If theres one thing about watching the Broncos.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Its the realization of how little teams run the ball in this league. They had 130 yards rushing in the first quarter. They basically mauled the N.E front 7 for a large portion of the game.

The league is devoid of true power runners and even the elite backs run out of spread formations for the most part. It was funny seeing Felix Jones last two games. For some oddball reason hes been ducking his head , initiating contact and running up the gut with purpose. For a fragile guy I found it odd. Perhaps hes scared to lose his job ? Then an interview nugget reveals that sitting on the bench watching Murray he realized he needed to run with more authority and toughness. Was this not coached into him earlier ?

Theres just something very satisfying about seeing a team just man up and run over the front 7 of the other team. Theres a bunch of talented runners in this league I wish they'd be used more.Especially since defenses probably arent adept to stopping it anymore.

[Senser81]

Its the realization of how little teams run the ball in this league. They had 130 yards rushing in the first quarter. They basically mauled the N.E front 7 for a large portion of the game.

The league is devoid of true power runners and even the elite backs run out of spread formations for the most part. It was funny seeing Felix Jones last two games. For some oddball reason hes been ducking his head , initiating contact and running up the gut with purpose. For a fragile guy I found it odd. Perhaps hes scared to lose his job ? Then an interview nugget reveals that sitting on the bench watching Murray he realized he needed to run with more authority and toughness. Was this not coached into him earlier ?

Theres just something very satisfying about seeing a team just man up and run over the front 7 of the other team. Theres a bunch of talented runners in this league I wish they'd be used more.Especially since defenses probably arent adept to stopping it anymore.

Agreed. Pittsburgh used to be a mauler team, but now their offensive line is so terrible that they have trouble getting 3 yards per carry. Teams just don't want to commit to the power running game. Norv Turner has Tolbert and Matthews...Matthews is terrible and always fumbles, yet the only time Tolbert gets the ball is when Matthews is out with injury.

Similar to Felix Jones, I've noticed that Brandon Jacobs of the Giants only runs hard when he's losing carries to Ahmad Bradshaw. When Bradshaw is healthy, Jacobs is a beast. When Bradshaw is hurt, Jacobs doesn't try at all. Weird.

[Houston]

Apparently teams with running backs capable of doing this choose not to.


The Ravens for example. Ray Rice was averaging over 5 yards a carry but was only allowed 10 runs. Instead they chose to play the "how many more INTs can Flacco throw?" game.

[Mogriffjr]

Shonn Greene has turned it up lately but our offensive line has been blocking better of late...he's been running hard, plowing through guys and making the Jets offense worth something the first 80 yards shy of the redzone. I, too, think he was challenged...he was running like shit and LT was just starting to get a tadbit more carries, as well as McKnight (who was playing great on ST and making plays).

[j.hen]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFcIbecfUhU"]Michael Tuner throws Weems into another guy for a block - YouTube[/ame]

[NAHSTE]

It will eventually cycle back to power running for the reason you mention. Defenses are becoming lighter and faster, to the point where eventually there won't be any more mismatches on the perimeter, but there will be plenty between the tackles.

Just give it time.

[Rudi]

The main reason the Bengals won the division in '09 was because we ran the fuck out of Ced Benson between the tackles. Just wore teams down, and didn't require a whole lot out of the passing game. Run the ball and Play D was the motto.

Something I never quite understand is the Ravens not getting Ray Rice the ball 25+ times a game.

[ZoneBlitz]

It will eventually cycle back to power running for the reason you mention. Defenses are becoming lighter and faster, to the point where eventually there won't be any more mismatches on the perimeter, but there will be plenty between the tackles.

Just give it time.

Motherfucker, i was about to say this.

This cycle has already slowly began in college football.

[Tailback U]

The Raiders, especially before DMC went down, were another run first team. Bush is a nice bruiser but without DMC the Raiders have lost a ton of of explosiveness and have trouble putting drives together.

[Tailback U]

Almost forgot about SF too. They are stout on both sides of the LOS. As physical as any team in the league.

[s@ppisgod]

I really expect running games to pick back up when teams adjust to offenses. Not to power runners, but to guys like Felix Jones, LeSean McCoy, Darren McFadden. The more teams run out of 4-wide sets and use TEs to run down the seam all game like NE, the more teams are going to go smaller. There's not a lot of LBs who can cover and play the run very stoutly. And by taking more LBs off the field and replacing them with DBs, you're just waiting to get gashed on the ground. One well-blocked play against these dime Ds only needs one missed tackle or one blitz to the wrong side to break a 20 yard run. I think you'll see more players averaging 5+ yards per carry. I mean, even Reggie Bush, a player known to not be a very good inside runner, is going through the middle and having success.
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

[Warner2BruceTD]

The main reason the Bengals won the division in '09 was because we ran the fuck out of Ced Benson between the tackles. Just wore teams down, and didn't require a whole lot out of the passing game. Run the ball and Play D was the motto.

Something I never quite understand is the Ravens not getting Ray Rice the ball 25+ times a game.

I thought it was funny that year, beacuse the CIN OL was basically mauling people, opening up gigantic holes for Benson, who would then run directly in a straight line for however many yards until first contact, where he would immediately be tackled.

It worked because the line was so good, and it was funny listening to fantasy geeks rave about Benson to the point that people were believing he had turned some kind of corner and was now an elite RB. In reality, almost anybody would have had a big year for the Bengals in 2009, with the great line and commitment to running the ball. Benson was still the same average guy with average skills who excelled at nothing.

[ralaw]

.............he realized he needed to run with more authority and toughness

Speaking of which, when I watch Marshawn Lynch run I think two things are going to happen.....Either he is going to hurt a defender or he is going to hurt himself. That dude runs with authority and a purpose.

BEAST MODE!!

[Senser81]

I thought it was funny that year, beacuse the CIN OL was basically mauling people, opening up gigantic holes for Benson, who would then run directly in a straight line for however many yards until first contact, where he would immediately be tackled.

It worked because the line was so good, and it was funny listening to fantasy geeks rave about Benson to the point that people were believing he had turned some kind of corner and was now an elite RB. In reality, almost anybody would have had a big year for the Bengals in 2009, with the great line and commitment to running the ball. Benson was still the same average guy with average skills who excelled at nothing.

Cedric Benson is one of the least impressive "good" RB I have ever seen. He is the living embodiment of the mathematical equation that if you get 63 yards rushing per game, then you will be a 1000-yard RB.

[Villain]