Do some running backs have a nose for the endzone?

[BernardB]

It used to be said some backs had a nose for the endzone, certain abilities useful for scoring from a short distance. Not sure how true this is but those backs did have the confidence of their coaches and got the ball more often around the goal line. Marcus Allen, for one, comes to mind.

[Citizen]

It's a hard quality to define, but I think some guys definitely do/did. Lombardi used to marvel at the extra gear Paul Hornung would find when he was near the goal line.

[rhickok1109]

It's a hard quality to define, but I think some guys definitely do/did. Lombardi used to marvel at the extra gear Paul Hornung would find when he was near the goal line.

"What it comes down to is that in the middle of the field he [Hornung] may be only slightly better than an average ballplayer, but inside that 20-yard line he is one of the greatest I've ever seen. He smells that goal line." Run to Daylight, p. 23

[Gary Najman]

I believe John Riggins clearly fits this cathegory. If you were inside the opponent 3-yard line, just give it to Riggo and almost always was a tochdown.