(12-19-2018, 08:26 AM)We Tyler1Reformed Wrote:

(12-19-2018, 07:46 AM)Section105Fan Wrote: I’m constantly amazed by people who discount the important interdependency between certain positions on a football team. For example, an average defensive secondary can suddenly become stellar when the front seven improves its pressure on the QB .In similar fashion,  an average running back can be made to look all-Pro if he has an outstanding offensive line. Sometimes, though rarely, a generational running back can overcome deficiencies in his OL simply due to his exceptional talent. TheJags OL is not now, nor was at the beginning of the season, an exceptional group. Injuries further degraded them as the season progressed. I think that LF is a very talented RB when he gets adequate blocking. But the same argument can be made about backs who get chosen in later rounds of the draft. For my money, I would focus on shoring up the OL first, because once that’s accomplished, LF or another RB chosen later in the draft will succeed.

But yet Yeldon can average 4.0 YPC behind the same line. Gotcha.

In the last 7 games Yeldon has had a total of only 25 carries for 87 yards, a 3.5 average, about the same as Fournette’s 3.4 Y.T.D. average. So the inference you make that Yeldon has somehow been able to achieve superior results with the same blocking falls flat on its face.
Interestingly, among the top 12 rushers this year in terms of yards per carry, only 4 were first round selections in the draft. An equal number were UFA’s, and 3 were second round selections. My point is that a quality running back can be found later than round one, and that by focusing more on obtaining quality offensive linemen, at a cheaper price, you can achieve better results.
Another interesting fact is that 10 of the 12 rushing leaders were 2017 or 2018 draftees.

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