I used game-by-game statistics to be more exact. I didn’t use cumulative season statistics because the percentage of carries given to the primary back over the course of a year is not always representative of the team’s rushing system.
For instance, in 2008, the Colts appeared on paper to have more of a split-back system than they actually had. Over the course of the season, 42% of the carries went to the running back with the most carries overall (Joseph Addai). This percentage is much lower than the league average and makes Indianapolis look like it has a multi-back running strategy. In actuality, the Colts used much more of a single-back system. Addai was the starter, but when Addai got hurt, Rhodes stepped in as the No. 1 back. Upon Addai’s return, the two split carries, but only for a few games.
For the majority of the season, the Colts were a one-back team. But, at the end of the season, Addai had only three more carries than Rhodes, and the statistics make it seem like the system was perfectly split. When looking at the Colts game-by-game, you can see that they actually gave their primary running back the ball 71% of the time. This is higher than the league average.
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