The RB Position in Today's NFL

Would you put him in the great backs category? The good backs you are talking about would become "great" behind that line. Arguably the best offensive line in football (at least the left side is).

The man has put up 15+ rushing touchdowns a season for, what, 5 years in a row? Regardless of your O-line, that's pretty damn great if you ask me. He is a constant threat to break a big run so the opposing D can't relax with him on the field.



It's true that RB is probably one of the 'easiest' positions for a player to make the transition from college to the pros; but a college kid doesn't guarantee you the kind of consistency that Alexander has for them the past few years. He is getting older, but with that line, he doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Seattle couldn't afford to let the league MVP walk away. They're likely to make another run at the Super Bowl again next year.

Five of the last six Super Bowl losers didn't make the playoffs the next season. In this era of parity, there isn't much difference between number two and number 22.

Letting the league's MVP walk might have been bad press...the kind New England used to get hit with when they let some of their big name talent walk.

I just never, ever, ever see Alexander break tackles. He's fast, I'll give him that, but it always seems he's running behind his Pro Bowl fullback and his Pro Bowl tackle, Walter Jones and his Pro Bowl guard Hutchinson before he ever gets touched.

And also let's remember that their passing game wasn't exactly shabby and I'm sure that opened up some things for him. I just thought it was a shame that he broke Priest's record because Priest was a far tougher runner than Alexander will ever be. He definitely had the benefit of a great line, but not of the passing game nor of a great fullback.

The man has put up 15+ rushing touchdowns a season for, what, 5 years in a row? Regardless of your O-line, that's pretty damn great if you ask me. He is a constant threat to break a big run so the opposing D can't relax with him on the field.

If you have a Barry Sanders, a Jim Brown, or an Earl Campbell...you have a great running back. Alexander is a very good running back but not in that category.

The knock on Clinton Portis when he came here was that he was a "system back" at Denver. All RBs, for better or worse, are system backs in my opinion.

Alexander has done exceptionally well for five seasons, and is coming off his best year. But the question is: How likely is it that he will be worth the money he will be paid during the term of the contract?

I'll say this with some warning, it might not have worked out this way, but I bet that Mike Anderson behind that line could have had easily the same production.

If you have a Barry Sanders, a Jim Brown, or an Earl Campbell...you have a great running back. Alexander is a very good running back but not in that category.

The knock on clinton Portis when he came here was that he was a "system back" at Denver. All RBs are system backs in my opinion.

Alexander has done exceptionally well for five seasons, and is coming off his best year. But the question is: How likely is it that he will be worth the money he will be paid during the term of the contract?

First of all he's not going to play out that contract. Promise you that. Either it will get restructered, he get's cut/traded or retires before the eight year deal is up.

I think today's running backs can be called system backs more so than your Earl Campbells, your Barry Sanders or your Jim Browns....backs from another era.

Is he worth the money....well, how do you measure a contract worth $62 million. In part, I think you have to consider the fact that they keep him off the market. But if they can put together a Super Bowl win and he averages somewhere in the ballpark of what he's been doing over the past five seasons, then I would guess Seattle think they've gotten their money's worth.

First of all he's not going to play out that contract. Promise you that. Either it will get restructered, he get's cut/traded or retires before the eight year deal is up.

I think today's running backs can be called system backs more so than your Earl Campbells, your Barry Sanders or your Jim Browns....backs from another era.

Is he worth the money....well, how do you measure a contract worth $62 million. In part, I think you have to consider the fact that they keep him off the market. But if they can put together a Super Bowl win and he averages somewhere in the ballpark of what he's been doing over the past five seasons, then I would guess Seattle think they've gotten their money's worth.

Of course, he won't play out the eight years. It's the cap hit for the next few seasons that will hurt in this kind of deal.

I'm not sure why you think that "backs from another era" are more likely to be system backs. The great RBs could do things that other RBs couldn't. They achieved results that were unexpected given the support they had.

My first post talked about a strategy for the RB position that holds the probability of a better outcome. The question to be asked: How likely is it that Alexander will continue to perfrom at the level he has over the past five seasons ---especially if his big contract prohibits the team from re-signing an offensive lineman, Hutchinson for example?

Of course, he won't play out the eight years. It's the cap hit for the next few seasons that will hurt in this kind of deal.

I'm not sure why you think that "backs from another era" are more likely to be system backs. The great RBs could do things that other RBs couldn't. They achieved results that were unexpected given the support they had.

My first post talked about a strategy for the RB position that holds the probability of a better outcome. The question to be asked: How likely is it that Alexander will continue to perfrom at the level he has over the past five seasons ---especially if his big contract prohibits the team from re-signing an offensive lineman, Hutchinson for example?

Okay, I think you have my quote twisted just a little....I was saying the backs from the other era aren't system backs like the ones of today.

I think the probability of Alexander continuing at this pace is unlikely, however.

8$mill a year for a running back is crazy. he has the best LT and LG in the nfl and a top 5 FB... AND a top 5ish QB to boot. I think his contract is a huge mistake, but they have the cap room.

I think mike anderson wouldn't have had the same production cause he's a slower back. holmes or edge could have though, and probably portis too (portis is much better at running behind blockers now than he was two years ago).

Okay, I think you have my quote twisted just a little....I was saying the backs from the other era aren't system backs like the ones of today.

Sorry, about that. I did mis-read it.