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Best NFL running backs ever

Discussion in 'Football: NFL, College, High School' started by panamamyers, Oct 8, 2009.

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  1. Mack

    Mack Member

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    The crazy thing about Barry Sanders is that not only was he usually on bad teams, but for most of his career he didn't have a fullback or tight end blocking for him! I remember games where he was always dodging a defender in the backfield before he even got to the line of scrimmage.

    I always wondered what would have happened if he played in a conventional offense, or behind an incredible line like the Cowboys. I think the first full year Sanders had a blocking fullback, he rushed for over 2000 yards. He was incredible.
     
  2. the futants

    the futants Member

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    Dudes I WATCHED play with my own eyes (and not taking into account longevity):

    Earl Campbell
    Barry Sanders
    Bo Jackson
    Eric Dickerson

    That's it. The complete list. Period.

    Carry on.
     
  3. TheGreat

    TheGreat Member

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    I like you TracyMacAddidas, but LT does not deserve to be higher. He is always injured during the playoffs EVERY year and sitting out.. ;)
     
  4. Obito

    Obito Member

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    Thanks.

    The past two years yeah but in 2006 when we went 14-2 and lost to the pats because we shot ourselves in the foot... Tomlinson went on to rush for 123 yards, caught 2 passes for 64 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns.
     
  5. TheGreat

    TheGreat Member

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    He has had a great career. Do you think he will ever regain some form and still be really good?
     
  6. Obito

    Obito Member

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    Yes once we start off a game winning. We're not going to start off running if we're down 21-0 by halftime.

    As I said, he looked like the old LT vs the Steelers.. Expect him to play better against the Broncos in week 6, even thought there D is pretty good this year, LT had 3 td's against them last year, he owns the AFC west.
     
  7. Fatty FatBastard

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  8. Dairy Ashford

    Dairy Ashford Member

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    Yeah, even though I just can't put Sanders ahead of Brown, it's hard to forget how historically bad a coach Waynes Fontes was. Heisman-winning Running Back as your top pick, almost gets the rushing title rookie year, and you still implement a Run-N-Shoot offense. Hard to imagine some of Lions' failure now isn't somehow partly a legacy of Fontes' tenure.
     
  9. YallMean

    YallMean Member

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    Barry Sanders was simply amazing. I suspected that he had an engine on his butt that he could stop or start at will.
     
  10. Fatty FatBastard

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    Jim Brown
    Just like the two aforementioned running backs, Jim Brown was in a class of his own. Sure there have been other "big" backs to leave their mark on the game, but none like Brown - who retired waaaaay to early at age 30.

    I could get into his career numbers of 12,312 rushing yards and 15,459 combined net yards, but that would not do Brown any justice at all. All I can say about Brown is that he possessed a combination of power and speed and agility that had never been seen before - and has only been duplicated by one running back since if you ask me (Earl Campbell).


    If you don't prefer a Christian Okoye over Sanders on 3rd and 1, you don't want a true running back.

    Barry was like Deion. King of ESPN when ESPN became cool....








    Seriously, Earl did things Barry never could do.

    Watch this video. Do you ever recall Barry running through anyone?

    (And yes, I post this with the loathesome song at the end. Not my video.)

    <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cWKtv4gxuvQ&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cWKtv4gxuvQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
     
    #90 Fatty FatBastard, Oct 9, 2009
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2009
  11. Landlord Landry

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    barry sanders wasn't drafted, play-called or expected to "run-through" anyone.

    Just as the Nigeran Nightmare was never expected to make somebody miss a tackle.
     
  12. Severe Rockets Fan

    Severe Rockets Fan Takin it one stage at a time...

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    I absolutely loved watching Barry Sanders...didn't care who was playing that day I always watched the Lions when they came on because you knew at least 1 play of the game you'd say 'damn that was awesome!' when Barry ran the ball. He was a beast. Watching a documentary on him I remember he worked out with like 800-900lbs. squating...unbelieveable how strong those legs where, but I guess they'd have to be to fight inertia the way he did.

    That being said, if I had to have a running back on my team, in his prime, to win a game, I'd probably choose Earl Campbell. He was such a punishing back...Jim Brown was probably the same although I never got to see him play...
    I'm sure every team's secondary was praying that Earl wouldn't get a good offensive line :D .
     
  13. Fatty FatBastard

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    Are you 18 yet?

    All running backs are expected to find holes. Campbell's line was just as suspect as Barry's. Earl pummeled. Barry took sacks.

    Longevity? Barry.

    Bad Ass? Campbell.

    And don't think for one second that Barry didn't see what happened to Earl when he did pummel.

    Earl had 32 inch thighs. Larger than the average man's waist.

    Now I know we have tons of fatties here, but still, a 32 inch thigh?

    You'd really prefer a prime Barry over a prime Earl?

    Only Jim Brown has that priviledge.

    <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tfJybuzkMT0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tfJybuzkMT0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
     
  14. Landlord Landry

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    lol.

    whatev.

    if we are talking about RB's in their prime, I wouldn't take Barry or Earl. I'd probably take Larry Johnson his prime. Albeit a short prime, LJ could make you miss or run you over.

    I'm just saying Barry wasn't paid to run people over. It wasn't his game. Just like Tomlinson isn't/wasn't ever paid to run people over. Okoye was. It's an unfair and ridiculous comparison.
     
  15. tinman

    tinman 999999999
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    For best fantasy football back,

    Priest Holmes that one year went bananas, I think he had 5 TDs in one game.
     
  16. King1

    King1 Member

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    It's funny you've avoided my posts on Sanders. I'm actually from Detroit and have countered many of your points on Barry. I'm interested to hear where you're from in Detroit since you seem to fancy yourself an expert on Barry. Graciot and Brush here. I'm interested to hear where you're from. I'd be shocked if you're even from Sterling Heights. I've adopted all Houston teams as second favorite, but I really find it hard to believe that you have ever lived in Detroit. If I'm wrong, I apologize, but it certainly doesn't seem like your knowledge of Barry extends beyond ESPN
     
  17. fmp087

    fmp087 Member

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    Although Jim Brown and Earl Campbell were beasts, Barry Sanders was just plain sick. Insert him a few decades back with Jim Brown and there would have been no competition.

    Not trying to discredit JB or EC, but Barry like someone said earlier did the most with the least in a time period where the athletes would have easily outmatched the opposition during JB's time.
     
  18. TheGreat

    TheGreat Member

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    Your right Tinman. Larry had a great year as well.

    LJ : 1,750 Rushing Yards, 20 TDS, around 400 yards receiving

    PH: 1420 rushing yards, 27 TDS, around 600 yards receiving.
     
  19. The Real Shady

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    Longevity. Emmit

    Elusiveness. Barry

    Power. Campbell


    Earl would be in the top 10 NFL RB's off all time though.
     
  20. Obito

    Obito Member

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    Barry sanders had this one juke where he completely broke the 4 players from the phin's ankles..

    Probably one of my top 3 jukes along with dante halls step back juke and LTs Ty Lawson juke vs the jets.
     

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