Sometimes, you draft a runner for his talent and power; his ability to take over the game regardless of his supporting cast. (Barry Sanders)It is equally important to draft a running game. Football is a team sport and not just an individual showcase. Certain teams work together to be the best rushing attacks in the league.
Each coach has a philosophy of attack. The N.F.L. has been termed the copycat league. Someone comes up with something new, that works, and soon everyone is trying it out. The reality is a little different.
A game is set up and defined by rules. This determines a certain type of play that is the standard and the best players, or, the players that work together as the best team; will win.Change comes not in a radical redefining of the rules, but, in a subtle reordering, or, a radical departure from the accepted standard.
This works, because, as time goes on and game plans are developed to where they become codified and doctrine, then, everyone is, to a certain extent, equal and predictable. When the A.F.C. was originated they developed a more exciting game by throwing the ball more and getting the focus away from the rugby scrum. Namath proved it's worth in Superbowl III. The rules were already there to do this it took some rebels reacting against the prejudiced and traditional establishment to evolve forward.
The establishment solidifies because everyone wants to imitate proven results and no one wants to be the fool who tries something and fails.
The West Coast system, credited to Bill Walsh, was radical, and now it has become a doctrinal alternative. It has pervaded the league in various forms. Bastard versions have cropped up on teams that simply didn't have the personnel to implement it and this has caused some goofy game-plans of the traditional with the new superimposed upon it.
Every team would run the 3-4 defense if it had the personnel to do it. Currently, more teams are experimenting with, and trying to wrap their minds around, the smaller line, working as a unit, and, using the Zone/Cut Blocking scheme developed by Alex Gibbs.
The West Cost offense was so successful and pervasive that it entered into the consciousness of the game and with G.M.'s drafting to accommodate it, few teams have been left outside it's influence. It's ritual has become Dogma.
The underlying problem is twofold. First, many teams just simply don't have the right talent or personnel to implement it properly, or, successfully; (there is only one champion each year) and, secondly defenses have seen enough of it to have a solid response, a Cliff Note primer, as you will.
In the end, everything comes from the top. The coaches philosophy, formed during his assistant coaching orientation, defines the team by the players he influences on it and the training and practice decisions he makes.
Atlanta, Kansas City, Washington, Carolina, Denver; all of these teams have an excellent running game.
Atlanta has achieved a #1 status on the illusion of having a rushing Q.B. that skews their stats. He can't throw too accurately, and takes off running a lot; and, so, a small, quick, cheap, between the numbers runner eats up yards. A power back bulls red-zone attempts into touchdowns. Vick's high salary makes it hard to pay for an Edgerrin James, for example. (There's only so much money and part of the equality that makes the N.F.L. great is that everyone must figure out where to put it. Over-pay here and another place suffers.)
Kansas City has the best O- line personnel in the league. No offense to Holmes or Johnson, but a lot of backs with mediocre careers could be stars behind that line.
Washington, now, has Joe Gibbs as its coach. He is old school and values the running game over all else. He understands that it sets up everything you want to do on the field. I would argue that his Superbowls come from being the solid executioner of the traditions of football rather then the innovator of radical design. Bill Walsh got his, through redefining the basic attack philosophy and introducing an new structure within the rules; it did help that a vicious (on purpose?) block broke Krumrie's leg for without that they would have lost, and the West Coast Offense might not be so pervasive today.
When all the other teams collapsed to injury, intimidation, exhaustion; there was Gibbs with his solid unit marching to victory. It didn't even matter who the quarterback was as two non-starters won Superbowls for him.When all else fails the basics will always win out. Just ask John Riggins.
Carolina has a defensive oriented coach who approaches the game from that mind-set, and so, this pervades his offense. They are safe, solid and methodical. If it can be said that everyone stays in their lanes in his offense then that is what they do. He has created an awesome running attack that is just waiting for a talented back, who can stay healthy, to emerge as a star.
Denver, under Shanahan and Alex Gibbs have redefined the entire concept and created something radically new that works.
As O-lineman got larger and larger until you have Ted Washington penciled in as both guard and tackle, or so it seems, The bulk race started to hit a saturation point. Whether through necessity or 'eureka' inspiration; I suspect that he had the athletic smaller lineman and did not originally go looking for them, Alex Gibbs devised a way to make what he had effective. His new system was more then effective, it redefined the game.
Any person or system that comes along and forces everyone else to change their game-plan to deal with it, is considered a revolution. We all like to be comfortable with things we can depend on and when faced with change respond accordingly, but, always feel uncomfortable, gripe, scream, absorb, adapt and finally respect the winner; who can, of course, weather the early storm of criticism.
I utilized Denver's system to win a championship last year.
'05 top fantasy runners: Holmes/Johnson 208, Alexander 199, Anderson/Bell 158, Tomlinson 153, Barber/Jacobs 150, James 107, Portis 98.
Hm, the 'Buddy System' seems to be quite effective. Let's say you started Jordan/D. Davis 136, or Jackson/C. Williams 129, or, were lucky and got R. Johnson/T.Jones 165. You could have started Barber/Jacobs all season and gotten only 15 points less then two, virtual lottery picks!
Our league runs a utility player. We are called the West Coast because we started three receivers in order to be different from my brother's league. We changed the third receiver in the second season to open up more possibilities since we were popular and had sixteen teams. This position can be a W.R., R.B., or T.E.
But, even if you don't have the possibility of starting three runningbacks it's obvious that the 'Buddy System' can outperform most of the runningback duo's that you can put together in the snake draft.
Bell is coming in to camp with more muscle and conditioning then ever. He has determination and experience and will win the starter's job. You can draft him probably in the third round and then pick up Dayne in the fifth or later and have a potent duo on the field, let alone having the perfect back-up if one goes down or doesn't work out.
It's is so hard to believe that Ron Dayne has suddenly toughened up and changed his attitude towards the game. All those wasted draft picks and sorry performances for the Giants weigh heavily on everyone's mind.
Mine too; still, he is the perfect late draft pick handcuff.
The R.B.B.C. is dreaded because it dilutes two ordinary players stats to below the average. When faced with an awesome rushing attack, that's the philosophy and scoring orientation of an above average team, it's wise to redefine the R.B.B.C. into the Buddy System.
Cedric Cobbs is an option for Denver and even Mike Bell should not be overlooked. No one will draft Bell, but, Cobbs could be. If nothing happens then chances are he'll be dropped in the first three weeks to clear space on the bench anyway.
In leagues that have large benches just draft him too.
Dayne may win the starting job and then Bell is the handcuff. At this point it's too hard to tell what Shanahan will do, but, his offense is too hard to ignore.
Especially this year with the receivers in disarray. Plumber can throw, and, Smith is an old stud. Whether Lelie goes, or, Walker can get healthy doesn't matter so much, because, Watts is an emerging star. The coaches know that they need to reign in Plummer to succeed and all confidence is in their most successful unit; the O-line.
even if you don't get Bell, Dayne is still a great, late round, gamble. If you're short on backs I'd rather take a gamble then a flier on mediocrity.
