01-18-2019, 12:06 PM
(01-18-2019, 11:27 AM)fredtoast Wrote: Yards per carry numbers can be a little deceiving. It is hard to decide if the credit goes to the RB or the O-line.
Footballoutsiders uses a formula to grade the O-lines and RBs that gives more blame for stuffs and tackles or loss to the O-line and more credit for yards gained 10+ yards past the line of scrimmage to the RB. Based on this "Adjusted Line Yards" our O-line was 22 in run blocking. Our RBs were 3rd in the league in "open field yards" which accounted for our high yards-per-carry.
But our O-line did grade well (7th) in short yardage situations which is very important. My theory is that a team does not have to rush for a high number of yards, but it absolutely has to be able to run effectively in crucial short yardage situations.
They had this debate on NFL radio one morning on the way to work. Does the line make the RB, or does the RB make the line. The concensus was a greatd RB can make a poor line look decent (ala Mixon), but a good line can make an average RB great... we need line help in just a couple of spots.