https://youtu.be/iie77QB1EtA




Just Ten Yards.



I hear this two ways:



As a mocker questioning, “Just ten yards??” As an encouraging coach, “Just ten yards.”



Which one do you hear? Today, I want you to hear the second one.



RUNNING, Matt and I often pass by our 97 year old neighbor walking. This man walks at least five days a week. We passed by him in the very beginning of our run and then after 2.5 miles, we passed him again at the end of our run. He had walked maybe 2 football fields in the time we had run 2.5 miles. Some might say he moves at a snail’s pace, but I thought, “Man he’s doing good! At least he’s out here grinding!” I started to think about football. And I get how a lot of people like the big plays. It’s exciting to watch a guy run on a punt return and the long throws for a touchdown are fun to watch, but it’s the “one yard at a time” grind that I appreciate. It takes 10 yards for a first down- and sometimes it takes all four downs to get just ten yards. It can be painful and grueling to get just ten yards. It seems like a short distance, but in football, it can be the longest 10 yards of your life.



I see the running back grinding it out to get just a few yards that’s a greater representation of real life. Oh sure, sometimes you get a big play and instant success, and people will cheer your name, but it’s the grind that really defines us. In my life, I haven’t had many big plays. I’ve taken over ground yard by yard. Its the mundane, day to day, keeping going, don’t quit work that produces the greatest harvest. One of my favorite Scriptures is found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians:



“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians‬ 6:9‬‬‬‬ NKJV



The running back is one of the most high-profile offensive positions on a football team. And it’s also one of the most demanding. Many dream of being a great running back in the NFL, but very few are able to make it to that level, and even fewer last for a while once they do. In fact, the average playing career length of running backs in the NFL is only 2.57 years, compared to the league average of 3.3 years.



While it may not seem like much of a difference at first, that's quite the monumental drop-off in career average from the league norm.



But why do running backs not last that long at the NFL level?



There are many contributing factors, but the main reason often cited for this is the fact that running backs take a beating on just about every play.



A featured running back on a team may handle the ball anywhere from 15 to 30 times per game, between the times he carries the ball and catches the ball as a receiver. And on just about every one of those plays, he will absorb a hit from a defender.



Even if the play ends in the running back going out of bounds or scoring a touchdown, it's likely a defender made contact with him. And even if he escapes without being touched at all, he likely made plenty of sudden cuts that’d cause wear on tear on his knees, hips, ankles, and feet. 



In addition to being the target of all 11 defenders on the field when he touches the ball, a running back is also responsible for picking up rushing defenders and blocking them on certain pass plays.



Most great running backs will have a set of traits and skills that set them apart from other players at other positions. Here are some of what makes a great running back.



5 Running Back Traits







1. Running Backs Have Great Vision



Just like quarterbacks, running backs have to constantly scan the field to identify opportunities and pick up responsibilities. Unlike a quarterback, though, running backs need to do this while running in crowds.



A running back must have great vision to be able to see gaps in the defense. Sometimes, these gaps are less than a yard wide, and they can sometimes close quickly. That's why a running back must be able to scan the field using his peripheral vision to...