Is Arian Foster Overrated?

Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Arian Foster has been the most productive running back in the NFL. He burst onto the scene with a 231 yard rushing performance against Indianapolis in Week 1 and has not looked back. His 6’1″, 230 pound frame lends itself to him being one of the hardest backs to bring down. He deserves credit, no doubt, but watching film on Foster will reveal who is really responsible for his success.

Do the names Wade Smith, Chris Myers, Mike Brisiel, Duane Brown or Eric Winston sound recognizable? Winston should be, as he signed a 5-year, $30 million extension in 2008. Nonetheless, many won’t be able to tell you who these five are or even the team they play for, but these players are the main contributors to the Texans running game and have made Arian Foster into the star he is today.

The holes that are created by the offensive line are gaping; they do a masterful job on their zone assignments. Foster’s 2010 was a breakout campaign indeed, but he was not the only back who experienced success in Houston. Foster’s 4.9 yard per carry average was tied for second on the team with Steve Slaton and behind Derrick Ward’s impressive 6.3. Even Ben Tate has averaged 4.7 YPC through the first six games of the 2011 season.

Don’t get me wrong. Foster is good. He can hit and burst through a hole, but a majority of NFL running backs could hit the holes this offensive line provides with ease. The entire line does a pretty good job of keeping Matt Schaub protected (12th in sacks allowed in 2010 at 32) and allowing the big plays down the field to Andre Johnson. This group was also ranked 25th in experience in 2010 in terms of career starts, so it’s not as if they are a veteran group. Regardless of their pass blocking ability, their expertise is obviously in the running game.

But how is it possible that Houston has all these “great” running backs on their roster? Because it isn’t the running backs at all. Just look at Derrick Ward’s 2009 YPC with Tampa Bay. It was a paltry 3.6. Steve Slaton was so great for Houston that he was cut and is now on the Miami Dolphins.

The entire Houston offense is based around a zone blocking scheme that was implemented in 2008 by Alex Gibbs, the same Alex Gibbs who was the architect behind the successful offensive line of the Denver Broncos in the mid ’90s-early 2000s. Look at the seasons that lines coached under Gibbs produced for running backs in Denver, Atlanta and Houston:

Running Back Seasons Under An Alex Gibbs O-Line

Let’s not forget that after Gibbs left Denver, Reuben Droughns produced 1240 yards and 6 TD at a 4.5 YPC clip in 2004.

When there is conversation that includes how great Arian Foster is, remember that a lot of his success is not just his own doing, but rather the effort of the offensive line and their coach John Benton, who studied under Gibbs during his time in Houston. The men in the trenches are just as important, if not more important, in the success of running the ball. Sometimes the big men get overlooked.

Foster indeed deserves credit but is everyone directing all the credit in the right direction? Is he overrated? Debate.