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Mark Fletcher commits to Miami and a discourse on the history of greatest NFL runnings backs

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frostycane said:
Let’s be honest, this whole conversation belongs in the off topic board. It started in a thread about Mark Fletcher. So, I mean if we’re getting technical….

Again, I’m saying. There are plenty that have accomplished what he has. He literally had one, albeit elite, plus year in college. Running behind the Dallas Cowboys OL with the 01 Ravens defense so they were always running clock. Again, he’s good. Might end up being great or even GOAT. But to call him that now is not accurate, hs accomplishments and all. Just my opinion.

And good Lord don’t get me started on Leflop! He’s the greatest alright, greatest cancer!
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By all means, please...do tell....

Go ahead and list all of the running backs that have 2000 yard seasons in high school, college, AND the NFL.
From that list...are any of those RBs the all-time leading high school rusher? Including the greatest HS season in the nation since the 1950s?
In college...did they win the Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker, Maxwell and every other award possible? Unanimous All-American?
In the NFL...won Offensive Player of the Year in the NFL? Made All-Pro? A season away from 10K?

Now...as for his college career...its funny, as 'Canes fans, we have no problem understanding why players like McGahee or Gore didn't get multiple years of great production...ya know...because there were other pro backs on the roster...but it seem lost when discussing any other program/player.

There were multiple pro backs on that roster and he was still really good when playing. As an aside, that two year reprieve, after his HS career, probably adds years to his NFL career as a result. We'll see...but he was always good in college, too. He finished his career the all-leading rusher in Alabama history lmfao (Najee Harris beat it a few years later), tied for career rushing touchdowns, most rushing TDs in a single season, tied for most in a single game. He left Alabama as the most decorated running back in that school's history.

The totality of his football playing life is absurd. His career isn't even over...but as we speak, he's been the best RB in the NFL for years now when he's healthy. Its wild that anyone is even trying to discuss this man's greatness.
 
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BoxingRobes said:
By all means, please...do tell....

Go ahead and list all of the running backs that have 2000 yard seasons in high school, college, AND the NFL.
From that list...are any of those RBs the all-time leading high school rusher? Including the greatest HS season in the nation since the 1950s?
In college...did they win the Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker, Maxwell and every other award possible? Unanimous All-American?
In the NFL...won Offensive Player of the Year in the NFL? Made All-Pro? A season away from 10K?

Now...as for his college career...its funny, as 'Canes fans, we have no problem understanding why players like McGahee or Gore didn't get multiple years of great production...ya know...because there were other pro backs on the roster...but it seem lost when discussing any other program/player.

There were multiple pro backs on that roster and he was still really good when playing. As an aside, that two year reprieve, after his HS career, probably adds years to his NFL career as a result. We'll see...but he was always good in college, too. He finished his career the all-leading rusher in Alabama history lmfao (Najee Harris beat it a few years later), tied for career rushing touchdowns, most rushing TDs in a single season, tied for most in a single game. He left Alabama as the most decorated running back in that school's history.

The totality of his football playing life is absurd. His career isn't even over...but as we speak, he's been the best RB in the NFL for years now when he's healthy. Its wild that anyone is even trying to discuss this man's greatness.
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Henry is a great RB, but someone threw out the GOAT.
We’ll see where he stacks up when he’s done.

I like Sanders.
Except for those crazy HS stats, Sanders numbers in college and the pros tops Henry.
Henry sits at 9th in league history in yards per carry with 1,000+ carries at 4.8 ypc.
Of those guys he’s just about even with Sanders in TD’s (81/80 after 7 years) but way behind Brown (96 after 7 years).
 
NJshoreCane said:
Henry is a great RB, but someone threw out the GOAT.
We’ll see where he stacks up when he’s done.

I like Sanders.
Except for those crazy HS stats, Sanders numbers in college and the pros tops Henry.
Henry sits at 9th in league history in yards per carry with 1,000+ carries at 4.8 ypc.
Of those guys he’s just about even with Sanders in TD’s (81/80 after 7 years) but way behind Brown (96 after 7 years).
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I guess people forget about Payton, ****erson and O.J.....
 
BoxingRobes said:
He's played 6 seasons. Lmfao.

Barring injury and with a usual Derrick Henry season next year...he's on pace to be the fastest player to 10,000 career yards, currently occupied by Jim Brown.

And in a completely different NFL landscape.
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Where are you getting your information? When you say 10,000 career yards, is that rushing yards or total/all purpose yards?

Eric ****erson was the fastest to 10,000 rushing yards in just 91 games. I don't think Henry has a shot at breaking that record or all purpose record considering he has already played in well more than 91 games.

Henry is in his 7th season and has already played 101 games and currently has 8,226 rushing yards and 1,225 receiving yards. So thru 101 games, Henry has 9,451 total (rushing/receiving) yards.

****erson, Emmit Smith, Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson all had over 10,000 yards rushing by end of their 7th season. The receiving yards for each of these running backs were also much higher than what Henry has produced so far thru 7 seasons. And before somebody says anything about total games, I am well aware Henry only played in 8 games last year. Guess what, each of the players I listed above also missed a handfull of games throughout their first 7 season. Even if Henry plays a full season last year, he still well behind all those guys above in total yards.

There might be some other running backs I'm missing as well. I know Walter Payton had 9,600 rushing yards by end of 7th season and over 2,000 receiving yards.

Henry is a stud, no doubt, but he has a long way to go to be considered in the conversation of greatest all time running backs.
 
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Suhrthing said:
Henry is amazing no-doubt, HOF bound. But Henry-the-GOAT is recency bias. He's being fed like Ricky Williams in a era where defenses are built to stop passing attacks. IMO - Barry Sanders is the greatest running back I've ever seen play.
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dude i just put two and two together. do you play a Suhr???
 
nycane said:
Barry sanders played for a crap organization for years with no good supporting cast and out up huge numbers. Henry has a lot more to prove
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they actually had some really good players on those teams (herman moore, jonny morton, brett perriman, lomas brown, kevin glover on offense, luther ellis, robert porcher, chris spielman, bennie blades and ryan mcneil on defense).
 
Kjdcanefan said:
Barry Sanders will forever be the GOAT for me. What he did with the teammates he had and how long he did it for. I don't think Henry compares, or Jim Brown. One of the only RBs in GOAT status aside from Jim Brown to have 5 YPC over a career. Derrick Henry, in all his glory, is at 4.8.
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I wasn’t old enough o watch and understand Barry’s greatness when he actually played but I’ve watched clips and highlights and old game film and that guy was just incredible. Could have played in any era. If you gave him the Emmit Smith Cowboys OL for his career, he’s probably over 20k for his career.
 
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Stats02 said:
Where are you getting your information? When you say 10,000 career yards, is that rushing yards or total/all purpose yards?

Eric ****erson was the fastest to 10,000 rushing yards in just 91 games. I don't think Henry has a shot at breaking that record or all purpose record considering he has already played in well more than 91 games.

Henry is in his 7th season and has already played 101 games and currently has 8,226 rushing yards and 1,225 receiving yards. So thru 101 games, Henry has 9,451 total (rushing/receiving) yards.

****erson, Emmit Smith, Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson all had over 10,000 yards rushing by end of their 7th season. The receiving yards for each of these running backs were also much higher than what Henry has produced so far thru 7 seasons. And before somebody says anything about total games, I am well aware Henry only played in 8 games last year. Guess what, each of the players I listed above also missed a handfull of games throughout their first 7 season. Even if Henry plays a full season last year, he still well behind all those guys above in total yards.

There might be some other running backs I'm missing as well. I know Walter Payton had 9,600 rushing yards by end of 7th season and over 2,000 receiving yards.

Henry is a stud, no doubt, but he has a long way to go to be considered in the conversation of greatest all time running backs.
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Rushing yards and carries.

****erson got to 10,000 rushing yards in the first game in 1989...he needed 2140-something carries to get there.
Jim Brown got to 10,000 rushing yards somewhere in Game 8 of the 1964 season...he needed 1951-ish carries to do so.
Adrian Peterson got to 10,000 rushing yards in the 2013 season...he needed a little over 2000 carries to do so.
All were in their Age 28 season.

Henry is at 1720 right now...Jim Brown will be difficult, he'd need a real big start to 2023 and finish in 2022...but AD is a good season away...I think he'll beat ****erson there. At worst, he'll be third or fourth fastest all-time to 10K. Now look at the names he's being comp'd to in this discussion.
 
BoxingRobes said:
Rushing yards and carries.

****erson got to 10,000 rushing yards in the first game in 1989...he needed 2140-something carries to get there.
Jim Brown got to 10,000 rushing yards somewhere in Game 8 of the 1964 season...he needed 1951-ish carries to do so.
Adrian Peterson got to 10,000 rushing yards in the 2013 season...he needed a little over 2000 carries to do so.
All were in their Age 28 season.

Henry is at 1720 right now...Jim Brown will be difficult, he'd need a real big start to 2023 and finish in 2022...but AD is a good season away...I think he'll beat ****erson there. At worst, he'll be third or fourth fastest all-time to 10K. Now look at the names he's being comp'd to in this discussion.
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Gotcha. You're saying he could get to 10,000 rushing yards with least amount of carries/attempts. That makes more sense. Yes, that would be quite the accomplishment. Got to give him some major props if he can do that.
 
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