is 5'10" the ideal size for a RB?

[PlatinumGold]

i can remember back in the 80's with Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, Eric Dickerson . . . RB's were starting to get tall, i mean of course before that you had tony dorsett, walter payton etc who are about 5'10" i believe. but RB's were getting taller and they were fast.

then in the 90's the premier backs, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas and Terrel Davis were all 5'10" or less.

since then most premier RB's seem to be less than 6' tall. were the 80's just an aberation?

 

[RKS]

center of gravity? allowing the runner to make quicker cuts or use quad strength to plow through tacklers.

 

[Fingolfin269]

More compact power, smaller target, etc.

 

[Coquito]

Once you get in the open field though, the bigger backs have longer arms to stiff with.

 

[PlatinumGold]

ya all those things above.

i just found it interesting that over the last 10 seasons or so, most premier backs have been 5'10" 210 to 230 lbs.

 

[austin316]

Plus, taller running backs don't last as long, since they run more erect and take much bigger shots. One of the most important attributes for a running back these days is to know how to take a blow. Barry Sanders was the best at it. Never missed a game due to injury, because he knew how to take a blow.

 

[Coquito]

Originally posted by: austin316
Plus, taller running backs don't last as long, since they run more erect and take much bigger shots. One of the most important attributes for a running back these days is to know how to take a blow. Barry Sanders was the best at it. Never missed a game due to injury, because he knew how to take a blow.

For example: Eddie George

 

[Fingolfin269]

Well Eddie did carry the ball a ridiculous amount of times.

 

[PlatinumGold]

yes, eddie george is the exception to this rule.