Bert Faibish
Ticats.ca
There are two schools of thought when DeAndra’ Cobb’s 2010 season is being discussed.
Most casual observers would say that before the last two games, he hadn’t been himself, and his rushing numbers would reflect that argument. However, some others would argue that nothing is different, that he has been successful in other areas of the game because that is what he is being asked to do.
“People are measuring his success on his numbers. The first seven weeks he did a fine job for us, catching the ball and blocking,” said Offensive Coordinator Mike Gibson.
“He is getting a few more touches, so anytime a running back gets more touches, he gets more into the game,” he said.
Which is very true.
Over the last two games Cobb has run the ball 42 times for 185 yards and averaged 4.4 yards every time he’s carried the ball — almost a half-yard more than the previous six games.
Now, surely a player’s coach is expected to stick up for him, but there is serious merit to this explanation.
In the first six games of the season Cobb ran the ball 62 times, an average of 10.3 carries per game, for an average of 41.5 rushing yards per game.
In the following two games he has carried the ball an average of 21 times per game and 92.5 yards per game. His average is slightly higher but it’s not by a huge margin.
It’s obvious that when Cobb carries the ball more than ten times, he’s finding more success statistically than when he carries it ten or less times.
Also of note is the fact that in those two games in which he carried the ball 20 or more times, the Ticats are a perfect 2-0.
After finding so much success as a rookie last season, it’s logical to assume that teams came into the season with shutting down the running game in mind. That may be one of the reasons the passing game has been able to be so successful thus far.
“I think we have one of the best receiving corps in the league so if you want to key on me, (quarterback Kevin Glenn) will pick you apart, you have to pick your poison,” said Cobb.
With Toronto sitting at fifth in the league in average rushing yards per game allowed with 126.4, there should be plenty of opportunities for Cobb to find success again on Labour Day.
