Moats should start with Slaton as a 3rd down back. This keeps Slaton's head in the game while he works on his issues.
Do you think there was not enough of a fire lit Sunday? Moats was put in, had over 150 total yards, and 3 tds. I say Slaton is stewing over a good fire right now. That said, I would probably go into the Colts game with Slaton starting. If he fumbles, or screws up in any way at all (such as missing a couple holes, even), I say Moats comes in for a good while.
Even if you take away Slaton's issues wrt fumbling, he is still much slower than Moats at getting to the line and hitting the holes in the defense line. Moats should definitely start at Indy this coming week.
Having a good rookie season doesn't buffer you from 6 fumbles in 8 games the next season. Moats should have the job now until he loses it.
I totally agree. I don't know what the coaches have been doing or saying to Slaton about his fumblitis up to this point, but I have to imagine that Kubiak let it be known to him that if he has another bad fumble in that Buffalo game that his ass would be on the bench. If that is the case and Slaton STILL was carrying that ball unprotected as he was, then I don't see any reason why this problem is suddenly going to get fixed by Moates looking good for a game (or even two). Moats has earned the job, damnit, and he should have the opportunity to keep it. It's not like Slaton is even signed on to a huge contract or anything. He's on a 3rd round rookie pay scale. At that rate, it's not even costing you that much to bench him.
you go with moats, he earned it. Slaton should still be used but you go with what's working. and moats has had more than just one good game. When he has been in other times this year, he has earned pretty good yardage
Indeed. I think most people are concentrating too much on the fumbling problem. When Slaton's biggest problem is that he CAN'T RUN THE FOOTBALL. And against Indy, there's no way we can win if there's no running game to complement our passing attack. You got to eat up some clock when playing against the Colts.
Slaton should really called up Ahman Green and ask him where he got that forearm sleeve he wore during his Packer days. I remember before he wore those, Green would fumble as much as Slaton. After getting those sleeves, fumbles were almost nonexistent.
Fumbling/turn-overs are the deal breaker in the NFL. If our defense made one or two assignment errors (which they are know to do at times), those giveaways would have been disastrous. Imagine giving Peyton a short field a couple times a game. He's difficult enough to slow down on an 80 yard + field. I think you have to go with Moats until he proves unable to handle the job.
Very true. Moats wasn't bad at all in his previous appearances, either. He moves the ball and doesn't fumble. What more could you want? I just hope Kubiak doesn't have some sort of attachment to Slaton where he'll feel bad for benching him. It doesn't seem like it though, given that Slaton didn't get a single carry after his fumble.
It's long overdue - Moats should start, and Slaton can get worked in on some downs and split the passing downs with Leech. Slaton: 2 Tds vs 5 fumbles (and several near). He's averaging a fumble for every 68 yds he gains. Believe me when I say no other starting back in the league is close to that mark. Turner's the closest but at 101 yds/fumble Moats: 3/0 Virtually in a single game, Moats now has over half the rushing yards Slaton has this year. That's pathetic. Kubiak's a major loyalist, but you can't stick with a guy this mired in a slump. Baseball and Basketball, you let your hitters and shooters work their way out. 18 games is 10% of an MLB schedule. 8 games is 10% in the NBA. In the NFL? It's 3 halves. Wins are too precious, the slope too slippery. Regardless of the reasons, Slaton can't get the job done. Neither can Brown. It's time to give Moats some burn.
I would keep Slaton as the starter not because he has been the better back this year but because Moats is comfortable in the current situation. How many times have you seen a backup get the starting job and all of a sudden he tightens up and doesn't play well? Slaton will have something to prove and we need that edge against Indy. Regardless of who starts though both should get playing time. If any of you are familiar with A&M this year you know they are rotating their backs (Gray and Michael) with good success. I would like to see the same thing with the Texans. Slaton has proven he is a good back and Moats has been good all year (including preseason) and playing both will keep them fresh. It's good we are in this situation of being able to choose from two capable backs. In the past we always had a huge drop off from the starter to second string.
Let's keep in mind that the Bills are the worst rushing defense in the league, giving up the most yards per game and the highest average per rush. They've given up 12 rushing touchdowns, 1 behind Oakland. So, it's not entirely surprising that Moats was "hitting the holes" while Slaton has been "dancing around in the backfield". That said, Slaton started yesterday's game, against the worst rushing defense in the NFL, and still got benched.... Because he can't hold on to the ball. It's not acceptable. To beat the btter teams in the league you shouldn't be turning the ball over at all, much less 6 times in 7 games. I think you start Moats against the Colts, and if it isn't working you come back with Slaton. You slowly start mixing the two together, and if things start improving with Steve (i.e. - fumbles go away, rushing average improves, etc.), he gets more and more playing time back.
Except that Moats has come in to other games this season where Slaton was getting us nowhere and been a very effective RB, albeit for just a carry or two (or a series in the game when Slaton was benched briefly). Even yesterday, against this terrible rush defense, in the single carry that Slaton got he seemed to run straight ahead, right into the back of his O-line where there was no hole to be found. But just to his right, off tackle, there was a ridiculous amount of room to run had he just bounced it that direction a little bit. I don't know what changed from last season, but he is not seeing the field well at all, fumbling problem or not.
Before pre season began, Ric made a concerning post about steve slaton. I didn't reply because I did not want to believe. well, now I'm worried. Moats must start for now. 4 yards a carry will help in sustaining those long drives more than slaton's big play potential. The best way to defeat the colts is to keep them off the field as long as possible and pray that manning runs out of time. If ron dayne could do it back on xmas of 2006, then moats can do it too.
Slaton doesn't have a 100 yard rushing game all year. First game he is benched, Moats puts up well over 100 yards. It's not the offensive line. They have been unfairly blamed. Something is up with Slaton. I think he's still our long term guy, but Moats should start for now.
Yes, start Moats. Its simple, Moats did exactly what Slaton's supposed to be doing but hasnt - find the holes, run through them quickly and with authority, extend drives, HOLD ONTO the ball. And in the process he got 3 TDs out it of. Slaton is starting to Stacey Mack himself out of consideration.
