Hey buddy, I wanted to talk to you about Average Yards Per Carry in NFL today. It’s an interesting statistic I recently came across and it’s been on my mind for the past few days.
To be honest, I’m absolutely baffled by it. I mean, the average yards per carry for NFL players in the 2019 season was 4.41 yards. That’s kind of astonishing if you think about it. Given the competitive nature of NFL and the sheer physicality of the game, I would’ve expected the highest average to be 5 or 6 yards.
But 4.41 yards? That’s insanity. The players are literally running for their lives, so for them to achieve such a low average yards per carry imply that there’s something more happening on the field.
And that something more... Well, that’d be the coaching. It’s not that all coaches are bad per se, it’s that they don’t know how to use the talent properly. For example, if a team has an elite running back and they just infantry him up the middle every time instead of mixing up the plays – then the average yards per carry go down significantly.
It’s almost like the playbook just isn’t designed to take advantage of the player’s strengths and it has a huge hand in affecting the average yards per carry.
But not all the teams are like that. You can always find a few examples of coaches who do actually play around with their schemes. Take the 2019 New England Patriots for example – they scored a fourth-best 5.03 yards per carry.
That means their coaches adjusted really well to their guys and found ways to get the most out of them. They’re a great example of how coaching can really make a difference.
The fact of the matter is, Average Yards Per Carry is more than just a statistic. It can tell us a lot about the team and highlight certain areas of their game. For example, it can show us which coaches are actually taking advantage of their players’ talent.
And that’s not the only application either – teams can also use it to identify areas of weaknesses and plan accordingly. By looking at it, teams can determine exactly why their players aren’t performing as well and adjust their strategies accordingly to get the most out of them.
Another interesting implication of Average Yards Per Carry is that it can be used as a measure of success. If a team has a consistently high average, then they’re probably doing something right. It’s an excellent way to compare and contrast teams, and it’s an invaluable tool when it comes to evaluating different franchises.
I think if the teams actually use it well, then Average Yards Per Carry can really make a difference; it can show us which teams are doing something right and which teams need to work on certain aspects of their game.
Now that I’ve talked to you about Average Yards Per Carry, let’s discuss it further. What can teams actually do to get higher averages?
Firstly, they need to find ways to use their player’s strengths to their advantage. Mixing up the plays is essential if they want to avoid suffering from an average yards per carry. Eliminating any potential for predictability is the key to success. Secondly, a competent coaching staff is absolutely essential. They need to have a sufficient understanding of the game and be able to adjust playcalling as necessary.
Thirdly, teams should pay attention to the offensive line. A strong offensive line is essential for sustaining successful running plays. Teams should also use the play-action pass to open up the run game even further. And, finally, teams should look to incorporate more run-pass options (RPOs) into their game. It’s an excellent way to identify the defense and exploit their weaknesses in the running game.
So, those are few ways teams can work on improving their average yards per carry. On the other hand, what can individual players do to increase their own average?
Well, first of all, they need to be physically prepared prior to each game. That includes eating the right food, getting the proper amount of rest and exercising both on and off the field. They should also stay on top of their assignments, understand the game plan and maintain a positive mindset all the time.
Second, they have to actively look for holes on the field and take advantage of them. That requires the players to understand the defense and be able to identify weaknesses and exploit them. Third, they need to work on their balance and ball security. That’s an essential skill for making big plays and maintaining a high average.
Fourth, players should focus on ball-handling drills, such as catching tips and hand-off drills. Those drills help increase their level of comfort and allow them to make more instinctive plays.
Finally, they need to stay disciplined and only make plays when they have the ball. That means no gambling or unnecessary fancy stuff; players should stick to the play design and trust that it will work.
So, as I’m sure you can conclude, Average Yards Per Carry doesn’t have to be such a low statistic. With the right combination of coaching and players, teams can raise their averages and become more competitive. It’s all about using what you have to your advantage.