safariplanet
Footballguy
Anyone know? Willie Parker is averaging like 125 yds/game, and a lot of premier backs haven't even had 100 yard games yet. What's the deal?
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Anyone have an opinion on why rushing yards are so few this season? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter safariplanet
- Start date
I've been wondering... I think a lot of offensive coordinators are playing Madden football.
Parker hasn't been playing that outstandingly either, he just happens to have one or two breakaway runs a game and his yardage pops.
All the passing rules favor the receiver. The DBs are less talented or skilled. Lots of soft zones being played. So the QBs are chucking it, and going long. I call it Madden football because once I realized, playing Madden, how accurate the QBs are programmed to be, I don't check down to safe options anymore, I just throw it deep.
It's only three weeks, but fantasy football this season comes down to, do you have the WR who blows up huge or not?
Parker hasn't been playing that outstandingly either, he just happens to have one or two breakaway runs a game and his yardage pops.
All the passing rules favor the receiver. The DBs are less talented or skilled. Lots of soft zones being played. So the QBs are chucking it, and going long. I call it Madden football because once I realized, playing Madden, how accurate the QBs are programmed to be, I don't check down to safe options anymore, I just throw it deep.
It's only three weeks, but fantasy football this season comes down to, do you have the WR who blows up huge or not?
hellz_fireflies
Footballguy
There are more better DEFENSE this year then in past 5 years (my opinion).
AllVolUT
Footballguy
However, I do agree that defenses have seemed a "little more stouter".
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zamboni
Footballguy
If you're talking about the top 4, you could immediately look at the number of carries. LT only has 57 carries, Gore has only 52, and LJ has only 50 - all under 20 per game. Clearly, their team's offensive struggles are limiting the number of carries. S-Jax has a full 69 carries (2nd in the league to FWP), although the Rams' struggles are also well-documented.
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corpcow
Footballguy
Except Parker is valuable because he consistently has one or two breakway runs. He's valuable because he's capable of putting up 100 yards even when he has less than 20 carries on the strength of those breakway runs. In week 1 and 2, he had two 20+ runs each week (25, 22, 21, 24). In week 3, he had 1 (23). And even if you take all of those 20+ runs away, he's still averaging 3.66 ypc on the season.
BeachBums
Footballguy
Seems to me it has more to do with the overall state of the offense. Green Bay's D went in to stop LT and stacked the box. Rivers was able to take advantage of it to some extent through the air, but it wasn't enough and it didn't do LT much good. San Francisco doesn't really have a passing game so it's Gore all day and opposing defenses can stack the box. Jackson didn't have an o-line to run behind and I'm not sure Leonard is going to do any better.The guys who are doing well; Addai, Westbrook, Fast Willie, etc. all have passing games and decent or better o-lines to run behind.
Tanner9919
Footballguy
the best RB's , Lt and LJ, have both missed all of training camp, and have played TOUGH run defenses, each facing chicago, while LT also played NE and LJ facing the Vikings..I would be SHOCKED if LT didn't go for about 200 and a pair of TDs this weekend.for real. he KILLS SD every time he plays them.Sjax has QB and line problems,and now is out for a while with a groin..
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cobalt_27
Footballguy
When did LT get traded?
cobalt_27
Footballguy
And, for what it's worth, the average rushing yards this season isn't so far off from last:
2006: 117 ypg avg
2007: 112 ypg avg
The best explanation is that everyone freaks out the first 3 weeks of the season over the smallest trends thinking the earth has spun off its axis.
2006: 117 ypg avg
2007: 112 ypg avg
The best explanation is that everyone freaks out the first 3 weeks of the season over the smallest trends thinking the earth has spun off its axis.
BeachBums
Footballguy
THAT'S the problem with LT!!! He's playin' for the CHIEFS!!
safariplanet
Footballguy
There's no way those stats are real. If so, please tell me where you got them. only something like 3 rbs averaging over 100 yards/game this year.
safariplanet
Footballguy
And by the way, I think the Earth is off the axis if NFL's homepage story is regarding the low amount of yardage. Well played.http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsessionid=F...mp;confirm=true
AnonymousBob
Footballguy
I believe his stats were showing rushing averages per team, NOT per player.
strong
Footballguy
Rushing yards are only slightly down and I don't have any data to refute the RBBC theory but I don't think that's the issue here.
It would seem that there are an unusual amount of touchdowns coming through the air. Last year, zero QBs threw for more than 32 TDs, a 2.0 TDpg average. This year, there are 11 QBs averaging 2.0 TDpg or more through the first three weeks. This accounts for the majority of the hike in points scored by WRs compared to RBs.
While yardage through the air is up, touchdowns through the air are WAY up.
I'm not sure why this is but it will probably regress back to the mean soon.
It would seem that there are an unusual amount of touchdowns coming through the air. Last year, zero QBs threw for more than 32 TDs, a 2.0 TDpg average. This year, there are 11 QBs averaging 2.0 TDpg or more through the first three weeks. This accounts for the majority of the hike in points scored by WRs compared to RBs.
While yardage through the air is up, touchdowns through the air are WAY up.
I'm not sure why this is but it will probably regress back to the mean soon.
MaddHatter
Footballguy
Brian Westbrook has been good.
Urinal Mint
Footballguy
Numbers will improve steadily as defenses gradually wear down over the year.
Hey, now wait just a min.....yeah, you're right.
DoubleG
Footballguy
I think it's a combination of things:
1) RBBC are more prevelant - Bush/Deuce, JJ/MBIII, Taylor/MJD, White/Brown, Dunn/Norwood, Foster/DWill, that mess in Detroit, even guys like Betts are seeing significant #'s of carries.
2) Defenses are stacking the run (hence the passing numbers are up). I also think, as was mentioned, more and more offenses are "evloving" to a more pass-oriented style. Just look at the type of TEs teams have been taking. Greg Olsen wasn't drafted to block.
3) I don't have stats to support this, but it seems as though many RBs have similar total yardage, just that they're getting a little more via the screen/dump off/flat pass, than usual. There are 6 or 7 RBs averaging over 30 yards/game receiving - Ronnie Brown has 177 yards rushing and 175 yards receiving. AP and Lamont Jordan both average over 40 yards receiving/game. And that's not bringing up LT and Westy, who have always done that.
3) Traditionally "good" RBs have ended up on either bad offenses or have simply been behind in games in the early going. For examples, see St. Louis, KC, etc.
1) RBBC are more prevelant - Bush/Deuce, JJ/MBIII, Taylor/MJD, White/Brown, Dunn/Norwood, Foster/DWill, that mess in Detroit, even guys like Betts are seeing significant #'s of carries.
2) Defenses are stacking the run (hence the passing numbers are up). I also think, as was mentioned, more and more offenses are "evloving" to a more pass-oriented style. Just look at the type of TEs teams have been taking. Greg Olsen wasn't drafted to block.
3) I don't have stats to support this, but it seems as though many RBs have similar total yardage, just that they're getting a little more via the screen/dump off/flat pass, than usual. There are 6 or 7 RBs averaging over 30 yards/game receiving - Ronnie Brown has 177 yards rushing and 175 yards receiving. AP and Lamont Jordan both average over 40 yards receiving/game. And that's not bringing up LT and Westy, who have always done that.
3) Traditionally "good" RBs have ended up on either bad offenses or have simply been behind in games in the early going. For examples, see St. Louis, KC, etc.
