Running Game

[MTRedskinsFan]

I agree w/ the rest of you that CP (or Betts, for that matter) is not responsible for the lackluster rushing attack. Both guys get hit behind the line of scrimmage on a regular basis and very few backs consistently break tackles in those situations. It actually looks to me like both CP and Betts are trying to run harder to make up for the line - against Chicago I saw Betts wrapped up behind the LOS by two Bears and he still managed to drag forward to the line.

The reason for our rushing woes is twofold IMO: 1) we're a small o-line in the NFL, so to be effective our guys have to be very close to 100% healthy 2) the blocking scheme has to involve lineman pulling down the line or rushing ahead to pick off linebackers - mass x speed = force - so we need to get up some speed to make solid blocks. Many teams have concentrated on getting penetration up the middle w/ LB's which pretty well immobalizes our small guys up front.