Using Chris Rainey

Watched the game again and started wondering why the Steelers kept having him run it up the gut. Albeit he scored a TD on the play but I can't help to think that this little dude is going to get hurt at some point if he continues to run in between tackles. Besides, isn't he better in open space?

 

They ran him up the gut because the Bengals weren't respecting the run when he was in the game. They were committed to defending the pass every time he was in the backfield. In those cases, all that's needed is a small hole opened up by the Oline and he would break off a big gain (which is exactly what happened). If our Oline was better, he would have broken off more big runs.

If teams aren't respecting the run at all, then a run up the gut is a necessary play, even if it doesn't result in much. The idea is to make the other team respect the run, so that play action, swings to the outside, and using him out wide against a base defence become more effective.

As a RB in the NFL he has to be able to run up the middle. Sproles and Reggie Bush do it very effectively. If he can't run up the middle, teams will strictly defend the pass and he'll be useless

 

Drives me crazy too but, think Willie Parker.

 

Those calls are actually Brilliant on Haleys part. Keep doing this and keep the defense guessing

He is so small he can slip through a crack the oline creates

MORE MORE MORE

 

I'd like to see a few more outside runs myself but this post is correct. It's all about setting up plays. And actually defenses have a hard time keeping track of little guys like Rainey and Sproles when they run up the gut because of their size. They get lost in the sea of giants, lol

 

I do too, but unless teams believe is a threat up the middle, running him outside won't be effective. Look at Sproles, he runs up the middle a lot, which is why he's so effective outside and in the passing game. Teams never know what he's going to do. I just don't think teams respect Rainey's rushing ability for us to start busting him outside yet. It's going to take some more time.

 

Yeah i feel like Haley is setting up future plays when it comes to Rainey. He's a hell of a threat to break one off but teams need to fear him first. As long as he can make positive plays running it up the gut and keeps defenses on their toes he'll get his shot at some outside stuff where hopefully he showcases his speed and elusiveness. Like I said, it's all about setting up plays.

 

I'm just pleased to see them getting him involved in multiple ways. After the first few games I couldn't undertand why we kept telegraphing the play by putting him in. Hopefully he stays sharp.

On a related note, slightly disappointed in Batch so far - I wonder if Rainey (speed) and Dwyer (size) make Batch slightly redundant here? Hopefully there's time for both Rainey and Batch to show us more this season.

 

Rainey is a tuff dude. He and Dwyer will be here a while. You are looking at the new Bettis - Haynes team from 2002-2005. Mark it down
I don't think Mendy will be resigned when his time comes. Was it Dwyer who ran a 20+ yard td his first touch in the nfl?

 

I don't understand why we still have AB back on punt returns. Why wear him out and risk injury when he is clearly such a beast at receiving the ball, and rainey has proven to be a quality punt returner in Preseason. Furthermore, we can't get a return without a penalty these days as it is

 

Brown was a pro bowl made the pro bowl last year as a return man. he has already had some big punt returns this year, too bad they have all come back because of penalties.

maybe Brown likes to return punts. maybe the coaches dont have enough confidence in Rainey to let him return punts yet. i remember when Brown first started returning punts he would only be in on the ones where the punter was backed up in his own end. if the punter had a short field they would bring in someone else. i cant remember who, but it was probably because they didnt have the confidence in Brown to not muff the ball with the defenders breathing down his neck. maybe once they have more confedence in Rainey, we will see him returning punts as well.

 

maybe it was ARE that returned punts.

 

I think you are thinking ofclay

 

I think Dwyer ran for a 40+ yard gain on his first carry, but he got caught.

 

Ok that avatar made me say " Holy Jesus" out loud and my wife said what LOL

Bman

 

Yup that is very true. The other problem for defenses is these guys are very small so they can squirt through the smallest of holes

Bman

 

Yeah I think you are right. It was Clay

 

Once again, you must be selective in how you use this
talent. he is 175lbs soaking wet. If he runs in to too many 250 lb LB
it will be lights out for him. He needs 8-10 touches per game.

 

While I agree with Canton Steel, and Shaner, about the necessity of running up the middle to keep the defense honest, I think the only reason Rainey was doing it, was because we only had 2 healthy backs, and neither of them were Mendy, or Redman.(Edit... ooops, forgot about Batch. That dropped pass was HORRIBLE. I agree he may be redundant, with the other backs we have right now)
In a way, it`s a good thing, because it FORCED Haley to put him in the game more often than I think he would have, otherwise.
It seems to me, that he is trying to SLOWLY work him onto the field more often, just so the defense doesn`t key on him, every time he is in there, which also worked great, when they used him as a decoy on a deep pass to I think Wallace, the week before.
I believe, as he sees more time on the field, with less percentage of the plays going to him, when he IS on the field... The greater success he will have, on the plays that DO go to him.
And if the defense keeps wanting to focus on him, when he is on the field, we can take advantage of that, by using him as a decoy.
I think he is going to be a great addition to our offense. When he gets the ball, AND when he doesn`t...
I also noticed him making a crushing block on one of the Dwyer runs, late in the Cincy game, when we were running to kill the clock. That is AWESOME! Not what you would necessarily expect out of a little guy, but if he can bring that Hines Ward kinda mentality to the team, even as a runningback, all the better. And will probably allow him to see more playing time, if he can consistentley block well, since that is a big part of being a rb.