Best runningback of all time

[untrugby]

Re: Best runningback of all time

i understand that the lines were good, and players were able to play behind them and do well. that, again, doesn't take away what that person did.

i dont think calling them top 5 RBs of all time is taking anything away from them

[Broncos86]

Re: Best runningback of all time

I went with Barry Sanders. I can only imagine what he would've done if he played for the Cowboys.

[JBH3]

Not so much for best all time debate, but in the grand scheme...where does Eddie George stack up against others at the position?

[The15thunter]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Not so much for best all time debate, but in the grand scheme...where does Eddie George stack up against others at the position?

to me, he's an old-school, grind-it-out, workhorse running back. not terribly dynamic, you know you're gonna get a lunchpail workman effort, control the clock, and get a physical game.

[ANDROMADA 1]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Look at jim browns last 3 seasons
291 att, 1863 yards, 12 TDs, 6.4 YPC
280 att, 1446 yards, 7 TDs, 5.2 YPC
289 att, 1544 yards, 17 TDs, 5.3 YPC

then look at the next 3 seasons when his backup got to run with that line
209 att, 1141 yards, 15 TDs, 5.5 YPC
235 att, 1205 yards, 11 TDs, 5.1 YPC
248 att, 1239 yards, 16 TDs, 5.0 YPC

as far as emmitt goes im a cowboy fan and emmitt was my favorite player growing up and i wore 22 through most of my playing days into high school. Id love to say hes the best RB ever but i just cant.

Hof'er Leroy Kelly? That dude was amazing. I'm just saying...

[untrugby]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Hof'er Leroy Kelly? That dude was amazing. I'm just saying...

his only good years came from those 3 seasons after brown retired early and he got to run behind that o-line. He averaged over 5 YPC in those 3 seasons then he averaged 4.2, 3.7, 3.6, 3.2 and 2.9 in the next 5 seasons and never got more than 865 yards after 3 seasons of 1100+

[untrugby]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Not so much for best all time debate, but in the grand scheme...where does Eddie George stack up against others at the position?

i always remember them saying this about eddie george: "if you need 1 yard he'll give you 3, if you need 4 yards he'll give you 3.

[lonewolf371]

Re: Best runningback of all time

his only good years came from those 3 seasons after brown retired early and he got to run behind that o-line. He averaged over 5 YPC in those 3 seasons then he averaged 4.2, 3.7, 3.6, 3.2 and 2.9 in the next 5 seasons and never got more than 865 yards after 3 seasons of 1100+

I think having such a huge drop-off in yardage from one Hall of Famer to another one says something about the first guy. I think you pretty much made Jim Brown supporters' points for them.

But best running back of all time is always a spur-of-the-moment thing. My dad says Walter Payton. The generation after says Barry Sanders. Mine might say LaDainian Tomlinson, although he wasn't as dominant. Some day, however, another guy will come along and he'll be the best running back of all-time.

[untrugby]

Re: Best runningback of all time

I think having such a huge drop-off in yardage from one Hall of Famer to another one says something about the first guy. I think you pretty much made Jim Brown supporters' points for them.

you obviously didnt read my first post. The point is there was little drop off between brown and kelly. the dropoff came when the linemen started going downhill

heres browns last 3 seasons vs the 1st 3 with kelly

291 att, 1863 yards, 12 TDs, 6.4 YPC
280 att, 1446 yards, 7 TDs, 5.2 YPC
289 att, 1544 yards, 17 TDs, 5.3 YPC

209 att, 1141 yards, 15 TDs, 5.5 YPC
235 att, 1205 yards, 11 TDs, 5.1 YPC
248 att, 1239 yards, 16 TDs, 5.0 YPC

[The15thunter]

Re: Best runningback of all time

a good line will help a running back, i agree. but that doesn't take away from the player's greatness...

it's like taking away from joe montana's resume because he had jerry rice. or unitas having berry. manning having harrison. teams tend to build around their strengths, and when you have a jim brown, you will likely invest in a great run-blocking line.

[ANDROMADA 1]

Re: Best runningback of all time

his only good years came from those 3 seasons after brown retired early and he got to run behind that o-line. He averaged over 5 YPC in those 3 seasons then he averaged 4.2, 3.7, 3.6, 3.2 and 2.9 in the next 5 seasons and never got more than 865 yards after 3 seasons of 1100+

So he was only a hof'er because of his o-line? If you think his numbers are bad then you probably don't want to look up Floyd Little. He "only" rushed for over 1,000 yards once and still made hall of fame.

[untrugby]

Re: Best runningback of all time

So he was only a hof'er because of his o-line? If you think his numbers are bad then you probably don't want to look up Floyd Little. He "only" rushed for over 1,000 yards once and still made hall of fame.

and it "only" took him 30 years after he was eligible to make it to the HOF

[untrugby]

Re: Best runningback of all time

a good line will help a running back, i agree. but that doesn't take away from the player's greatness...

it's like taking away from joe montana's resume because he had jerry rice. or unitas having berry. manning having harrison. teams tend to build around their strengths, and when you have a jim brown, you will likely invest in a great run-blocking line.

i still dont see how calling jim brown the 4th best all-time is a slight. When youre looking at the best of all time teams and who you played with can be a factor. Sure having harrison doesnt lessen peyton manning but i think it has lessened harrisons status. i mean harrison is 2nd all time in rec, 6th in yards and 5th in TDs but would you call him one of the top 5 WRs of all time?

[TheShizNo1]

i always remember them saying this about eddie george: "if you need 1 yard he'll give you 3, if you need 4 yards he'll give you 3.

LMAO! this is the great

[SPTO]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Sure having harrison doesnt lessen peyton manning but i think it has lessened harrisons status. i mean harrison is 2nd all time in rec, 6th in yards and 5th in TDs but would you call him one of the top 5 WRs of all time?

Holy Smokes!

I know Harrison was a great WR and all and I knew that he and Manning were the most potent QB/WR duo ever but I just don't think of him as putting up those huge kind of numbers in his career.

It really seems like Peyton Manning overshadowed Harrison to the point that you don't see him in that way.