So I know that it is the third week of February and no one is thinking about football right now (until April 25th ... draft day!), but I wanted to throw out my proposal that I thought of while watching NFL teams play their respective games in the 2008-2009 season.
As everyone knows, most teams are now running a two running back system. Familiar names such as Fred Taylor (who just got released) and Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Johnson and LenDale White, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles, Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, Warrick Dunn and Carnell Williams, Tim Hightower and Edgerrin James, just to name a few.
Under the two running back system, teams have to be more respectful of the running game as the styles of running are different between each back. However there are two ways that I have seen this system being run, and I think that both ways work. One way is to have one back run the majority of the yardage until they got into the red zone, and then the other back would come in and finish the job. I think the biggest example of this is the backfield of the Tennessee Titans. Chris Johnson was the explosive, make-things-happen-with-his-feet type of back, and would get the offense down the field until they got into the red zone. Then they would typically hand the ball off to LenDale White, and White would then pound the ball up the gut and get the touchdowns. This had to be proven successful because Tennessee was the last undefeated team in the NFL last season.
The other way that I have interpreted teams using the two running back system is to have one running back be the exclusive starter for a few weeks, and then they would switch it up and have the other back be the exclusive starter. I think this is a lesser used tactic, but I really like it. If both backs have third down potential, and they can both be considered a starter, why not try this tactic? The closest team I have seen use this style is the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles, in my opinion. The Dolphins started out with Ronnie Brown carrying the ball for the majority of the downs in the first half of the season, but then as Brown wore down, Ricky Williams started to emerge as a go to back in the second half of the season. Brown, of course, was still used in the second half of the season (why wouldn't you want to use one of the best backs in the league) but, to me, it looked as though that Williams was the starter for the last four weeks of the season in the Dolphins' minds. The same goes for the Eagles. They kind of went back and forth between Westbrook and Buckhalter throughout the season. Westbrook started out the season getting the majority of the carries, but as the season wore on, Buckhalter looked more like a starter while Westbrook played second fiddle. Then, as the Eagles made the playoff push, Westbrook emerged again as the go-to running back and retook his position as the starting tailback. That's how I saw it anyways.
This brings me to my point. I would like to take that a step further and introcduce a three running back system. To me, there is only one team that has already flirted with the idea, and that is the New York Football Giants with Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw. Although Earth, Wind and Fire may seem to fall into what I am talking about, I've always seen Jacobs as the exclusive starter (when he's healthy) and Ward and Bradshaw come in at opportune times to help boost the running game. While this is a successful system (2008 Super Bowl Champions), I would like to see each back get their own time to shine as a starter at different parts of the season. I think this could work.
Each NFL season is 17 weeks (16 games) long. If one back is expected to carry most of the workload, that is one long freakin' season. If you divided that up between three backs, however, each back would have a five or six week "season" as the starter. Now of course, while one back is the "starter" the other two backs could be used much like the Giants use their backs. However, I think that giving each guy his own starting role, teams would have to adjust to the different running styles that each back has. Hell, the offense might have to adjust as well. I think this could be a great idea, and there are only a couple of teams that could pull this off (barring an addition in this upcoming draft or a future trade/signing). The Giants are the most suitable team to implement this idea, however I can also see the Pittsburg Steelers using this tactic and being successful. With Willie Parker, Mewelde Moore and Rashard Mendenhall (hell, I could even include Najeh Davenport as a fouth RB) the Steelers have three excellent backs that could all be considered a starter. Imagine having to go into a week without knowing who your opponent would be putting in the backfield for the majority of the time. I wouldn't want to be in that position. Imagine the advantage your offense could gain...
Now there are two ways that the three-headed machine could be ran. Each back could have a third of the season where they are the starter consecutively, or each week could be a different back getting the majority of the workload and it gets spread out evenly over the course of the season. I could see either strategy work. The other thing about using three high caliber running backs on one team is that if there is an injury (for example, Mendenhall) the team doesn't get set back because there are two high quality backs that can fill in. With as fast and hard guys are hitting these days, that's not a bad insurance idea for teams to use.
This would be hell on how I try and pick fantasy league running backs...
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Not too shabby schmitz. there are two major fatal flaws in your three back system. First is from an economic standpoint, especially with the economic climate that is currently over the sports world and the world in general. Teams would be forced to commit an inordinate percentage of the salary cap towards one single position. This would result in the team having to spend less at other positions that may need attention. The second flaw is actually two parts. A team must then be able to find and keep three backs talented enough to be a six game starter in the NFL. While running backs are easier to scout and draft than other positions such as quarterback, a team would have to never miss on drafting or signing a running back. Then if the team is able to successfully run a three back system, other teams would more than likely swoop in like vultures to pick off one of the backs who were excelling. I guess what I am saying is that the logistics of the three back system are so complex that the ability of a team to succeed at it for more than a year to two at a time.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work though man. Its good for killing time and i can yell at you about sports without sitting in the white horse. Later man