Why having 2 RBs is KEY

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/01/06/wild.card/4.html

Quote:

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Stat of the Week
An interesting trend continued in 2007: Coaches won't burn out their starting running backs. Checking out the rushing-attempt leaders in '06 vs. the leaders this year. You can see teams are going more and more with platoon systems in the backfield to make sure their ball-carriers are around for full seasons.


2006 Att.


















2007 Att.
1. Larry Johnson, K.C. 416






1. Clinton Portis, Wash. 325
2. LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. 348

2. Edgerrin James, Ariz. 324
3. Steven Jackson, St.L 346





3. Willie Parker, Pit. 321
4. Rudi Johnson, Cin. 341






4. LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. 315
5. Edgerrin James, Ariz. 337




5. Thomas Jones, Jets 310
5. Willie Parker, Pit. 337







6. LenDale White, Ten. 303
7. Tiki Barber, NYG 327








7. Jamal Lewis, Clev. 298
8. Jamal Lewis, Balt. 314







8. Willis McGahee, Balt. 294
9. Frank Gore, S.F. 312








9. Marshawn Lynch, Buf. 280
10. Chester Taylor, Minn. 303




10. Brian Westbrook, Phi. 278

Seven rushers in '06 carried the ball more times than any rusher carried it in '07. Of the hardest workers in 2006, one retired (Barber), while five were injured for some or most of '07 (Larry and Rudi Johnson, Jackson, Parker and Taylor). Of the 10 busiest rushers in '07, only one of them -- Parker -- finished the year injured, so it's clear that teams are having better luck keeping their runners healthy through December.

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Thought this was a GREAT stat.

=Z=

Of course you know the old saying about stats ;)


Tomlinson had fewer carries because they were behind do often in the first half of the year they had to pass disproportionally in order to try to catch up. He averaged only 2 less carries a game. Do you have a stat for how many plays he was on the field? You can take as much abuse blocking a defensive end or blitzing LB as you can rushing. Also, how many catches did he have?

I am not sure how they are able to pin the blame Johnson's 600 yards and being placed on IR on last year. Was he wore down? Maybe but you cannot guarantee it had to do with his carries.

It's good food for thought....

Its a good stat, but ... teams also threw the ball more this year as well. The avg. team threw 33.3 passes per game this year ... a full 1.2 attempts more per game then last year ... and a total of 660 more passes thrown this year.
Rushing attempts league wide went down from 28.2 to 27.3 ... which means 461 less carries to go around. Expect this trend to continue under the new hands off receivers rules in the last couple of years.

Although league wide passing is up, we are still a run first team and I would like us to retain Chester Taylor one more season. It only takes one injury to take your best player down, and having a good number two is very important. It just keeps a guy fresher down the stretch of a long season, and wears out defense's during games, and as a running team having 2-3 good backs will always be a key factor in late season games.

the best thing about 07 is :

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of Minneapolis a Saviour, which is Purple Jesus. - First Book of AD 1 - 4:5

Thanks Zeus