FO's Tanier on Pats all-time top five RBs

[QuantumMechanic]

For quite some time, Football Outsiders' columnist Mike Tanier has been devoting the last third of his weekly "Walkthrough" column to listing one or two teams' all-time top five RBs.

This week it's the Pats' and Jets' turn:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Walkthrough: Hang The D.J.

His Patriots top five:

1. Sam Cunningham
2. Kevin Faulk
3. Jim Nance
4. Curtis Martin
5. Mosi Tatupu

 

[Ive_Killed_People]

Take "Tuna Sniffer" off that list and replace him with Dillon

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

Is he just ignoring the stats that Dillon had before the Pats? He was a Patriot, and had a great season. He ran for more yards in 2 seasons than Mosi did in his whole time with the Pats.

1. cunningham
2. Dillon
3. Faulk
4. Nance
5. Martin

IMHO

 

[RayClay]

For quite some time, Football Outsiders' columnist Mike Tanier has been devoting the last third of his weekly "Walkthrough" column to listing one or two teams' all-time top five RBs.

This week it's the Pats' and Jets' turn:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Walkthrough: Hang The D.J.

His Patriots top five:

1. Sam Cunningham
2. Kevin Faulk
3. Jim Nance
4. Curtis Martin
5. Mosi Tatupu

Hardly worth listing the five best Patriots running backs (Tatupu though?), but that might be the single worst football article i've ever read.

 

[Ron Sellers]

Haven't read the link (yet), but no offense to Kevin Faulk - but he is not even close to Jim Nance.

 

[pork3]

Take "Tuna Sniffer" off that list and replace him with Dillon

God I miss the days of a bruising running back like Dillon. Hopefully the Pats running game picks up this year, as we can't always rely on Brady playing at his best.

-Jamman

 

[patsfan13]

Probably put J Nance at #2

 

[Criptonite]

IMO Nance is clearly #1 and Cunningham is clearly #2. I think the debate starts at #3. I'd probably have Martin next and Dillon close behind. I'd have a hard time putting Faulk and especially Tatupu anywhere near the top 5.

 

[bagwell368]

Haven't read the link (yet), but no offense to Kevin Faulk - but he is not even close to Jim Nance.

Ditto. Faulk had moments (important ones) and a long career, but in any given year he was not a big deal compared to Nance, who just flat ran over people.

 

[bagwell368]

Hardly worth listing the five best Patriots running backs (Tatupu though?), but that might be the single worst football article i've ever read.

I guess Mosi's fans go with the ST angle, but as a straight back? Smith blows him away, never mind the guys higher on the list.

 

[Mack Herron]

Tony Collins should be on that list.

 

[Shockt327]

If there was a HOF for 3rd down backs, Kevin Faulk would be a 1st ballot selection....

But with that being said; his importance still isn't as great as a moderately talented starting RB.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

It's a tough list to make. For example, Curtis Martin is our 4th all time leading rusher yardage-wise and only spent 3 seasons here.

 

[WinstonSmith]

Lists like this illustrate how fleeting an NFL career can be; I wonder if Robert Edwards could have been a contender for the Patriots top RB if he had not blown his knee to heck.

 

[WhiZa]

These lists are always debatable because you never know what they're comparing. Is it potential (Edwards), overall career (Faulk), performance on the team (Dillion), or something else?

 

[jmt57]

1. Jim Nance
2. Sam Cunningham
3. Tony Collins
4. Don Calhoun
5. Kevin Faulk

Curtis Marin, Corey Dillon and Antowain Smith would be in the top ten, but their careers as a Patriot were too short to make the top five. John Stephens and Larry Garron would round out my top ten.

 

[Deus Irae]

He got #1 right, so that's the important thing. The Patriots don't have much depth here (Russell and Maroney are #10 and #11 on the all time yardage list), so listing the best is pretty easy.

 

[TruthSeeker]

For quite some time, Football Outsiders' columnist Mike Tanier has been devoting the last third of his weekly "Walkthrough" column to listing one or two teams' all-time top five RBs.

This week it's the Pats' and Jets' turn:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Walkthrough: Hang The D.J.

His Patriots top five:

1. Sam Cunningham
2. Kevin Faulk
3. Jim Nance
4. Curtis Martin
5. Mosi Tatupu

I Think Tony Collins belongs in the top 5.

I would go
1) Sam the Bam Cunnigham
2) Jim Nance
3) Tony Collins
4) Kevin Faulk
5 )Curtis Martin

 

[Kasmir]

I've seen all of these backs play. Dillon's 2004 season was the most impressive, and although he was here for a brief time, he was the most talented of the group.

Cunningham was a good back but nothing special. John Hannah made a lot of backs (and tackles) look better than they were.

Here's what I'd say:

(1) Dillon
(2) Nance
(3) Kevin Faulk
(4) Curtis Martin

Not sure if there's a clear #5.

 

[Ring 6]

I must say I am personally offended that I have not yet been named.
Tatupu? Calhoun? What about me?