There are eleven players on the offensive backfield during an American Football game. Out of those eleven players, one position is known as a running back. There are two types of running back positions. The fullback and the running back.
What Does a Running Back Do?
Being a running back involves being able to run fast, and also not get caught.
The NFL and the NCAA have some additional requirements for those who play football.
A good running back needs to be fast, good at catching passes, be able to break tackles during a game as a receiver, be able to recognize and see openings on defenses, and have an overall knowledge of the running game.
Why is it Called a Running Back?
The primary function of a running back in American Football is to run up the field, trying to gain as many yards as possible. Because they are usually running with the ball, a running back can be a blocker or a receiver for most plays. They are more valuable than wide receivers because they do need to be able to run.
Why are Running Plays Important in Football?
Running plays are absolutely essential for any football team. It might be a yard or two away from the endzone, so they’ll run to score a touchdown. Throwing the ball a yard or two away from the goal line could result in an interception, so they’ll run more often than not.
A third reason to run is to prevent turnovers. When a team is in a 3rd and long situation, they might try to pass and hope the turnover will occur on defense. This leads to a lot of wasted plays. If you can successfully run a short pass with the chance of taking the ball away, many of these long passes will be unnecessary.
And fourth, the NFL is a running and passing league. The running game is the primary way teams win games. The passing game is used to keep defenses honest and for team control. If the team controls the ball and the defense is not able to stop the running game, the chances of winning are much higher. On the other hand, if the offense has more control of the ball and the defense is able to shut down the running game, it is much harder for the team to win.
Downsides of Running Backs
One of the downsides of being a running back is that they get a lot of hits from defensive players and may fumble the ball more than other receivers. Another downside of running backs is that they aren’t very strong so they might not block defensive players as well. Finally, running backs are not as good at catching a pass as other receivers, which means they get more drop passes than a receiver.
What Other Positions Do Running Backs Play?
 A running back is one of the fastest players on the field, so teams usually use them on special teams – specifically, you will see them be the punt returner or kick returner for a unit. They have excellent catching skills, so they might be used as such because they can secure the kick and run with the ball.
How Similar is a Running Back to a Fullback?
The offensive line (OL) has one or two running backs on a play. The running back lines up behind the offensive line. Their role is primarily to run with the ball, but sometimes they become a defender/wide receiver.
In recent years, many teams have used the fullback as a blocking back in passing situations. It is sometimes used as a decoy as an offensive tactic as in the play of the same name.
Another example of this form of passing is the quarterback hand-off. It is a play in which the ball is simply passed between the quarterback’s two hands, with the quarterback running behind his offensive line as a result. This play was first developed in the 1970s by the New England Patriots.
The biggest difference between them is that fullbacks are strong. They aren’t very fast like halfbacks. Because of this, defenders can’t block fullbacks. Instead, they have to tackle because they have the size to withstand the physicality of a front-seven. Halfbacks, however, are quick and are able to make defenders miss as they sprint towards the ball carrier.
Who has the Most Rushing Yards as a Running Back in the NFL?
Emmitt Smith is the all-time leader in total rushing yards with 18,355 yards. However, his fumbles are the number one reason why he doesn’t have a Pro Bowl or Super Bowl ring. He only had one season with less than 1% of the time without any fumbles, which is in 2002.
The first time the Bears were in Green Bay, in 1977, they won, 31-7. And it’s only been the Bears with the Packers, so the Bears are in Green Bay for the 23rd time.
The Size and Shape of a Running Back
Although halfbacks are usually shorter than running backs, the average running back is around 6’0” and 215 pounds. Halfbacks are also smaller, but most average about 225-230 pounds.
What Running Backs are in the National Football League Hall of Fame?
The NFL has hall of fame of player’s for all the positions, and the running back position is one of the most popular ones. If you are interested in knowing a little bit more about these great men, you can visit this link.
