Meat and Potatoes Soccer

With Ohio State/Michigan and Thanksgiving right around the corner, this is the perfect time to watch meat and potatoes football. Ohio State coach Woody Hayes liked to say, “When you throw the ball, three things can happen, and two of them are bad.” Hayes was old school, which meant he loved running football.

Being able to successfully run the ball with a powerful running game adds a lot to the dimensions of an offense. If you’re in a third-fourth situation, having a fullback gives the coach the option to play it safe and handle the pigskin. Even if you pick up two yards, it’s still a viable option to run him back on fourth and short, if you’ve got that trusty bruise on your back. Offensive balance is very important. A good running game makes the passing game that much better, because defenses may have to bring more guys to the line of scrimmage to call the run. This makes the action game much more effective. Also, there is likely to be more individual cover on the field, making the airstrike much easier to click.

Here’s a look at the best running backs in the NFL right now: Shaun Alexander (1,114 yards), Edgerrin James (1,027), Warrick Dunn, Willis McGahee, Tiki Barber, LaDainian Tomlinson, Rudi Johnson, Clinton Portis and Thomas Jones. One thing that stands out is that all of those teams have winning records with the exception of one (Buffalo with McGahee). Seattle is running away with the NFC West behind league leader Alexander while James and the Colts are undefeated.

Another thing that stands out is that each of those teams has a winning margin record. The Colts and Seahawks are 12-6 combined against the number. One team absent from that list is Denver. Mike Shanahan’s teams continue to be fantastic at driving the ball, although this year they’re doing it with running back depth, which is a trend several teams are beginning to develop. This may be a wave of the future, but the value of the workhorse’s back is still alive and well.

Former Alabama coach Bear Bryant spent the last 15 years of his career using the wishbone, a run-oriented offense. When he was asked about it once, he said: “The Wishbone is the greatest passing offense in football history.” His point was that defenses were prepared to stop the running game, but every once in a while when you threw a pass, it was often a big win because the defense didn’t expect it.

The top 5 rushing teams in the NFL are the Falcons, Broncos, Seahawks, Steelers, Bears, and Colts. They’re all either leading their divisions or in the middle of the playoff race. Running the ball may not be as exciting as a wide passing attack, but the soccer staple is still an important weapon, both directly and against the number. Good luck, as always… Al McMordie.

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