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

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Stats02 said:
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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Good talk. Appreciate the discourse.

Henry's had a weird NFL career in comparison to other great pro backs because he didn't really get going until his third season...so the games/years is a weird metric for him. Most of these other great NFL backs shoot out of the cannon right away and are instant impact...Henry, not so much. Considering his volume in HS and then in his one season in college and now during the prime of his career...we may look back on those light workloads in Years 1/2 at Bama and Tennessee respectively as a reason he is able to have a longer NFL career when similar backs in his era long expired.

This thread is off-topic at this point anyway, but Barry Sanders getting a light workload in HS and college has always been one of the reasons I thought he was able to be so successful/durable in the NFL.

FWIW - if we were having a "who is the best NFL running back of all time?" discussion, my answer has been Barry Sanders since he played. He was awesome.
 
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SWFLHurricane said:
I guess people forget about Payton, ****erson and O.J.....
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A540D548-6653-4EBD-8445-7602FBEB99BA.jpeg

Skoal brother!
 
BoxingRobes said:
Good talk. Appreciate the discourse.

Henry's had a weird NFL career in comparison to other great pro backs because he didn't really get going until his third season...so the games/years is a weird metric for him. Most of these other great NFL backs shoot out of the cannon right away and are instant impact...Henry, not so much. Considering his volume in HS and then in his one season in college and now during the prime of his career...we may look back on those light workloads in Years 1/2 at Bama and Tennessee respectively as a reason he is able to have a longer NFL career when similar backs in his era long expired.

This thread is off-topic at this point anyway, but Barry Sanders getting a light workload in HS and college has always been one of the reasons I thought he was able to be so successful/durable in the NFL.

FWIW - if we were having a "who is the best NFL running back of all time?" discussion, my answer has been Barry Sanders since he played. He was awesome.
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Absolutely. I have also gained some better knowledge about Henry. Didn't realize he might be able to get to 10,000 yds with so few carries. I am not a Henry fan, but it does make me have a little more appreciation for his journey towards the rushing leaders.

Sanders is one of my favorites, but Walter Payton is my all-time favorite. I was pretty young when he was playing and didn't get to watch much of him until the end of his career. For me, Walter is the best running back of all time. I think he could do it all. Running, receiving, blocking, and even throwing the ball. He threw for 8 td's in his career, and they weren't those little 1 yard jump passes. If I was to create an NFL team from scratch, Walter Payton would be my first choice on offense and Ray Lewis first choice on defense.

My last post on this. I'll try to keep it on topic going forward.
 
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RealRussellPumps said:
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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It took Emmitt Smith almost 20 years to hit the rushing record. Barry Sanders is only 3000 yards shy having played 73 less games.
 
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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Very interesting.

However, considering it’s impossible to find most peoples high school stats it’s hard to compare some of the all time greats from the past. But, your point is well taken.

Again, you’re basing his status off of too few overall seasons in my opinion. He won all those awards in one season at BAMA, there are a LOT of factors at play there that lead to getting all that recognition, playing at a traditional power, change in culture of the game, etc etc. All time at a school that have had greats doesn’t make sense. Look at Miami, who’s the all time leading receiver? We have had some legit top wr ever, and I think it’s Mike Fuggin Harley! Charleston couldn’t make an NFL roster also holds some record too, so again all time at a college is sometimes very relative. Can you tell I don’t play fantasy anymore? Or even follow the NFL that closely? Lol.

All that to say, you make a great argument for his potential GOAT status. If he finishes his career the way you think, this becomes a very valid argument. I’m thinking if he gets to top 10-15 in all time yards. He’s had some amazing seasons no doubt. But I want to see a body of work against other pros. Tomlinson, Peterson, Sanders, E. Smith (you cannot deny the yards amassed), Dorsett, Brown, and others. I am sure those dudes piled up yards as HS and college players, whether someone gives them a trophy or not doesn’t matter as much as stats when making a GOAT argument. Just my opinion. Happy to revisit this when he’s done.

Maybe you said this and I missed it, but if you said “he’s on track to be the GOAT” or a GOAT, I think you’d be valid in your argument.
Good chat.

Very fun discussion, happy to continue on the off topic forum.
 
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The RB convo is always a fun one. I’m 31 so I missed a bunch of the early legends people speak of. Man did I enjoy watching Priest Holmes growing up. DH is certainly one of the best I’ve ever seen. Absolutely top 10.
 
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407cane said:
pretty wild considering they are such a big power 5 factory

you'd think that would deter talent from playing there but I suppose not
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St Thomas is the same way. The coaching/exposure that comes with those programs makes it worth it to the kids id imagine.
 
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I was bored… didn’t take that long but the numbers are what they are so in no particular order. Here are some of the names referenced. (Pro Football Reference cited)

Walter Payton
190 games.
3,838 carries.
16,726 yds.
110 TDs.
4.4 ypc… 88 yds a game.
492 rec 4,538 rec yds 15 rec TDs

Barry Sanders
153 games
3,062 carries
15,269 yds
99 TDs
5.0 ypc… 99.8 yds a game
352 rec, 2,921 rec yds, 10 rec TDs

Emmitt Smith
226 games
4,409 carries
18,355 yds
164 TDs
4.2 ypc… 81 yds a game
515 rec, 3,224 rec yds, 11 TDs

Marshall Faulk
176 games
2,836 carries
12,279 yds
100 TDs
4.3 ypc… 69.8 yds a game
767 rec, 6,875 rec yds, 36 TDs

Jim Brown
118 games
2,359 carries
12,312 yds
106 TDs
5.2 ypc… 104.3 yds per game
262 rec, 2,499 yds, 20 TDs

Eric ****erson
146 games
2,996 carries
13,259 yds
4.4 ypc… 90.8 yds per game
281 rec, 2,137 yds, 6 TDs

LaDainian Tomlinson
170 games
3,174 carries
13,684 yds
145 TDs
4.3 ypc… 80.5 yds per game
624 rec, 4,772 yds, 17 TDs

Derrick Henry
101 games
1,720 carries
8,226 yds
78 TDs
4.8 ypc… 81.4 yds a game
126 rec, 1,225 yds, 3 TDs

Infer what you will.
 
GOCANES05 said:
This BEAST may not be fast at all but without a doubt ELITE power RB in NFL history and HALL of FAMER

Larry Czonka

Jim Mad dog Mandich :

Looking at ZONKA dripping blood and vomit from his nose growling “ give me the FING ball “ scared and inspired us in the huddle.
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No John Riggins??
 
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