Best runningback of all time

[lonewolf371]

Re: Best runningback of all time

I'd say they're even on route running and agility.

You think so? Harrison's route running is what made him. He could stop on a dime and some of his fakes made defensive backs look outright senseless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1q3ubEX1jk

[The15thunter]

Re: Best runningback of all time

I'd say they're even on route running and agility.

that's very interesting, as i've heard many scouts and opposing players say that marvin runs routes better than everyone, including rice.

and his double moves are the stuff of legend, which i figure would play into agility as well as route running.

what makes you say otherwise?

[The15thunter]

Re: Best runningback of all time

the only reason i gave body control to irvin is because he had to go up and get more balls. really, body control is agility, but i paired them together. marvin had a better range of catches, in my opinion, in terms of back-shoulder, out in front, right in the breadbasket, over the shoulder, and everything. irvin is a better jump-ball receiver, in part because he's bigger, and also because he was more physical.

[lonewolf371]

Re: Best runningback of all time

that's very interesting, as i've heard many scouts and opposing players say that marvin runs routes better than everyone, including rice.

and his double moves are the stuff of legend, which i figure would play into agility as well as route running.

what makes you say otherwise?

I recall a CBS Sports article being written after Marvin had passed his prime that polled NFL defensive backs on who the toughest wide receiver to cover was (while TO and Moss were still at their high points). The overwhelming consensus was that Marvin was the toughest receiver in the NFL to cover, pretty much because you never had any idea which direction he would go.

[The15thunter]

Re: Best runningback of all time

exactly. if a guy is one of the elite at his position and 85% of his game is in being so good at running routes that he almost always ends up wide open, then you have a tough time convincing me he isn't one of, if not the, best at that aspect of the game. and since that overwhelmingly has to do with footwork, coordination and agility, they essentially go hand in hand. add in the fact that he's faster than irvin, i don't see the dispute.

also, a lot of tape on marvin is just him destroying a defensive back with his footwork and double moves. in any highlight tape or mix you find on him, half of the tape is him being wide open and not being touched or tackled because of it. the other half is ridiculous catches.

this is a challenge, and also something i want to see: find me michael irvin making a double move on film. find me some footage of michael irvin's footwork and agility getting him free of a defender to the point where he is not touched on the reception or on his first two steps after making it. almost anything you find of irvin is him either making a tough grab, him being thrown open by aikman, or him making a catch and being touched or tackled by someone shortly thereafter.

[Intercepted]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Jim Brown for sure

[ANDROMADA 1]

Re: Best runningback of all time

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

What difference does that make?

[ANDROMADA 1]

Re: Best runningback of all time

andre has to contend with rice, moss, owens, harrison, cris carter, tim brown, bruce, holt, ward, mason, wayne, fitzgerald, and ocho cinco. these are all players i consider standouts amongst this era, which i would say has to include players who played past the year 2000.

and again, without telling me what he is ranked, tell me why michael irvin is better than marvin harrison at receiving.

Irvin hasn't done this.....

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3826780

[mKoz26]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Irvin hasn't done this.....

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3826780

You really want to bring off-the-field incidents into this discussion of on-the-field greatness? Really?

[ANDROMADA 1]

Re: Best runningback of all time

You really want to bring off-the-field incidents into this discussion of on-the-field greatness? Really?

Sure. Why not? All off field incidents are NOT the same. I can easily over look minor stuff. (alleged)Attempted murder not so much.

[mKoz26]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Sure. Why not? All off field incidents are NOT the same. I can easily over look minor stuff. (alleged)Attempted murder not so much.

Normally I'm not the guy to call homer card on someone, but I'm absolutely sure you only believe that because you're a Cowboys fan.

[The15thunter]

Re: Best runningback of all time

his off-field transgressions have nothing to do with his on-field accomplishments. different conversation.

and i'd still like someone to defend irvin being mentioned on the same page, let alone sentence, as marvin harrison when it comes to running routes.

[gridironjunky]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Michael Irvin stabbed a teammate in the neck with a pair of scissors. That would also fall in the attempted murderer book to most people.

[TheShizNo1]

Running back people. Get freaking back on topic. Especially when there's already a thread for this.

[SPTO]

Re: Best runningback of all time

that's very interesting, as i've heard many scouts and opposing players say that marvin runs routes better than everyone, including rice.

and his double moves are the stuff of legend, which i figure would play into agility as well as route running.

what makes you say otherwise?

You think so? Harrison's route running is what made him. He could stop on a dime and some of his fakes made defensive backs look outright senseless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1q3ubEX1jk

I'll keep this short since yes this is the RB thread. (we should all migrate to the WR thread in fact, n/m i'l reply to these two there)