Why Do Alabama RB's Never Deliver When they Reach the NFL?

[BlueRattie_rivals]

Alabama Running Backs--A Quick Study:

1. Glen Coffee, 3rd round pick (49ers) 2009. 2.7 yards per carry, out of NFL
2. Mark Ingram, 1st round pick (Saints) 2011. Marginal starter, never had a 1000 yard season
3. Trent Richardson, 1st round pick (Browns) 2012. Shipped from team to team, rarely starts.
4. Eddie Lacy, 2nd round pick (Packers) 2013. The best of the bunch. Rushed for 1000 yards each of his first two seasons, but failed to reach 800 this year.
5. T.J. Yeldon, 2nd round pick (Jags) 2015. Had decent opening year with Jags, rushing for 700 yards.

With the possible exception of Lacy, these are not eye popping numbers. How to backs with such great physical attributes and college accolades consistently fail to live up to NFL expectations?

 

[shutzhund]

They don't have as good an offensive line in front of them as they did in Tuscaloosa.

Same can be said about their qbs.

 

[vhcat70]

Guessing, but pretty much straight ahead power backs vs. the shiftiness blend needed in the NFL.

 

[Pulaski Cat Fan_rivals377587]

Maybe Alabama is giving them a hell of a lot better steroids.

 

[Kats23]

Because Alabama has a powerful offense but not an NFL offense. They stack up on Running Backs, get huge OLs that just blow open holes. They just pound on you for 3 quarters with 2 or 3 different running backs then by the 4th Q the starter looks like a Heisman Candidate and runs up big yardage.

I think their RB's struggle to adjust to the NFL. The days of Jerome Bettis type backs are gone. You have to catch the ball out of the backfield, read multiple shifts and blitzes. You don't have that with Saban and the Alabama Offense.

 

[fuzz77]

Alabama Running Backs--A Quick Study:

1. Glen Coffee, 3rd round pick (49ers) 2009. 2.7 yards per carry, out of NFL
2. Mark Ingram, 1st round pick (Saints) 2011. Marginal starter, never had a 1000 yard season
3. Trent Richardson, 1st round pick (Browns) 2012. Shipped from team to team, rarely starts.
4. Eddie Lacy, 2nd round pick (Packers) 2013. The best of the bunch. Rushed for 1000 yards each of his first two seasons, but failed to reach 800 this year.
5. T.J. Yeldon, 2nd round pick (Jags) 2015. Had decent opening year with Jags, rushing for 700 yards.

With the possible exception of Lacy, these are not eye popping numbers. How to backs with such great physical attributes and college accolades consistently fail to live up to NFL expectations?

Ingram and Lacy have both been to the Pro Bowl. Ingram has averaged 4.3 yds/carry for his career which ain't too shabby. They NFL has become a pass happy league and there just aren't a whole lot of backs racking up 1000 yd seasons year after year. While 2015 was Lacy's lowest rushing season he did avg over 6 yds/carry in GB's two playoff games. Richardson for sure has been a disappointment but really, he was selected by the Browns who's first round draft choices seem to be cursed. That team has had 2 first round choices in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and gotten maybe one decent NFL player in the bunch.

 

[DACats86]

There is no OL in the NFL as dominant as Alabama's in CFB.

 

[RACdad]

Hopefully Henry will reverse the trend. Go Titans!!!!!

 

[BARRYBLUE1]

Don't get as much money in NFL.

 

[JHB4UK]

There is no OL in the NFL as dominant as Alabama's in CFB.

Or no nfl team lines up defensive lines that are so inferior to the talent and physical ability like bama o line vs any college d line

Even playing field

 

[Mr Schwump]

They do well enough to help Bama win NCs, seems to matter to them.

 

[Deeeefense]

Because Alabama has a powerful offense but not an NFL offense. They stack up on Running Backs, get huge OLs that just blow open holes. They just pound on you for 3 quarters with 2 or 3 different running backs then by the 4th Q the starter looks like a Heisman Candidate and runs up big yardage.

I think their RB's struggle to adjust to the NFL. The days of Jerome Bettis type backs are gone. You have to catch the ball out of the backfield, read multiple shifts and blitzes. You don't have that with Saban and the Alabama Offense.

Correct - the bruisers are no longer in high demand, the all purpose backs like Matt Forte and Devonte Freeman are the ones most coveted. I do think Mark Ingram is a pretty good fit as an NFL back however at New Orleans he has had to split touches with several other very good backs.

 

[screwduke]

There is no OL in the NFL as dominant as Alabama's in CFB.

This.

 

[redbudman]

Ever heard of Shaun Alexander?

 

[JHB4UK]

Clearly th point of the thread is discussing the Saban era dude

 

[TheBigBlueSpectacle]

Others beat me to it but obviously the incremental talent differential in the front line at Alabama vs their opponents is much greater than any matchup you will see in the NFL.

The fact is the system at Alabama is dominant much more than any one individual player. Same reason I can sign one really good corner or one really good linebacker and not make a ton of difference. Football is more about the collective than almost any other sport as defenses will just key on stronger areas or offenses will attack weaker areas. Alabama is strong everywhere. It makes the individuals look better than they really are and is a rare luxury

 

[Poetax]

Alabama Running Backs--A Quick Study:

1. Glen Coffee, 3rd round pick (49ers) 2009. 2.7 yards per carry, out of NFL
2. Mark Ingram, 1st round pick (Saints) 2011. Marginal starter, never had a 1000 yard season
3. Trent Richardson, 1st round pick (Browns) 2012. Shipped from team to team, rarely starts.
4. Eddie Lacy, 2nd round pick (Packers) 2013. The best of the bunch. Rushed for 1000 yards each of his first two seasons, but failed to reach 800 this year.
5. T.J. Yeldon, 2nd round pick (Jags) 2015. Had decent opening year with Jags, rushing for 700 yards.

With the possible exception of Lacy, these are not eye popping numbers. How to backs with such great physical attributes and college accolades consistently fail to live up to NFL expectations?

They were men among boys in college but only boys among men in the pros.

 

[CatPowered]

TBBS is correct.....the talent differential of Alabama OL verses opponent DL is much greater than any NFL OL vs DL. Also, RB's in the NFL now have to be able to catch the football. This is not a requirement in the Bama offense. And that is a detriment to their RB's.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Alabama Running Backs--A Quick Study:

1. Glen Coffee, 3rd round pick (49ers) 2009. 2.7 yards per carry, out of NFL
2. Mark Ingram, 1st round pick (Saints) 2011. Marginal starter, never had a 1000 yard season
3. Trent Richardson, 1st round pick (Browns) 2012. Shipped from team to team, rarely starts.
4. Eddie Lacy, 2nd round pick (Packers) 2013. The best of the bunch. Rushed for 1000 yards each of his first two seasons, but failed to reach 800 this year.
5. T.J. Yeldon, 2nd round pick (Jags) 2015. Had decent opening year with Jags, rushing for 700 yards.

With the possible exception of Lacy, these are not eye popping numbers. How to backs with such great physical attributes and college accolades consistently fail to live up to NFL expectations?

I don't think there is any single reason for it. The truth is many former Bama players don't live up to their college days. But here are some I think are in play, in college they never faced a team with more talent, not the case in the NFL. Bama likes to run the ball and pound you into submission, in the NFL that isn't the goal any longer, its to throw and get wide, run you until you wear out. I have suspected Bama has used some very potent supplements in the S&C program and their level of play in bowl games drops considerably. In 14 tOSU wore them out, in 15 they had a surprisingly tough time against CU, Henry didn't have his near 50 carries for 250+ yards. Bama always looks bigger and faster than the teams they play, but come combine time, they are very rarely bigger, stronger or faster than anyone else. But one of the biggest things being said about Bama players recently is they are just worn more than players from other programs because Bama practices are so physical. All those carries Henry had, do you think it will shorten his career? I am not predicting it, but won't be surprised if Bama's backup doesn't have a better career than Henry in the NFL. Drake is very fast and elusive, great out of the backfield, while Henry isn't really elusive or sudden, once he gets moving he is a load, but how often will that happen for him in the NFL. I don't really know how good a receiver he is.

 

[sward1851]

I have to ask the obvious question. Why would we waste 5 seconds on what is wrong with the defending national champions, when we haven't been to a bowl game in 6 years?

 

[CatsFanGG24]

I have to ask the obvious question. Why would we waste 5 seconds on what is wrong with the defending national champions, when we haven't been to a bowl game in 6 years?

It is a football discussion board. Also a valid point and interesting topic...the OP isn't about what is wrong with BAMA.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

They don't have as good an offensive line in front of them as they did in Tuscaloosa.

Same can be said about their qbs.

Or no nfl team lines up defensive lines that are so inferior to the talent and physical ability like bama o line vs any college d line

Even playing field

Both are correct. A dominant OL makes every skill player look much better.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

is it true that our offensive line is just as big as Alabama's?

 

[optimus-blue]

they get hell beat out of them running scout Team and playing special teams before they ever get chance to play

 

[BlueRaider22]

1st - what percentage of all drafted RBs succeed? I'm betting it's not very high.....maybe 10% crack the 2-deep on an NFL team? I don't know.

2nd - how does the above percentage compare to Bama's drafted RBs? I figure it's probably not all that different. If the difference is minimal then Bama's RBs are about average and don't "fail."

3rd - style. As said previously, the NFL tends to favor RBs with all around skills. Bama's RBs don't usually have those skills. They are suited to NFL teams that just aren't much anymore. Same with OL. The NFL favors skill balanced OL players.....and not always the road grading run blocking types.

 

[CATFANFOLIFE87]

they get hell beat out of them running scout Team and playing special teams before they ever get chance to play

Their practices are punishing on their bodies and their offense is predicated on a physical rush attack between the tackles. Their RB's get so many handoffs right into the teeth of the defense. RB's are said to have a finite number of carries in them from the start of their career. When a guy is getting 25-30 carries a game in college their longevity is being sacrificed

 

[redbudman]

Clearly th point of the thread is discussing the Saban era dude

Then why was it not "Stated as such" DUDE!

 

[KyCatFan1]

Their practices are punishing on their bodies and their offense is predicated on a physical rush attack between the tackles. Their RB's get so many handoffs right into the teeth of the defense. RB's are said to have a finite number of carries in them from the start of their career. When a guy is getting 25-30 carries a game in college their longevity is being sacrificed

That is what I was leaning toward. By the time they get to the pros, they've used up most of their quality years. Running backs would be better served to only take 10-15 carries a game and then maybe throw in about 5 receptions to get them away from the beatings at the lines.

 

[jcmc225]

Very rarely do you see teams take on rb's in the top 10 or top 15 of the draft unless hes pretty much a 'sure thing.' They are a dime a dozen. Not Bamas fault. Just the way the league is.

 

[StubbornPenny]

Because bear Bryant left UK. That's why.

 

[JHB4UK]

Very rarely do you see teams take on rb's in the top 10 or top 15 of the draft unless hes pretty much a 'sure thing.'

so how does racking up 1500+ yards & winning the Heisman not make Bama running backs a 'sure thing'?

 

[jcmc225]

so how does racking up 1500+ yards & winning the Heisman not make Bama running backs a 'sure thing'?

Quite a few RBs rush for the 1500 yards yearly. Most are guys youve probably never heard of. Yea you get the recognition when youre at a larger school playing top competition and competing for championships. But just because you can run for tons of yards doesnt mean you translate to the NFL. Also, In college you can get by being a bruising back stronger than everyone, but once you get to the league and everyone is just as strong you better have pass catching skills, good vision, change of direction, short range explosiveness... Etc. Guys like Trent Richardson never had yo display much more than downhill running between the tackles in college and they dont translate. Stats dont translate obviously.

historically heisman RBs do pan out. I think Henry will be a solid back in the NFL, Lacy is good when hes not overweight. Ingram is solid. Richardson is a joke that still thinks he can make HOF. There is always guys who are great college players that dont pan out and guys no one expected that make it big. Its part of what makes sports great

 

[BigBoyBlueMMA]

Correct - the bruisers are no longer in high demand, the all purpose backs like Matt Forte and Devonte Freeman are the ones most coveted. I do think Mark Ingram is a pretty good fit as an NFL back however at New Orleans he has had to split touches with several other very good backs.

I think this is truest statement - splitting carries and multi faceted style backs are needed in NFL offensive schemes

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Hopefully Henry will reverse the trend. Go Titans!!!!!

He has less pressure on him to do well. I love the Titans RB's and running game potential when you factor in Mariota. The Titans are gonna try to ground and pound a lot in a league where that is frowned upon at present, but if it works well the Titans could do a lot better than some expect. Whatever keeps the D off the field more is the best strategy and running the ball/chewing the clock will do that.

 

[rmattox]

There is no OL in the NFL as dominant as Alabama's in CFB.

That's that answer.

 

[cardsfan53]

Most NFL team split carries and the stud RB isn't needed much in today's NFL. Ingram and Lacy play with 2 of the best and highest paid QB in the NFL. Both have had decent careers so far IMO compared to the present state of the NFL RB. Richardson has been the biggest bust of all, and some of that could have been him being drafted by the Browns. His rookie year he did rush for right at 1,000 yards and 11 TD's

 

[EdHochuli'sTriceps]

richardson is a huge bust. coffee always seemed like a reach, but is also a bust

ingram is a decent nfl player. lacy is good. yeldon was fine as a rookie

overall pattern isn't really that damning, though the obvious answer has been provided many times

 

[Beatle Bum]

Lacy is better than good when healthy.

 

[Goingfor13]

I think Ingram, Lacy, and Yeldon have all done pretty well so far in their careers. Over drafted in Ingram's case, but he's still been a solid player.

I'm not sure what you mean by deliver. No superstars (but how many running backs really are?), but some good players.

 

[cardsfan53]

The RB is just not a very important position in today's NFL. Teams want a QB, LT, Pass rusher, and CB. If all NFL teams held a fantasy draft today. Maybe Adrain Peterson and LeVon Bell would be the only RB picked in the first round.