Mitchell Schwartz On Running The Ball

[Marcellus]

I figured a good portion of CP would agree with this. Mitchell is a great follow on twitter. He doesn’t do the regular player speak kind of stuff.

His response is to this tweet from PFF

I think i captured why coaches still treasure the run game despite its relative lack of success:https://t.co/Ubr4G5ZGx0

— Eric Eager 📊🏈 (@PFF_Eric) December 1, 2021

I’m as analytic minded as they come for OL but this is not the answer. Football distills down to simple tenants for coaches (and players): toughness, physicality, and discipline. Success in the run game is the ultimate indicator (feeling, if you’d like) for those principles (1/x) https://t.co/31Sakz8aNE

— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) December 1, 2021

Football is controlled violence and about physically imposing your will on another person. The run game taps into that instinct and mindset in a way the pass game doesn’t. It breeds physical confidence. That’s why coaches revert to it, and put such a huge emphasis on it. (2/x)

— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) December 1, 2021

Being physically dominant (imposing your will, breaking their will, etc) is real and has an impact. It’s literally animalistic behavior at its core. Demonstrative performance breeds confidence and success, which again is at the core of football’s mental principles. (3/x)

— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) December 1, 2021

Flip side, that’s why run game success alters defensives. It feels much worse as a DC to give up 6-8 yard runs than 6-8 yard passes. You’re getting dominated, physically, and it goes against what you’re supposed to be about: toughness. Staley spoke about this beautifully. (4/x)

— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) December 1, 2021

Maybe it’s not quantifiable. But when coaches and players consistently tell you it has an impact (physicality, mindset, body blows, etc.) I think it’s poor business to say “well we can’t quantify it.” Especially with all we know about mental health and the power of the mind (5/x)

— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) December 1, 2021

Coaches and players say run game success/failure has a major mental impact, positive or negative, and that those ramifications can effect everything else on the football field. It's about behavior and mindset more than anything. At some point you have to trust them. (6/6)

— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) December 1, 2021

[DaFace]

I guess I can see his point, though I'm always a little skeptical when people say "you can't quantify it, but it really works!" I don't really understand why it's more impactful to be able to run all over a team than to go right down the field through the air.

[Discuss Thrower]

tl;dr "man's game, bitch"

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I guess I can see his point, though I'm always a little skeptical when people say "you can't quantify it, but it really works!" I don't really understand why it's more impactful to be able to run all over a team than to go right down the field through the air.

He’s purely speaking from his experience, so he’s going to be a bit biased as a former OL.

I kind of think of running vs passing like playing through your center vs shooting 3’s in basketball.

Ideally, you want to be good at both. In the past, teams would “live or die” by the 3. Making 3’s was almost seen as luck. The Warriors changed that.

A lot of older football fans see throwing excessively the same way. In reality, the game is different now. The QBs are just so damn good and practically every rule change benefits teams that throw.

[frozenchief]

Schwartz is pretty smart and I like his takes. This is certainly a different perspective but it makes sense.

BTW, Schwartz has been on The Athletic’s football podcast the last few weeks. Really good football takes.

[Hoover]

I'd hire him as a coach in a heartbeat.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I guess I can see his point, though I'm always a little skeptical when people say "you can't quantify it, but it really works!" I don't really understand why it's more impactful to be able to run all over a team than to go right down the field through the air.

It's because it isn't. All he's talking about is feelings. If feelings are the only reason you should run the ball - yikes.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I guess I can see his point, though I'm always a little skeptical when people say "you can't quantify it, but it really works!" I don't really understand why it's more impactful to be able to run all over a team than to go right down the field through the air.

I think it's totally a psychological thing.

If get beat on an 8 yard pass, there might be a technique failure you feel like you can fix. If you're getting physically dominated, there isn't much you can do about it.

I think is what he's getting at.

Weird thing is when the OL was at it's peak (Schwartz being a big component), Simms, more than anyone else - at all, talked about the physicality of the Chiefs OL as a big reason they were successful with Mahomes at the helm. I'd think as an OL, you could inflict physical dominance also, but I don't know anything. I suppose its different when you're inflicting hate and discontent on all 3 levels of the defense rather than just beating the **** out of your guy.

[htismaqe]

It sounds like a cop out to me.

He's saying run blocking is basic - strength on strength, force of will - which means it's EASIER.

[kcclone]

The bottom line is it’s a lot harder to defend an offense that can run or pass.

Especially inside the 10 yard line. You at least need the threat of running the ball.

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by BWillie

It's because it isn't. All he's talking about is feelings. If feelings are the only reason you should run the ball - yikes.

You can call it feelings if you want but I took it more as a mindset. Asserting your will on the opponent and punishing them.

[Red Dawg]

Running the ball on CP is looked at as an after thought because we have Mahomes who can throw it all over. This teams needs to run the ball more and better because that's how dynasty's are built.

Running the ball
Defense
QB not turning it over and being a 3rd down gem.

NE has been doing this for years and it's the reason they are at the one seed right now. Troy never gets mentioned as being an all time great because Dallas ran the ball and played defense to get 3 titles.

Andy needs to wake up and use Clyde more..

[tk13]

This was basically the Michigan and Ohio State game the other day.

That said most teams can't physically dominate another team like that. And I don't think a team like the Chiefs need that "feeling" necessarily. I'm sure it's also fun to run 40 points up on someone slinging it all over the place. But I do get that a lot of coaches would rather have a physical team.

The real point that's missed is that you have to be able to have some variety in your offense so defenses can't take the efficiency out of your passing plays. I really don't know how anyone who is analytically minded could watch the Chiefs these last few weeks and think otherwise. Teams have spent a lot of time trying to build defenses to stop the Chiefs, and now they're completely selling out to stop the pass. This idea that you can just pass the ball every down because it's a more efficient play and execute flawlessly every time just isn't realistic. Mahomes is going to miss passes and guys are going to drop balls, especially when you're passing at a high volume.

[ThaVirus]

I wouldn't argue with a professional football player about on-the-field psychology. I'm sure there's some stock in what he's suggesting, but when our offense was at its best, our offensive line was never the most imposing. We're not a soft team, but we've certainly been considered more finesse than a powerhouse.

We've all seen the videos of DBs throwing their hands up in disgust after Mahomes pulls a hat trick on 3rd and long. I'd imagine trying to chase Mahomes, Kelce and Hill around all game while getting 40 dropped on your head is just as demoralizing as allowing 200 yards on the ground.

[RetiredSeniorChief]

The people who don't understand this have never been in a real brawl.