I guess those old time fullbacks just weren't effieceint enough in moving the ball down the field. Here is a graph for yards per play since the 40's, ypc has stayed around 4, in the 40s he says they counted sacks as negative rushes which is why it is low there.
just because I found it interesting, here are the amount of passes/runs per game over the years
as far as scoring, It looks like the average per game has stayed the same for a long time, somewhere around 20, a few times it dips below to 18.
yr/teams/rushtd/rectd/pr td/kr td/fbl td/int td/other td/all td/2 pm/xpm/fgm/sfty/points
1
| 2011
| 32
| 0.8
| 1.5
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.3
| 1.6
| | 22.2
|
2
| 2010
| 32
| 0.8
| 1.5
| | | | 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.4
| 1.5
| | 22.0
|
3
| 2009
| 32
| 0.8
| 1.4
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.3
| 1.5
| | 21.5
|
4
| 2008
| 32
| 0.9
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.3
| 1.7
| | 22.0
|
5
| 2007
| 32
| 0.8
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.3
| 1.6
| | 21.7
|
6
| 2006
| 32
| 0.8
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.2
| 1.5
| | 20.7
|
7
| 2005
| 32
| 0.8
| 1.3
| | | | 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.1
| 1.5
| | 20.6
|
8
| 2004
| 32
| 0.8
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.3
| 1.4
| | 21.5
|
9
| 2003
| 32
| 0.8
| 1.3
| | | | 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.2
| 1.5
| | 20.8
|
10
| 2002
| 32
| 0.9
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.2
| 1.4
| | 21.7
|
11
| 2001
| 31
| 0.7
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.0
| 1.5
| | 20.2
|
12
| 2000
| 31
| 0.8
| 1.3
| | | | 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.1
| 1.5
| | 20.7
|
13
| 1999
| 31
| 0.7
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.1
| 1.5
| | 20.8
|
14
| 1998
| 30
| 0.8
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.1
| 1.5
| | 21.3
|
15
| 1997
| 30
| 0.8
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.1
| 1.5
| | 20.7
|
16
| 1996
| 30
| 0.8
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.0
| 1.5
| | 20.4
|
17
| 1995
| 30
| 0.8
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.1
| 1.5
| | 21.5
|
18
| 1994
| 28
| 0.8
| 1.3
| | | | 0.1
| | | 0.1
| 2.0
| 1.4
| | 20.3
|
19
| 1993
| 28
| 0.7
| 1.2
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.0
| 1.5
| 0.1
| 18.7
|
20
| 1992
| 28
| 0.7
| 1.2
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.1
| 1.3
| | 18.7
|
21
| 1991
| 28
| 0.8
| 1.1
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.1
| 1.4
| | 19.0
|
22
| 1990
| 28
| 0.8
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.2
| 1.3
| | 20.1
|
23
| 1989
| 28
| 0.9
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.3
| 1.3
| | 20.6
|
24
| 1988
| 28
| 0.9
| 1.2
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.2
| 1.3
| 0.1
| 20.3
|
25
| 1987
| 28
| 0.9
| 1.5
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.4
| 1.3
| | 21.6
|
26
| 1986
| 28
| 0.9
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.3
| 1.2
| | 20.5
|
27
| 1985
| 28
| 1.0
| 1.3
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.4
| 1.3
| | 21.5
|
28
| 1984
| 28
| 0.9
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.4
| 1.3
| | 21.2
|
29
| 1983
| 28
| 1.0
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.5
| 1.2
| | 21.8
|
Rk
| Year
| Tms
| RshTD
| RecTD
| PR TD
| KR TD
| FblTD
| IntTD
| OthTD
| AllTD
| 2PM
| XPM
| FGM
| Sfty
| Pts
|
---|
30
| 1982
| 28
| 0.9
| 1.3
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.2
| 1.2
| | 20.2
|
31
| 1981
| 28
| 1.0
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.3
| 1.2
| | 20.7
|
32
| 1980
| 28
| 1.0
| 1.4
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.3
| 1.1
| | 20.5
|
33
| 1979
| 28
| 1.1
| 1.2
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.2
| 1.0
| | 20.1
|
34
| 1978
| 28
| 1.0
| 1.0
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.0
| 1.0
| | 18.3
|
35
| 1977
| 28
| 0.9
| 1.0
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 1.9
| 0.9
| | 17.2
|
36
| 1976
| 28
| 1.1
| 1.1
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.1
| 1.0
| | 19.2
|
37
| 1975
| 26
| 1.1
| 1.2
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.3
| 1.0
| | 20.6
|
38
| 1974
| 26
| 1.0
| 1.0
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.0
| 0.9
| | 18.2
|
39
| 1973
| 26
| 0.9
| 1.0
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.1
| 1.5
| | 19.5
|
40
| 1972
| 26
| 1.0
| 1.1
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.2
| 1.4
| | 20.3
|
41
| 1971
| 26
| 0.9
| 1.1
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.2
| 1.3
| | 19.4
|
42
| 1970
| 26
| 0.8
| 1.2
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.1
| 1.3
| | 19.3
|
43
| 1969
| 16
| 0.9
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.4
| 1.2
| | 21.0
|
44
| 1968
| 16
| 0.9
| 1.4
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.4
| 1.2
| | 21.1
|
45
| 1967
| 16
| 1.0
| 1.5
| | | | 0.2
| | | | 2.6
| 1.0
| | 22.1
|
46
| 1966
| 15
| 0.9
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.5
| 1.2
| | 22.0
|
47
| 1965
| 8
| 0.9
| 1.5
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.6
| 1.1
| | 22.4
|
48
| 1964
| 8
| 1.0
| 1.5
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.6
| 1.1
| | 22.4
|
49
| 1963
| 8
| 1.0
| 1.6
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.6
| 0.9
| | 22.4
|
50
| 1962
| 8
| 1.1
| 1.5
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.6
| 1.0
| | 22.5
|
51
| 1961
| 8
| 1.1
| 1.5
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.7
| 0.9
| | 22.5
|
52
| 1960
| 8
| 1.1
| 1.5
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.6
| 1.0
| | 22.6
|
53
| 1959
| 12
| 1.1
| 1.4
| 0.1
| | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.6
| 0.8
| | 21.3
|
54
| 1958
| 12
| 1.2
| 1.5
| | 0.1
| | 0.1
| | | | 2.7
| 0.8
| | 22.6
|
55
| 1957
| 12
| 1.1
| 1.2
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.3
| 0.9
| | 19.8
|
56
| 1956
| 12
| 1.2
| 1.1
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.4
| 0.8
| | 20.4
|
57
| 1955
| 12
| 1.2
| 1.3
| 0.1
| | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.5
| 0.8
| | 20.8
|
58
| 1954
| 12
| 1.1
| 1.5
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.6
| 0.8
| | 21.9
|
59
| 1953
| 12
| 1.2
| 1.3
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.6
| 0.8
| | 21.5
|
Rk
| Year
| Tms
| RshTD
| RecTD
| PR TD
| KR TD
| FblTD
| IntTD
| OthTD
| AllTD
| 2PM
| XPM
| FGM
| Sfty
| Pts
|
---|
60
| 1952
| 12
| 1.0
| 1.5
| 0.1
| | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.7
| 0.7
| 0.1
| 22.3
|
61
| 1951
| 12
| 1.2
| 1.4
| 0.1
| | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.7
| 0.7
| | 21.9
|
62
| 1950
| 13
| 1.3
| 1.4
| | | 0.1
| 0.2
| | | | 2.9
| 0.5
| 0.1
| 22.9
|
63
| 1949
| 10
| 1.3
| 1.4
| 0.1
| | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.8
| 0.5
| | 22.7
|
64
| 1948
| 10
| 1.3
| 1.6
| 0.1
| | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 3.0
| 0.4
| | 23.6
|
65
| 1947
| 10
| 1.1
| 1.6
| 0.1
| | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | | 2.7
| 0.4
| | 22.0
|
66
| 1946
| 10
| 1.3
| 1.1
| | | 0.1
| 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 2.3
| 0.4
| 0.1
| 19.6
|
67
| 1945
| 10
| 1.3
| 1.1
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.3
| 0.3
| | 18.9
|
68
| 1944
| 11
| 1.2
| 1.2
| | | | 0.1
| | | | 2.2
| 0.2
| | 18.4
|
69
| 1943
| 10
| 1.1
| 1.4
| | | | 0.1
| 0.1
| | | 2.5
| 0.2
| | 19.8
|
For some reason it only lists afl teams for 60-65 but the numbers aren't much different, there were 14 teams in the NFL, 13 in 60.
1960- 21.6
1961- 21.5
1962- 22.3
1963- 22.0
1964- 22.0
1965- 23.1
by a glance it looks like the only major difference is the amount of field goals made, even though passing has gone up it hasn't resulted in a significant amount of points. Now I don't know how fast they scored but the game has stayed at 60 minutes. Of course there are things this doesn't account for like field position, returns etc, probably more defensive stops getting better field position but I don't think that negates anything because scoring would be harder for the offense since defenses were better.
What do I miss, well something that hasn't been in the league, variety. Every team wants to copy everybody else. I think something like 80 percent of all offenses are the same, the 20 percent is minor tweaks. The offense Tebow was running was working, the only problem was teams adjusting and the coaches not knowing enough to keep adjusting the offense. No matter what the offense you have to keep making adjustments, what they ran is no different, plus they played Bellicheck is one of the best coaches. They say well he won because of defense blah blah, the defense wouldn't have held teams to that low if they didn't have possession of the ball for so long. Navy, Air Force and all of those teams are competitive despite not having best talent. Yes they get quite a few White kids who should be playing for big programs but their black players suck and get burnt easily, and I don't know why most insist on using a black quarterback. What happened with Tebow happens every time something different comes up in the NFL "oh it will be figured out, nfl defenders are too fast blah blah". What really happens is they don't make the adjustments and then it is less effiecient and fades out. People declare the run n shoot a gimmick that phased out, but many of the concepts are still used today.
I guess I miss more smash mouth football with running. Chiefs ran the ball the most the other year. It would be pretty exciting if it was Hillis getting 245 carries to Charles 200 carries instead of Thomas Jones. You probably would want to eat up a ton of clock with the guys they have now, probably 3 busts on dline.
I miss when teams actually used to scout. Now they have Scout inc. telling them "these are the best available players" and then teams sorting through that. Pretty much every team in the NFL uses this. The Patriots are the exception which is why his board never looks like anybody else's, and his 2nd round pick was surprise to everyone. The only thing that confuses me is why doesn't it result in more Whites?. With College football I miss the same thing, real scouting, scouts driving out to see players play more, not caring about stars behind the name, of course they have to deal with the boosters etc. Now they are sucking up to these college kids "please come to my school" when they aren't even sure if they are the best player for the program, they just want to have that recruit with the 5 stars by his name.
I miss mud bowls as well. I remember a game in high school when it was raining and everything got muddy, probably one of the funnest games I have ever played. I like snow games but growing up in the South I never got to experience playing in one.
I like soccer style kickers, it would be cool to see a big lineman trying to make a kick once in a while, and if anyone beats Dempsey's field goal record it should be noted that he did it straight on, regardless if he had toes or not.
Jaxvid, here is a mudbowl for you with straight ahead kickers, well the muddy game is the first one. The Packers with Taylor, Hornug, Star. Sometimes its hard to tell who is who but you can sometimes tell by the way they run.
Not sure what the last part of the video is, random stuff, track, baseball[video=youtube_share;8PlR_Pnts9A]http://youtu.be/8PlR_Pnts9A[/video]