It is obvious in college and pro football that throwing the ball is the method that can produce long gains or scores the most easily. There are risks with the passing game, but the skills have been so well honed with the pass and catch, most teams relish the opportunities. Plus, rule changes over the years have come to favor the passing attack.
Throwing the ball is to attack the integrity of the defense. If the defense is playing in a zone, teams will stretch it either vertically or horizontally and find open seams in which to throw.
If teams play a lot of “man to man” style, the offense will attempt to isolate the best receiver by giving the defender too much area to cover alone. These designs encourage three- and four-receivers spread out and wide apart from one another. Four receivers leave one back to run the ball and, discounting the QB, it leaves five men to block for a run. Consequently, running and the design is reduced to a minimum.
Another major factor is that teams that stress the pass and pass protection are rarely sound run teams. To be both sound at run and pass, you must practice and perform both. Usually, teams lean to whatever they do better.
The run game, with one back and five linemen or six, seems relegated to a draw, a stretch sweep, or a direct thrust. What that leaves is perhaps a counter where the back steps one way for influence and then follows pulling linemen to the hole. Add a trap or two and six or seven plays summarizes your whole ground game.
A complete ground game years ago was predicated on three styles of run plays:
1) Speed – These were usually a sweep play. Perhaps a quick flip to a left halfback to the left. Another style was a speed sweep where all linemen blocked to their inside and the guards pulled and led outside – with a lead back in front. Sometimes an inside fake to hold pursuing linebackers helped facilitate turning the corner on a sweep.
2) Power – This was brought about by massing more bodies at the point of attack than the opponent could immediately mass to defend. Linemen, taking advantage of angle and leverage, sealed or blocked down. From that point, a pulling lineman kicked out or blocked out at the end of the seal and backs or other pulling lineman poured through the hole trying to cause a distortion and allow some daylight for the runner.
These same types of power plays, because the defense becomes so focused on the action, were ideal off which to run a play-action pass.
3) Finesse – All misdirection plays, options, screens, some traps, and sequence (inside fake and outside runs – etc.) are finesse plays.
A good ground game usually will employ all three of these designs. The whole concept of run makes a team tough and aggressive. Linemen love it over pass protection, and sound running teams grow strong in morale.
The reason teams have gotten away from such full ground games is because of 1) formation changes that leave you shy of people and 2) the stress and time it takes to perfect the highly-prized passing game.
I have always preferred on balance, a combination of two wide receivers and sometimes one with a second tight end. This allows for two deep backs.
I have a personal disdain for “shotgun or gun” because the whole reason for getting away from that form was to keep the ball at the line of scrimmage and not lose five to seven yards before going forward. Another point is that a T-formation quarterback can view the field as he retreats to the pocket. A shotgun QB must keep vision on the ball until he has it in his hands.
If you play with divided backs, both of them have easy access to check through flares, swing routes, or flat routes. They can enter the pattern easily. It is also easier to devise a little more intricate illusion and misdirection. It allows two runners and also blockers who can be receivers. This is the formation I favor because it encompasses the best use of personnel in offensive football.
Linemen seek to create a “bubble” or a distortion in the defensive line. We have come to call that a “hole.” If the back hits the proper hole at the proper time, positive yardage is almost a certainty.
When only five linemen and one back are involved, the choices are too narrow. Coaches willing to give up part of the run game in favor of emphasizing the pass will one day revert back. Simple reasoning says it causes great morale and great variety, and linemen love it along with the backs. It enhances the balance of a team and causes defenses much more to prepare against.
If you can pass and run, it will help your own defense and winning is much more probable. As an anonymous philosopher once said, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water!” Too much has been sacrificed with the run to enhance the pass.
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If teams play a lot of “man to man” style, the offense will attempt to isolate the best receiver by giving the defender too much area to cover alone. These designs encourage three- and four-receivers spread out and wide apart from one another. Four receivers leave one back to run the ball and, discounting the QB, it leaves five men to block for a run. Consequently, running and the design is reduced to a minimum. 
I have a personal disdain for “shotgun or gun” because the whole reason for getting away from that form was to keep the ball at the line of scrimmage and not lose five to seven yards before going forward. Another point is that a T-formation quarterback can view the field as he retreats to the pocket. A shotgun QB must keep vision on the ball until he has it in his hands. 
