Who the best Running Back in the Draft

[infantrycak]

And as well, not to diminish Emmitt, but he played behind an all-world O-line/offensive set in the Cowgirls' glory years, and in those years the team was fearsome in all offensive facets. He was a fantastic back, but he had help.

I know you said your comments were not to diminish Emmitt's accomplishments, but hey, gonna use it as a platform anyway. First, the OL vs. RB thing is a little chicken and egg. Would that Dallas OL have been as well regarded if James Allen had been running behind it? Odds are Allen would have had a better career and the OL would have been considered good but not great. Team game and both can make each other look better or worse. Second, while Barry and Emmitt were both still playing a commentator commented on how most of Barry's yards were made before 1st contact and most of Emmitt's were made after 1st contact. Emmitt did get good holes, but what made him special was making the most of that opportunity a big part of which was consistantly getting yards after 1st contact, i.e. the OL wasn't doing all the work.

 

[jerek]

I know you said your comments were not to diminish Emmitt's accomplishments, but hey, gonna use it as a platform anyway. First, the OL vs. RB thing is a little chicken and egg. Would that Dallas OL have been as well regarded if James Allen had been running behind it? Odds are Allen would have had a better career and the OL would have been considered good but not great. Team game and both can make each other look better or worse. Second, while Barry and Emmitt were both still playing a commentator commented on how most of Barry's yards were made before 1st contact and most of Emmitt's were made after 1st contact. Emmitt did get good holes, but what made him special was making the most of that opportunity a big part of which was consistantly getting yards after 1st contact, i.e. the OL wasn't doing all the work.

I agree and have been saying much the same thing all along. For instance, Carr: I lost track of how many times I saw a defender cruise through the O-line untouched and put Carr on his *** before he finished a three step drop. By that same token, there were times where the line did their job and Carr didn't find anyone open, or ran out of bounds behind the line. End result: 68 sacks, and everyone is screaming for Carr's head or a new O-line. Few understand that it was some of both (though I contend more of the blame lies with O-line/coaching/system)

Point being I agree, Emmitt in part made the O-line look great with his own ability. That is a big, big part of any team game: players putting other players in a position to succeed, and players utilizing their strengths individually within the greater context of what the team is trying to get done. Nobody remembers Joe Lineman screwing it up on that key third down if Emmitt shakes the guy in the backfield and breaks it long. Likewise no one remembers Emmitt picking the wrong gap if Larry Allen just mans up and blows the poor defender off his feet and clears the hole any way.

Team game, for sure. Good players make each other look even better.

Still, you cannot look back on beasts like Larry Allen and think anything less than "all world O-lineman." For sure, Emmitt deserves his reputation and memory as "one of the best ever," but I guess I just wanted to point out, he did benefit from the cast he had around him (a significant number of future HOFers). For that matter, Emmitt sure made Aikman's job easier.

Team game = a beautiful thing. And you are right to point it out.

 

[thunderkyss]

Agreed. We may be saying the same thing here, TK, just using a different word.

Maybe so, because I don't put Emmit with Bettis and Alstott

IMO, Davis is comparable to Emmitt in this regard: they both have similar styles, and Davis is just a good back who quickly sniffs out the hole and cuts through it. And as well, not to diminish Emmitt, but he played behind an all-world O-line/offensive set in the Cowgirls' glory years, and in those years the team was fearsome in all offensive facets. He was a fantastic back, but he had help.

I thought the same thing, especially in DDs first two years. I'm hoping that Kubiak and his interpretation of the zone blocking scheme could take the guys we have, and give DD the opportunity to be that guy we saw in Emmit. I understand the line has problems, and I'm not against adding one or two pieces to the puzzle, I'm just hoping it isn't going to take a complete overhaul. IF we really do need to replace 3 or 4 linemen, it's going to be a long, long season.

by the by jerek........... what is the deal with the chef's hat??

 

[jerek]

Maybe so, because I don't put Emmit with Bettis and Alstott



I thought the same thing, especially in DDs first two years. I'm hoping that Kubiak and his interpretation of the zone blocking scheme could take the guys we have, and give DD the opportunity to be that guy we saw in Emmit. I understand the line has problems, and I'm not against adding one or two pieces to the puzzle, I'm just hoping it isn't going to take a complete overhaul. IF we really do need to replace 3 or 4 linemen, it's going to be a long, long season.

I don't think we need to replace 3-4. We had a lot of injuries last year, and between that and our all-round bad play, it was hard to get a solid evaluation of most any body. I think Kubes will mend the fence and maybe had a new face or two, but I think even our O-line is better than it played last year.

 

[Texian]

Outside of Bush I am going to pick a darkhorse and say the best back in this year's class, 3 years from now will be TAUREAN HENDERSON.

One of the most versatile and prolific backs in school history ... returns for final season with a firm hold on the running back slot ... ranks second in NCAA history among running backs with 236 career receptions ... trails former Long Beach State running back Mark Templeton by 26 catches ... ranks second among the nation's returning running backs in receptions (60) last season, fifth in overall touchdowns (18) and eighth in scoring (9.0 ppg).

Records Held
Tech Junior Scoring - 108 points (2004)
Tech Sophomore Receptions - 78 (2003)
NCAA Freshman Receptions - 98 (2002)
Tech Freshman Receptions - 98 (2002)
Tech Freshman Single-Game Receptions - 13 vs. A&M (2002)
Tech Freshman Single-Season Receiving Yards - 633 (2002)
Tech Freshman Single-Season All-Purpose Yards - 1,453 (2002)

In the Charts - Is in second place on the Tech career receptions list with 236 and trails all-time leader Wes Welker by 23 ... is second on the career touchdowns list at Tech with 47 and is in third place at Tech with 33 career rushing scores ... also second with 282 career points and trails all-time leader James Gray (1986-89) by 30 points ... 78 receptions in 2003 ranks fifth on the Tech single-season list.

2005 - All-Big 12 First Team selection ... leads the nation with 50-consecutive games with a reception ... with his next reception, will break the NCAA record of 50 set by Michael Larkin of Miami (Ohio) from 2001-04 ... became the third player in NCAA history with 3,000 rushing and 2,000 receiving yards when he eclipsed the receiving yardage mark against Oklahoma State ... is tied in third place on the NCAA career scoring list with 414 points ... eight points short of Texas Tech single-season scoring record (134, Byron Morris, 1993) ... 22 touchdowns this season ties Byron Morris's record set in 1993 ... has scored a touchdown in 16 of last 18 games ... fifth player in school history to record over 5,000 all-purpose yards in a career ... set the NCAA receptions record for a running back with his first catch against Kansas State ... has 298 in his career ... also tied the school record with five touchdowns against Kansas State ... set the school career receptions record against Nebraska, breaking Wes Welker's previous record of 259 ... leads the Big 12 in scoring with 12.0 points per game and is the nation's active leader in career touchdowns (69) ...

 

[Huge]

Yes I do, It's not about the numbers.

Yes they are

Yes it does.

Compelling arguments. Are you a lawyer during the day?

First item up for bid...

If it's not about the numbers with Ricky, then what's this about...

If Ricky was in Indy, and put up the numbers he did in Miami, the two years before he went on Hiatus, the Colts would have won multiple SBs by now.

?????

But if it's not about the numbers, then what is it about? His leadership?

Second item...

If you really believe Priest Holmes and Emmitt Smith are "bruising" RB's (and since you've already lumped them in the same class with Eddie George and Jamaal Lewis), what category would you put guys like Earl Campbell, Larry Csonka, John Riggins or Jim Brown?

Those are the guys I think of when I think of "bruisers".

But maybe we just have a different idea as to what a "bruising" RB. But I can bet you there was never a defensive player that dreaded trying to tackle Emmitt or Priest. They might've been nervous that they'd whiff but being trucked never entered their minds.

There's a very real possibility that the last guy Emmitt Smith trucked was the first one. That's how much Emmitt went out of his way to avoid contact. It's also a big factor towards how he was able to play for as long as he did.

Third item...

If you're telling me it matters how a RB picks up first downs, I'd like to hear how/why it matters.

 

[MorKnolle]

Outside of Bush I am going to pick a darkhorse and say the best back in this year's class, 3 years from now will be TAUREAN HENDERSON.

One of the most versatile and prolific backs in school history ... returns for final season with a firm hold on the running back slot ... ranks second in NCAA history among running backs with 236 career receptions ... trails former Long Beach State running back Mark Templeton by 26 catches ... ranks second among the nation's returning running backs in receptions (60) last season, fifth in overall touchdowns (18) and eighth in scoring (9.0 ppg).

Records Held
Tech Junior Scoring - 108 points (2004)
Tech Sophomore Receptions - 78 (2003)
NCAA Freshman Receptions - 98 (2002)
Tech Freshman Receptions - 98 (2002)
Tech Freshman Single-Game Receptions - 13 vs. A&M (2002)
Tech Freshman Single-Season Receiving Yards - 633 (2002)
Tech Freshman Single-Season All-Purpose Yards - 1,453 (2002)

In the Charts - Is in second place on the Tech career receptions list with 236 and trails all-time leader Wes Welker by 23 ... is second on the career touchdowns list at Tech with 47 and is in third place at Tech with 33 career rushing scores ... also second with 282 career points and trails all-time leader James Gray (1986-89) by 30 points ... 78 receptions in 2003 ranks fifth on the Tech single-season list.

2005 - All-Big 12 First Team selection ... leads the nation with 50-consecutive games with a reception ... with his next reception, will break the NCAA record of 50 set by Michael Larkin of Miami (Ohio) from 2001-04 ... became the third player in NCAA history with 3,000 rushing and 2,000 receiving yards when he eclipsed the receiving yardage mark against Oklahoma State ... is tied in third place on the NCAA career scoring list with 414 points ... eight points short of Texas Tech single-season scoring record (134, Byron Morris, 1993) ... 22 touchdowns this season ties Byron Morris's record set in 1993 ... has scored a touchdown in 16 of last 18 games ... fifth player in school history to record over 5,000 all-purpose yards in a career ... set the NCAA receptions record for a running back with his first catch against Kansas State ... has 298 in his career ... also tied the school record with five touchdowns against Kansas State ... set the school career receptions record against Nebraska, breaking Wes Welker's previous record of 259 ... leads the Big 12 in scoring with 12.0 points per game and is the nation's active leader in career touchdowns (69) ...

The bolded segment doesn't say much, one of the most prolific RBs in Texas Tech history? They don't exactly have a prolific history of RBs. Henderson put up a lot of receptions and receiving yards, but he was not very productive in the running game. A lot of that has to do with their offensive system, but I still don't see him being a very prolific RB in the NFL, certainly not better than DeAngelo Williams, LenDale White, and Lawrence Maroney, and probably some of the others.

 

[infantrycak]

but he was not very productive in the running game.

What is the standard for productivity nowadays? He averaged 5.9 ypc as a rusher (872 yds rushing) and had 17 rushing TD's. In that offense he seems about as productive as could be. Not saying he is a top back or even NFL starter, just an observation.