When it comes to individual positions in football, none is given less value than the running back position. With players like Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt being found in the later rounds and the level of production the Patriots are able to achieve from their "underappreciated" backs, the position has been deemed to be unimportant. A role that could be filled by anyone. But is that the full truth? My belief is that the same narrative could be applied to virtually any position or player in football. The right player in the right system should theoretically be able to provide value. It is the system that will ultimately determine the output.
Let's break down exactly what a running back does. RB is a unique position in that, in a typical offensive scheme, one could be asked to know the full route tree when receiving and be an excellent pass protector all while maintaining the responsibilities of grinding out the tough yards. A running back has the same responsibilities as every offensive position except quarterback (passing) and center (snapping). Why would it make sense to entrust that much responsibility to just any player? If I were running an offense, I'd want to have complete faith that someone with that much responsibility will do their job in the best possible way.
Most people would counter that point by saying that a running back committee is an answer to the many roles that are asked of a running back. That makes sense due to the mass amount of roles often bestowed upon a back. The issue with that being that only having certain players on the field in certain situations is a major red flag to opponents when they are scouting your film. If an opponent can look at a single player and determine that the play run next will likely be something they studied, that's a major advantage to be gifted. If an offense can have one player to use in any situation confidently, then that could add a whole other layer of mystery to an offense. Isn't that the point?
The only other position with a comparable level of on-field responsibility to running back is quarterback. But somehow, quarterback is viewed as the most important position on the field while running back could be handled by anyone who could stand on two legs. I don't buy it. Could you imagine if teams had one quarterback to throw deep passes, another for sideline throws, and another to pitch the ball on sweeps? Isn't that an odd thought?
The issue right now, as I see, it is that when professionals determine the value of a position, they compare the average yardage brought in by running backs against quarterbacks and receivers and decided that two yards and a cloud of dust are all that a running back is used for. How many of those yards gained through the air are a result of confusion or fear of the running back? The mismatches they can create in the secondary or the damage they can do on the ground is ignored, and it is absurd.
The sheer number of possibilities that a running back can provide should be viewed as a strength, not a weakness. The reality of it is, there is natural position in football that has a laundry list of responsibilities and possibilities that isn't being given its due.
