The Silly Season — RB Ratings
Posted: June 15, 2005 @ 1:12 am
Want one big reason why PFW rates the Cowboys to only move from 6-10 to 7-9 this season? Check out their ratings of running backs. The magazine grades players on a five point scale, with grades in the 4.0 to 5.0 range being “blue chip” players, who, in their words are “Pro Bowl quality players who consistently make big plays.” Grades in the 3.0 to 3.99 range are for red chip players, defined as, “impact players who produce like starters but fall short in at least one area.” Here is PFW’s top 20:
Jones’ scouting report lacks any major deficiency. In the magazine’s words,
Limited much of last season by injury before he found the field and looked like the top rookie runner in the NFL. Changes direction with ease and has vastly superior instincts to his brother, Thomas. Has outstanding field vision and make-you-miss ability. Powerful legs to break tackles, good burst and balance. Doesn’t have ideal size but stood up to a pounding down the stretch last season with 22 or more carries in each of the final seven games.
And those were productive carries too; Jones averaged 27 of them for 115 yards per game, a 4.3 yard average per carry.
This rating seems way too low for a guy who showed so much raw ability. But to be fair, Jones only played in eight games. What’s more, PFW shows restraint in rating rookies. Ben Roethlisberger, despite his stellar season, was only rated 17th among quarterbacks, behind David Carr and ahead of Kerry Collins.
Based on skill, and taking into account that Dallas will use Jones a bit less per game this season, where would you rate him entering the season? I’d place him ninth, behind McAllister, but ahead of Martin, who I think will slip back to earth after his monster ‘04 at the age of 31. If he stays healthy and his o-line stays intact (read: Marco Rivera’s back holds together), Jones is top-five material. He’s seen the league now. He knows the speed of the game and has proven his hands are good. (This was the primary concern about his game last year.) His coach has complemented his improved knowledge of the game, so the Julius Jones of ‘05 should look that much more polished than last year’s model.
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“impact players who produce like starters but fall short in at least one area.â€Â
Fairly or unfairly that one area for Jones would be durability. I think once he has a full season without injury he will get his due, and a ticket to Hawaii.
Probably. I think the “lacks ideal size” is nit picking, however, since he’s approximately the same size as Portis, Barber, Martin and Henry.
Well I feel like portis is overrated, and would bump him down to 9th, just below James. Lewis and Holmes would move up to 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Making room for JJ in the number 4 spot, this, of course is if JJ and the O-Line can stay healthy. And Rafael your insight on a more polished Jones is dead-right on target.
I too think potis is overrated….way overrated
Looks like a lot of us agree. I too think Portis is rated a bit high. Especially after understanding he’s in a system that may not play to his strengths and also hearing that he needs to change his running style a bit to better fit in with Gibbs’ scheme.
Going down the list there are a few other I think graded too high. Ahman Green was pulled a lot last year and couldn’t keep his hands on the ball. I forget which way it was but he either played between the 40’s on on each side of the 40’s. The other times his backup was in the game.
Fred Taylor stayed healthy for once but even his own team is concerned about him going in to this year. Major concerns enough to look at Travis Henry.
Jones does seem a little low but perhaps it’s my Cowboy bias coming out. The 8 games he was in he looked good I thought. I believe there were some questions about him last year. I thought that while it wasn’t a big deal he also needed to clean up a little on his blocking in addition to the flaw Rafael mentioned (catching the ball).
It’s hard to imagine that Jones isn’t viewed as a top-ten back. Even with his abbreviated season, fans(and players) saw enough of his abilities to conclude this. His instincts are incredible and something that can’t be taught. Either you have it or you don’t.
Jones made people miss last year. He gained yards on numerous plays when he should have been stopped behind the line. On MNF, he did things that made you think of Barry Sanders. Is he Sanders? Of course not, but some of the things he did last year were amazing. 3.3 is way too low.
If PFW turns out to be right, and Jones is only a top 20 running back, then Dallas is not going to be nearly as good as I think they are.
In my keeper league, Im keeping JJ over Deuce McAlister.
I think we are all a little biased, we had better be. Faulk and Henry don’t even start on their respective teams. Stephen Jackson and Kevin Jones didn’t even get a mention. Davis is so average. Barber, Martin and Green are due to slip, they are getting older (although Martin is a favorite of mine).
Jones is going to be top 10 this year. On the brink of the Pro Bowl.
I am curious to see what Marion Barber brings to the table, Parcells compares him to Leon Johnson. Johnson had all world of ability, he just couldn’t stay healthy.
Listen,
I truly think by the end of the year he’ll be top five maybe better. I could be to taken with him but from what I saw last year I have no reason to suspect anything less then a stellar sophomore compain especially when he has added mass, and they are going to use him more in the passing game. I think he would be leathal in the open field on screens and swings to the flats.
I haven’t seen elusiveness like his in a long time and the few that have looked similar are great backs not good or just sometimes an impact player but great.
as a fantasy back he was one of the top backs while he was playing I would consider him a top back this year statistically as well. His blocking is nothing to ignore I think he’s vastly improved there as well.
by the end of the year his stats will be to five, right now on this list he’s gotta be top ten, don’t know how portis is top three being a skin now maybe if he’s still in denver which he isn’t.
top ten no less
Jones will prove he is higher on the field this year. A full 16 game season and 1500 yards later he will be a top five next year.
He is still ranked higher than S Jackson or Kevin Jones………Julius will do fine.
Cooper Says:
June 15th, 2005 at 9:57 am
Jones made people miss last year. He gained yards on numerous plays when he should have been stopped behind the line. On MNF, he did things that made you think of Barry Sanders. Is he Sanders? Of course not, but some of the things he did last year were amazing. 3.3 is way too low.
If PFW turns out to be right, and Jones is only a top 20 running back, then Dallas is not going to be nearly as good as I think they are.
Cooper, thats exactly what I’m saying, John Madden if dropped the Sanders comparison, saying he hates to do things like that, compare young guys to legends. But honestly I can’t remember the last time I’ve seem someone so good at setting people up to miss, he seems to have the good trait of keeping his feet moving and struggling through tackles for more yards.
like you said there was plenty of plays he should’ve had a loss, case and point against the giants I think last game of the year, he faked out half their team accelerated around the corner snuck behind a block and got a first down out of a five yard loss.
pretty impressive for a rookie.
2. Clinton Portis 4.4- He was made by the system in Denver, he is an average back.
3. Jamal Lewis 4.2- Terrific runner but lacks hands, he cant seem to catch the ball.
5. Ahman Green 4.12- Unconsistent and tends to fumble.
6. Curtis Martin 4.1- Old.
10. Tiki Barber 3.8- Unconsistent and tends to fumble.
12. Fred Taylor 3.77- Injury case may not play this year.
15. Marshall Faulk 3.6- My favorite back in the league but the guy is old, but still dangerous.
These seven backs are all top 15 but I think JJ is better then them. I also think he is better than Rudi and Davis, which by my count could push him in the top 10.
it is kind of funny……..ironic i guess………i figure he is low because he misses half of the season with the broken shouler………..then he comes back and sets Earl Campbell Marks for 30+ carries in consecutive games………
so while his durability may be what is lowering his rating……..his return with 30 plus carries should have slienced the doubters.
He is our new perennial thousand yard rusher. My guess is 352 carries for 1500 yards. That would only be a 4.3 avg. Something I think he will do.
Also if he is having one of those games………..do not be surprised if Parcells keeps handing him the rock like last year. Not every week mind you, but if he sees Julius really feeling it………he will give him 25+ carries in a game or two.
Checking out Curtis Martin in his early years with Parcells those are very similar to how Bill used Curtis.
Mat…..
Sorry, had to do this….there is no such word as “unconsistent”.
LIKE I SAID A WHILE BACK,WE ARE HELD TO A LOWER STANDARD THAN ANY OTHER BALL CLUB.I WANT THEM GUYS TO RATE US AS LOW AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN, BECAUSE IT WILL BE ALL THE MORE GRATIFYING WHEN THOSE SAME GUYS COME KISSING UP TO US. WE KNOW WHAT OUR TEAM IS CAPABLE OF. O.K, THEY HAVE J.J RATED LOW AFTER HIS PERFORMANCE THE SECOND HALF OF LAST SEASON..SO WHAT!! THEY FIND SOMETHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT US NO MATTER WHAT. GET USED TO IT WE ARE COWBOY’S,THEY LOVE TO HATE US. AFTER ALL WE ARE AMERICA’S TEAM. TRUST ME B.P, LOVES WHAT THESE SO CALLED PRO’S ARE SAYING. I RATHER LET THE PLAY ON THE FIELD TALK FOR ME!!
Julius is a top 5 back in the league right now. You can’t say hes injury prone, hes had one injury in his NFL career. He was a beast when he came back and carried our offense. Enough of the ” He cant run against good defenses”. He now has Campell back and Rivera on the line. That will make him a top 5 back in the league. THe haters will say that he has a great line in front of him which makes him look good. It sounds crazy, but give me Julius over #2(????) Clinton Portis. He’s overrated, everyone looks good from Denver.
OK, let me get this straight…PFW is ranking Julius Jones 4 spots below Marshall Faulk, but Faulk isn’t even supposed to be the starting RB for the Rams. Their projected starter, Steven Jackson, isn’t even on the list.
Take it a step further, they write in their summary of Jones that he was the top rookie runner in ‘04. Well, Jackson was also a rookie last year. So if Jones is better than Jackson and Jackson is better than Faulk then doesn’t that make Jones better than Faulk?
Yeah, I’d say their analysis makes a lot of sense.
Rafael,
I agree that “Lacking in size,” is nitpicking, because they said the same thing about Emmitt lacking not only size, but speed. Little did they know what a “Huge Heart” he had, and the rest as they say, is history!
I rate JJ as a top 10 back who with a full 16 game season, will break into the top 5 next year.
Tying Earl Campbell’s record for 30+ carries in a game certainly qualifies him as being durable. I can’t wait to see him play a full 16 game season.
Yeah I concur with you three above, there is no way you can rate his durability on a freak injury as a broken scapula, yeah that is a real common injury among RB’s and I hear it really effects there career.
whatever what a bunch of jabroni’s if he had to reconstructed knees’ and had constant nagging injuries as some older backs “Fred Taylor” maybe then you could throw durability out there as an issue, compeletley agree with the question of why the hell are backs that don’t even start ahead of him especially a scat back like Westbrook who is not an every down back and can’t carry the ball 20 times a game without breaking down, ridiculous
I believe these writers will get a big fat dose of humble pie, the boys are back in town quit doubting jerks
and I agree with the emmitt comparison similar size similar knocks not enough speed not big enough, well he seems to have good vision great elusiveness as I said on my previous post and he stays on his feet and keeps them moving as well as anyone.
I’ve talked to quite a few fantasy football winners regarding this post and they laughed, J.J. and Alexander were probably the two elite FF backs towards the end of last year and neither are rated very high in this poll.
I believe the word was “laughable” for these rankings
JJ will once again be a FF favorite. He is sure to get a lot of touches and be the feature back in a run, play action 2 TE set offense. You can’t ask for a better back.
I read an article that listed 20 or so back higher than him, and I thought what second half of the season were they watching. He was the hottest thing going and rose to the occassion on prime time every time.
Bledsoe play action pass, draws, and then add in the screen pass and they want JJ to get more touches in the passing game. He will surpass 2000 all purpose yards and rack up 16 or more TDs.
Not bad for 2nd round pick that the media rated as a 3rd or 4th rounder. Bill got his man, and a year later added Marcus Spears.
Thanks Buffalo. Enjoy Losman.
1. Julius Jones (1,800 yards)
2. Clinton Portis
3. Jamal Lewis
4. Priest Holmes
5. LaDainian Tomlinson
6. Curtis Martin
7. Corey Dillon
8. Edgerrin James
9. Deuce McAllister
10. Tiki Barber
In my opinion, I believe JJ is going to have an awesome season if he is free of injuries. Just imagine in the late quarters were A-train is probably going to take charge in the first and second down and then comes JJ breaking out with 20+ yards play. What do you guys think?
I guess I’m playing devil’s advocate, but I’m not up in arms over their ranking. While he was explosive during the second half, you just can’t give a guy a top ten ranking unless you’ve seen him carry the load for the entire season. (which, by the way, I have no doubt that he will)
Jon,
Don’t forget, we also got Jacob Rogers, OT, (who I still believe will come back from shoulder surgery), Sean Ryan, TE, as well as Spears. All that, & we still got the best RB in the draft last year. I love it! Buffalo also threw in Bledsoe for nothing, and I feel he will have a monster year with a much better line & a great running game.
We need to call Buffalo up & see if they want to do anything next year…haha.
Seriously, for any pundit to rate JJ at #19, with a 3.3 point value just shows the extent of Cowboy bias around the league. If JJ was playing for NE or the Iggles, they would have him in the top five, which they will be forced to do after this season anyway. He who laughs last laughs best!
For anyone who thinks Portis is a ton better than Julius. Last year, Portis averaged 3.8 yards a carry, Julius 4.2. Portis had 5 rushings TD’s in 15 games, while Julius had 7 in 8 games (really 7 games). Everyone says Julius was bad against the good defenses, particulary Baltimore. Portis had 25 rushes for 52 yards against the Ravens. So maybe its not just Jones who has a bad game once in a while. Against Philly, Portis only averaged 20 carries for 58 yards.
To me, it sounds like every RB in the game doesnt have great games against all good defenses. So nobody can knock Julius and say he just racks up yards against really weak defenses. Portis is a good back, dont get me wrong, but I don’t think 2nd best in the league. A healthy Priest Holmes is ALOT better then Portis.
I think the rating for JJ is really not very telling of the Cowboys running game. The running game is possibly one of the best in the league because of its interchangeable parts. Even if JJ rates at a 3.3, that doesn’t really tell how good our running game will be. We are going to have fresh legs running the ball and we are going to be controlling the clock for some serious minutes. I cannot wait to see the bEagles huffing and puffing trying to stop our Offense while McNabb sits on the bench whining because he can’t get on the field.
Oh baby, I can’t wait till September.
I also think that JuiceJ could be a Top-10 back, but I would be carefull when putting him ahead of this guys: LaDainian T, McAllister, Curtis Martin (old, but still moves the chains a lot), Corey Dillon, Edgerrin James and Ahman Green, they are the best the league has to offer. Clinton Portis, Priest Holmes and Jamal Lewis are overrated (Portis) or getting slowed down by injuries (Holmes and Lewis).
I would put JuiceJ in the group of Alexander, Barber and McGahee.
I also think that the comparison with Sanders is way out of place, he reminds me of a young and a bit faster Curtis Martin.
I just can’t believe the way people in the business are giving the ‘Boys the proper respect, like Pete Prisco on Sportsline.com, last week he gave his top 50 players and there were no Cowboys, and this week he’s giving his Top-10 on offense by position and the only Cowboys listed are Witten (6th) and Allen (7th). Allen may be well placed, but Prisco’s placing Shockey ahead of him……… I guess everything has to do with Bledsoe being the “expected” inmobile target everyone’s waiting for him to be, I just hope they’re all wrong.
“aren’t giving the ‘Boys”………… a miss in typo………….
JB,
totally agree, couldnt have said it better myself. nice job
GENE,
you made a great point and backed it up, i also agree with how you put it.
LOU,
i agree with what you say about PORTIS and JJ, nice backup info too. and dont forget that JJ racked up like 85 yards against the RAVENS his first game back….that shows alot from a rookie and from a #19 guy
man this site is packed with diehard boys fans, just like me, so it is so nice to hear diff opinions and views and see how you guys see things. I LOVE THIS SITE
Julius actually reminds me of ole number 33 a bit. Tony Dorsett was one of those guys that could make you miss in the open field and could flat out just go by people. When Parcells was running the draw even on 3rd down and long last year it really reminded of some of the Landry 3rd and longs where he would run a draw to Dorsett. Sometimes it worked. Ask the Vikings, I am certain they can tell you it was hard to catch 33. Julius sure has that speed when he hits a hole to take it to the house. He jukes in the open field, and has shown some power moves as well. Funny thing I would not trade any of the backs ranked higher than him for him. No question LT is a great, but he is a few years in the league already and with his size I wonder about his long term in the NFL. Nothing against the other backs but Julius is younger, and has that elusiveness that you is rare even among NFL backs.
He ain’t Barry…..see Mike Vick for Barry like moves….there will never be another Barry……but Barry was a homerun hitter that struck out a lot too……..and he ain’t Emmit……….he is Julius and that is fine by me.
Also teams were stacking the line and expecting JJ to get touches. Parcells was giving him the rock 30 times in consecutive games and he was still getting yards. That is impressive. It was refreshing after our first half to at least have a positive feeling about Julius Jones. I know we were all wondering if the kid was gonna be in Parcells doghouse forever. I think BP was giving him 30 touches to kinda say………hey kid…….this is what it is like………toughen up cuz you are gonna get the rock a lot.
Add in a pro bowl Guard and a bunch of maybes at Right Tackle and this team is going to run. Run, then run it again a lot.
My guess is Jones gets 22 rushes……and 3 or 4 catches every game…….he will have a few games where he goes over 25 rushing attempts but not too many. Parcells wants him to have a nice long career.
Thomas and Barber will split up another 15-20 rushing attempts with our FB getting 2 or 3 too. Nothing wrong with running a big guy up the middle every once in a while.
I know this seems like a weird question, but would it be possible for us not to have a real FB. By that I mean that both Polite and Barnes get cut. If we were to carry 4 backs why not have JJ, A-train( who could line up as FB), Barber(Also could line up at FB), Thompson, this kid has a bunch of potential and could be more productive. This would seem to make sense to me because we will run alot of 2 TE formation with only 1 back, so why not have the 4 most productive guys?
As for JJ he will have a great O-line, the best blocking TE, and a decent pass attack with a very solid QB who will keep D’s on there toes, I predict 1300-1500 yards , much higher if Key, Drew, or Witten go down as he will then assume a much greater offensive roles.
JJ played with a broken bone, afraid or unwilling to come off the field. He should get upgraded not downgraded for it.
good point star……..
Matt,
Although ATrain is a bigger back, I don’t know that he is a true power back or big enough to play FB. You could go with 4 RBs and no FB. However a full back can be almost like another TE, remember Moose. He can also be like another Guard……..also see Moose………who took on a lot of Linebackers before Emmit hit the whole………
A talented FB can be your short yardage back. He can also carry the ball occassionaly. A short handoff to the FB can take place faster than the deeper set RB, this can surprise the Defense and if a big bruiser gets past the front 7 he can do a lot of damage to the secondary. Think Alstoot or Duckett…….although neither is a true FB.
The FB is kind of a lost art. Bill Parcells sometimes uses 2 TE Sets with a single back. I do not know how often he will use the FB. I don’t know enough about Polite to know if he is that kind of player. A guy that could be a special teamer, a blocker, a reciever out of the backfield and a bruising blocker. A change of pace runner.
I cannot think of any football team that utilizes the FB the way we used to. I would argue Darryl Johnston kind of ushered out an era. The fullback does a lot of grunt work.
Personally I am a big fan of a big powerful bruising runner and blocker. I cannot recall maybe it is Davneport for the Green Bay Packers……..although he is probably a HB……..when he gets free it is hard for a safety or corner to bring him down………even an LB.
Parcells seems to like this Polite kid. I remember him having a lot of rbs in the early years of the Giants. Rob Carpenter is a guy that comes to mind. Dallas used to have a good one in Newhouse. I thought Darryl Johnston was clutch, not only out as a recieving threat, but ask Emmit about all those blocks Moose would give that gave him a running lane.
If BP is going to use a 2 back set, I doubt AThomas, Barber or Thompson is up for punishing LBs they way Polite or Barnes could. That said I think all those guys other than Julius Jones, are going to need to make a contribution on Special Teams. I know it has been said before but would Thompson be a better fit at WR? And as a change of pace RB. We used to line up Herschel out as WR. I even remember him making some pretty sweet grabs on some pretty long passes.
With the season Jones had last year, being forced to carry the load against some very good deffensive teams with a pretty poor o-line, i expect him to come back with a better season than last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if he led the NFC in rushing now that he’s got a better O-line and a deeper backfield, meaning he doesn’t have to be on the field all the time, along with some kind of passing attack. The only problem is he doesn’t have as good a full back, but that shouldn’t be too much of an impact. The ranking in the magizine is a joke. There’s no way he isn’t as good as guys like Marshall Faulk, who can’t run anymore, or Dominick Davis, who’s basically your average back.I personally would rank him probably in the top ten, and maybe as high as 6th in front of Curtis Martin.
Herschel 60 yard pass play across the middle to beat the Pats, I think. Parcells’ Pats?
Make that 64 yards vs. Jacksonville.
Also, Herschel albeit with the Eagles, in 1994, at the age of 32, he became the first player in pro football history to record 90-yard TDs three different waysâ€â€rushing, receiving, kickoff returnâ€â€in the same season. He was a stud.
He was not worth all the draft picks the Minnesota Vikings gave us. But he was a hech of an athelete.
I think as a RB he had his best years playing for Donal Trump and New Jersey Generals.
you know on the RB thing……..I would drop Jamal Lewis and Edgerrin James down a bit just on the THUG factor. I do not give that same appraisal to Corey Dillon, he just needed a new place to call home.
Jamal is on house arrest as we speak, and Edge is just a bad weekend away from a Sean Taylor type of event. He has been a consistent runner, but he admits he is a thug himself. Is he a holdout with Colts or did he sign?
Warrick Dunn is a guy that never gets any credit either. He has rushed for 1000 yards several times. Everybody says he is too small and all, but he has been a part of winning teams in college and in the pros. I think he is a high character kid too. While he has always shared the load with Duckett and Vick in Atlanta and Alstott in TB, he is still a good rb.
Tiki was a different back under Coughlin. He really improved his fumbling and lived up to his potential. He hurt us, that much I know. If he continues to improve on holding onto the ball he is a dangerous back.
I barely knew who Portis was when Gibbs traded Bailey for him. Just another Denver 1000 yard rusher. If Ron Dayne gains a 1000 yards in Denver, then forget about it………none of his predecessors are rooting for him. Terrel Davis was the real deal for a short time, but he was tough.
Jon:
Edge has been doing the same for the last two years, and he always appeared by training camp, I don’t see anything different this year. Thug? I don’t care if he plays a game like the one he played against New England in last year season opener, what a display prior his fumble……….
Where would u rate the rookies on this list if at all? I think Benson is the most likely to crack 1000 yards…he should be gettin at least 25 carries a game. But what about Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, Eric Shelton, J J arrington…or hell lets throw in Maurice Clarett too. Your thoughts?
Cowboys have improved greatly with Jones, Barber, and Thomas compared to say Hambrick, Lee, and Anderson.
Chris,
I wouldn’t put any of them on the list, if the first and second ranked rookie’s from last year barely crack it nobody without an NFL carry should be on it. Potentially I think Cadilac will get enough carries to have a good campain, as well as brown. In my opinion I laugh at Benson and think Chicago made a mistake in taking him, especially after what tom jones did for them last year, they could’ve used someone else there. You could be right though he might get the carries and crack 1000, I just think his attitude sounded like he might be a problem. I hope tom takes as many as the carries and catches as possible,
Earl,
I agree,
the boys are a different looking team in the backfield from the last few years. My opinion, if anyone is interested. The boys made a big mistake running emmitt out. They should’ve let him retire and hand the tourch of himself to J.J. maybe it needed to happen that way for Julius to come in the way he did, which is fine with me. I think we would’ve done much better with him starting instead of hambrick the last few years, and would’ve been a better option than eddie to split time with Julius last year. just my opinion.
that said.
Jones/Barber is the start to a really great backfield. Marion barber can be a ligit solid back for any team. using him to compliment julius will be great. A-train could be a solid addition as well, however I’m skeptical that he’ll do much on special teams, and wonder if he’ll get cut, especially with Bickerstaff and thompson breathing down his back. don’t get me wrong in every way thomas could help he’s a decent reciever as well, but when you’ve been a starting back that hasn’t had to play special teams then your asked to be able to do that to earn a spot it may be tough for him. and I don’t see parcells giving him one over a promising rookie, I remember eddie sitting on the sidelines and then not even dressing. A-train may be in for the same fate.
First thing the comes to mind looking at that list is man….there is a lot of talent at the RB position in the league….I believe its the best group I have ever seen from top to bottom. There are 15+ really good players in that list and 5+ really good players not on that list…and that does not include any of the new rookies.
Back on topic, there is more then one way to rate players.
If you are rating who would you want if they were all 22 years old and your going to get them for the next ten years you get one rating, if you rate them based on how much production should they get in the system they currently play in you get another rating, if you rate them on how good of a player thay should be this year if all they all played behind the same offensive line then you get another rating.
Looking at the PFW ratings it seems they are trying to judge the player mostly based off past performance and they are not evaluating the production they should gain on the team that they are on.
The problem with rating a running back outside the contxt of the system in which he played is it is pure speculation. Would Barry Sanders have done better the Emmit if he had played behind one of the greatest o-lines of all time. I do not know, Barry was the more talented player but Emmitt never gave up negative plays and not many players would have completed the famous game verse the Giants and earned the team the needed rest.
THIS year the Dallas running attack should be a top 5 running attack, but that in itself does not make JJ a top 5 running back. As multiple people have pointed out, Clinton Portis is overrated. Why…because he has put up great numbers in the past due in large part that he played in the Denver system that is going to be one of the top attacks regardless of who carries the ball.
If Jones plays all 16 games he should post 1500 - 1800 combined yard. At that point he will have ‘earned’ a higher rating, even if a huge part of the reason that he has a great season is that he is running behind 3 pro-bowl linemen who earned thier probowl births mostly for thier overwelming run blocking. To the victor goes the spoils and to the 1500 yard running backs goes the all pro designation.
Here are my ratings based on expected production in 2005 if healthy:
1. Priest Holmes
2. LaDainian Tomlinson
3. Jamal Lewis
4. Ahman Green
5. Willis McGahee
6. Julius Jones
7. Deuce McAllister
8. Edgerrin James
9. Shaun Alexander
10. Clinton Portis
Just for fun and debate here are my rating for RB “if I get them at 22 and get to keep them” (Only current RB)
1. Marshall Faulk
2. Priest Holmes Clinton Portis 4.4
3. LaDainian Tomlinson
4. Curtis Martin
5. J. Bettis
6. Jamal Lewis
7. Corey Dillon
8. Edgerrin James
9. Ahman Green
10. Deuce McAllister
Clinton Portis being included in the second line with Priest Holmes in the ratings was a typo. He does not belong in the top 10 of RB “if I get them at 22 and get to keep themâ€Â
technically Emmit signed a contract with the Cowboys…….then used that to retire as a Cowboy………
so I say move over Marshall Marshall Marshall………and usher in Emmit for one last go round.
Just for (*&(&* and giggles what if it were any rb ever………
Interesting prospect huh………..and uh lets just say it is for a five year period of time………
1-Emmit best ever yards prove it, most dominant player from RB since Jim Brown………see Giants vs. Cowboys for Evidence. 3 Rings. Silenced critics with 937 yards as a 34 year old in Arizona. Hey no pro bowl line there. Undersized, too slow, will not hold up, all those labels his critics lableled on him. All he did was set records for rushing Touchdowns and yards. Best ever.
2- Walter Payton-Sweetness enough Said. He used to take it directly from center when the Bears were running out of QBs. Hey lovie take note, maybe Cedric can do the same your lack of a QB might not matter if Walter was still around.
3-Jim Brown……..ever see that interview where Jim Brown and Barry Sanders discussed retiring early. Jim towers over Barry, the way he towered over opponents. I was too young to remebmer Brown, but I heard my father talk about him. Seeing footage nobody took on tacklers and punished defenders the way Jim Brown did. He would get up and limp back to huddle, then bowl em all over again and again. He was bigger than most of the defensive men. Appeared in a movie with Racquel Welch……….in her prime………hey she blows any of the aspiring actresses of our day away. Look up some old pics.
4-Earl Campbell……….as a sideshow he can show off his thighs at the carnival. Earl was a beast and played on teams that just gave him the ball. He was still unstoppable. The only player I have every seen rip out of a Jersey and gain another 5 yards. Earl was overused and never had a great team around him. Struggling in Houston Oilers and later for Bum Phillips in New Orleans. However, ask any defender that ever had to tackle this guy. He hurt you.
5-Eric Dickerson-never ever give this guy daylight. He set the where to play as a rb for future great Marshal Faulk……..playing as both a Colt and a Ram. Albeit in different cities.
6-Tony Dorsett-only needed it a small hole to hurt the defense. Could take it outside or between the tackles. Tony D had a smooth stroke once he broke it. He used to do that quite a bit too.
7-Marshall Faulk-This guy was so heralded coming out of College I did not believe he could live up to the hype. He did and then some. For all those great Mike Martz pass plays………Marshall Marshall Marshall was what made that team work.
8- Gale Sayers………before Barry this guy was making people miss and making em look stupid.
9-Barry Sanders……..he would rank higher and was definitely FUN to watch. However, he gets low marks for losing yards. He was a homerun hitter. However, he was the best back in the NFL and he had the yards to prove it. Personally I take Emmit, but their are strong arguments for Barry.
10-Roger Craig-before Marshal showed us what a back could do as a reciever this guy was crucial to the success of those 49ers. He gets very little credit, had a high stepping style but he was clutch both as a runner and a reciever.
Ommitted…….Sorry OJ I never liked ya………even before Brentwood…..you do get high marks for Naked Gun though. Franco Harris……hey he was a steeler. The Immaculate Reception should have been ruled an incomplete pass………go look it up.
Ah….the slippery slope of topic drift.
I introduce the “if I get them at 22 and keep them list †for current players (which was a topic change) and all it takes is one post to move us from rank todays backs to rank the all time best backs.
Jon,
Barry Sanders at # 9? You have GOT TO BE KIDDING WITH THIS! I just don’t get you sometimes. Granted, he does lose yardage, but the man gained yardage better than anybody in the game. Emmit even admits that if Barry had played one more year, that record would have been his. If he had played 3 more years, Emmit might never have seen it. Barry is the most gifted runner I’ve ever seen. Emmit is my all time favorite, and I would also take him over anyone else because the guy had a will of steel. I haven’t seen anyone match that, but Sanders could fake defenders out of their shoes.
One other thing. No O.J. Simpson? Okay, that’s just wrong. Like him or not, the man belongs on any all time list for running backs. To exclude just shows a personal prejudice. You’re entitled to your own opinion, but I just can’t figure you out on this one.
I have a different take on this. If you expand your list to the top 10% of the league I would argue that we would have more listed in the top 150 than any other team which is the way to win these days. Not just have a few superstars but top talent across the board.
Rob2,
It was mostly just for fun. Yes Barry was very talented. He was very dangerous. Perhaps the most dangerous person in the entire league. He was like Lightning he could strike from far away. He was also dangerous to the Lions. He did not move the chains the way Emmit, Payton, Brown, Campbell and others did. Barry retired……so did Jim Brown……..so we cannot say what would have happened. Anymore than you can say the Dolphins win 10 games with Ricky Williams last year……..nobody knows.
I could well blame the coaches, QBs, defense of the Lions that failed to produce despite a pretty talented team. I listened to all those folks that said, if Barry had Emmits line. BULL Crap…….the guy did not run between the tackles……..he started off juking 5 yards deep behind the line of scrimmage. He had a lot of losses behind the line. He did not score TDs…….Look it up. He was never utilized in goal line situations. Compare that to Emmit who would turn a hit in the backfield into a one or 2 yard gain. Rarely went down on first contact. Scored tons of Touchdowns…….most ever rushing………..
Barry made the Lions Better, no doubt about it. But did you notice what happened when he left? They were still the same old Lions. In fact they were not all that worse without him. Nothing against Sanders, he was the best highlight in the NFL. The play where he turns around the New England guy. Classic.
I personally never really watched OJ play. If I had to take a USC runner I would prefer Marcus Allen. I remember OJ at Buffalo, but just never paid them any attention. I am not knocking his talent, I just did not watch him. Is he better than Roger Craig…….by far. But hey it was my list. Craig hurt my Cowboys and that I remember.
Payton was one of those guys I just loved to watch run. He played a lot of years with no talent. But he was such a fighter. Always fighting for first downs. Same with the others I listed.
everyone is sayin that playing in only seven games isnt enough to prove anything.. to me i think it proves a hell of a lot.. this guy damn near broke his back and came back to be one of the most explosive backs in the nfl. they all say “his legs were fresh” BULL! that young mans legs were going to grooling hours of therapy all day every day just to get back on those feild, out of anyhting his legs were the most “used and abused” in the league this seasons just tryint o come back to play the final seven.. but hey call me crazy, i think this man is at least a top 7 RB.
JJ is going to shock people. He will be the man to shut mouths. I live in Minnesota so I have to fight this point a lot. I belive he will tear it up and he will do it in style.
1800 yards this year. IF HE STAYS HEALTHY.. LETS ALL PRAY!!
23 Carries per game X 16 games X 4.2 Avg per carrie
23 X 16 = 368 Carries
368 X 4.2 = 1545 Rushing Yards………those are very similar numbers to what Parcells did with a young Curtis Martin in NE. Plus add a few catches every game and a few games where he just goes off and breaks a few………he could easily have a 1600+ yard season. Which puts him in an elite Running back status………..even for mediots that hate the Cowboys. Hopefully he will average like 23 carries a game, a with some help from his friends………Barber, Thomas, and whoever else makes the team……….he might sneak his YPC up a bit. Especially with fresh legs. However, if he is having one of those games I can see Bill handing it off to him a few more times.
The other thing is our Defense hopefully keeps us in a lot of games. Closer games means more attempts and more rushing to kill the clock and keep the ball. If that is the case he could touch it 25 times a game per avg. Not bad.
I agree with your numbers Jon….but add in 200-300 recieving yards.
I agree that Julius Jones was short changed in the rankings- he’s better than at least 10 of the RBs listed ahead of him, but the person who REALLY got short changed is Kevin Jones…He should be ranked higher than Julius Jones…
and …..where the hell is mike alstott