CFZ Running backs today

[erod]

What happened to running backs in the NFL? They're so fragile and soft in comparison to just a few years ago.

Barry Sanders was still at the top of his game when he hung it up after 10 years.

Emmitt played 15 years. So did Adrian Peterson.

Earnest Byner played 14, Jerome Bettis 13, Thurman Thomas 13, Ricky Watters 10, Eddie George 9, and a long list of guys played 8 seasons.

Nowadays, it's magical if a guy can play 6 seasons and still be worth a crap. Why?

The game isn't as physical as it was in the 90s and 00s. Guys played hurt and through concussions a lot more.

Running backs used to have a lot more carries than they do today. Two-back systems weren't utilized much.

Is it the money? Laziness? Lack of commitment? Social media distractions?

The breed of running backs had changed.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Frank Gore played forever too.

Bob Hayes pointed out how even though this is the player safety era players are playing less than before.

I personally think it is due to the players union effectively abolishing practice that is the culprit.

 

[Coogiguy03]

NO, rod THEY GET THE MONEY AND TURN INTO DUDS!!!!

 

[erod]

Frank Gore played forever too.

Bob Hayes pointed out how even though this is the player safety era players are playing less than before.

I personally think it is due to the players union effectively abolishing practice that is the culprit.

Yeah, he played 16 right up until lately. The last old school dude.

The lack of practice is a good point, too.

 

[LatinMind]

What happened to running backs in the NFL? They're so fragile and soft in comparison to just a few years ago.

Barry Sanders was still at the top of his game when he hung it up after 10 years.

Emmitt played 15 years. So did Adrian Peterson.

Earnest Byner played 14, Jerome Bettis 13, Thurman Thomas 13, Ricky Watters 10, Eddie George 9, and a long list of guys played 8 seasons.

Nowadays, it's magical if a guy can play 6 seasons and still be worth a crap. Why?

The game isn't as physical as it was in the 90s and 00s. Guys played hurt and through concussions a lot more.

Running backs used to have a lot more carries than they do today. Two-back systems weren't utilized much.

Is it the money? Laziness? Lack of commitment? Social media distractions?

The breed of running backs had changed.

I think it's the lack of practices. These guys are jogging thru the week, 1 day in pads basically. Got a lot of time on their hands, partying, takes it's toll.

Elliot's dedicated now. Imagine if he would've been this dedicated in the offseason when his body was right.

 

[CowboyRoy]

What happened to running backs in the NFL? They're so fragile and soft in comparison to just a few years ago.

Barry Sanders was still at the top of his game when he hung it up after 10 years.

Emmitt played 15 years. So did Adrian Peterson.

Earnest Byner played 14, Jerome Bettis 13, Thurman Thomas 13, Ricky Watters 10, Eddie George 9, and a long list of guys played 8 seasons.

Nowadays, it's magical if a guy can play 6 seasons and still be worth a crap. Why?

The game isn't as physical as it was in the 90s and 00s. Guys played hurt and through concussions a lot more.

Running backs used to have a lot more carries than they do today. Two-back systems weren't utilized much.

Is it the money? Laziness? Lack of commitment? Social media distractions?

The breed of running backs had changed.

Most of those guys weren't great anymore after 6 or 7 years. Emmitt certainly wasn't. Eddie George could barely stand up when he got here. Peterson was great for a long time.

Then there is the salary that you have to pay veterans. You can get a young stud in rounds 2-4 to replace them.

 

[Kingofholland]

What happened to running backs in the NFL? They're so fragile and soft in comparison to just a few years ago.

Barry Sanders was still at the top of his game when he hung it up after 10 years.

Emmitt played 15 years. So did Adrian Peterson.

Earnest Byner played 14, Jerome Bettis 13, Thurman Thomas 13, Ricky Watters 10, Eddie George 9, and a long list of guys played 8 seasons.

Nowadays, it's magical if a guy can play 6 seasons and still be worth a crap. Why?

The game isn't as physical as it was in the 90s and 00s. Guys played hurt and through concussions a lot more.

Running backs used to have a lot more carries than they do today. Two-back systems weren't utilized much.

Is it the money? Laziness? Lack of commitment? Social media distractions?

The breed of running backs had changed.

It seems age 30 has always been the magic number where RBs have fallen off. The best have a few more years of productivity and we've seen a few good ones like Frank Gore, Adrian Peterson make long careers of it. Players like Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb, Zeke Elliott, Saquon Barkley, and maybe McCaffrey if he can stay healthy have chances of hanging around into their 30s. Every decade has a couple guys that will break though and remain productive across decades and 1 or 2 of those guys will probably do that.

However, the difference today is the changing game that has shifted to a passing league and the devaluing of the RB position. Teams don't see RBs as irreplaceable as they once were and so are more inclined to move on after 4-7 years of service.

 

[LatinMind]

I do think the team took a couple yrs from elliot making him play thru that knee injury. He hasn't been right since. Before the injury he had a strong start to the yr

 

[TwistedL0g1k]

I feel the athletes of today are generally faster and stronger. RB's may be getting hit harder today than in past decades.
Emmitt might not have lasted as long had he played in the current era.
Are there fewer grass fields today?

 

[links18]

What happened to RBs? Teams aren't giving out second contracts for anosorion they can replace in the middle round of the draft. So guys become FAs, sign minimum deals and are out of the league quickly.

 

[erod]

I feel the athletes of today are generally faster and stronger. RB's may be getting hit harder today than in past decades.
Emmitt might not have lasted as long had he played in the current era.
Are there fewer grass fields today?

No, they got hit a LOT harder in the 90s. Much more violent game then.

 

[conner01]

I feel the athletes of today are generally faster and stronger. RB's may be getting hit harder today than in past decades.
Emmitt might not have lasted as long had he played in the current era.
Are there fewer grass fields today?

I think that’s a big part of it. Also you find exceptions to everything but the RB position has been one with a short career for a long time. Also players can afford to walk away now when they really couldn’t in the old days

 

[Cowboys5217]

Once more, it is a myth that has perpetuated for too long. Athletes are not bigger, faster and stronger. I've been hearing that since the early 80s and if it were remotely true then players would be 10 feet tall, 500 lbs, and run 3.5 forties.

Just from the Cowboys past: nobody today is faster than Bob Hayes, nobody is bigger than Kevin "Andre the Giant" Gogan, and nobody is stronger than Larry Allen.

 

[lkelly]

What happened to RBs? Teams aren't giving out second contracts for anosorion they can replace in the middle round of the draft. So guys become FAs, sign minimum deals and are out of the league quickly.

Props for using “anosorion.”

 

[Tussinman]

Once more, it is a myth that has perpetuated for too long. Athletes are not bigger, faster and stronger. I've been hearing that since the early 80s and if it were remotely true then players would be 10 feet tall, 500 lbs, and run 3.5 forties.

Just from the Cowboys past: nobody today is faster than Bob Hayes, nobody is bigger than Kevin "Andre the Giant" Gogan, and nobody is stronger than Larry Allen.

Yes and no. There were freaks back then that were exceptions but overall yes athletes have gotten faster and stronger overall

I follow the UFC and people will try to say oh the top three best fighters from 15 years ago would still be top three today. Although that's possible true the reality is the fifth best guy from 15 years ago wouldn't even be a top 20 guy now. It's not the exceptions it's the average that has gotten better and the depth

 

[T-RO]

Teams have stopped being stupid! Makes no sense to pay veteran contract money to stars who lose a couple levels of athleticism and become JAGs.

These guys were all over-paid spares in the latter part of their career.
Eddie George? His last 4 seasons guy never averaged more than 3.4 YPC
Earnest Byner? His last four seasons averaged about 3.5 YPC

Same for Bettis, Peterson, Emmitt.

Exception: Thurman Thomas still had good YPC at end of career.

 

[eromeopolk]

What happened to running backs in the NFL? They're so fragile and soft in comparison to just a few years ago.

Barry Sanders was still at the top of his game when he hung it up after 10 years.

Emmitt played 15 years. So did Adrian Peterson.

Earnest Byner played 14, Jerome Bettis 13, Thurman Thomas 13, Ricky Watters 10, Eddie George 9, and a long list of guys played 8 seasons.

Nowadays, it's magical if a guy can play 6 seasons and still be worth a crap. Why?

The game isn't as physical as it was in the 90s and 00s. Guys played hurt and through concussions a lot more.

Running backs used to have a lot more carries than they do today. Two-back systems weren't utilized much.

Is it the money? Laziness? Lack of commitment? Social media distractions?

The breed of running backs had changed.

Load carrying backs are not developed in high school, college, and will not show up in the Pros. Bijan is the exception today and not the norm. Gibbs is the norm. Gibbs need to be teamed up with another back. Pollard is the same. Jerry will find out (if Elliott goes) Pollard can not carry a load.

Our high school played Emmitt's Smith and his Pensacola team. Our defense was beat up after the game saying they gave Smith the ball every play. Just him. Our school had 2 backs and they could not believe it.

Its just the flow of where we are in football offensive schemes. No more power I dominate formations. Now you have the shot gun/spread offense. The QB is becoming more of a runner, and teams like the 2-3 RB approach. Times have changed everywhere but Arlington.

People forget that until Tony Dorsett, Landry had a multiple back offense with Hill, Thomas, Garrison, Preston Pearson, and Newhouse all in a 2 back or split back formations not the consistent Power I.

The coaches that developed the load carry RB are just fewer. But what goes around comes around again. Please do not tell Jerry Dumbo GM Jones that or he will have Elliott on the team until he is as old as Jerry.

 

[T-RO]

Biggest reason is not newer players laziness or softness. It's not guys getting fat and happy so much. Nor even distractions.

It's just this: GMs have wised up to the fact that these RBs fade hard in athleticism after 3-5 years. Players want to continue their career, but GMs won't pay them to do it.

 

[DanA]

What happened to running backs in the NFL? They're so fragile and soft in comparison to just a few years ago.

Barry Sanders was still at the top of his game when he hung it up after 10 years.

Emmitt played 15 years. So did Adrian Peterson.

Earnest Byner played 14, Jerome Bettis 13, Thurman Thomas 13, Ricky Watters 10, Eddie George 9, and a long list of guys played 8 seasons.

Nowadays, it's magical if a guy can play 6 seasons and still be worth a crap. Why?

The game isn't as physical as it was in the 90s and 00s. Guys played hurt and through concussions a lot more.

Running backs used to have a lot more carries than they do today. Two-back systems weren't utilized much.

Is it the money? Laziness? Lack of commitment? Social media distractions?

The breed of running backs had changed.

Performance-enhancing drugs allow players to burn brighter but it shortens careers. I disagree with the idea that the game is less physical, you've got guys like VIta Vea at 350lbs that runs like an edge rusher from the 90s. That kind of weight falling on you takes a toll. I also think players are basically professionals from an early age and take a whole lot more reps on the journey to the NFL. By the time a guy like Zeke made it to the NFL he probably had the type of workload that running backs in the 5th year of NFL had.

 

[doomsday9084]

IMO, its the speed of defenders. Back in the 90's, the Cowboys were the exception with a bunch of linebackers who could run. Nowadays, defenses are just a lot faster than they were across the board. Bigger RB's just get gang tackled and holes close fast. An RB has to be at the top of his game athletically to outrun defenders and as soon as he loses a step, he gets closed down before he gets going.

Its just such a speed based game nowadays that I think this is why the league sees more churn than in the past.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/fastest-linebackers-40-yard-dash-times-in-nfl-combine-history/
https://hortonbarbell.com/fastest-linebacker-40-times-in-nfl-combine-history/

Most of the fastest LB combine 40 times are from the last 5 years and these guys are running times that would have been considered fast for a WR in the past.