Najee Harris' Run Game

[WindyCitySteel]

These last few weeks its been a tale of 2 halves so adjustments are being made.

I also think its weird to view a bell cow over 2 RB’s as laziness. Is Vrabel lazy too
for using Henry so much?

Yes. Henry is out with a busted wheel, starting the decline of his career at age 27. Furthest they got was one AFCC Game.

Running the wheels off of one guy is always a bad move. Harris is unfortunately probably going to follow Bell's path and be broken down in a handful of seasons.

[feltdizz]

Yes. Henry is out with a busted wheel, starting the decline of his career at age 27. Furthest they got was one AFCC Game.

Running the wheels off of one guy is always a bad move. Harris is unfortunately probably going to follow Bell's path and be broken down in a handful of seasons.

Pretty sure someone posted a stat that the amount of carries has no impact on a RB’s health when it comes to good RB’s.

Its football, players can get injured on any play.. so limiting touches wouldn’t protect Henry from injury.

and if they did limit Henry’s touches they wouldn’t be in position to make the playoffs because a good 3 to 4 games were won due to Henry wearing teams down in the 4th quarter.

So the real question is do you want to preserve a player and risk missing the playoffs or do you run the “wheels off him” and make the playoffs?

and furthest they got was one game away from a SB? Hilarious how this is said like its not an accomplishment for a team with Tannehill at QB.

and regarding Bell. We ran his wheels to a AFCCG. Yes, he got injured. But AB was also injured in a playoff game.

If you have talent, you don’t preserve it, you use it. Who cares if Henry is broken down in a few years. Tennessee signed him to win NOW not 5 years from now. RB’s aren’t supposed to play 15 years like QB’s.

[crushedspirit]

With the way the league is going, I would say use the RBs as much as you can before that second contract comes up. Get the most out of that first contract. Might sound mean, but it's a business.

[feltdizz]

and Watt just signed and missed how many snaps this year?

again, football is a sport where you can get injured on any play. The only thing I want is for Najee to stop trying to get a half yard on 3rd and 12 when he is tackled after a 3 yard dump off. No reason to take 3 extra shots when the play is dead.

IMO its simply a way to blame someone for an injury instead of just admitting injuries are part of the game.

Any other position gets hurt and its just an injury..

but a RB gets injured and now we have to count his touches as the reason even when we see the guys ankle get twisted by an opponent.

[feltdizz]

With the way the league is going, I would say use the RBs as much as you can before that second contract comes up. Get the most out of that first contract. Might sound mean, but it's a business.

its not mean at all.

unless a player isn’t ready or can’t win the job there is no reason not to use him as
much as possible.

[WindyCitySteel]

Pretty sure someone posted a stat that the amount of carries has no impact on a RB’s health when it comes to good RB’s.

Its football, players can get injured on any play.. so limiting touches wouldn’t protect Henry from injury.

and if they did limit Henry’s touches they wouldn’t be in position to make the playoffs because a good 3 to 4 games were won due to Henry wearing teams down in the 4th quarter.

So the real question is do you want to preserve a player and risk missing the playoffs or do you run the “wheels off him” and make the playoffs?

and furthest they got was one game away from a SB? Hilarious how this is said like its not an accomplishment for a team with Tannehill at QB.

and regarding Bell. We ran his wheels to a AFCCG. Yes, he got injured. But AB was also injured in a playoff game.

If you have talent, you don’t preserve it, you use it. Who cares if Henry is broken down in a few years. Tennessee signed him to win NOW not 5 years from now. RB’s aren’t supposed to play 15 years like QB’s.

Limiting touches wouldn't limit risk? Lol. Yes, you can get injured on any play, but there are injuries from overuse, too. Google the curse of 400 touches. RBs rarely make it back from that many. And if you can get hurt on any play, the more plays you are in the more chance you have to get hurt.

Putting all the risk into one guy at the position that takes the most beating is just not smart. Balance the risk in the playcalling and the backfield. No rule saying you're only allowed to have one competent back on the roster.

Good example with Watt. They let Dupree walk and traded away their best depth player, so when their basket of eggs fell, they all broke.

[WindyCitySteel]

its not mean at all.

unless a player isn’t ready or can’t win the job there is no reason not to use him as
much as possible.

So Watt and Heyward should play 100% of the snaps since they're better than the backups?

[whisper]

and Watt just signed and missed how many snaps this year?

again, football is a sport where you can get injured on any play. The only thing I want is for Najee to stop trying to get a half yard on 3rd and 12 when he is tackled after a 3 yard dump off. No reason to take 3 extra shots when the play is dead.

IMO its simply a way to blame someone for an injury instead of just admitting injuries are part of the game.

Any other position gets hurt and its just an injury..

but a RB gets injured and now we have to count his touches as the reason even when we see the guys ankle get twisted by an opponent.

Just ask Earl Campbell if running the wheels of a back isn't a bad thing.

["BuzzNuter"]

Adrian Peterson averaged around 280+ carries a year for his first 7 seasons. Najee is a punisher. He delivers force instead of taking it.
I think if he can give up the fighting for an extra yard, he can last 7 or 8 years.

If you remember Bell hurt his knee against the Bengals in the second game against them. Their safety went for his knee as he was going out of bounds. I forget the guys name but he intercepted Ben in a few games.

The knee is the only variable that an RB can't control. A bad hit to the knee can occur any time.

[feltdizz]

So Watt and Heyward should play 100% of the snaps since they're better than the backups?

they should play as many as possible unless they are winded..

QB plays 100%, so do safeties, CB’s and OL..

we are 6-1 when Watt plays at least 84% of the snaps. Why would I ever want him to play less than that when he is making $30 mill a season?

[feltdizz]

Just ask Earl Campbell if running the wheels of a back isn't a bad thing.

there are players who are suffering from CTE in their early 30’s.

its a violent sport.

less carries wouldn’t have improved Earl Campbells health after football.

[Northern_Blitz]

Adrian Peterson averaged around 280+ carries a year for his first 7 seasons. Najee is a punisher. He delivers force instead of taking it.
I think if he can give up the fighting for an extra yard, he can last 7 or 8 years.

If you remember Bell hurt his knee against the Bengals in the second game against them. Their safety went for his knee as he was going out of bounds. I forget the guys name but he intercepted Ben in a few games.

The knee is the only variable that an RB can't control. A bad hit to the knee can occur any time.

Not sure what you base that on.

I hope he can be very good that long.

But he'd be in pretty rare company I think.

Not impossible, but not something I'd bet on.

[feltdizz]

Adrian Peterson averaged around 280+ carries a year for his first 7 seasons. Najee is a punisher. He delivers force instead of taking it.
I think if he can give up the fighting for an extra yard, he can last 7 or 8 years.

If you remember Bell hurt his knee against the Bengals in the second game against them. Their safety went for his knee as he was going out of bounds. I forget the guys name but he intercepted Ben in a few games.

The knee is the only variable that an RB can't control. A bad hit to the knee can occur any time.

James Conner had a season ending injury after 35 carries his rookie season.

Ravens lost 2 RB’s in camp

You can’t protect a player from injuries with less carries or less snaps.

[feltdizz]

Not sure what you base that on.

I hope he can be very good that long.

But he'd be in pretty rare company I think.

Not impossible, but not something I'd bet on.

Well, he used AP as an example.

I think when people throw out the average career by position they forget most
of these guys are practice squad or barely made the cut RB’s and not the better RB’s.

but maybe the data is changing because the game is faster and more violent than in the 80’s due to the speed of the game?

Because guys like Bettis played 12 years and the first 7 he averaged about 300 a year except for the one year before he was traded when the Hc went in a different direction… and that was just his rushing attempts.

["BuzzNuter"]

Not sure what you base that on.

I hope he can be very good that long.

But he'd be in pretty rare company I think.

Not impossible, but not something I'd bet on.

I think Najee is gifted physically. I'm not saying he's a better RB then the greats. I'm saying he is as tough a RB as I have seen come into the league. I know Bettis was tough but he was what 5'10" and 250+. Najee is an Eric Dickerson type. He's 6'2" and 235 and delivers punishment, he never recoils. The man has no fear and plays with utter abandon as we used to say in the day.