Self-Assessment Quiz: Rushing and Running Game Analysis

Test your understanding of advanced rushing metrics and analysis.

Section 1: Success Rate (Questions 1-6)

Question 1

On 1st and 10, a carry gains 3 yards. Using standard success rate criteria (40% threshold), is this successful?

A) Yes, it gained positive yards B) No, it didn't gain 4 yards (40% of 10) C) Yes, any positive gain on 1st down is successful D) Depends on field position

Question 2

On 3rd and 2, a carry gains 1 yard. Is this successful?

A) Yes, it gained positive yards B) No, it didn't convert the first down C) Yes, it gained 50% of needed yards D) Depends on the quarter

Question 3

Why is success rate considered more predictive than YPC?

A) It includes more carries B) It adjusts for down and distance context C) It only counts completions D) It measures speed

Question 4

A back has 4.8 YPC but only 35% success rate. What does this suggest?

A) He's an elite back B) He gets stuffed often but breaks big runs occasionally C) The offensive line is excellent D) He's a short-yardage specialist

Question 5

On 2nd and 5, a carry gains 2 yards. Using 50% threshold for 2nd down, is this successful?

A) Yes (2 >= 2.5 rounded down) B) No (2 < 2.5, which is 50% of 5) C) Yes, any positive gain counts D) Depends on game situation

Question 6

What success rate would be considered "elite" for an FBS running back?

A) Above 35% B) Above 40% C) Above 48% D) Above 55%

Section 2: Yards After Contact (Questions 7-12)

Question 7

Yards After Contact (YAC) primarily measures:

A) Offensive line quality B) Running back skill and power C) Play design effectiveness D) Defensive weakness

Question 8

A back has 4.5 YPC with 1.8 yards before contact and 2.7 yards after contact. What does this indicate?

A) Great blocking B) The back creates most of his yards himself C) Poor scheme D) Easy opponents

Question 9

Broken tackles per carry of 0.20 means:

A) 20% of carries result in broken tackles B) The back averages 0.20 broken tackles per carry C) 20 total broken tackles D) The back is below average

Question 10

If a back has high YAC but low YBC, what might you expect if he changes teams?

A) His production will improve B) His production will stay similar (his skill is portable) C) His production will decline D) Cannot predict

Question 11

"Line yards" typically credits the offensive line for yards up to:

A) 2 yards B) 4 yards C) First contact D) 10 yards

Question 12

Which metric best isolates running back skill from blocking?

A) Yards per carry B) Rushing yards per game C) Yards after contact D) Total rushing yards

Section 3: EPA and RYOE (Questions 13-18)

Question 13

EPA for rushing measures:

A) Total yards gained B) Change in expected points from a carry C) Touchdowns scored D) First downs gained

Question 14

RYOE stands for:

A) Run Yards Of Efficiency B) Rush Yards Over Expected C) Running Yards On Explosives D) Rushed Yards Output Expected

Question 15

A back with +0.5 RYOE per carry is:

A) Gaining 0.5 more yards per carry than expected B) Gaining 0.5 expected points per carry C) 50% better than average D) In the 50th percentile

Question 16

Which carry likely has higher EPA: 4 yards on 3rd and 3 or 4 yards on 1st and 10?

A) 3rd and 3 (conversion creates more value) B) 1st and 10 (earlier in the drive) C) They're equal (same yards) D) Cannot determine without field position

Question 17

Expected rushing yards models typically consider:

A) Only yards before contact B) Defenders in the box, run gap, and formation C) Only the running back's speed D) Only historical YPC

Question 18

A back has +15 total EPA over 200 carries. His EPA per carry is:

A) 15.0 B) 0.075 C) 7.5 D) 0.15

Section 4: Situational Analysis (Questions 19-24)

Question 19

Short-yardage situations typically refer to:

A) 1st and 10 B) 3rd/4th and 2 or less C) Any 3rd down D) Inside the 10-yard line

Question 20

A back converts 75% of short-yardage attempts. This is considered:

A) Below average B) Average C) Above average D) Elite

Question 21

Goal-line rushing analysis focuses on carries:

A) Inside the 20 B) Inside the 10 C) Inside the 5 D) Inside the 1

Question 22

"Stuff rate" measures:

A) Carries gaining 10+ yards B) Carries gaining 0 or fewer yards C) First down conversions D) Touchdown rate

Question 23

Late-game rushing when protecting a lead is important because:

A) It runs out the clock B) It's easier to run C) Defenses are tired D) Stats count more

Question 24

A reliable short-yardage back is valuable because:

A) He scores more touchdowns B) He keeps drives alive in critical situations C) He has higher YPC D) He breaks more tackles

Section 5: Run Blocking and Evaluation (Questions 25-30)

Question 25

"Opportunity rate" in run blocking measures:

A) Percentage of runs with 4+ yards before contact B) First down rate C) Explosive run rate D) Success rate

Question 26

If a team has high YBC but average YAC, this suggests:

A) Great blocking, average backs B) Poor blocking, elite backs C) Great scheme D) Weak opponents

Question 27

When evaluating a running back for the draft, which metrics should be prioritized?

A) Total yards and touchdowns only B) Success rate, YAC, RYOE C) Games played and starts D) 40-yard dash time

Question 28

A composite RB score should include:

A) Only efficiency metrics B) Only volume metrics C) Multiple factors (efficiency, volume, situational, receiving) D) Only EPA

Question 29

Which is the BEST indicator that a back's success is due to his skill rather than blocking?

A) High total yards B) High yards after contact C) Many touchdowns D) Low fumble rate

Question 30

The main limitation of traditional YPC is:

A) It's too complicated B) It doesn't account for situation or blocking C) It can't be calculated easily D) It only works for NFL

Answer Key

Scoring Guide

• 27-30 correct: Excellent! Strong grasp of rushing analytics.
• 22-26 correct: Good understanding. Review areas of weakness.
• 17-21 correct: Fair. Focus on EPA/RYOE concepts.
• Below 17: Review the chapter material thoroughly.

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