Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

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  • Saratoga Slim
    Registered User
    • Jul 2005
    • 4154
    #1

    Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

    I'm just throwing this out there for discussion, but if you look at the strong playoff teams and the rest of the top-ten offenses, almost all of them have two running backs that split time, as opposed to relying on a single workhorse RB to carry the full load.

    New England: Dillon and Maroney
    Indy: Addai and Rhodes
    Chicago: Jones and Benson
    New Orleans: McAllister and Bush
    Philly: Westbrook and Buckhalter

    Then there are the teams which rely heavily on their feature back, but have a backup who brings something different to the table than their feature back, and whom they employ in certain situations whether or not the main back is winded. San Diego (LT and Turner), Giants (Tiki/Jacobs) and Cowboys (Jones/Barber) are examples of this.

    My point is that there seems to be a trend among the more effective offenses in the league to employ alternative weapons at the RB spot, and thus get more out of that position. Whereas I see us with two principal backs who offer very similar talent sets, with Mcgahee being just slightly more explosive. Thus there's usually little reason to put Thomas in the game unless McGahee is hurt or winded.

    While I see Thomas as a phenomenal safety valve in the event McGahee gets hurt, I can't help but wonder if we'd have a more versatile offense with a quick, explosive kind of backup in the Reggie Bush/Leon Washington mold as an alternative to McGahee's skill set. Or similarly, if it would be smart to dump McGahee in favor of quicker, more explosive back and keep Thomas for shorter yardage situations where we need someone to bang between the tackles.

    I guess I'm just looking for ways to see more weapons on offense, outside of the standard upgrade-the-#2 receiver tactics.

    Thoughts?
    Wake up, brush your teeth, and get ready for a day of hating the Dolphins. Or the Pats? How to choose?
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    • 👍 3
  • HHURRICANE
    Registered User
    • Mar 2005
    • 15490
    #2
    Re: Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

    Were drafting a RB, no doubt. Could be a late round but one is getting drafted for sure. If we fill many vacancies through FA than don't be surprised with a second round RB.

    Comment

    • PECKERWOOD
      Defies all logic
      • Oct 2006
      • 13170
      #3
      Re: Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

      I think Buffalo needs some talent at RB.. Michael Bush in the 2nd round is my pick. Probably won't happen, but I can dream. A true talent at RB could do wonders for this team. For one, if Willis plays poor we can bench him. For two, Willis plays better with somebody riding his ass. ( see Frank Gore and Travis Henry.. ) Last case scenario, if Willis plays well and Bush were to play well, we would have a solid run game.

      Comment

      • ShadowHawk7
        Ground your Jets Vilma, no way you're shooting this guy down.
        • Mar 2003
        • 2274
        #4
        Re: Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

        Would anyone trade a 2nd rounder for McGahee? If so, I'd pounce on that, and grab a RB with a skill set similar to Reggie Bush to complement Thomas.
        "It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game."
        -Vince Lombardi

        Comment

        • YardRat
          Well, lookie here...
          • Dec 2004
          • 86291
          #5
          Re: Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

          Thurman Thomes/Kenneth Davis in the glory years. Hell, Don Smith scored the first TD for Buffalo against the Giants.

          I think it's a very valid argument and would like to see the Bills implement more of a one-two punch from the RB position next year.
          YardRat Wall of Fame
          #56 DARRYL TALLEY           #29 DERRICK BURROUGHS#22 FRED JACKSON #95 KYLE WILLIAMS

          Comment

          • Coach Sal
            Registered User
            • Aug 2006
            • 2475
            #6
            Re: Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

            Originally posted by Saratoga Slim
            I'm just throwing this out there for discussion, but if you look at the strong playoff teams and the rest of the top-ten offenses, almost all of them have two running backs that split time, as opposed to relying on a single workhorse RB to carry the full load.

            New England: Dillon and Maroney
            Indy: Addai and Rhodes
            Chicago: Jones and Benson
            New Orleans: McAllister and Bush
            Philly: Westbrook and Buckhalter
            I think your perception of a few of those situations is off. The only two teams on that list that I would consider their RB's "splitting time" are New England and Indy, especially if you compare all of them to the Bills situation:

            (# of carries in parenthesis)

            Definite Split:
            New England: Dillon (199) and Maroney (175) - difference of 24
            Indy: Addai (226) and Rhodes (187) - difference of 39
            ***********
            Almost feature:
            New Orleans: McAllister (244) and Bush (155) - difference of 89
            ***********
            Feature:
            Chicago: Jones (296) and Benson (157) - difference of 139
            Philly: Westbrook (240) and Buckhalter (83) - difference of 157
            Buffalo: McGahee (259) and Thomas (107) - difference of 152

            Even a difference of 89 (New Orleans case) is over 5.5 carries a game.

            I understand your point, but I don't think those situations are splitting time as much as you believe.

            There's more than one way to skin a cat. Teams have won SB's with feature backs, and teams have won with two guys who split carries.
            Last edited by Coach Sal; 01-15-2007, 11:34 PM.
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            Comment

            • Saratoga Slim
              Registered User
              • Jul 2005
              • 4154
              #7
              Re: Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

              Originally posted by Coach Sal
              I think your perception of a few of those situations is off. The only two teams on that list that I would consider their RB's "splitting time" are New England and Indy, especially if you compare all of them to the Bills situation:

              (# of carries in parenthesis)

              Definite Split:
              New England: Dillon (199) and Maroney (175) - difference of 24
              Indy: Addai (226) and Rhodes (187) - difference of 39
              ***********
              Almost feature:
              New Orleans: McAllister (244) and Bush (155) - difference of 89
              ***********
              Feature:
              Chicago: Jones (296) and Benson (157) - difference of 139
              Philly: Westbrook (240) and Buckhalter (83) - difference of 157
              Buffalo: McGahee (259) and Thomas (107) - difference of 152

              Even a difference of 89 (New Orleans case) is over 5.5 carries a game.

              I understand your point, but I don't think those situations are splitting time as much as you believe.

              There's more than one way to skin a cat. Teams have won SB's with feature backs, and teams have won with two guys who split carries.
              You're probably right, I didn't do much of a statistical analysis, I was mostly going on my general impressions. But in any event, whether or not the top ten offenses split time equally a between RBs wasn't my point. My point was that most of those offenses have two different weapons at the RB position, while we really only have one (or at least one TYPE of weapon, as McGahee and Thomas offer similar styles).

              Incidentally, I think the split between McGahee and Thomas would appear even more drastic in favor of McGahee when you consider that 67 of Thomas' 107 carries came while McGahee was out with the rib injury sustained during the Green Bay game. Thus, Thomas averaged about 3 carries a game when McGahee was healthy. That makes it pretty clear that Thomas is really a backup for when McGahee is hurt or tired, not an alternative weapon.
              Wake up, brush your teeth, and get ready for a day of hating the Dolphins. Or the Pats? How to choose?

              Comment

              • The King
                Without me it's just Awe so
                • Jun 2004
                • 42380
                #8
                Re: Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

                I think Dunn and Duckett was the best example of the change of pace back.
                I remember that one fateful day when Coach took me aside. I knew what was coming. "You don't have to tell me," I said. "I'm off the team, aren't I?"
                "Well," said Coach, "you never were really ON the team. You made that uniform you're wearing out of rags and towels, and your helmet is a toy space helmet.
                You show up at practice and then either steal the ball and make us chase you to get it back, or you try to tackle people at inappropriate times."
                It was all                 true what he was saying. And yet, I thought something is brewing inside the head of this Coach.
                He sees something in me, some kind of raw talent that he can                 mold. But that's when I felt the handcuffs go on.


                Comment

                • Saratoga Slim
                  Registered User
                  • Jul 2005
                  • 4154
                  #9
                  Re: Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

                  Originally posted by MBBedard
                  I think Dunn and Duckett was the best example of the change of pace back.
                  Or Vick and Dunn!
                  Wake up, brush your teeth, and get ready for a day of hating the Dolphins. Or the Pats? How to choose?

                  Comment

                  • G. Host
                    Banned
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 10298
                    #10
                    Re: Is relying on one RB getting the most out of that position?

                    I think we need a battering ram big back more than a quick back. You mean Willis who was supposedly going to be drafted #1 before injury has not gained his pre-hype speed yet?

                    Comment

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