Reid’s running hot as ever

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/07/2010 (5542 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What’s wrong with the running game? Well, let’s take a look at the numbers and find out…

Start with Fred Reid. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back has taken some mild warmth (heat may be too strong a word) from the fans regarding his output through the first four weeks of the season. Heading into tonight’s CFL schedule, the 28-year-old currently sits in sixth spot among the top rushers, with 44 carries for 278 yards (6.3 yards per carry).

Seem low? Perhaps, but if we take a glance back over his career we find that Reid is close to where he’s always been in Blue and Gold.

— Over the first three years of his time in Winnipeg, Reid has put together a 6.2-yards-per-carry average.

— In his only year as a starter (2009), Reid averaged 13 rushes for 76.1 yards a game (5.8 yards per carry).

— After four weeks in 2010, Reid is averaging 11 carries for 69.2 yards a game.

So the number of touches is down by two and the number of yards per game is seven off the mark, making it only seem like there’s a difference in rushing frequency. Is that a reason for people to be concerned about a tailback who finished second in the league’s running race last season (1,371 yards on 238 carries)?

Reid wasn’t surprised when told of the similar numbers.

"That’s not surprising," he said after practice Wednesday. "I know some are worried about the run game, but we’re going good on offence right now. We’re working on the run all the time, plus it’s early in the season. We have 14 games left to go, so I’m not worried."

The naysayers will point out that a slight dip in average in July projects to a larger gap between the totals come November.

True, but according to Reid, all it takes is one or two big games (120 yards-plus) to skew the numbers back in his favour.

Here’s another stat: After four games last season, Reid only had 15 more yards on 10 more carries when compared to this year.

"I’m not frustrated at all; we have something good here right now," he said. "I know my time will come. I put together a couple of bust-out games, and I’ll be right where I’m supposed to be."

Picking apart Winnipeg’s run game, specifically Reid’s role it in, is foolish when you consider that the offence the Bombers employ this season is actually producing more along the ground than last year. More numbers to chew on:

— Last season, the club averaged 21 touches on the ground for 119 yards per game. Those came from Reid, backups Yvenson Bernard and Lavarus Giles, a host of quarterbacks, and slotback Brock Ralph and the infamous "Jet" package.

— This season, the team is running the ball an average of 20 times for 146 yards per game, with quarterbacks Buck Pierce and Steven Jyles showing their effectiveness through their ability to scramble and make positive gains out of broken plays.

Still worried about that running game?

"It’s something we work on all the time and we have ongoing conversations on ways to improve it further," said Bombers offensive co-ordinator Jamie Barresi.

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"Fred has been great for us. We’ve asked him to be a receiver and he’s been involved in (pass protection). One player’s success, in any facet of the game, is not just dependent on him.

"(Fred) has carried his load."

Barresi would like to give Reid and his offence a certain number of carries per game (he wouldn’t say what it was), but he’s quick to point out that a successful run game isn’t built on a numeric formula. The events of the game dictate how many times a team runs the ball, as does the players’ response to certain calls made in the first quarter.

"The player gets confidence in a certain play as it goes through the game," he said. "When a play is working and things are going well, we’ll stay with it. If something isn’t quite right, then we’ll put it on the shelf for another day."

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca