[nuccah]

Looking around the NFL, it seems to me that the RB position, as we know it, has phased out almost to the point that there are no teams in the NFL relying on their rushing attack.

Taking a look at the top 10 in rushing in the NFL, only Adrian Peterson is running for over 100 yards per game. This can be overlooked, but taking a look at the teams of these top rushers, only 3 have a positive W-L record:

NY Giants
Minnesota Vikings
Cincinnati Bengals

A common factor for these 3 teams? All of them have potent aerial attacks. So what is happening to the running game in todays NFL?

My opinion is that the amount of rules put in place to protect the QB and to hamstring the defense has allowed NFL Offenses to rely almost solely on a powerful aerial attack and use the ground game only in support when tough yards are needed.

It's a pretty obvious model for the NFL to follow. How do you attract fans? Big plays bring big money from (bandwagon) fans. There aren't many who want to see grind-it-out football. And imagine how much these owners would lose if their star QB or WR were to get hurt!

Let us take a look at the teams who have to rely on their rushing attacks (disregarding teams who just suck all around):

San Fran - 3-2 (losing 21-14 at the moment)
St. Louis - Winless
Tennessee - Winless
Carolina - 2-3
Washington - 2-4
Tampa Bay - Winless

NFL Offenses relying on their rushing attacks just can't keep up with modern-day offenses that can score and move the ball quickly because of the pass-happy rule changes.

Your thoughts?

[dirtybirdsdance]

this seems to be the trend in the regular season, but hardly ever does the run and gun teams win it all. Need the running game come playoff time.

[L.Rover]

If I am reading correctly, it looks like the NFL is adjusting to a multiple RB system. So where some RBs would get 100 ypg, now they are splitting that load between two RBs.

The fact that a few teams heavily rely on aerial attacks is not new, teams win in different ways.

[nuccah]

L.Rover, on 27 October 2009 - 02:55 AM, said:

If I am reading correctly, it looks like the NFL is adjusting to a multiple RB system. So where some RBs would get 100 ypg, now they are splitting that load between two RBs.

The fact that a few teams heavily rely on aerial attacks is not new, teams win in different ways.

The difference now is that more teams are relying heavily on passing attacks, and because of the more pass-favoring rules, that teams relying on their rushing attacks simply can't keep up anymore.

Unfortunately, I don't have the time to compare the stats of the RBs from this year to a few years back, but I'm sure you'd find that teams can get by with a poor QB and a very strong rushing attack.

Look at what I posted, those teams that rely on their rushing attack just can't make the cut anymore because a Defense just cannot stop these high octane offenses.

My point is, the NFL has to seriously re-evaluate all of their rule changes and start to side with the defense on some of their calls and re-train the referees into what is considered HOLDING.

[Carter]

Well it's a general fact in football that it's easier to defend the pass than it is to defend the run. That's why teams will focus so much on shutting down the run to try and make the QB pass. When you rely on the pass you open yourself up to sacks, interceptions, more fumbles... not to mention lack of clock management. It's a lot harder to score through the air in the red zone than it is to score by running. It just creates more opportunities for the defense to make a game changing play when an offense has to go through the air.

Generally, the more you pass the less time you control the ball.

While I agree that the rules have changed a lot to protect the QB and favor the offense, the basics of football are still establishing the run on offense and stopping the run on defense.

And no, I don't think RBs are being phased out at all. I think the importance of having a feature back who can haul 300 carries a season has started phasing out, with the vast majority of teams in the NFL featuring 2 or even 3 RBs that can effectively run the ball.

I think the teams that pass a lot and pass well do so because they have very good QBs.

[Mikem1193]

the teams that rely on their running games really only have a Running game. To win in this league you have to have balance and that is what those teams don't have.

[Robb4242]

I think we're trending towards a more passing offense in the NFL, but I'm not convinced that it's at a much greater pace than it's been in the past. Ever since the forward pass caught on, the league (and all football leagues) have been trending towards more passing. It's be interesting to see a chart for the last 20 years of the increase/decrease of running plays league wide as well as percentages. I don't believe we'd see a huge difference in the percentage of running plays (out of overall plays), but we would see some.

I think a lot has to do with the fact that more & more teams are going to 2 back offenses, so you don't really see the single back getting 300 carries & 1500+ yards as often as you might have in the past, and therefore it might seem like RB's are being phased out, when it's actually more RB's getting playing time.

I do agree that the NFL has gone insane in trying to make passing a bigger part of the game. DB's can't look at receivers anymore & there are QB halo rules almost with some QB's *cough* Brady *cough* that need to go away.

JMO

[nuccah]

Robb4242, on 29 October 2009 - 08:03 PM, said:

I think a lot has to do with the fact that more & more teams are going to 2 back offenses, so you don't really see the single back getting 300 carries & 1500+ yards as often as you might have in the past, and therefore it might seem like RB's are being phased out, when it's actually more RB's getting playing time.

Here's a good stat line to look at: 3 of the 4 teams representing the conferences in the NFL last season were ranked 22 (Philly), #23 (Pitt), and 31 (Ariz). Only the Ravens had a top 5 rushing offense.

Last season, 26 teams had an average of 100 yards on the ground per game.
So far this season, only 20 are averaging that number.

2 Teams are below the lowest ypg average of last season. Arizona is beating their own league-worst in that regard by 13.6 yards per game.

There is no denying that we are in a very good time for QBs, but I firmly believe that a lot of that has to do with the fact that the NFL is heavily lobbying for a passer-friendly NFL.

Like you said, DBs now a days can't make a play without second guessing if their going to get flagged because the referee has the ball in his court, because it is HE who decides what to call based on what he believes.

Let these guys play football!

[canadian falcon fan]

The hits are more vicious these days with increased blitzing (which also helps stop RBs because they're in the same area as the QB) and faster players. RBs take such a beating that very few are durable enough to be feature backs. Even the Vikings have Chester Taylor as a SOLID backup. Thus, individual RBs are not getting as many yards, but collectively I'd say rushing numbers are still there.

Furthermore, the game has evolved to the point where players no longer play a position, but rather a role. For example, 3rd down RB, goal-line RB, pass-rushing DE, etc. In a cap league you need to get something out of every dollar, and by having so many players filling in for all the necessary roles teams are able to maximize their return on investment and have fresh bodies out there (rather than burning out the same RB all the time).

[karst41]

Interesting Topic and all replies have solid foundation.

The RB is far from being phased out and in all actuality has
been setup for more explosive plays.

What has been phased out is the Low Scoring Games and that
is due to entertainment value.

Ever sit through one of those 3-0 games?
Some of those were Pure Blood and Guts Football.
Some were just really bad.

But the one thing that really needed to go was the
Open Season on QB's.

Our Atlanta Falcons Offense is the Benchmark of the NFL.

[thamill]

As the weather gets nastier this month and in December, it will be interesting to see if the run game is utilized more. Generally speaking, teams run more in December.

[karst41]

thamill, on 05 November 2009 - 12:10 PM, said:

As the weather gets nastier this month and in December, it will be interesting to see if the run game is utilized more. Generally speaking, teams run more in December.

Aww Man you would just come right out and state the obvious.

Kinda sorta liken that reply to a slush ball in the ear :lol:
+1

[thamill]

karst41, on 05 November 2009 - 05:20 PM, said:

Aww Man you would just come right out and state the obvious.

Kinda sorta liken that reply to a slush ball in the ear :lol:
+1

slush ball :lol:

[texasbirdfan]

I think the degree of difficulty has to be placed on the offensive line. A running team used to have road graders in the trenches and had no need for pass protection. The new NFL has such a mix of plays that tight ends are now being brought in with dual and triple roles because the oline needs help blocking for each situation be it run or pass.

My spin is a team that upgrades (not just a franchise type qb) but in the areas of TE and All-around versatile premium linemen in their high draft picks vs. running back or wr will succeed in the coming years