I keep seeing the "Well if we take a RB that high we better improve the offensive line" argument a lot on here. I am not buying it. I cited the numbers earlier in a different thread and don't feel like digging it up. But our running game was anemic under Olson and it improved TREMENDOUSLY under Hackett. I think it was more about the preparation and play calling more than anything. 

 

Hackett was tasked with running the offense during the tougher stretch of the season. We played much tougher defenses and the running game shined more times than not. I think we only had one game where we ran for less than 80 yards during his time as the offensive coordinator. We ended up running for over 200 yards in one game and then we reeled off I think three or four straight games with over 100+ yards or something to that effect. 

 

The ultimate difference ended up being Olson having less than 600 yards on the ground for the year during his six or seven games and we ended up nearly doubling that amount with close to 1200 yards on the ground with Hackett only having the other eight or nine games to get it done. And, again, that was against the houston tinhorns TWICE, the Vikings, the Chiefs and the Broncos. Much better defenses he had to call against and it worked. 

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