A Look at the advantages and disadvantages of the running back
by committee offense in pro football.
The 19th Century author Honoré de Balzac said that "Power is not revealed by
striking hard or often, but by striking true". Of course he was probably
referring to something entirely irrelevant from football, but the statement
holds true nonetheless. The ability to run the football does not come from
continuously running the rock into the gut of opposing defenses, but from taking
advantage of what you have at your disposal and using it when it will be at it's
most effective. Of course, having a talented back is the first step towards
building the foundations of a dominant ground game, but without other important
elements, the term "Tackled for Loss" will be a commonly uttered phrase by
sports analysts covering your games. The most prime example of this would be the
situation in the desert for Arizona. You can have as many Edges as you want, but
when the line is unable to facilitate his slashing style the offense becomes one
dimensional quick fast. A problem Dennis Green has had to suffer with for a long
time.
But what happens when you have all the pieces to the running game. An offensive
line that can open up running lanes on a regular basis and consistently block
downfield. A stud running back that can take advantage of said running lanes and
help the team run out the clock when necessary. Well, many would say that that
is an ideal situation to be in, for now, but it's always handy to have
insurances in case disasters were to strike. Thus, we're almost halfway through
the season and we are seeing an abundance of teams using two running backs in
their offensive sets, some to great effect. 4 of the 8 teams that sit atop their
conferences after week 7 have all consistently used a "1-2 punch" style running
game. It's also interesting to note, every team that is bottom of it's
conference, excluding perhaps the Titans, base their running game solely on the
shoulders of their one running back with the occasional subbing in of a 3rd down
back.
Is it merely a coincidence that the two remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL, The
Bears (6-0) and The Colts, have utilized two running backs to get where they are
now? Perhaps. It's common knowledge that Indianapolis doesn't win it's games
through it's back's legs but by the arm of Peyton Manning if anything, and some
may argue that the Bears offense has succeeded due to a resurgent Rex Grossman.
However other teams that have started strongly have also utilized the same
approach. New England and New Orleans both used their 1st round draft picks on
running backs in this May's draft, and rookies Reggie Bush and Laurence Maroney
have already began to contribute extensively for their teams whilst sharing time
in the backfield with other successful and experienced backs in Deuce and Corey.
So what does having a dominating rushing duo do for a team? Ask Mike Shanahan.
Last year, his Broncos traveled to the conference championship game with a hefty
13-3 record, whilst it's ground game consisted of two backs, who complimented
each other well. Mike Anderson and Tatum bell rushed for a combined 1935 yards
and 20 TD's. Now, it's very unlikely that a single running back could have
amassed those tallies and 412 carries, without seriously endangering his playing
career for the future (See Jamal Lewis, who has not been the same since his 2003
blowout). Thus, it's fair to say, that having two running backs capable of
carrying the load helped immensely in the Broncos trip to the AFC conference
game.
The advantages of having two runners are weighty in number. First of all, the
Anti-Jamal Lewis situation. Last year, Corey Dillon looked as if he was on his
way out, as his bruising running style started to take it's toll on the 1-time
super bowl winner's body. However the injection of a little youth in the form of
rookie Laurence Maroney has reinvigorated the old guard to up his game and both
running backs are putting up solid numbers so far this season. The introduction
of the running by committee style offense in New England has probably preserved
Corey's NFL career for at least another year after this. That is unless Maroney
breaks out in a big way, which from watching his performances this year, may
only be a year or two away.
Sharing carries allows the backs to stay fresh, whilst the opposing defense's
linebackers are puffed out on the sidelines. It also allows the offense to have
a wider array of options with two different styles of runners. Obviously New
England is a prime example, but if you were looking for a team that uses it's
running backs in multiple different sets with great success, then look no
further than New Orleans. Coming out of college, Reggie Bush held very high
expectations upon his shoulders and whilst his running skills haven't perhaps
provided the oohs and aahs that some of us envisaged, it's his receiving skills
that have opposing defenses on the backfoot. Bush's ability to catch out of the
backfield was one of the main reasons he was named the Heisman trophy winner as
an underclassmen. You want to know why the previously unknown 7th round rookie
out of Hofstra, Marques Colston is having such a great rookie season? Look no
further than the significant impact Reggie Bush has on the Saints' offense.
Defenses know what he is capable of, and are forced to account for it. When
Reggie moves out of the backfield and lines up as a receiver, do you dare cover
him with a linebacker? Can anyone say "Mis-Match". Therefore the safety
has to do the job, leaving Colston in one-on-one coverage, which 6th year QB
Drew Brees is very much aware of.
In other situations where different running styles compliment each other, we
return to New England. Whilst Corey Dillon is a renowned, take no names,
downhill runner, his other half, Maroney has a much more shifty, one-cut
technique. Therefore defenses have to know who is in the game, and account for
it by say, tackling the right guy appropriately. If you don't wrap up corey
Dillon when he has a head of steam, there's a chance the next time you'll see
him, you'll be flat on your back and Corey will be celebrating in the end zone.
As for the disadvantages towards having such a varied offense, it is difficult
to pick any significant weaknesses such an approach has, but alas, nothing's
perfect. When you have two running backs with such vastly different running
characteristics, it is sometimes possible for the more astute defenses around
the league to read the upcoming play. The runner and yardage situation dictates
the coverage and defensive look shown which can hamper a QB's reads at the line.
Other than this, the only other disadvantage that seems feasible is having such
an offensive style cause friction in the locker room. Everyone knows about the
highly publicized remarks made by the unsatisfied receivers in the leagues, but
it's rare to see a running back complain about not getting the ball enough
because he is the team's man. The man to do all the carrying when called upon.
However dropping another RB into the mix can be like dropping a new male into a
lion's pen at the zoo. The friction can be a detriment to the team's harmony and
things can spiral out of control. It's rare, but possible.
Now seeing as last year, the Broncos, and to a certain extent the Pittsburgh
Steelers employed the back by committee regime successfully, we have seen more
and more teams try it out. This May's draft was stock full of talent in the
running back field, and many of those drafted are starting to become significant
factors for their respective teams. A look ahead to next year's draft sees an
arguably more diverse group of runners available for the taking. With such
success brewing from the use of two backs simultaneously, how anyone can predict
where a certain running back will be drafted is beyond me. Sure, it's fair to
say teams like the Browns, Packers and Ravens are all in need of some help at
the running back position, but who's to say a head coach won't be able to resist
the idea of lining up a tandem of
talented RB's to 1-2 punch it's way to a ring before the other teams are even on
the clock come draft day.
