2011 White RBs vs. Top 50 Black RBs

Woody

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Oct 5, 2010
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I just added up the total yards of the top 50 black RBs (excluding QBs) and divided by total carries.

Result: 4.41 ypc

Peyton Hillis, Toby Gerhart, Danny Woodhead, and Brian Leonard (the only whites allowed to rush from the RB position....)

Result: 4.27 ypc

Was kinda a chore, but I was curious. So, even in a year in which Peyton Hillis' low ypc drags down the whole group, white RBs are separated by less then 1.5 ypc from the top 50 blacks.

I'm sure in 2010 when Hillis and Woodhead had much higher ypc white RBs were actually ahead.
 

Woody

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Just as I expected, 2011 was much worse than 2010. In 2010 the top 20 black RBs averaged: 4.39 ypc.

Hillis, Woodhead, Gerhart, and Leonard: 4.61
 

Don Wassall

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I thought the black average would be lower. The media often repeats the mantra that the league rushing average is right around 4.0 yards per carry each year.
 

white is right

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I thought the black average would be lower. The media often repeats the mantra that the league rushing average is right around 4.0 yards per carry each year.
Numbers really don't tell the whole story. If a tailback gets a workhorse load his numbers will generally be lower. Both Gerhart and Hillis are essentially running fullbacks/workhorse tailbacks. Eddie George for years had relatively poor ypc numbers even John Riggins has a lifetime ypc below the magical 4 barrier, I would consider both classic workhorse backs.
 
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