for the run since last year. It's hard to get much going when he has to dodge a defender before he takes the hand-off.

 

I've been crying for a couple of weeks or so to sub in Starks and/or Harris at times. Not that I think the RBBC approach is the way to go, but a fairly regular rotation of at least Lacy/Starks should happen in any typical game.

Lacy has to have holes to run through.  Even a sliver allows him to get positive yardage.  Too often, you see a play getting disrupted in the backfield.  Or, that dreaded "time it with a sundial" run to the outside.  The OL, with all the injuries, has had a hard time being a dominant smash mouth OL. We use the pass to set up the run, rather than dominate up front and use the pass to mix it up. GB needs more road graders to see Lacy become consistently effective. I expect us to struggle against good DLs and see effective running against the rest (because of Lacy's beast mode).  Success all starts up front.

Line play has a huge role in the Lacy problem.  Still, I want to see more Starks and Harris on the field.  Those two can play.  

<THIS>   I am a big fan of Starks.

My guess is that it's similar to Mason Crosby's struggle hitting the ball and there are no simple and easy answers. He'll have to work his way through it and I have no doubt he will. I do agree that in the meantime a little bit more Starks would be wise. 

Fewer holes.

No Barclay, the best run blocking T on the team.

Fewer downhill runs to gain a "head of steam" with most coming out of shotgun/on delays.

Possible tentativeness from concussions.

 

The first three are easier to identify while the fourth requires speculation. That said, Starks is averaging 2 yards more per carry than Lacy from a limited sample size. If Starks sees more snaps and continues to outperform Lacy, I think we can direct the focus more closely at Lacy.

So, we should replace Lacy with a pigeon? I think that is a bad idea. Pidgeons are so puny. On the other hand, they can jump over that pile at the goal line like nobody's business.

 

I wonder about this too. Lots of shotgun with Rodgers and Lacy is not a shotgun RB, he needs to have his toes at 7.

 

 

Pidgeons are so puny.

 

 

(I feel so dirty, is this how fedgya usually feels?)

Personally I think there are few holes for Lacy or anyone to run thru.  I know the coach said holes are available but not hit in a timely manner.  Whatever the reason it needs to get fixed, this team needs to control the ball and win the TOP big time and keep this D off the field.

Starks seems to be doing alright running through those lack of holes. Perhaps he's a pigeon.

But passenger pigeons are extinct.  That's why there are fewer running teams now.

I think he is running differently. Noticed it in the first game where he took it out of bounds whereas a year ago he was looking to blow somebody up. Can't say as I blame him. Dishing out that kind of violence has it's price and maybe Eddie has figured that out (or has been told). That's the problem with that kind of running style. Unfortunately that's Eddie's bread and butter too. I think he's trying lengthen his career and memory. He will likely revert back to his early form if he really wants to stay in the league. It's who he is.

He's playing differently to avoid concussions, it's obvious. I can understand why he'd want to do that, but if he isn't willing to play to his strengths on that basis, he just needs to retire. He either needs to just take his chances with the head injuries, or simply retire; he's never going to be a guy who can get away with dancing in the hole or lateral movement.

He's not a pigeon nor is he the answer.   

Nah, we should replace the fans with pigeons, that was the point of that link. Fans will choose what they think the problem is this week, until they are presented with another choice - then they will switch and assign the blame to that new choice until they are again, inevitably proven wrong.

 

The pigeons are smarter than most NFL fans in that they are capable of learning over time

and getting better at the task. Pretty amazing given the relative puniness of their gray matter. They do have one huge advantage - they are not swayed by their emotions

 

Have you ever seen a pissed off pigeon ?

 

Whatever Dr. Spock, pigeons are boring birds. 

 

And if you don't like reasons, how about a solution?

Pissed-off pigeon? No. Disinterested pigeon? Yes. They're like a cat with feathers.

 

 

Just for the record, when the pigeon can't get the ball off the ground, and 3 290lb guys fall on top of him (it)(whatever) - I am pretty sure the pigeon will be pissed off. 

Doubt it. More likely he (it)(whatever) will be a Non-Pigeon.   Apologies to John Cleese.

No, I feel perfectly clean.

However, my monsters from the id are going to get you. 

MM on no carries for Starks: That was poor management by myself. Starks should touch football every game. That won't happen again
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) September 30, 2014

 

Once, but the bitch had it coming.

Apology not accepted.

 

John Cleese

(Half Bee)

Who are you kidding. You are all ego!

Perhaps he meant "rock doves"

Doves are just white pigeons.

The mourning pigeons round these parts drive the dogs crazy. 

Racist