Rushing attack-How important?

[jfkbengals]

(07-20-2018, 08:37 AM)Au165 Wrote: The attempts thing was in regards to Lapham. My comment still stands using Rushing Yards Per Game, you are more likely to have more rushing yards if you rush more, you tend to rush more when you are winning. You saying they were able to run successfully is a bit misleading as well as yards per game is not indicative of success, yards per attempt is more relative to success as I can run 50 times for 2 yards a carry, but running 20 times for 5 yards a carry was much more successful.

50 rushes for 2 yards per carry is still the winning team.

Each team, on average, gets 12 or less drives per game.  If you never throw a single pass and never get a first down, 50 rushes at 2 per carry would equate to 16+ drives.  And we know that isn't really the way it works out.  Unless your opponent went up by 40 in the first quarter and you are trying to insure the clock will not stop, 50 carries is a virtual guarantee of a win, regardless of the yards per carry.

Meanwhile, a team trailing by 28 entering the second half can easily exceed 5 yards a carry and 100 yards on the ground in that half, as everyone is playing the pass.

You can't have a high number of carries without being ahead or even on the scoreboard, which is why Lapham brings it up.  A large number of carries means the scoreboard and clock are in your favor, and your defense is not gassed.  Even at 2 yards per carry...

(07-20-2018, 06:09 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Anyone who would think that not having a good rushing attack, or at least the proven ability to run the ball with success consistently, are just fooling themselves.  Teams that can't run the ball don't get labeled as "one dimensional" for nothing, by not being able to successfully move the ball on the ground, it makes the defenses job so much easier.


I still hold onto the philosophy that says the way to build a strong, winning football team is from the inside out.  On defense that means putting a premium on DT, LB, and S, and on offense you must covet dominate OL, durable backs and a smart QB.  If you have strong players at those positions, you can just about plug and play anyone at the CB and WR positions, and be highly competitive.

In 2012 everyone and their mother's claimed the rushing attack was a thing of the past.

Then the Seahawks won the SB in dominating fashion by shutting down the run and running the ball at will

Then they did it again, except someone decided to NOT run the ball on the goal line...

The ground game is still of utmost importance.  If you can consistently get three yards and a cloud of dust on the ground, I can throw 3 TD's off of PA passes...