From: cowboy@hubcap.clemson.edu (Greg Barron)
Subject: RB Success/Failure (Was: Smith is NOT Sanders)    
Organization: Clemson University
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 22:54:07 GMT

sckelm@iastate.edu (Steven C Kelm) writes:

>In article <BuBLy4.JFB@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> bubba@mace.cc.purdue.edu (Gary Beason) writes:
>>Why is it that when people talk about the cut-back running of Smith,
>>they have to compare him to Sanders, who  did NOT invent the damn
>>style.  (Anyone remember Sayers or Marcus Allen?)
>>
>>All in all, it's real tiresome to hear Sanders as some kind of
>>measuring stick. 

>Truthfully, it is getting very tiresome to read the seemingly endless
>supply of posts about "Sanders is the best" or "Thomas is the best"
><insert your favorite football player here>.  It seems rather obvious 
>to me, as it should to everyone else, that a running backs success is 
>highly dependent on his offensive line.  If you don't agree with this

(worthy comments deleted for space)


I do agree with this, but you can't deny that each running back is
different.  I think what people argue about the most is how RBs match
up in their individual talents and abilities.  No real point to it--
everyone's good at something, and not so good at something else. 
Even out of football :^).  So what folks end up debating over is 
a player's potential, based on his skills/training and physical prowess.

Whether or not an RB has on-field success is something different.
A lot of *external* factors at work here, along with the personal
characteristics of the back. 

* Is the offense one-dimensional?  Is it predictable?
  Last Sunday night the Broncos figured out that every time
  the Raiders lined up in the I, Dickerson was gonna get the
  ball.  Even the announcers noticed.  While early in the game,
  E.D. had some success, *late* in the game, the Broncos were
  bringing up LB's and safeties and stuffing him. He finished
  with 58 yards on 22 carries.  Also, a more consistent passing
  game would have made the defense play the whole field, instead
  of allowing them to "cheat up" to the line of scrimmage. 

* Does he have quality blockers?  No explanation necessary.
  Remember Tony Dorsett's 99 1/2 yard run against the Vikings
  on MNF?  Sure, he just exploded thru the hole his linemen
  made (good work by him and them), but he wouldn't have gone
  all the way if not for WR Drew Pearson running interference
  for him downfield.  And WR Cliff Branch threw a lot of good
  blocks to help Marcus Allen to an MVP performance vs. the
  Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII.  In each case, a franchise
  player's ability combined with a *team* blocking effort.

* Are the coaches/management committed to the RB's success?
  Do they believe in him as a player?  If not, he won't 
  get enough work to have a full impact.  Earnest Byner has
  been used well by the Redskins, since the Browns decided
  that a part-time, 3rd down project (Mike Oliphant) was 
  better for them than a proven, versatile impact player.
  Mike Lynn wanted Herschel Walker, but Jerry Burns didn't.
  As a result, he never really fit into their scheme of things
  offensively. (Disclaimer:  Walker was never happy with the 
  trade, didn't want to leave Dallas---and why not?  With the
  offense designed around him completely, he was a Pro Bowler.
  A lot of people talk about him like he *forced* that trade,
  or something.  He didn't always play like he was interested
  after he went to the Vikings.  But he's a professional. It's
  his job. I'm not making excuses for him.)  Now that he's with
  the Philly-birds (shudder), he's probably gonna have some
  real impact. 


I know there's no way to cover it all in this one message (I
didn't even mention schedule strength).  Nowhere in sports,
IMHO, are players so dependent on one another as on offense
in football. Not even football defense, where a Reggie White,
Bruce Smith, Lawrence Taylor, Ronnie Lott, etc. can make the
individual plays despite the failings of his teammates.  It's
more difficult to have a solo impact on offense (esp. for a RB).


But this is just my twenty cents' worth. 
What do you think?

"The ramblings of yet-another-crazed-Cowboy-fan."

GO 'BOYZ!  Beat them there Giants.....! 

##################################################### 
Gregory Alan Barron                Clemson University 
cowboy@hubcap.clemson.edu, cowboy@clemson.clemson.edu
#####################################################
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro