Keys to a succesful running back

A running-back is a very important part to a football team. The running-back is the work horse on offense. He is used in tough situations to gain precious yardage to keep the offensive drive alive. The running-back position is a great position; however, it is only achieved through hard work and determination. The running-back is also not only a one man show; he is very dependent on his team for blocking and support.
The running-back is in the best of shape and on top of his game. This position calls for a lot of hard work on the field, at practice, and in the weight room. The process starts in the weight room with various workouts such as bench to build your upper body, squats for your lower body, and circuit workouts including crunches and jump rope for your core. These three sections are not only important to a running-back but are also important to the entire team. Upper body strength is necessary when running the ball. The running-back must never drop the ball and has to be able to take multiple hits in the arms and chest. Lower body strength is extremely important because he must be able to drive through defenders and break tackles. My running-backs always had a saying that “No one man brings you down” and good lower body strength will assure that will not happen. Finally the core is the last key ingredient. The circuit workouts will help build abdominal strength in turn making the running-back tougher and more balanced. This also allows him to take more hits and not be tackled as easy.
The running back is a huge offensive figure obtaining all the recognition from scoring touchdowns, however, if it were not for his offensive line and receivers all that would not be possible. When a play is called in the huddle the running-back is given a whole in the line to run through. The offensive line is given blocking responsibilities to eliminate threats on the running-back. If the play called for the ball to be run to the two whole then the center would block the linebacker and the right guard would block the nose guard or tackle depending on the formation of the defense. The receivers are also important to the running-back. If a sweep is called then the running-back will be tossed the ball and will run around the outside of the line. The offensive line will be blocking the internal defenders so they can not pursue the running-back and the receivers will be blocking either the safeties or the defensive backs again depending on the defensive formation. The blockers are all very important if one man misses an assignment the entire play could fail.
Running-back is an extremely fun position to play; however, also a very demanding position with a lot of hard work and a strong bond with the team.