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Mark Fletcher commits to Miami
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Good talk. Appreciate the discourse.
Henry's had a weird NFL career in comparison to other great pro backs because he didn't really get going until his third season...so the games/years is a weird metric for him. Most of these other great NFL backs shoot out of the cannon right away and are instant impact...Henry, not so much. Considering his volume in HS and then in his one season in college and now during the prime of his career...we may look back on those light workloads in Years 1/2 at Bama and Tennessee respectively as a reason he is able to have a longer NFL career when similar backs in his era long expired.
This thread is off-topic at this point anyway, but Barry Sanders getting a light workload in HS and college has always been one of the reasons I thought he was able to be so successful/durable in the NFL.
FWIW - if we were having a "who is the best NFL running back of all time?" discussion, my answer has been Barry Sanders since he played. He was awesome.
someone asked beore this got epically derailed, but is he an EE?
Absolutely. I have also gained some better knowledge about Henry. Didn't realize he might be able to get to 10,000 yds with so few carries. I am not a Henry fan, but it does make me have a little more appreciation for his journey towards the rushing leaders.
Sanders is one of my favorites, but Walter Payton is my all-time favorite. I was pretty young when he was playing and didn't get to watch much of him until the end of his career. For me, Walter is the best running back of all time. I think he could do it all. Running, receiving, blocking, and even throwing the ball. He threw for 8 td's in his career, and they weren't those little 1 yard jump passes. If I was to create an NFL team from scratch, Walter Payton would be my first choice on offense and Ray Lewis first choice on defense.
My last post on this. I'll try to keep it on topic going forward.
Done and done.
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It took Emmitt Smith almost 20 years to hit the rushing record. Barry Sanders is only 3000 yards shy having played 73 less games.
Very interesting.
However, considering it’s impossible to find most peoples high school stats it’s hard to compare some of the all time greats from the past. But, your point is well taken.
Again, you’re basing his status off of too few overall seasons in my opinion. He won all those awards in one season at BAMA, there are a LOT of factors at play there that lead to getting all that recognition, playing at a traditional power, change in culture of the game, etc etc. All time at a school that have had greats doesn’t make sense. Look at Miami, who’s the all time leading receiver? We have had some legit top wr ever, and I think it’s Mike Fuggin Harley! Charleston couldn’t make an NFL roster also holds some record too, so again all time at a college is sometimes very relative. Can you tell I don’t play fantasy anymore? Or even follow the NFL that closely? Lol.
All that to say, you make a great argument for his potential GOAT status. If he finishes his career the way you think, this becomes a very valid argument. I’m thinking if he gets to top 10-15 in all time yards. He’s had some amazing seasons no doubt. But I want to see a body of work against other pros. Tomlinson, Peterson, Sanders, E. Smith (you cannot deny the yards amassed), Dorsett, Brown, and others. I am sure those dudes piled up yards as HS and college players, whether someone gives them a trophy or not doesn’t matter as much as stats when making a GOAT argument. Just my opinion. Happy to revisit this when he’s done.
Maybe you said this and I missed it, but if you said “he’s on track to be the GOAT” or a GOAT, I think you’d be valid in your argument.
Good chat.
Very fun discussion, happy to continue on the off topic forum.
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Another Beast
The RB convo is always a fun one. I’m 31 so I missed a bunch of the early legends people speak of. Man did I enjoy watching Priest Holmes growing up. DH is certainly one of the best I’ve ever seen. Absolutely top 10.
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pretty wild considering they are such a big power 5 factory
you'd think that would deter talent from playing there but I suppose not
St Thomas is the same way. The coaching/exposure that comes with those programs makes it worth it to the kids id imagine.
If we talking about best running back all time, Barry sanders…OJ is top 5
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Change the thread title again maudes, Running back talk is over and I want to see more pictures like this.
I was bored… didn’t take that long but the numbers are what they are so in no particular order. Here are some of the names referenced. (Pro Football Reference cited)
Walter Payton
190 games.
3,838 carries.
16,726 yds.
110 TDs.
4.4 ypc… 88 yds a game.
492 rec 4,538 rec yds 15 rec TDs
Barry Sanders
153 games
3,062 carries
15,269 yds
99 TDs
5.0 ypc… 99.8 yds a game
352 rec, 2,921 rec yds, 10 rec TDs
Emmitt Smith
226 games
4,409 carries
18,355 yds
164 TDs
4.2 ypc… 81 yds a game
515 rec, 3,224 rec yds, 11 TDs
Marshall Faulk
176 games
2,836 carries
12,279 yds
100 TDs
4.3 ypc… 69.8 yds a game
767 rec, 6,875 rec yds, 36 TDs
Jim Brown
118 games
2,359 carries
12,312 yds
106 TDs
5.2 ypc… 104.3 yds per game
262 rec, 2,499 yds, 20 TDs
Eric ****erson
146 games
2,996 carries
13,259 yds
4.4 ypc… 90.8 yds per game
281 rec, 2,137 yds, 6 TDs
LaDainian Tomlinson
170 games
3,174 carries
13,684 yds
145 TDs
4.3 ypc… 80.5 yds per game
624 rec, 4,772 yds, 17 TDs
Derrick Henry
101 games
1,720 carries
8,226 yds
78 TDs
4.8 ypc… 81.4 yds a game
126 rec, 1,225 yds, 3 TDs
Infer what you will.
Walter Payton
190 games.
3,838 carries.
16,726 yds.
110 TDs.
4.4 ypc… 88 yds a game.
492 rec 4,538 rec yds 15 rec TDs
Barry Sanders
153 games
3,062 carries
15,269 yds
99 TDs
5.0 ypc… 99.8 yds a game
352 rec, 2,921 rec yds, 10 rec TDs
Emmitt Smith
226 games
4,409 carries
18,355 yds
164 TDs
4.2 ypc… 81 yds a game
515 rec, 3,224 rec yds, 11 TDs
Marshall Faulk
176 games
2,836 carries
12,279 yds
100 TDs
4.3 ypc… 69.8 yds a game
767 rec, 6,875 rec yds, 36 TDs
Jim Brown
118 games
2,359 carries
12,312 yds
106 TDs
5.2 ypc… 104.3 yds per game
262 rec, 2,499 yds, 20 TDs
Eric ****erson
146 games
2,996 carries
13,259 yds
4.4 ypc… 90.8 yds per game
281 rec, 2,137 yds, 6 TDs
LaDainian Tomlinson
170 games
3,174 carries
13,684 yds
145 TDs
4.3 ypc… 80.5 yds per game
624 rec, 4,772 yds, 17 TDs
Derrick Henry
101 games
1,720 carries
8,226 yds
78 TDs
4.8 ypc… 81.4 yds a game
126 rec, 1,225 yds, 3 TDs
Infer what you will.
No John Riggins??
