Analyzing the Efficiency of Using Multiple Running Backs in the NFL

Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 157.4 yds/game, leading the NFL in avg. rushing yards per game. Jacobs and Ward each rushed for over 1000 yards, while all three averaged more than five yards/carry, a testament to the strength of the Giants' offensive line.

LeRon McClain, Willis McGahee and Ray Rice combined for 148.5 yds/game, ranking fourth in the NFL in avg. rushing yards per game. Both of these teams had at least 11 wins this year, got into the playoffs and made it to at least the divisional round.

This should prove the efficiency of using multiple backs over the more traditional workhorse running back method, right?

Wrong. Dead Wrong.

In all fairness, people act like this is the first go-around for the multiple RB method. They believe that only in the last couple years have people switched to this method and that before then people usually relied on one star back to grind out the yards between the tackles.

Most EVERY team in the league uses at least two backs 95 percent of the time. Even if there is only one other RB on the roster, just to spell the star back when he's tired or needs a breather, this is still some form of a multiple back system.

Joseph Addai of the Indianapolis Colts has Dominic Rhodes, LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers has Darren Sproles.

Tampa Bay has Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham. The only difference between these teams and the traditional form of workhorse RB is that the workhorse RB usually gets at least 80 percent of the total carries from scrimmage.

Now looking at the other side of the league and take the Minnesota Vikings, just for example. Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor combined for 2159 rushing yards this season but out of all those yards, Adrian Peterson accounted for over 81 percent with 1760 yards. This would make him the very definition of the traditional running back.

The Washington Redskins ranked eigth in the NFL at 130.9 yards/game. Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts combined for 1693 rushing yards with Portis carrying for more than 87 percent of the rushing yardage. This would make Clinton yet another workhorse style running back, and yet they also were in the top 10 rushing teams in the NFL.

What I am trying to show you is that it's not really the number of backs that brings success to a team's rushing attack.

As always, the quality of the back and the fit of the RB in the team's offensive scheme that helps that team to become more or less efficient at running the ball. Teams with multiple RB's aren't often as efficient as they should be.

Take the New Orleans Saints for example. Their team uses a three running back rotation regularly, switching between Deuce McAllister, on the downside of his career, and two running backs that are relatively young, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush.

According to the proponents of the multiple RB style, this should have generated success by helping the three RB's legs stay fresh over the regular season, right? 

The New Orleans RB's combined for 99.6 rushing yards/game, good for 28th in the league. All three combined for 1447 rushing yards, with Pierre Thomas accounting for 43 percent of those yards. Maybe it was the success of Drew Brees aerial attack, but in 2008, the Saints RB's were downright stagnant.

The Arizona Cardinals used Edgerrin James and J.J. Arrington to spell their starter, Tim Hightower. The Arizona trio of RB's combined for 1100 rushing yards over the course of the entire '08 season.

Arizona's rushing rank?

32nd in the NFL. Dead last. Edgerrin James, who almost became obsolete over the second half of the regular season, accounted for just over 46 percent of the Cardinals rushing yards.

Similar to the Saints numbers, Kurt Warner and the Cardinals talented WR duo, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald combined for a passing rank of second in the NFL. Maybe this was the reason their RB's had such horrible numbers, but it doesn't change the facts.

They used three RB's, supposedly to keep them fresh and ready throughout the playoffs but mainly they just did what they had been doing all season. Accounting for less than 21 percent of their team's total offensive yards.

So the next time someone tells you that rotating between two and three RB's is the next big thing and that your team would be wise to switch to this method, keep in mind that almost always, injuries and ineffectiveness are the main reasons why teams switch from the traditional workhorse RB method.

The reasoning is simple: Why would you change a thing if your star running back is rushing for more then five yards/carry, 1400 rushing yards, and 14 TD.

The answer is that you don't. For the Giants, Brandon Jacobs recurring knee injuries due to his upright style of running was a cause for concern. For the Ravens, Willis McGahee's frequent trips to the PUP and Injured Reserve for his knees forced management to go in a new direction with LeRon McClain.

The Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart and his injured toe due to the belief that DeAngelo Williams couldn't do the job by himself. Even though they were proved wrong when Williams rushed for 1515 yards (64 percent) and a staggering 18 TD's, Jonathan Stewart still rushed for another 836 yards and 10 TD's during his rookie season.

In summary, having the luxury of multiple efficient running backs is exactly that, a luxury. Most often, teams go in that direction due to injury, and not because it is more effective then having a single star running back. Also, remember that even having one good back isn't a necessity. Look at the '08 Indianapolis Colts.

They ranked 31st in the league in rushing with only 79.6 rushing yards/game. They also had a record of 12-4. Pretty good, huh?

-Michael([e-mail], who notes that even the 0-16 Detroit Lions had a higher rushing rank then the Colts (30th, 83.2yds/gm)).