Running back is one of the top two glamorous positions in American football, the other being quarterback. If a team has a good running back it can cover a multitude of faults. So if a person enjoys being celebrated and revered then running back is the position to play in American football. Read on to learn play running back in American football.
Instructions
1. Possess the physical attributes to play running back. Running backs generally are fast, have great hand eye coordination, extreme physical and mental toughness and have great blocking ability. These require a unique set of physical attributes. There are exceptions but generally the best athletes play running back in American football.
2. Start with great balance before the play begins. A running back is like a sprinter waiting for the starting gun. The problem is there are 11 players on the other side of the ball doggedly determined to stop the running back. If the player does not start from a balanced position the play is doomed.
3. Be a good blocker. Most people think the position is all about running and catching. Blocking is the most overlooked talent a running back can possess. The running back in American football is the last line of defense for the quarterback. The running back who cannot block well will endanger the quarterback's physical well-being.
4. Catch the ball out of the backfield. Often the running back is referred to as the "safety valve". When the quarterback is in trouble it is the running back that provides the last passing option on some plays. This makes hand-eye coordination imperative. The running back, in some offensive plays, needs the catching ability of a wide receiver.
5. Understand and read the blocking scheme. A running back has to comprehend what the linemen are doing on a given play and react to their actions. Often adjustments will have to be made on the fly because of the defense. These adjustments will not be possible if the running back in American football does not understand the full blocking scheme that is being utilized.
6. Finish the play. American football as the saying goes is a "game of inches". This requires a running back to get every single inch out of every play. The great running backs always try to finish the play moving or falling forward. That can be the difference between winning and losing.
Tags: American football, running back, running back, back American, back American football, running back