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The
NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint.
This
certainly holds true for running backs as they strive to maintain their
explosive running styles while taking and delivering punishment.
Tennessee
Titans assistant head coach-running backs coach SHERMAN
SMITH, who allocates carries to running backs CHRIS
BROWN and LEN DALE WHITE,
is a firm believer in having a back with fresh legs.
“You
should always have a fresh running back because they present numerous
problems for the defense,” says Smith, a former running back with the
Seattle Seahawks (1976-82). “Our backs have different running
styles, so defenses can’t get comfortable with them. The defense
can’t say we have to stop a power back when you have a guy that can
come in and present speed and vice versa.”
The
Houston Texans signed four-time Pro Bowl running back AHMAN
GREEN this offseason to team up with RON
DAYNE and the Texans are off to their best start in team history
(2-1). The former Packer
has carried most of the load throughout his 10-year career, but he
welcomes the tag-team approach.
“When
one is not playing, we’re resting up and the other goes in there and
basically continues where the other guy left off,” says Green.
“Pounding on the defense in the game takes its toll when it
comes to the third and fourth quarters.”
Following
is a list of 10 teams with two running backs that have totaled at least
20 carries each through Week 3 (seven of the teams have winning records):.
|
TEAM
|
RUNNING
BACKS/CARRIES
|
TOTAL
YDS
|
W-L
|
|
Atlanta
|
Warrick
Dunn (46) and Jerious
Norwood
(20)
|
255
|
0-3
|
|
Carolina
|
DeShaun
Foster (46) and DeAngelo Williams (34)
|
378
|
2-1
|
|
Dallas
|
Marion
Barber (40) and Julius Jones (38)
|
380
|
3-0
|
|
Houston
|
Ahman
Green (35) and Ron Dayne (31)
|
226
|
2-1
|
|
Jacksonville
|
Fred
Taylor (39) and Maurice Jones-Drew (33)
|
256
|
2-1
|
|
New England
|
Laurence
Maroney (54) and Sammy Morris (33)
|
403
|
3-0
|
|
New Orleans
|
Deuce
McAllister (24) and Reggie Bush (29)
|
172
|
0-3
|
|
Oakland
|
LaMont
Jordan (69) and Justin Fargas (21)
|
432
|
1-2
|
|
Tennessee
|
Chris
Brown (42) and LenDale White (50)
|
427
|
2-1
|
|
Washington
|
Clinton
Portis (48) and Ladell Betts
(30)
|
309
|
2-1
|
The
three teams in history to have two running backs rush for 1,000 yards
apiece in a season. All
three clubs made the playoffs:
|
1,000-YARD
RB DUOS
|
TEAM
|
YEAR
|
RECORD
|
YARDS
|
|
Franco
Harris (1,128) & Rocky Bleier (1,036)
|
Pittsburgh
|
1976
|
10-4
|
2,164
|
|
Larry
Csonka (1,117) & Mercury Morris (1,000) *
|
Miami
|
1972
|
14-0
|
2,117
|
|
Kevin
Mack (1,104) & Earnest Byner (1,002)
|
Cleveland
|
1985
|
8-8
|
2,106
|
*Miami
won Super Bowl VII and is the only team in history to post an undefeated
season/postseason (17-0).
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