Don't Bulk Up RBs! - rudyjuly2's Blog

rudyjuly2's Blog

Don't Bulk Up RBs!

Posted on July 1, 2010 at 08:57 AM.

(8)

While some teams like that big bruising RB that can handle 30 carries a game, that bulk should be natural and not forced. The college game is more suited to quick and speedy backs so guys like Best, Forsett, Bush, J.Rodgers, Devine, etc all flourish. Of course big backs like Ricky Williams and Ron Dayne can also excel in college but my point is that any type of back can have success in NCAA. The pro game is more suited to the bigger backs but I think the NFL makes a big mistake when it asks kids to bulk up to handle the rigors of a long NFL season.

Many of these smaller RBs are special because of their quickness and speed. If they can only handle 15 touches a game so what? I'd rather have 15 good touches than 20-25 mediocre touches. More teams are realizing this now in the NFL as many of them now want two running backs to shoulder the load. Plus having two good backs will allow them to use different styles and protect against injuries.

Case #1: Steve Slaton. He had a great rookie year and rushed for over 1200 yards. He was always a quick and fast player and played at 199 pounds. He bulked up to 215 last year and sucked. He did have some injuries which hurt but he wasn't the same back. This year he's going back down to 199.

Case #2: Kevin Jones. He rushed for over 1100 yards his rookie year with the Lions with much of that coming in the second half of the year. He averaged 4.7 ypc. After that rookie year he never rushed for as much as 700 yards and his best ypc in any year since was 3.8. He currently weighs 228 pounds but he's not a bruiser. He went from being a big play guy in college to very average in the NFL as a bulked up back. He was listed at 209 in college and had great elusiveness. You would never know he was elusive watching him today. Here's a clip from his VT days.

I'm sure there are many examples of this. I'm just tired of hearing NFL coaches asking running backs to bulk up for the NFL. I'd rather have a RB that can do something good (like get outside) than bulk him up so he's not particularly good at anything. Why add that bulk to handle 25+ carries when it makes you lousy? The expression "Jack of all trades but master of none" applies here. When you see guys like Chris Johnson, Brian Westbrook and Warrick Dunn all excel despite their size, why change that?

Comments

# 1 rrrdawg2 @ Jul 1

Quite true. I never understood why GM's and coaches wanted all of these speed backs coming out of college to add weight. If they play well at 190 lbs, let them play at 190 lbs.

With that said, watch these NFL teams do the same thing with Jacquizz Rodgers (5'7", 191 lbs) out of Oregon State and Noel Devine (5'8", 176 lbs.) out of West Virginia.

# 2 joeboyjr55 @ Jul 1

yea they ask them to do that so they can take the pounding of the nfl because unless u r someone like Chris Johnson with incredible speed. then its gonna take a told on him cuz u cant out run everyone in the NFL. i mean look maurice jones-drew even tho he is like 5-7 he is ripped on top of speed

# 3 stlstudios189 @ Jul 1

I think spliting the load is smart, careers could be a little longer this way. RB's careers are finished at 30 maybe this sharing could keep them going an extra year or two.

# 4 FroznYogurt @ Jul 1

Great read! I agree with the 2-back, or even the 3-back system being the way to go.

# 5 Game4fun @ Jul 4

Yup the NFL has turned into a 2 back system. Thats why Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, and Watler Payton should be commended for all the work they put in over the years. Emmitt Smith will always be underrated and under appreciated because his naysayers will point to other reasons, as to why he is the number one rusher of all time. I'm sure all three of those guys had some help but maintaing your health, staying in shape, and still having great seasons is what separates them from the rest.

# 6 Game4fun @ Jul 4

And I agree with russ as far as weight goes. It should be the goal of a player, trainer, team ect.... to add weight the right way, which ever way brings out maximum results.

# 7 tswiatkowski @ Jul 5

Well, I agree with you for the most part. Most of these smaller, quicker backs will not play well when they are forced to add weight. I know I wouldn't be as effective of a runner if I did. (5'8" 160) although my playing days are over. Some players, however, have the frame and leg strength to add weight. Big example is MJD. He added weight to play in the NFL and now he has the ability to carry the ball a lot more than someone who is lighter.