POLL Who is the Greatest Overall Running Back since 1988?

[Nosferatu]

The question is OVERALL back, that eliminates Barry Sanders. I voted Faulk with LT a close second.

 

[Rock Strongo]

How can you not have Bo Jackson on that list?


Need to work on your lists Rock

not long enough. never a full time player. he averaged 13 carries a game. i avoided flashes or "what could have beens".

amazingly, bo only had 8 100+ yard games in his career. 8. one was a 200 yard game.

38 games

8 games over 100 yards.

 

[Rock Strongo]

The question is OVERALL back, that eliminates Barry Sanders. I voted Faulk with LT a close second.

barry was a better receiver than people remember, he had a few 40+ catch seasons...but he wasnt faulk.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

If Smith almost always went forward why did he finish his career w/ a 4.2 average? Sanders finished w/ a 5.0 average.

Because Sanders was explosive.
Smith would give you 2 yards on a bad carry, 20 on a very good carry. Sanders had far more 3 and outs than Emmitt did.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

not long enough. never a full time player. he averaged 13 carries a game. i avoided flashes or "what could have beens".

If we're looking at a 4 year period Terrell Davis was the best.

 

[Rock Strongo]

If we're looking at a 4 year period Terrell Davis was the best.

it amazes me bo only had 8 games over 100 yards in his 38 NFL games.

 

[batchaps4me]

Emmitt was the most effective. Sanders would lose yards on too many carries, Smith almost always went forward.
It was feast or famine with BS, Smith was the type of back you could consistently move the ball with.

I went with Barry just on the "what if" Sanders and Smith had switched teams in their prime. With Dallas' line, receivers and QB, just damn. Honestly I would have loved to see Eric Dickerson or Earl Campbell with that supporting cast.

 

[Rock Strongo]

for comparison, TD had 38 games over 100 yards (twice over 200) in 78 games.

 

[SJ76]

not long enough. never a full time player. he averaged 13 carries a game. i avoided flashes or "what could have beens".

amazingly, bo only had 8 100+ yard games in his career. 8. one was a 200 yard game.

38 games

8 games over 100 yards.

Beast

 

[Nosferatu]

barry was a better receiver than people remember, he had a few 40+ catch seasons...but he wasnt faulk.

Adrian Peterson had a couple seasons where he caught 40 as well and people think he sucked catching the ball out of the backfield.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

for comparison, TD had 38 games over 100 yards (twice over 200) in 78 games.

Bo was mostly a myth based on a couple of high profile games.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Beast

davis had 38 over 100 in 78 games.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

for comparison, TD had 38 games over 100 yards (twice over 200) in 78 games.

You're killing it today, keep it coming.

 

[Wamu]

Because Sanders was explosive.
Smith would give you 2 yards on a bad carry, 20 on a very good carry. Sanders had far more 3 and outs than Emmitt did.

So what? Who averaged more yards per game during their career?

 

[Rock Strongo]

Bo was mostly a myth based on a couple of high profile games.

i watched him, no doubt if he focused on football (and didnt try to get extra yards against the bungles) he would be in the HOF today.

he was dominant, but for half a season a year...

 

[Rock Strongo]

You're killing it today, keep it coming.

to me, thats part of the reason TD got in. amazing number of 100 yard games in a short career.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

I went with Barry just on the "what if" Sanders and Smith had switched teams in their prime. With Dallas' line, receivers and QB, just damn. Honestly I would have loved to see Eric Dickerson or Earl Campbell with that supporting cast.

No doubt Dallas had some road graders. Sanders had better lines than many think though.
Sanders weakness was too much lateral movement.

 

[SJ76]

davis had 38 over 100 in 78 games.

Yet I never saw a Nike commercial that said "Terrell knows"

Bo is one of the greatest athletes of all time. Sure he didn't play long and had Marcus Allen getting carries, but he's up there with Jim Brown as far as talent

 

[BallsOfFurry]

i watched him, no doubt if he focused on football (and didnt try to get extra yards against the bungles) he would be in the HOF today.

he was dominant, but for half a season a year...

He had too many games where he wasn't very effective, if he'd concentrated solely of football, who knows ? He was not very elusive or patient though.

 

[batchaps4me]

No doubt Dallas had some road graders. Sanders had better lines than many think though.
Sanders weakness was too much lateral movement.

I agree but with the caveat that every D he faced was solely focused on primarily shutting him down. Detroit was woefully lacking any other weapons which led him to an early retirement.