A 1-2 RB punch

[OV Argo]

Two RBs each average 9 carries per game and 6.2 yds/carry, and they both hit a thousand yards on an 18 game season.

18 run plays a game x 18 games in a season = 324 designed run plays for the RBs

301 run attempts for the 3 EE RBs last year, plus 8 or so run plays to receivers, plus run threat QB Tre Ford took off 23 times and short yardage QB Prukop had 37 carries. And that was with clueless clown Jones running the team for a good part of the year till a coaching staff that valued the ground game way more took over.

Oliveira's 239 carries last season were augmented by 27 carries for back-up RB Augustine, 6 designed runs for slotback Demski and 87 carries by running QB Strevler. The season before, the same 2 Bombers RBs combined for 306 carries, plus Demski had 18 (and they still had short yardage QB Prukop carry 58 times).

[paulwoods13]

So even the run-heaviest teams last season didn't get to 18 RB carries per game, much less 20. I said earlier that I'd love to know how many teams had 360 RB carries (20 per game) in a season over the last 30 years. The same applies to 324 (18 per game). I'd be surprised if it happened even a dozen times over that span, and in fact I'd extend that further back, say to 1986 when the league went to an 18-game schedule.

Is a former QB who has designed pass-heavy offences for his entire coaching career gonna switch to a two-back approach with 18 carries per game? I'd bet on the "No" side of that equation.

[Scooter McCray]

Interesting discussion. Given that the perceived weakness for the Argonauts in 2025, at least initially, is the defence. A commitment to the running game makes sense to own time of possession. We know they have passing weapons. But the Argo pass game is too efficient with Kelly hitting TDs in 2-4 plays over the last 3 seasons. They may want to have the offence chew up more clock.

[OV Argo]

So even the run-heaviest teams last season didn't get to 18 RB carries per game, much less 20. I said earlier that I'd love to know how many teams had 360 RB carries (20 per game) in a season over the last 30 years. The same applies to 324 (18 per game). I'd be surprised if it happened even a dozen times over that span, and in fact I'd extend that further back, say to 1986 when the league went to an 18-game schedule.

Is a former QB who has designed pass-heavy offences for his entire coaching career gonna switch to a two-back approach with 18 carries per game? I'd bet on the "No" side of that equation.

Jarious Jackson is a former QB (and trained same-old CFL pass offence guy) who adopted a 2 back look/use with lots of run game when he took over as HC for the EE last season.

And I tried to point out that even just 9 carries each per game with a 6.2 yds/carry average would net the 2 feature backs both a 1000 yard season; so why are you hung up on this OMG never happen 20 carries per game thing? 18 x 18 = 324 .... which is exactly how many run plays the Bombers used (between Oliveira, Augustine & Demski) in 2023 ... where they made it to the GC.

[Will]

So even the run-heaviest teams last season didn't get to 18 RB carries per game, much less 20. I said earlier that I'd love to know how many teams had 360 RB carries (20 per game) in a season over the last 30 years. The same applies to 324 (18 per game). I'd be surprised if it happened even a dozen times over that span, and in fact I'd extend that further back, say to 1986 when the league went to an 18-game schedule.

Is a former QB who has designed pass-heavy offences for his entire coaching career gonna switch to a two-back approach with 18 carries per game? I'd bet on the "No" side of that equation.

I'd be willing to do some research to answer this question.

[OV Argo]

So even the run-heaviest teams last season didn't get to 18 RB carries per game, much less 20. I said earlier that I'd love to know how many teams had 360 RB carries (20 per game) in a season over the last 30 years. The same applies to 324 (18 per game). I'd be surprised if it happened even a dozen times over that span, and in fact I'd extend that further back, say to 1986 when the league went to an 18-game schedule.

Is a former QB who has designed pass-heavy offences for his entire coaching career gonna switch to a two-back approach with 18 carries per game? I'd bet on the "No" side of that equation.

I'd be willing to do some research to answer this question.

I just provided an example above - from just 2 seasons ago; and that doesn't included designed QB run plays which might not be as necessary with 2 RBs capable of handling a big load.

[RichK]

Is a former QB who has designed pass-heavy offences for his entire coaching career gonna switch to a two-back approach with 18 carries per game? I'd bet on the "No" side of that equation.

Argos led the league in rushing attempts last year with just over 23 per game. Using two RBs lining up in different formations at the same time became a signature of his offence, keeping defences guessing more and more as the season went on. This year with the addition of Kevin Brown and blue chip prospect Miyan Williams I fully expect to see an increased emphasis on the run game.

[paulwoods13]

So even the run-heaviest teams last season didn't get to 18 RB carries per game, much less 20. I said earlier that I'd love to know how many teams had 360 RB carries (20 per game) in a season over the last 30 years. The same applies to 324 (18 per game). I'd be surprised if it happened even a dozen times over that span, and in fact I'd extend that further back, say to 1986 when the league went to an 18-game schedule.

And I tried to point out that even just 9 carries each per game with a 6.2 yds/carry average would net the 2 feature backs both a 1000 yard season; so why are you hung up on this OMG never happen 20 carries per game thing? 18 x 18 = 324 .... which is exactly how many run plays the Bombers used (between Oliveira, Augustine & Demski) in 2023 ... where they made it to the GC.

I did deal with 18 carries per game, twice in fact. You initially said 9-10 carries each. I focused in my initial response on 10 but I'm quite happy to change my focus to nine. My point still stands. How many teams have had 324 RB carries in the past 37 seasons (excluding 2021's 14-game schedule)? The 2023 Bombers didn't, although they obviously came close.

[OV Argo]

So even the run-heaviest teams last season didn't get to 18 RB carries per game, much less 20. I said earlier that I'd love to know how many teams had 360 RB carries (20 per game) in a season over the last 30 years. The same applies to 324 (18 per game). I'd be surprised if it happened even a dozen times over that span, and in fact I'd extend that further back, say to 1986 when the league went to an 18-game schedule.

And I tried to point out that even just 9 carries each per game with a 6.2 yds/carry average would net the 2 feature backs both a 1000 yard season; so why are you hung up on this OMG never happen 20 carries per game thing? 18 x 18 = 324 .... which is exactly how many run plays the Bombers used (between Oliveira, Augustine & Demski) in 2023 ... where they made it to the GC.

I did deal with 18 carries per game, twice in fact. You initially said 9-10 carries each. I focused in my initial response on 10 but I'm quite happy to change my focus to nine. My point still stands. How many teams have had 324 RB carries in the past 37 seasons (excluding 2021's 14-game schedule)? The 2023 Bombers didn't, although they obviously came close.

The Bombers DID have exactly 324 carries by RBs in 2023 (Oliveira, Augustine & Demski (who is quite effective at times running out of the backfield like a tailback); and again, a team that went to the GC = so not exactly some weak offensive script that failed.

1997 Montreal Als: 306 carries by workhorse Mike Pringle; 34 carries by bigger back Mike Soles; 18 carries by smaller scat back Thomas Haskins

1990 & 1991 EE teams - featured a diverse run game with smaller tailback Reggie Taylor and 3 or 4 big Canadian backs (Blake Marshall, Mike Soles, Brian Walling, Chris Johnstone) all toting the rock. 90 = around 335 RB carries on the season; 91 = around 377 RB carries on the season. Finished 2nd & 1st in the CFL West those seasons.

[paulwoods13]

Demski's an effective runner, but he's not a RB. Unless for every one of his carries, Oliveira/Augustine were both on the sidelines.

But even if we credit his carries as belonging to an RB, that leaves us (so far) with four run-heavy (my phrase, not yours) teams dating back to 1990. In that span there have been something in the range of 300 18-game schedules on a team-by-team basis. I didn't do an exact calculation -- there were as few as eight per season, and as many as 13 during US expansion. Round to nine per year times 34 seasons (excluding 2020-2021) and you end up with 304. Round down to 300, and we are currently at it happening 1.33 per cent of the time since 1990. Not much of a statistical sample, and no doubt there were a few other such seasons that will soon be uncovered by Will's crack research skills. Bottom line is that running that much is a definite outlier, and IMO it's highly unlikely an Argo team coached by Dinwiddie and with Kelly at QB is going to join the outliers club.