It just baffles me why week after week they run these plays that just aren't working.

After a while I thought, there must be some weird strategy behind it, maybe? 

Maybe it's to help reduce Saquon's  load? Bu then why not just give the ball to Gainwell or even Shipley?

Maybe it's a "safe" play? But is it really? Hurts isn't the most secure ball handler. 

The more I think about it the less sense it makes. Not only is the play usually not effective, you're also putting your 50 million QB at risk and wearing him down.

So can anyone think of what might be going on?

Hurts biggest strength is his legs... Nothing weird about it, look around the league all qbs with running ability run designed runs. Ravens have Henry and some decent receiver options and still run designed runs with Jackson and so does the Bills with Allen and Washington with Daniels. 

This isnt some big mystery nor was there a reason for a thread for it

The designed runs are frustrating.  He's more dangerous when it's an RPO or improvised run.  

Just like any call, the more things you do, the more things defenses need to be ready for. Maybe those plays get shut down early at times, but the defense gets fooled later trying to shut it down again when we do something else entirely. The results are in the win/loss record. 

One of the reasons Jayden Daniels and his offense is struggling as of late is because his coach is afraid to add more elements. Sure, a young QB might struggle a bit at times when he has more on his plate, but when the defense has to respect more things, some of them get even easier. 

It's more the threat of the run. They have to account for Hurts so it creates a numbers mismatch. If they bring another man into the box to account for Hurts, it leaves them more lean in coverage. If they don't bring a man down in the box then it leaves the offense with a numbers advantage at the line. They look horrible but they create weaknesses to exploit.

There are other advantages. It's all about creating misdirection, exploiting weaknesses and forcing a defense into untenable situations.

I think it forms part of a chess game. We all know Hurts has limitations as a passer and we all know he makes plays with his legs.

The plays may not always work (though they have worked during Hurts time here) but they keep a defense guessing and they keep the play book open.

Obviously we’d love those plays to go for big gains every time but if a limited gain leads to a bigger play later in the game based on giving the defense a certain look then it has had its desired effect.

What I would say though is the timing of some of these runs at times is baffling. Like at the end of the first half on Sunday. In that spot that call made little to no sense.

I'm old school........your QB shouldn't run unless he's flushed from the pocket or he's on a rollout with some clear real estate ahead.  Hurts, like any QB, is told to slide to avoid contact after scrambling, but then a designed run is called the next play........ 

Putting your key offensive player at risk when you have Barkley and Gainwell, to me, is just plain foolish.....especially when the playoffs are drawing near.  Would anybody here be comfortable going into the playoffs with Kenny Pickett because Hurts got injured on a designed run?

I realize the data doesn't support my argument.....but NFL teams forbid hitting the QB in practice and tell QBs to get on the ground before getting close to a hit.....and that seems to be contradictory to the appeal of a designed run.  

11 hours ago, opa-opa said:

It just baffles me why week after week they run these plays that just aren't working.

After a while I thought, there must be some weird strategy behind it, maybe? 

Maybe it's to help reduce Saquon's  load? Bu then why not just give the ball to Gainwell or even Shipley?

Maybe it's a "safe" play? But is it really? Hurts isn't the most secure ball handler. 

The more I think about it the less sense it makes. Not only is the play usually not effective, you're also putting your 50 million QB at risk and wearing him down.

So can anyone think of what might be going on?

A bunch of them Hurts audibled into, and the D knew ecactly what was coming each time, it was infuriating to watch hurts audible into a 2 yard gain ...😒

 

The designed runs (basically today's version of a QB draw) drive me nuts.  It has become the equivalent of their WR screen: both are virtually useless and rarely succeed.  If doing these designed runs multiple times per game is a "strategy", it's flawed.

I think they run it because the menu of plays the coaching staff is comfortable running with Hurts is limited.  Running is a perceived strength of Hurts, so they do it.  Throwing deep shots when Brown/Smith have 1on1 coverage is a strength, so they do it.  What they don't do as often are slants across the middle or any over the middle pass plays...is that because the coaches perceive that as not a strength of Hurts?  They do it, but not often.  Most of Hurts' passes are towards the sideline.  Another thing they don't do as much when in the RZ: passes into the end zone.  They always try to throw it short and run it in vs. passing directly into the end zone.  Again, they do it, but not often.

They probably saw something against the rams they thought they could exploit, didn’t work and we blew them out anyway

13 hours ago, JamesK said:

The designed runs are frustrating.  He's more dangerous when it's an RPO or improvised run.  

I like the RPO'S as well but a few times there have been offensive lineman downfield blocking when Hurts chooses to throw. I know it's his decision but maybe he can work on a signal or something with the way they have been calling that penalty this year.

14 hours ago, Bwestbrook36 said:

Hurts biggest strength is his legs... Nothing weird about it, look around the league all qbs with running ability run designed runs. Ravens have Henry and some decent receiver options and still run designed runs with Jackson and so does the Bills with Allen and Washington with Daniels. 

This isnt some big mystery nor was there a reason for a thread for it

Sure but he’s not Lamar or even Allen. He’s pretty slow. 
We run hurts like he’s Lamar or Vick caliber and he’s not. He’s not even as talented as mcnabb was as a runner. These qb draws are wasted plays 

Yeah, these runs are a recipe for an eventual injury. They need to stop calling them. 

And even if he doesn't get injured, he'll be banged up in 3-4 seasons. I'd assume they don't want their $255M QB to only last until his 30th birthday.

It forces the defense to play 11 on 11 instead of 11 on 10 or at least honor the threat.  

No.  He likes to run and is pretty good at it.  Hopefully, he does not get hurt.

3 hours ago, Miami said:

No.  He likes to run and is pretty good at it.  Hopefully, he does not get hurt.

That seems like a reasonable explanation. According to NFL stats for 2024 so far Hurts has 13 passing TDs and 11 rushing TDs. Josh Allen has 18 pasing TDs, 5 rushing TDs.  Lamar Jackson in 2024 has 27 TDs passing and 3 rushing. Yeah that one surprised me too, I expected Jackson to have more rushing TDs.

https://www.nfl.com/players/lamar-jackson/stats/situational/

My guess it's to freeze the D (keep them honest). And it opens up other plays. It's possible they give the same look and run something else. Maybe I'm giving them too much credit, but that's what it seems like.

The designed runs are causing the defense to react. They have to account for the threat so a defender has to move into another position. Maybe that leaves a receiver open at another part of the field? 

I don't know what games you are watching if you say they are not working. Hurts is usually making positive yards. They aren't supposed to be big chunk plays. Just gain a few yards so the offense is in a better position on the next play.

I understand, and sort of agree, they need to limit wear and tear on Hurts. He shouldn't be taking too many hits. Until it's the playoffs and in must-win games, then I think they have to put it all on the table.

I don't like having him run straight into the defense. That's just asking for an injury. If he has to run because you think it'll make the defense honest (even though we have Barkley) then have him run outside