Even before his amazing 2097-yard season, we got spoiled by AD. If he doesn't run for at least 150 and two TDs, we feel its a down game. hell, i know if he gets a three yard run, I'm disappointed ... Because I anticipate him taking it to the house. Granted, his yards per carry is down, but he isn't getting much run to run. I actually thought he ran well against Cleveland despite not having a run longer than 9 yards, simply because the Browns went into the game allowing 2.0 yards an attempt -- and he didn't have 5 and 6 yard losses.
Actually AD is off to a better start than he was last year. Like another poster just said, if he isn't breaking a couple of big runs a game, then people think he is off to a slow start.
I think the underlying concern is people start to wonder if this is all we Are going to get this year. Last year was such an amazing year that I think fans start to think in those terms and start to almost expect the same every year and when it doesn't happen they wonder what's wrong.
I don't expect him to have another year like last year for a number of reasons.
1. History- history shows the odds are against it.
2. Tape- defenses now have a lot of tape to look at to see what it take to slow him down. Tape on the vikes and tape of other defenses that have slowed him down.
3. Play calling- Our offense is so easy to figure out and has no imagination it's not difficult to know what's coming.
4. Poor QB- No one is afraid of Ponder ripping them up if they sell out to stop the run. If We can't make them pay there is no reason to back off.