xmarkd400x
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
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The goal of this post is to quiet the naysayers. Darren McFadden might be drafted top 5. He might be a special running back. The Patriots, in their infinite wisdom, will probably not draft him. The Patriots should not draft him.
People on this board (judging by the amount of posts) seem to think that a great running back is the key to being a great team. This is just not true. Having a great quarterback is the key to being a great team.
Don't believe me? Take a look at the facts. I looked up the top 20 individual rushing seasons. I got the name of 17 running backs (some RBs have 2 entries), most of whom enter the discussion of greatest ever. You have the likes of ****erson, Sanders, Campbell, and Payton.
I want to show that there is no correlation between being a great running back (and by extension having one on your team) and being successful. Among the 17 running backs who have an individual rushing effort in the top 20 all time, there are a combined 7 super bowl victories. They belong to Jamal Lewis (1), Terrell Davis (2), Walter Payton (1), and Emmitt Smith (3).
What do all these running backs have in common? They were part of a great team, not the reason for it. Payton and Lewis had the benefit of two of the best defenses of all time, and Smith and Davis had the benefit of HOF quarterbacks. These running backs contributed greatly to their teams, but they were not the reason for success.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_career.htm?redir
Great running backs do not make great teams. Great QBs and great defenses do.
People on this board (judging by the amount of posts) seem to think that a great running back is the key to being a great team. This is just not true. Having a great quarterback is the key to being a great team.
Don't believe me? Take a look at the facts. I looked up the top 20 individual rushing seasons. I got the name of 17 running backs (some RBs have 2 entries), most of whom enter the discussion of greatest ever. You have the likes of ****erson, Sanders, Campbell, and Payton.
I want to show that there is no correlation between being a great running back (and by extension having one on your team) and being successful. Among the 17 running backs who have an individual rushing effort in the top 20 all time, there are a combined 7 super bowl victories. They belong to Jamal Lewis (1), Terrell Davis (2), Walter Payton (1), and Emmitt Smith (3).
What do all these running backs have in common? They were part of a great team, not the reason for it. Payton and Lewis had the benefit of two of the best defenses of all time, and Smith and Davis had the benefit of HOF quarterbacks. These running backs contributed greatly to their teams, but they were not the reason for success.
Code:
Player Yards Year Team Pick SB Wins
1. Eric ****erson 2,105 1984 RAM 2nd overall 0
2. Jamal Lewis 2,066 2003 BAL 5th overall 1
3. Barry Sanders 2,053 1997 DET 3rd overall 0
4. Terrell Davis 2,008 1998 DEN 6th ROUND 2
5. O.J. Simpson 2,003 1973 BUF 1 overall 0
6. Earl Campbell 1,934 1980 HOU 1st overall 0
7. Ahman Green 1,883 2003 GNB 76 overall (R3) 0
9. Shaun Alexander 1,880 2005 SEA 19 overall 0
10. Jim Brown 1,863 1963 CLE 6 overall 0
11. Tiki Barber 1,860 2005 NYG 2nd round 0
12. Ricky Williams 1,853 2002 MIA 5th overall 0
13. Walter Payton 1,852 1977 CHI 4th overall 1
14. Jamal Anderson 1,846 1998 ATL 201 overall (R7) 0
17. LaDainian Tomlinson 1,815 2006 SDG 5th overall 0
19. Larry Johnson 1,789 2006 KAN 27th overall 0
20. Emmitt Smith 1,773 1995 DAL 17th overall 3
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_career.htm?redir
Great running backs do not make great teams. Great QBs and great defenses do.