NFL reliance on pass spelling end for prolific rushers

NFL reliance on pass spelling end for prolific rushers

Maybe every team wants its quarterback to be like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

Troy Polamalu may have just been trying to be witty when thinking out loud about why the NFL is trending away from the run game this year so vigorously and at a record pace. However, Frank Gore Jersey the Steelers All Pro safety may have a valid point.

Rushing attempts per game (53) are at an all time low this year. Receptions (44.6), passing yards (491.8), passing attempts (72.4), completion percentage (61.7 percent) and touchdown passes (3.2) per game are all time highs.

Only 27 times this year has an running back rushed for 100 yards or more. When projected over an entire season, that pace computes to a 39 percent drop from a year ago. During the same period, there have been 91 100 yard receiving games. When that projected over a season, it represents an increase of 24 percent from last season.

There are still a lot of great running teams around, but I don think they run the ball as much as they used to, LeBeau said.

Attempts have dwindled by 20 carries per game since the 1950s and have decreased every year since 2003. At that rate, the run game might soon go the way of the dinosaurs.

Why run the ball for 3 yards on first http://www.official49ersnflproshop.com/Nike-Anthony-Davis-Jersey.html down when you can throw it for 8 yards? Steelers veteran safety Will Allen said.

You don have to look any further than Sunday game at Heinz Field between the Steelers and Ravens " two blue collar, smash mouth running teams " to realize the change in philosophies is league wide.

The Steelers can run the ball " they 30th in the league.

The Ravens can run the ball " they 31st.

The Steelers haven had a 100 yard rusher in 13 Frank Gore Red Jersey games.

The Ravens are averaging 2.6 yards per carry, and their production is down nearly 50 yards per game from last year Super Bowl championship team.

Both teams would love to run the ball with more success but aren losing any sleep over it.

You need to put some efficient runs on the field, Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. It might be a 2 yard gain on second and 2 or a 1 yard gain on third and less than 1. You have to keep handing it off, and it ends up paying off dividends. The hard part is having patience to do that.

Teams haven had patience with the run game.

Some of that is because how difficult it has become to run, but it is also because teams are pressured to rely more on their $100 million quarterbacks.

A lot of the teams think official49ersnflproshop.com/Nike-Aldon-Smith-Jersey.html they can beat you with the pass early on, Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward said. They are using the running game as secondary, and I don think it is a good theory and it is kind of sad because that position used to set a physical mentality for the game.

Allen saw a change in Michael Crabtree Kids Jersey how the game was officiated a couple of years after he was Tampa Bay fourth round pick in 2004.

You could be a little more physical when I first came in the league. Then things started to a change a little, Allen said.

Rules have changed a lot over the past few years that have made it more conducive to throw the ball, such as:

Limiting downfield contact beyond 5 yards.

Increasing the protection for quarterbacks inside the pocket.

Protecting defenseless receivers.

Regulating Michael Crabtree Red Jersey hitting in training camp and in season practices, making it more difficult to work on the running game.

Prohibiting a running back from using the crown of his helmet outside the tackle box.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said rule changes that make it easier to throw the ball in today NFL can be overlooked.