Best runningback of all time

[Hooe]

Re: Best runningback of all time

I rest my case.

Way to completely dodge my argument.

So because I have never watched Dickerson means I can't at all observe Faulk (who I have seen play plenty of times), observe Dickerson's numbers, and draw some sort of educated conclusion? I'm not allowed an opinion at all?

I already admitted I'll defer to people who watched Dickerson if he was in fact far more versatile than his numbers make him appear, but you could at least pose a counterpoint to my point that Faulk far outproduced Dickerson in the passing game. I still invite you to do so.

[The15thunter]

Re: Best runningback of all time

If you watch any video from back in Browns day, it is clear there is extremely poor tackling and technique. A lot of videos look like back yard football to me. I personally think the game back then had much more extremes in terms of talent. Modern football has great players at every position.

Truthfully, we can't say how good Brown would have been if he played today. Physically for his time, he was a beast. Nowdays, jusy physical ability isn't enough.

the thing is that even if brown played in the worst tackling era (untrue), you have to look at what he accomplished contextually and in a vacuum. in a vacuum, he was the all-time leading rusher when he retired and the benchmark against which every running back has ever been measured. his attributes and accolades are the stuff of legend.

contextually, you have to consider the sheer dominance he showed. he was head, shoulders, chest and navel above his peers in terms of production and impact. he was better than all of his peers in every single way for every single season he played. that is something that, essentially, no other back since him has done.

then, if you want to measure intangibles, or things like vision, jim was still a top back. he intimidated the defense physically, he toyed with them mentally. he is the most revered player of all time, the one who's name rings bells with players that have never seen him play.

everyone else is fighting for third place behind jim and walter.

[bkrich83]

Re: Best runningback of all time

If you watch any video from back in Browns day, it is clear there is extremely poor tackling and technique. A lot of videos look like back yard football to me. I personally think the game back then had much more extremes in terms of talent. Modern football has great players at every position.

Truthfully, we can't say how good Brown would have been if he played today. Physically for his time, he was a beast. Nowdays, jusy physical ability isn't enough. We have seen a lot of power backs come and go. The only one in the last 10 years to really have a name for himself as a possible great is Adrian Peterson. All the other modern backs are more geared towards agility(Peterson has a bit of both). I am actually curious to see how Adrian Peterson holds up over the next 5-7 years.

I think to be succesful in modern football, you have to not only have talent, but tons and tons of vision. IMO Barry Sanders had the most vision/reaction I have ever seen. The way he used blockers, or teamates to be blockers was simply amazing. I personally believe Barry was much better then we got to see. Honestly, do you think Emitt would have had a better carear in Detriot? Would Joe Montana have shined on Detriot? Would Jerry Rice? Surely you see my point. And please nobody say Detriot fit Barrys running style. A huge hole, is a huge hole. I doubt very much Barry wanted to dance around every play just to get back to the line. In fact, if you look early on in his carear he hit the holes. I noticed as the Lions got worse over the years, Barry adapted. The last year Barry played, the line was aweful. Even his dancing around wasn't cutting it.

I think he got out of Detriot at the right time. While I think he had plenty more in the tank, that team was in trouble, and he knew it.

I would say tackling technique and form not ware far worse than they were back then. The equipment then didn't allow the head down spear anyone in the neck or chest "technique" used now.

On top of the fact, with less teams you could make the argument the league was less watered down than it is today.

The notion that Sanders stats are more impressive due to his era, does not make any sense.

[bkrich83]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Way to completely dodge my argument.

So because I have never watched Dickerson means I can't at all observe Faulk (who I have seen play plenty of times), observe Dickerson's numbers, and draw some sort of educated conclusion? I'm not allowed an opinion at all?

I already admitted I'll defer to people who watched Dickerson if he was in fact far more versatile than his numbers make him appear, but you could at least pose a counterpoint to my point that Faulk far outproduced Dickerson in the passing game. I still invite you to do so.

For me, Dickerson may have been the best pure runner I have ever seen. He was ridiculous. Faulk was far better all around back.

[roethlisberger4pres]

Re: Best runningback of all time

So true to what the guy said above.
Professional sports are much different then they are now then they were 50 years ago. Professional baseball seemed like anyone who was somewhat decent in high school could join any professional team. I think if Jim Brown played today he would be LT in a way.

[fugazi]

Re: Best runningback of all time

jim brown
bo jackson

the rest of the greats: payton, sanders, etc...

[SportsGuy53]

Re: Best runningback of all time

In Browns days maybe yes the tacking was not as good as today, but They were alot tougher in those days.. These players the last 20 years or so are babies, they cry over a hangnail LOL.
As for Barry Sanders, he had MORE Moves than Exlax, just Loved watching him...

[sportjames23]

Re: Best runningback of all time

For me, it's a toss up between Sweetness and Jim Brown. Never saw Brown play, as he retired before I was born, but I've seen the highlights and the man was a straight up BEAST.

But, I have seen Payton, and man, he was poetry in motion. I went with Payton by a hair, but you can't go wrong either way.

[TMJOHNS18]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Tim Tebow, 'nough said.






But really, Payton get my vote, though OJ was great in his prime (use him on all pro football lol).

[fugazi]

Re: Best runningback of all time

, though OJ was great in his prime (use him on all pro football lol).

Yeah...OJ was killer back in the day.

[lonewolf371]

Re: Best runningback of all time

So true to what the guy said above.
Professional sports are much different then they are now then they were 50 years ago. Professional baseball seemed like anyone who was somewhat decent in high school could join any professional team. I think if Jim Brown played today he would be LT in a way.

LT isn't a good comparison (too small). There really is no good comparison right now because there aren't any backs in the league that are as big and fast as Jim Brown was.

[SPTO]

Re: Best runningback of all time

LT isn't a good comparison (too small). There really is no good comparison right now because there aren't any backs in the league that are as big and fast as Jim Brown was.

The last RB that you can even compare to Jim Brown physically is Jerome Bettis.

[wheelman990]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Yeah...OJ was killer back in the day.

Come to think of it, you are right....Jim Brown was a killer back in the day!

[wheelman990]

Re: Best runningback of all time

So true to what the guy said above.
Professional sports are much different then they are now then they were 50 years ago. Professional baseball seemed like anyone who was somewhat decent in high school could join any professional team. I think if Jim Brown played today he would be LT in a way.

I have to agree, it's a total different game. I can't see how anyone can watch footage of the different era's and not see how far the games has evolved.

There is no way to watch Jim Brown era footage and not say that the game looked like back yard football. I have never seen such poor tackling in pro football as I have from that era of football. It wasnt even when they made contact, it was the absolute lack of contact, and the way they just fell down. For goodness sakes, Brown is not a juker by todays standards, not even in the least....yet back then, they would have called him Barry Sanders type agility. Thats because compared to the other players, Brown was indeed in another league. I don't argue that, but to me it was like the idea of playing defense back then was to see how dirty your pants could get by diving into the field with nobody around.

I don't want to be disrespectful to Brown. Best runningback for his time? I'll go ahead and put Jim Brown in the #1 spot there, but not for best RB of all time.

I greatly appreciate all those guys helping evolve the game. And they will always be legends to me. However, I have to keep it real. Its like saying NFL 2k5 was the greatest game of all time 30 years from now. Somehow, I really doubt that will hold true, even though it might be the greatest game ever for its time. Could 2k5 be the best game ever with a HD make over and added polygons and features? Maybe....but there is no way to know. It was be a huge stretch, and to be honest probably not. There are to many variables we just don't know.

[wheelman990]

Re: Best runningback of all time

In Browns days maybe yes the tacking was not as good as today, but They were alot tougher in those days.. These players the last 20 years or so are babies, they cry over a hangnail LOL.
As for Barry Sanders, he had MORE Moves than Exlax, just Loved watching him...

They were tough, I don't argue that at all. Todays players are cry babies. Luckily most still play pretty hard.....just think the world revolves around them. I wish we could have todays talent, with the 1980's- early 90's mentality. Those guys loved the game for what it was back then. Sanders said that was one of the reasons he quit. The game had changed for him, the love of the game wasn't there when he viewed the leagues attitude. It was a buisiness mentality.