VrabelJr
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2011
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- 8,120
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While this team will clearly be better by upgrading the QB and OT positions, much has also been written about an apparent need to spend expensive capital on a #1 WR ala JaMarr Chase or Justin Jefferson. While an elite #1 WR is nice it only makes a couple other players on the field better at most I'm here to tell you about something else my eyes are seeing that can be had for much less capital and far greater impact.
Everyone knows over the last decade the long lived era of the workhorse three down RB has come to an end. Derrick Henry was the last gasp breathe. In fact, our very own team along with Mike Shanahan's teams, pioneered the "Running Back By Committee" approach of rotating a stable of serviceable RBs with overlapping but varying skill sets. This worked to great affect but has some downsides:
- It's hard to acquire the right ones consistently
- All of those RBs need to be healthy
- Defenses can bias towards certain play calls depending on who is out on the field
What I've seen the last couple of seasons is the emergence of what I call the new three down RB. Aside from the usual RB duties like inside and outside runs and blitz pickup, these RBs can run a robust route tree, beyond just wheel routes, and line up all around the formation. And they don't just do that on third down where its most predictable. Defenses need to respect their route running abilities which causes linebackers and safeties to be pulled closer to the line of scrimmage and creates openings. The 49ers are so lethal because they not only have an RB that can run routes (McCaffrey) they also have a WR that can run (Samuel).
It gets even better. Aside from McCaffrey and Etienne the premier ones in the league were drafted far outside the first round which represents an incredible value. You have Alvin Kamara (3rd round), Austin Ekeler (Undrafted), James Cook (2nd round 63rd pick), and Isaiah Pacheco (7th round). Beyond these guys are a second tier like Tony Pollard, Kyren Williams, and Bijan Robinson who was drafted high in the first.
These guys are an offense's best friend and it's incredibly important we get an RB in this mold.
Everyone knows over the last decade the long lived era of the workhorse three down RB has come to an end. Derrick Henry was the last gasp breathe. In fact, our very own team along with Mike Shanahan's teams, pioneered the "Running Back By Committee" approach of rotating a stable of serviceable RBs with overlapping but varying skill sets. This worked to great affect but has some downsides:
- It's hard to acquire the right ones consistently
- All of those RBs need to be healthy
- Defenses can bias towards certain play calls depending on who is out on the field
What I've seen the last couple of seasons is the emergence of what I call the new three down RB. Aside from the usual RB duties like inside and outside runs and blitz pickup, these RBs can run a robust route tree, beyond just wheel routes, and line up all around the formation. And they don't just do that on third down where its most predictable. Defenses need to respect their route running abilities which causes linebackers and safeties to be pulled closer to the line of scrimmage and creates openings. The 49ers are so lethal because they not only have an RB that can run routes (McCaffrey) they also have a WR that can run (Samuel).
It gets even better. Aside from McCaffrey and Etienne the premier ones in the league were drafted far outside the first round which represents an incredible value. You have Alvin Kamara (3rd round), Austin Ekeler (Undrafted), James Cook (2nd round 63rd pick), and Isaiah Pacheco (7th round). Beyond these guys are a second tier like Tony Pollard, Kyren Williams, and Bijan Robinson who was drafted high in the first.
These guys are an offense's best friend and it's incredibly important we get an RB in this mold.