For you ex-o linemen or anyone else who may know

i wouldn't think so, but idk

No.

No.

fwiw-agree.

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all good running backs know how to read and adapt to their blocks. lineman don't adapt to the ball carrier. it's either take what i'm giving you or gtfo

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This^

Though some running backs can come off the bench and add a "spark" which can provide mo a unit can feed off of, the scheme doesn't change....just the emotional intensity of the moment.

RB and O-line timing is probably one of the most undervalued concepts amongst casual football fans. Changing RB's throughout the game doesn't effect the O-line at all because as one poster already mentioned we do our thing it's their job to learn what timing works best on what play. Some plays just take longer to develop and the RB needs to be patient and others are only open for a quick second and if the back doesn't nail it just right it closes back up. This timing comes with experience and repetitions. With that being said theoretically multiple backs can come in and the rhythm of the running game not be disturbed as long as each back has a good feel for each type of play being called. In reality I do think it is tough, which may be one explanation of the "hot hand" theory. It is why one back looks so good one week and another the next in our offense. Sometimes that rhythm is there from the first carry and sometimes it's just not and may take a few carries before it can be established. I do know it is frustrating when a play is blocked perfectly and the backs timing is off just a little and a big gain is missed out on. Anytime a back is running up the backs of his O-line trust me in the huddle the big uglies are telling him to be a little more patient.

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This timing comes with experience and repetitions. With that being said theoretically multiple backs can come in and the rhythm of the running game not be disturbed as long as each back has a good feel for each type of play being called.

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This is a key point - if you have a great space player at the RB position (a hybrid HB/WR, I like to call them) and you try to run him inside, he has to get a feel for the plays and the timing of the hole. That's why you see many of the fail to get the tough yards between the tackles. It's not so much size (certainly not as important as toughness, Dalton Hilliard and Walter Payton were tough as nails without carrying significant tonnage) as it is timing, attitude and toughness between the tackles.

You don't block differently for different RBs. You either pass block or run block. Different schemes may help different backs (cross block, pulling guard, etc.), but that's about it.

Blocking is simply taking the defender out of the play. Just have to know where to be and who to look for. The RBs do the rest.