Define: "Running down hill"

[mslacat]

OK I need help. The thing that really irritates me about watching pro and college football is that most of the announcers, play by play and analysts are ex-football players or coaches, They seem to rely on spouting off a steady stream of football cliche's, with out actually explaining what they mean. One of newest cliche that I have heard this year is "Running Down Hill". As in "the running back likes to run downhill" or "
he is down hill running back", or "they need to stop bla bla bla and simply run the ball downhill". What the hell does running the ball down hill mean. When I first heard it I thought it meant running the ball from the center of the field to side lines slant in a strait line, since the center of the field is generally crowned for drainage. But I don't think that is it. Does it mean running the ball strait up the middle towards the goal line? I think this is most likely it but it still does not make any sense to me. I my mind running down hill mean running in a strait line and with a fair amount of momentum behind them. This term really drives me crazy, because I think it is a term that really describes nothing, but is the cool thing to say. How about canning the latest and greatest cliche's and just stick normal English, or how about publishing a "List of cliche's to be used by ESPN for the year 2008-09".

So what does "Running Downhill" mean in football speak?

BTW: Yes I think this whole thing was started by Dick Vital, but I can not stand Dicky V either.

[BigBruceBaker]

The term has always meant running in a straight line and gaining momentum as you run....so the bigger guys are much harder to stop once they gain momentum which means they are running down hill. If that makes any sence. Thats what i have always taken it to mean.

[cats2506]

Simular to running North and South only with more power

[Cledus]

In terms you can relate to, Crawford was not a prototypical downhill runner because he gained a lot of yard juking and making people miss. Conversely, Palmer would be considered a downhill runner because the coaches basically wind him up and let him go.

[whitetrashgriz]

I can not stand Dicky V either.

from the guy whose life is college basketball! he's a little much for me sometimes too but i can't think of another announcer more passionate about the sport that he covers.