Jamal Lewis and the "New" Baltimore offense (1 Viewer)

[SteelerMurf]

I just have this gut feeling that Jamal is going to have a great 2nd half of the season, his schedule is good and Billick's new playcalling seems to go full tilt with Jamal.

Am I overreacting to this past weeks' production? NO at home had been pretty tough against RBs (see Westbrook and Dunn)

 

[Pat Patriot]

I have Jamal and right now I think that you and Peter King are overreacting. I think he got the carries because they got a couple of defensive scores and were way ahead early. This wont happen every week. I hope his production continues but I remain skeptical.

 

[pigskinliquors]

I believe J-Lew will have a more productive second half, but don't believe his upside is anything higher than a decent RB2. Baltimore's offense is being very efficient right now, and he still is not being given goal line carries. A good weekly projection for him will be 85 yards and a less than 50% chance of getting a TD.

= much better than he's been, but not worth getting too excited over.

 

[SteelerMurf]

I believe J-Lew will have a more productive second half, but don't believe his upside is anything higher than a decent RB2. Baltimore's offense is being very efficient right now, and he still is not being given goal line carries. A good weekly projection for him will be 85 yards and a less than 50% chance of getting a TD. = much better than he's been, but not worth getting too excited over.

I am talking in respect to being a good #2 starting RB on your team. As far as the goalline carries? Who is getting them? I think they are just passing, not necessarily ignoring Jamal? This last week it looks like they gave him the ball around the 5 but he never scored, it's not like they are going to another RB in that instance.

 

[PatsWillWin]

We'll certainly know a lot more after he plays Cincy. If he has any life left in him, he shoudl tear it up this weekend.

 

[Sanboy]

31 carries for 109 yards

not that great of a average ..

yuk

 

[SteelerMurf]

31 carries for 109 yards not that great of a average .. yuk

100 yards is 100 yards, no matter how many times he runs. I don't get a deduction for YPC average. NO run defense is pretty good.

 

[mbuehner]

100 yards is 100 yards, no matter how many times he runs. I don't get a deduction for YPC average. NO run defense is pretty good.

Thats not the point. Coaches dont care about fantasy production. The stat to look at is the 3 first downs Lewis account for on 31 carries. If you were making the argument he was moving the chains- thats a solid contribution to the team even if the y/c suck. But 3 first downs is not getting the job done (Ahman Green accounted for 11 first downs on 23 touches last week). For the record there were 18 running backs that produced more first down last week rushing the ball, and a total of 25 RBs that produced as many or more rushing and recieving (which of course Lewis does not do). And many of them didnt have near as many touches.Over the course of the season Lewis is #34 in rushing first downs, while #15 in rushing attempts. He's had 17 first downs and 1 td on 132 touches. Basically something definitively positive has happened 13.6% percent of the times he touches the ball. Edge is producing at 20% using the same criteria, and he is said to be having one of the least productive seasons in NFL history. Of all the running backs in the league with 30 total carries or more this season- Lewis ranks 51 out of 52, edging out Maurice Morris by .006%.

Simply accumulating yardage and not producing anything tangible except a punt is not getting it done. Baltimore's defense owned the game, and thats not going to happen every week. If the Ravens cant help out the D by keeping them off the field and eating some clock time quite aside from scoring the occasional point, I can't imagine there wont be a shakeup. Bottom line is J-Lew is simply not contributing anything to the Ravens except burning a little clock time.

 

[Warpig]

31 carries for 109 yards not that great of a average .. yuk

The 100 yards is nice, but what I like to see is the opportunities/touches. 31 touches in a game is awesome. That means he's being given more chances to do something. If they would just give him those touches in the redzone instead of McNair vulturing them or passing to Heap his numbers could be much better.

 

[mbuehner]

In other words the Ravens need to concentrate on getting the ball to the 3.4 yardline so Lewis can have a realistic chance to score? Lewis has been brutal all over the field, i cant imagine how he would be particularly more effective with a defense stacked up at the goalline.

The Ravens have run the ball 6 times and thrown it 8 times inside the 5 yardline this season. They have 2 rushing TDs (1 from Lewis, his only TD in 4 attempts) and 5 passing TDs. I'd say they are simply bowing to the inevitable- they cant run anybody over.

Same story in the redzone in general- Lewis has 24 touches and 1 TD. Theyve thrown the ball 33 times. Thats pretty balanced, but there are 9 passing TDs and 2 rushing TDs.

 

[Urinal Mint]

I think this is something that bears watching throughout the next couple of weeks to see if it improves.

100 yards is 100 yards, no matter how many times he runs. I don't get a deduction for YPC average. NO run defense is pretty good.

Thats not the point. Coaches dont care about fantasy production. The stat to look at is the 3 first downs Lewis account for on 31 carries. If you were making the argument he was moving the chains- thats a solid contribution to the team even if the y/c suck. But 3 first downs is not getting the job done (Ahman Green accounted for 11 first downs on 23 touches last week). For the record there were 18 running backs that produced more first down last week rushing the ball, and a total of 25 RBs that produced as many or more rushing and recieving (which of course Lewis does not do). And many of them didnt have near as many touches.Over the course of the season Lewis is #34 in rushing first downs, while #15 in rushing attempts. He's had 17 first downs and 1 td on 132 touches. Basically something definitively positive has happened 13.6% percent of the times he touches the ball. Edge is producing at 20% using the same criteria, and he is said to be having one of the least productive seasons in NFL history. Of all the running backs in the league with 30 total carries or more this season- Lewis ranks 51 out of 52, edging out Maurice Morris by .006%.

Simply accumulating yardage and not producing anything tangible except a punt is not getting it done. Baltimore's defense owned the game, and thats not going to happen every week. If the Ravens cant help out the D by keeping them off the field and eating some clock time quite aside from scoring the occasional point, I can't imagine there wont be a shakeup. Bottom line is J-Lew is simply not contributing anything to the Ravens except burning a little clock time.

 

[lod2005]

Give Jamal 30 carries and he has a 50-50 chance of getting 100 yards. He won't make it to the end of the year at that rate.

He sucks.

 

[Hugonel]

I was high on Lewis this summer but missed him in the draft.

I saw him 2-3 weeks ago on TV and have rarely seen a guy look slower.

I think he's done but for his sake, hope I am wrong.

 

[Buckeyedawgs]

I was reading these same posts around this time last year! And holding hope it's true. Here we are a year later same ole thing and still waiting. lol

One thing that is different then last year no CHESTER up his sleeve pushing for carries so I am still holding out hope but if he busts this week he rides the pine permanently.