03-21-2016, 12:42 PM
(03-21-2016, 11:25 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: The point is, Hill is NOT a good runner up the middle. He never has been. It is actually his worst direction to run, and he is below 3.8 YPC in TWO of the three directions in between the tackles.... Gio is a superior runner up the middle with above a 4.2 YPC in all three of the directions in between the tackles.. Someone started this whole "oh, Gio needs to go outside and Hill up the middle" talk and it apparently became "fact" somewhere along the lines, but it's utter nonsense.
Hill's average up the middle is skewed because he carried the ball more in short yardage situations.
Over the last two season Hill has carried more than twice as often as Gio (74 to 36) when there was 2 yards or less needed for a firstdown/touchdown.
That being said I do believe that Gio can be effective running up the middle. A smaller back is often able to hit the hole quicker than a big back which can be an advantage running up the middle. But those type of runs also wear smaller backs down faster. So I have no problem with Gio running up the middle as long as he is not doing it 10-15 times a game.
