Fab Five Runners vs Sprinters

[Paul Kian]

Hi fellow Coaches and Forumites,

Other than the obvious fact that one has his left hand up and the other has his right hand up, what are the main differences in the Runner and Sprinter figures? Are they more or less interchangeable, and if not which position(s) do you typically use each figure for?

Thanks,

-PK

[nefgm.org]

Typically use the Runner for RB's and defensive CB's. Use the Sprinter for WR's and Defensive S's. Yes they are interchangeable.  When I do 11 player ironman teams use the Linemen as C,RG, LG, MLB, RDT, LDT. Use the All Purpose figures as RT, LT, RDE, LDE, the Backer Figures as QB, TE, RLB. LLB,  the Runners as FB, RB, LCB, RCB and the Sprinters as WR's, FS, and SS. When I do 22 player 2 platoon teams, on offense use 5 Lineman as the offensive line (C, RG, LG, RT, LT), 4 Runners as QB, RB, RB, SB, and 2 Sprinters as WR's. On defense use 1 Lineman as DNT, 2 Sprinters as RDE and LDE, 4 Backers as Inside and Outside LB's and 4 All Purpose Figures as CB's and Safeties.         

Edited October 9, 2020 by nefgm.org

[Paul Kian]

32 minutes ago, nefgm.org said:

Typically use the Runner for RB's and defensive CB's. Use the Sprinter for WR's and Defensive S's. Yes they are interchangeable.  When I do 11 player ironman teams use the Linemen as C,RG, LG, MLB, RDT, LDT. Use the All Purpose figures as RT, LT, RDE, LDE, the Backer Figures as QB, TE, RLB. LLB,  the Runners as FB, RB, LCB, RCB and the Sprinters as WR's, FS, and SS. When I do 22 player 2 platoon teams, on offense use 5 Lineman as the offensive line (C, RG, LG, RT, LT), 4 Runners as QB, RB, RB, SB, and 2 Sprinters as WR's. On defense use 1 Lineman as DNT, 2 Sprinters as RDE and LDE, 4 Backers as Inside and Outside LB's and 4 All Purpose Figures as CB's and Safeties.         

Awesome stuff, I'm always interested in what other coaches are doing. What I've typically been doing is using the Sprinters and Runners as the Left and Right Ends (Split, Tight, AND Defensive) depending on the respective raised hand. I also use them as slotbacks, flankers, wingbacks, runningbacks, etc. but I still typically try to keep them on the same side as their raised hand. Maybe it's just my OCD. 🤔

For the other figures I more or less mirror what you use (with a TTQB on the board at all times- just feels like a shame to not use him 😆). I've thought about taking some of the the All Purpose figures and trying to heat them up and "mold" the arms into the same position as the Backer figs, but I'm scared I'd just end up with a lot of melted plastic and bitter tears. 😆 Tall guy has a couple videos of him doing something like that.

[mccaber]

I use the sprinter figure for RB and S figures.  I use the running figure (left hand up high) for WR and CB.  Why?  Because that's how I did it when I was about 10 years old and it seemed right at the time.  The running figure just looks like a WR to me.  There's no right or wrong answer though.

[Paul Kian]

17 minutes ago, mccaber said:

I use the sprinter figure for RB and S figures.  I use the running figure (left hand up high) for WR and CB.  Why?  Because that's how I did it when I was about 10 years old and it seemed right at the time.  The running figure just looks like a WR to me.  There's no right or wrong answer though.

Makes sense, I still erase with my right hand despite being a Southpaw because I started doing that at a young age- no real reason why. Old habits are hard to justify sometimes. 😁

[RickLM30]

I've got an oddball set up for the figures compared to what I have seen on the forum.  I use the runner figures for fullbacks, halbacks, and outside linebackers.  I use the sprinter figures for tight ends, split ends, flankers, and middle linebackers.  I use the figures most people use for tight ends and linebackers as corners and safeties (harder to throw against because they've got arms stretched out on both sides). I use the lineman figures for all centers, guards, and tackles, and the all purpose figures as defensive ends and defensive tackles.  I also use lineman figures for the quarterbacks, just because I had so many of them left over after I assigned the other figures to positions.  I'm another one that started using the figures that way back in the 60s and just never changed.  It made sense to me at the time and still works for me.  No right or wrong answer, you can use them any way you want to! 😊

[mccaber]

Oregon vs Oregon State as an example of how I use the figures.

[Paul Kian]

11 hours ago, RickLM30 said:

I've got an oddball set up for the figures compared to what I have seen on the forum.  I use the runner figures for fullbacks, halbacks, and outside linebackers.  I use the sprinter figures for tight ends, split ends, flankers, and middle linebackers.  I use the figures most people use for tight ends and linebackers as corners and safeties (harder to throw against because they've got arms stretched out on both sides). I use the lineman figures for all centers, guards, and tackles, and the all purpose figures as defensive ends and defensive tackles.  I also use lineman figures for the quarterbacks, just because I had so many of them left over after I assigned the other figures to positions.  I'm another one that started using the figures that way back in the 60s and just never changed.  It made sense to me at the time and still works for me.  No right or wrong answer, you can use them any way you want to! 😊

Interesting selections, Rick. One thing I think that I do differently than most coaches, is that I use one set of Regular figures and one set of 67 Big Men- 22 figures, plus 3 TTQBs. My thought process is that the Big Men are 6'4" and above, and the Regular Figures are 6'3" and below. I'm still working on measuring the actual figure heights, but I calculated them to be around 6'6" and 6'2" using a 5/8" to 1 yard scale.

[nefgm.org]

Like others have said, there is no right or wrong. I'm old school. My first game set was the AFL 520 with the Jets and Chiefs. The backer figure was designated as a TE/QB. The other figures where Guards, Tackles, Ends and Backs. My teams were always of my favorite players regardless of whether they played offense or defense in real life. I still setup my solitaire teams this way. But again that is just my preferense. 

[RickLM30]

13 hours ago, Paul Kian said:

Interesting selections, Rick. One thing I think that I do differently than most coaches, is that I use one set of Regular figures and one set of 67 Big Men- 22 figures, plus 3 TTQBs. My thought process is that the Big Men are 6'4" and above, and the Regular Figures are 6'3" and below. I'm still working on measuring the actual figure heights, but I calculated them to be around 6'6" and 6'2" using a 5/8" to 1 yard scale.

Paul, that's an interesting process.  I never thought about using the Big Men and the Regular Figures that way.  Actually makes a lot of sense!

[Paul Kian]

Thanks for all the info guys! I think for now I'm going to stick with my Left End/Left Hand, Right End/Right Hand set up, but I will definitely tinker around with some of your set ups as well. I'm always learning something new about this fascinating game. 😁

[RickLM30]

Edited October 18, 2020 by RickLM30

[RickLM30]

Above is an example of what my offenses and defenses look like, using my system of assigning figures to positions.