How has the RB position in the NFL evolved over the years? What are the most desirable traits for RBs to have? Rickthelaureate chatted with GrindingTheTape about the pressures of being a franchise RB, what he looks for in an RB & more. FrontOffice33
Photo: JAMIE GERMANO/ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle via Imagn Content Services, LLC
No one quite knows the pressures of being a “franchise running back” quite like former New Orleans Saint, Miami Dolphin, and Baltimore Raven Ricky Williams. Williams, who was made the No. 5 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, saw the New Orleans Saints quite literally risk it all in an effort to move up and select him. Coach Mike Ditka sentfrom the team’s 1999 scheduled menu of picks for the right to move up 7 spots and draft Williams.
And indeed he was. Williams’ 1,818 touches across his first five seasons in the NFL averaged out just short of 364 touches per season. Across five seasons! And that wasn’t just exclusive to Williams, either. Across those five seasons, Williams managed to lead the NFL in touches from scrimmage just once. Eddie George and LaDanian Tomlinson both logged a season with more than 450 touches across that span.
“I like because it’s less touches but also they’re smarter. The game plan for me was ‘we knew we were running the ball. THEY knew we were running the ball. And they put eight guys in the box…we still ran the ball! And so now that offenses are being more intelligent. I think everyone wins.” Knowing the fit of a running back within a scheme is certainly a way to find peace of mind when paying out running backs. And it seems as though that knowledge of fit is a way that NFL teams are willing to buy into paying up at the position.
“It would depend on the system that our coordinator ran but beyond that, I’m looking for toughness, first and foremost. Because the thing about a running back is you’re going to get hit and you’re going to get hit hard. Do you have the ability to get hit, shake it off and do it again? So toughness.
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