How much of a RB's success should be credited to the OL?

[CBS7]

I'd say the majority.

[Basketball Jesus]

Compelling argument you make.

[J.Kim]

It's a two-way street.

A crap RB can look a great O-Line look only marginally good, and a great RB can look a mediocre O-Line look phenomenal, and Vice Versa.

Denver's system has repeatedly shown us that a good system (cut once and run) with great blocking up front can generate production out of just about any back.
But then you have a counter argument in someone with transcendent abilities like a Barry Sanders or a Walter Payon or a Jim Brown, who can make a mediocre line look better than it is because of their abilities of making defenders whiff on tackles.
And then you also have a guy like LenDale White, (who despite everyone saying that he's a productive talent), who makes the Titans' O-Line look actually worse than it is because of his lack of explosiveness and a low-end top speed that makes gaps close up before he can even get there.

It's hard to actually credit much success to either the O-Line or the RB, and the amount depends from a strategical point of view. But make no mistake, it's not a one-sided "RB deserves all the credit", "O-Line deserves all the credit" type of thing. Ever.

[ReasonablySober]

It's a good question to bring up after Chester Taylor just got done carving up Oakland. He's a fine running back but you wonder how much of Peterson's ridiculous numbers are because of that left side of Birk, Hutchinson and McKinnie.

[HMFFL]

The OL is suppose to get credit?

Normally a great offensive line makes the running back, but the running back still needs to have skills or be a power runner to bulldoze the defenders.

I believe anyone could run behind Minnesota's line.

[Manhattan Project]

Lets throw out a few examples...

Ahman Green when he was with the Green Bay Packers.
Tiki Barber with the New York Giants.
Priest Holmes l Larry Johnson with the Chiefs.
Mike Anderson l Quentin Griffin l Clinton Portis l Olindis Gary with the Broncos.
Marshawn Lynch with the Bills this year.

[J.Kim]

Lets throw out a few examples...

Ahman Green when he was with the Green Bay Packers.
Tiki Barber with the New York Giants.
Priest Holmes l Larry Johnson with the Chiefs.
Mike Anderson l Quentin Griffin l Clinton Portis l Olindis Gary with the Broncos.
Marshawn Lynch with the Bills this year.

What do you mean by these?

[DaGoodz]

I have to say a lot, considering the Giants had Tiki Barber last year and people thought he made our Oline look better than it was. And without Tiki, we are actually gaining more Rushing yards. Its a two way street, cause you also need a RB who has good vision and can find the running lanes. (Hence Reggie Bush's problem)

[Manhattan Project]

-= original quote snipped =-



What do you mean by these?

Just throwing random examples to discuss whether its the line or running back that deserves credit.

Ahman Green (2000-2004). Was this because of his talent or an extremely dominant line he was running behind? Averaging 4.3 ypc to 5.3 ypc through those years.

Tiki Barber (2002-2006) Before this year everyone was talking about how the Giants were going to be a lost cause because of his loss. However they have made Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Reuben Droughns look impressive.

Priest Holmes (2001-2003) One of the most dominant running backs since Marshal Faulk in these years. He goes from back up running back to biggest star.

Larry Johnson (2005-2006) Emerged as one of the elite running backs, however the Chiefs line has started to deteriorate. He has come back to earth a bit, however that is also due to teams stacking the box.

Denver Broncos (Since TD) There system has produced running backs every year. However only Clinton Portis has really done anything else where. Gary Flopped, Anderson became a FB, Griffin has done nothing and well Bell never put anything together.

Marshawn Lynch is running behind the biggest offensive line in football, but scouts rave about his ability. Who really deserves the credit here more?

[NO-KG-AI]

I think you just have to look at it in a case by case thing. You can't give all the credit to one side until you watch and see what is really happening.

[nesta]

not all. look at barry sanders, vick