Whats more important? Great O-Line and Average RB (1 Viewer)

[B-Scott]

Which would you rather have?

1. Dominant Offensive line with Average Running back's

2 Dominant RB ,but with a average Offensive line

The advantage of a dominant offensive line and average running back ,is the running back will most likely have a great year because the line is very good. Perfect example is the steelers ,when there O-line is clicking it does not matter who is running behind it. Same with the Broncos after Terrell Davis was gone. No matter who ran behind that Line ,there were getting 1500 yards a season.If your line is great ,you can get away with having mediocre running backs.

 

[mlball77]

I think the o-line makes it all happen and can make an average RB look great. RB talent like Barry Sanders, guys that don't need a decent-good line, is VERY rare.

Edit to add: Offensive scheme is very important as well... like you pointed out in the DEN reference.

 

[Banger]

give me the line (see Priest Holmes).

 

[ooofffaaa]

A great Oline makes everyone better.

You could have ALL Pros at all the skill positions, but if you have a craptastic Oline you got nothing.

 

[radballs]

A dominant offensive line would also provide great pass protection for their QB and give him time to throw. It's a no brainer what's more important.

 

[radballs]

That said, it doesn't mean that you have to necessarily spend top draft picks on those offensive linemen. It's about how the five guys work together as a team, offensive line coaching, and the team's blocking schemes.

 

[B-Scott]

I agree ,the O-line makes the entire offense go. You can get by without having a dominant running back if the line is dominant. You can control the football and the clock ,and play action is wide open.

 

[jonessed]

O-line. RBs that can overcome a bad O-line are few and far between.

 

[norton17]

Great O-line.

All you need to do is look at Edge in Arizona for this answer

 

[crimsonrebel]

ill go against the grain and say dominant rb. LT and LJ are dominant behind sub par lines this year. Those are the only 2 id put in the dominant Rb category though.

 

[fatness]

A dominant offensive line would also provide great pass protection for their QB and give him time to throw. It's a no brainer what's more important.

Exactly my thoughts. How many teams with great O-lines and D-lines have ever done badly?

 

[Routilla]

ill go against the grain and say dominant rb. LT and LJ are dominant behind sub par lines this year. Those are the only 2 id put in the dominant Rb category though.

Could not agree more, LJ and LT.

 

[B-Scott]

Great O-line.All you need to do is look at Edge in Arizona for this answer

Good point.

 

[MLBrandow]

Great OL also helps the QB.

Too many unknowns to really go in-depth with an answer, but generally... a great OL is better than a great RB if forced to choose.

 

[Marc Levin]

Neither.

Gotta have both to make it work.

Guess I go with the line b/c the line also pass blocks - if my back is average, maybe I can get my QB off.

 

[EzCrash]

Ruben Droughns in Denver

Ruben Droughns in Cleveland

...............

Edge in Indy

Edge in Arizona

................

Mike Anderson in Denver

Mike Anderson in Baltimore

................

Priest Holmes in Baltimore

Priest Holmes in Kansas City

Need I go on ??

O-line makes ALL the difference !

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

I respectfully disagree with the majority opinion. I'd prefer to have the "dominant RB" and the "average O Line."

I think a dominant RB can do special, game-breaking things with an average O Line. An average RB will be good with a great O Line, but I don't think they'd perform as well as the dominant RB.

Plus, for cap reasons, it's cheaper to pay one dominant player than all the money it will take to keep a great O Line together.

I don't think Edgerrin James is a good example here. James is not a "dominant" RB, and his O Line in Arizona is nowhere near "average." I think Tomlinson has done great things in previous years with an average O Line. I'd say Larry Johnson has an average O Line now, and he's winning games by himself. I still think Denver has a dominant line (though that's up for debate) but their "average" RBs have done little. But maybe Mike Bell isn't even average.

A dominant line can open holes, but they can't help the RB break a tackle for extra yards on 3rd-and-6. A dominant RB can break a game open at any time, and you have to game plan for them specifically.

Tomlinson wouldn't be great with a crappy offensive line...but give him "average" and watch the records fall.

 

[delusional]

O line

They give time for the WRs and Qb and open up holes for the run game.

Think Denver...always been a successful team behind a great O Line.

Now think Barry Sanders....what were detriots records when he played?

 

[The Jacket]

LT and LJ are dominant behind sub par lines this year.

LT is behind one of the best run blocking lines in football.The top 2 rushers in the NFL are good/great backs behind mediocre/poor O-lines.The 3rd is a great runner behind a good line.The 4th is a great runner behind a solid line.The 5th is a mediocre runner behind a good line.I'd argue, overall, that it's the line.

 

[camperguy01]

LT and LJ are dominant behind sub par lines this year.

LT is behind one of the best run blocking lines in football.The top 2 rushers in the NFL are good/great backs behind mediocre/poor O-lines.The 3rd is a great runner behind a good line.The 4th is a great runner behind a solid line.The 5th is a mediocre runner behind a good line.I'd argue, overall, that it's the line.

I think what's also forgotten is the FB position...... Tomlinson runs behind one of the best in the league in Lorenzo Neal.

 

[Sabertooth]

As phrased, I would take the average OL and the great RB. He's not asking about poor OLines, he is asking about average OLines. I mean look at what LT2 has done behind a line that has been completely revamped in 2 seasons? Would anyone argue that they are the second coming of the Hogs or Dallas lines, of course not. But they are average. Stick a guy like Maurice Morris behind that line and then see how dominant they look.

Now, you put Edgerrin James behind a poor line, that's a different story, but that's not what you asked.

Now a case of an average back behind a great line would be Reuben Droughns back in Denver. He was nowhere near what LT2 is behind a line that is inferior.

 

[jim k]

I would rather have a dominant rb because they are one of the hardest commodoties to find in the nfl. A great rb saves you from drafting rbs in the first round, so you can build up your team through the draft. I think of Walter Payton and once the Bears got a good GM, they knew they were set at rb so they built up the team that eventually became the Bears of the later 80s.

One thing about rbs and o lines - it depends on the style of the rb, too. The example used was Edge. I look at the Edge as someone who needs the o line to open a hole and then he slashes through the hole, meaning he doesn't always run with his shoulders square to take on a defender. He keeps his body at angles where he can accelerate away from tacklers. A smaller back, his strength is not breaking arm tackes or powering through a lot of traffic. For an offensive line player, it's easier to turn a defender than it is to blow up a defender and open a huge running lane. I bet that if you took LJ and put him in the Zona offense, he would still be a dominating rb and be having a huge season.

Emmit Smith was a great rb with a great Dallas o line. If you took Smith in his prime and put him in the Zona offense right now, he would be having the same season that the Edge is.

Some rbs would get production even with o lines that don't open big lanes to run through. I think if there is any running back who would do well in any offense it would be Barry Sanders. He was able to stop, start and misdirect so well that his running style was making every play a one on one situation and he definitely had the advantage in any one on one situation.

 

[[scooter]]

Ruben Droughns in DenverRuben Droughns in Cleveland................Mike Anderson in DenverMike Anderson in Baltimore................Priest Holmes in BaltimorePriest Holmes in Kansas CityNeed I go on ??O-line makes ALL the difference !

Um, these are some pretty poor examples. Droughns rushed for over 1200 yards his first season in Cleveland, and Holmes had a 1000-yard season in Baltimore (playing behind Pro-Bowl-tackle Jonathan Ogden) before getting injured. And Mike Anderson's stats in Baltimore are completely irrelevant unless Jamal Lewis AND Musa Smith get injured.

 

[TitusIII]

Dominant O-Line almost guarentees a good offense...you have to figure in pass protection as well...

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Great oline affects more than just the RB. Great oline >>> great RB.

 

[bryhamm]

Look what a great line did for Emmitt Smith.

 

[B-Scott]

Dominant O-Line almost guarentees a good offense...you have to figure in pass protection as well...

I agree with that point. If your O-line is dominant everything just falls in place. The entire offense begins to click on all cylinders. Your running the football ,controlling the clock ,play actiion is wide open.