Receiving RBs - A Dying Breed

[FinNasty]

Read this article

This is a very interesting article. It analysis how offenses accross the NFL have been changing recently... and they havent been passing to RBs near as much. There are some really interesting quotes from some of the top receiving RBs talking about the trend (such as Marshall Faulk, Edge, & LT). Considering how high we are on RonnieB as a receiving threat... you might want to check it out.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2269403

"I don't know if [the running back as a receiver] is a dying breed," said the retired Centers, who had 101 catches in 1995, the most ever by a running back. "But for now, it sure looks like it's on life support. It'll swing back again, I'm sure, but the current trend certainly is away from it."

"Coordinators are going away from it," said the St. Louis Rams' Marshall Faulk, who three times in the past seven seasons led NFL running backs in receptions. "But it's not just because they're throwing to wide receivers and tight ends more. There are also a lot more 'max' protection teams now, where offenses are keeping backs in to block, to help pick up the blitz. And teams don't use the screen [pass] as much. There's a lot that goes into it, but the bottom line is that backs aren't getting as many balls thrown to them. It's gone that way for a couple years now."

"It's not that guys can't catch the ball," said Indianapolis tailback Edgerrin James, who is likely on his way to a career low for receptions in seasons in which he appeared in more than half the games. "But in this league, styles change, you know?"

"It's the trend right now," acknowledged San Diego star tailback LaDainian Tomlinson, who has 47 catches in 2005, after averaging 72.8 receptions over his first four NFL seasons. "Tight ends have taken away [catches] from running backs. And there are more three- and four-wide receiver [formations] now. Offenses just aren't throwing as much to their backs as they did even two or three years ago."

 

[PressCoverage]

here's some useless information to add:

in 1983, the Minnesota Vikings trio of Darrin Nelson, Tony Galbreath and Ted Brown each had over 40 receptions... the 80s were the heyday of receiving RBs...

some of the best RB who could catch that i remember:

Tony Galbreath
Roger Craig
James Wilder
Walter PAYTON
James Brooks

and my all-time favorite, a long forgotten back who was well on his way to one of the best careers in NFL history before ripping up his knee:

William Andrews, Falcons ... this guy did it all...

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/AndrWi00.htm

 

[mia4ever]

what about Tony Nathan

 

[FinNasty]

here's some useless information to add:

in 1983, the Minnesota Vikings trio of Darrin Nelson, Tony Galbreath and Ted Brown each had over 40 receptions... the 80s were the heyday of receiving RBs...

some of the best RB who could catch that i remember:

Tony Galbreath
Roger Craig
James Wilder
Walter PAYTON
James Brooks

and my all-time favorite, a long forgotten back who was well on his way to one of the best careers in NFL history before ripping up his knee:

William Andrews, Falcons ... this guy did it all...

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/AndrWi00.htm

Well, we know one of the main reasons why we drafted RonnieB was due to his versitility and ability to catch the ball... should we be concerned that we wont be able to see RonnieB used to his full capacity?

 

[PressCoverage]

what about Tony Nathan

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! how could i omit!!!????

YES, and Tony NATHAN! my all-time favorite dolphin...

and Marcus Allen

 

[Hades]

i think once Reggie Bush gets to the NFL and shows how much of a recieving threat he is people will start to throw the ball to RBs more. also i think that LT is kind of reviving the recieving RB, so with those two catchin some balls outa the backfield i think people will realize they should throw the ball to the RBs

 

[Brad528]

Its too bad Ronnie drops so many screen passes. I have seen him make almost as many drops as Chambers but most of them would have been short or no gains any ways

 

[dominizzo]

LArry Centers

 

[RunningBackGuru]

Thanks for that. A good read.

 

[FinNasty]

i think once Reggie Bush gets to the NFL and shows how much of a recieving threat he is people will start to throw the ball to RBs more. also i think that LT is kind of reviving the recieving RB, so with those two catchin some balls outa the backfield i think people will realize they should throw the ball to the RBs

Well in the article... they were talkin about how offenses have been moving away from it the past 2-3 seasons. They said LT is on pace for a carreer low in receptions. He only has 47 receptions this year, but has averaged over 78 per season throughout his carreer...

 

[Shouright]

Chuck Muncie was the trend-setter back in the day. Remember ol' Terry Kirby?

 

[Pmcd95]

Pittman has great hands.

 

[FinNasty]

so are any of you guys concerned about RonnieB and his potential production with offenses starting to stray away from passing to RBs?

 

[Dolphin North]

so are any of you guys concerned about RonnieB and his potential production with offenses starting to stray away from passing to RBs?

Good article! No I'm not concerned. If our team wants to use him to catch we have that option. If not then he's a pretty damn good running threat too! I think that what we need to remember is that he can catch so although it is happenening less, when we do throw he can be a legitimate threat. Plus he's a good pass blocker and almost everything else at such a young age!

 

[wazzy]

I think its because the defenses are getting stronger and not a lot of teams have there O-lines set so they need more protection.