running backs

[Bengals1690]

doesn't it seem that good running backs are a dime a dozen recently? I mean, you can have great ones like LT and LJ, but it really seems that a coach can take any back with a little speed and get 1000 yards out of him. Ladell Betts got 1000 yards last season. It also seems that teams are going more with the 2 RB approach, and together the backs often top 1200. And rookies with no NFL experience come in and get close to 1000. Why? Is the pool of NFL caliber RBs that deep and talented? And how will this affect th draft.

sorry if i sound crazy

[stephenson86]

its sily, so many backs can run for 1000 yards

[BuckNaked]

its sily, so many backs can run for 1000 yards

STEPHENSON!!!

[BuddyCHRIST]

they are, but not quite as much as people think. 1,000 yards isn't a big deal at all anymore since you only have to average a little over 60 yards a game.

[HoopsDemon12]

Ya im not really impressed until they have atleast 1500 yards in a season....its the new 1000(Y)

[bored of education]

1400 is the new 1000

[KCJ58]

1400 is the new 1000

agreed!!!!!

[RaVeNFaNaCtIc]

1400 is the new 1000

yea, elite backs should be getting 1500+ yards.

[bernbabybern820]

good line>>>>>good back

[Splat]

I would take a great line with a good back over a great back and a good line any day of the weak.

[draftguru151]

5>1 if you get what I'm saying.

[Ward]

Good runningbacks seem to be common, yet there are maybe 10 quarterbacks in the league you can really hang your hat on as dependable.

[princefielder28]

I don't believe that 1000 yards should be that big of a benchmark in today's game. It's under 70 yards a game and with the way athletes are trained now-a-days 25 carries a games isn't difficult so realistically a player could average under 3 yards per carry and still achieve 1000 yards. Now 1500 yards is quite an accomplishment b/c that's almost 100 yards a game and it signifies that you've stayed fairly healthy through the duration of the season.

[Splat]

I agree about 1300 yards IMO is the old 1000 and 1500 yards is a really good year 1700 or more and it is more then just the line you are a great RB.

[Moses]

I don't believe that 1000 yards should be that big of a benchmark in today's game. It's under 70 yards a game and with the way athletes are trained now-a-days 25 carries a games isn't difficult so realistically a player could average under 3 yards per carry and still achieve 1000 yards. Now 1500 yards is quite an accomplishment b/c that's almost 100 yards a game and it signifies that you've stayed fairly healthy through the duration of the season.

25 carries is a huge workload. There are only a handful of players in the NFL who could handle that. They would also have to be very lucky to not be injured with that type of workload.

[draftguru151]

I think there are now 5 players to average 25 carries a game (400 carries a year) with the addition of LJ this season.

[BlindSite]

good line>>>>>good back

Agreed, Foster and Williams did very well considering they had no line. Last two years foster's been running behind scrubs and our running game has sucked because of it.

[stephenson86]

STEPHENSON!!!

BUCK!!!!!!

[Caddy]

It can also help if you have a consistent QB. That way the opposing defense's aren't always putting 8 men in the box and stuffing the run, ala Buccaneers 06.

[eaglesalltheway]

I would take a great line with a good back over a great back and a good line any day of the weak.

That is about a well as anyone could have said it, except "weak".

[Empire]

I don't believe that 1000 yards should be that big of a benchmark in today's game. It's under 70 yards a game and with the way athletes are trained now-a-days 25 carries a games isn't difficult so realistically a player could average under 3 yards per carry and still achieve 1000 yards. Now 1500 yards is quite an accomplishment b/c that's almost 100 yards a game and it signifies that you've stayed fairly healthy through the duration of the season.

Not even close actually. 25 carries a game over a 16 game season is 400 carries. Few running backs can do that over a complete season. The only RB to do that last season was LJ and the second highest total was only 348 or 21.75 carries a game. So no, 25 carries a game is very difficult.

[OhioState]

runnigbacks come off the street. The jets upgraded their line considerably and the same team that couldn't make Curtis Martin look good(before his injury last year) made Leon Washington look good.

[BuckNaked]

BUCK!!!!!!

Where have you been man?

[skinzzfan25]

It's not the RB, it's the system. That's why Denver always has nice running backs due to their zone blocking scheme which is very RB friendly.

Betts is nice, but the Skins' line was playing out of its mind towards the end of the season. 1000 yards with Betts in there would have been 1300-1400 with Portis.

[Dam8610]

1400 is the new 1000

more like 1200

[bigbluedefense]

Oline is always more important than RB. RBs are dime a dozen. And with durability in the NFL reaching lower levels due to the speed of the collisions, you want 2 able backs who can stay fresh over a year opposed to one RB who will wear down at the end of the season.

[cunningham06]

more like 1200

I agree, 1200 sounds about right. That and Westbrook rushed for 1217 this season.

[dhoe20]

I would take a great line with a good back over a great back and a good line any day of the weak.

Barry Sanders = Great back with a mediocre line. Say whatever you want about an O-Line, LDT is a game breaker with or without a good line.

[R.I.P DWILL DNASH]

Since 1000 is an easier accomplishment, 1500 should be the number to beat.

[terribletowel39]

Barry Sanders = Great back with a mediocre line. Say whatever you want about an O-Line, LDT is a game breaker with or without a good line.

agreed except Sanders didn't even have a mediocre line. there line was attrocious. but then again guys like barry sanders gale sayers and LT are the exception to the rule. those guys can make it happen with one guy blocking for them.