Not only were they ahead, but they were getting a glimpse of the future of the Atlanta running game.
 |
| via Bleacher Report |
Rodgers finished the day with just 34 yards on six carries to go with the touchdown (the fifth of his career), but the low numbers were not all his fault. Yes, he only gained 17 yards on the other five carries, but Rodgers has seldom played long enough in a game to get a feel for it.
What does that mean you ask? For running backs it is not uncommon for them to take a few plays to adjust to what the defense is doing and not doing. Those carries may or may not be as productive as the team and fans wanr, but once the back has a better feel for what the defense is/isn't doing he can start exploiting it.
Rodgers has only played long enought to do that once or twice (both last season; 14 carries for 43 yards against the Jets and 18 carries for 86 yards against Miami.
In his first three seasons he played in all but one regular season game. Of those games he received carries in every one, but had five or less in 27 of them.
The team must see something in him they like or they wouldn't be keeping him.
Steven Jackson is at the age now where many running backs start to decline (31) and has already been hampered by injuries this season. During his time in St, Louis he was a workhorse for the offense so his body likely feels a lot older than 31 already.
Jackson is still a good back, but if the team wants to help him last the season and get a better idea of what the future is going to be like it may be time to give Rodgers 10+ carries a game.
Better see what he has now rather than wait for Jackson to go down with a longterm injury or retire.
No comments:
Post a Comment