Marshall Faulk's Top 5 RB's...No Portis?!

[MTK]

Gibbs used some zone blocking in his offense, and under Saunders they used even more. I'm not sure the scheme matters as much as the performance. Through the first 8 games or so last year the OL was run blocking really well. Down the stretch things fell apart, I can't count the number of times CP was getting hit in the backfield. Block well and he will run well.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Lots of people like to talk about his "breakaway" ability from his time in Denver. If we measure that by 40+ runs (which is the easiest way since the NFL keeps that stat) those runs have tracked as follows:

2002 - 3
2003 - 6
2004 - 1
2005 - 2
2006 - 0
2007 - 0
2008 - 0

He also averaged 5.5 yds/carry both years in Denver and has never done better than 4.3 in Washington. That probably says more about the talent and system in D.C. than it does about Portis.

His 20+ runs also declined in Washington, though they spiked again last season.

2002 - 11
2003 - 13
2004 - 5
2005 - 6
2006 - 3
2007 - 3
2008 - 13

Maybe the fact that he was able to break the 20 yard runs last year, but not able to turn any of those into 40+ carries does suggest that he is no longer the same back that he was early in his career.

But only 2 players had more carries of 20 or more yards last year; and only 5, I think, had more carries of 10 or more yards. Plus, in my opinion, there isn't a better blocking back in the league.

My top five would be:

Adrian Peterson
Steven Jackson
Clinton Portis
Brian Westbrook
Marcus Mason

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

But only 2 players had more carries of 20 or more yards last year; and only 5, I think, had more carries of 10 or more yards. Plus, in my opinion, there isn't a better blocking back in the league.

My top five would be:

Adrian Peterson
Steven Jackson
Clinton Portis
Brian Westbrook
Marcus Mason

What, no Nemo?

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

But only 2 players had more carries of 20 or more yards last year; and only 5, I think, had more carries of 10 or more yards. Plus, in my opinion, there isn't a better blocking back in the league.

My top five would be:

Adrian Peterson
Steven Jackson
Clinton Portis
Brian Westbrook
Marcus Mason

How can you put AP and Jackson above Mason? Get real dude!

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Gibbs used some zone blocking in his offense, and under Saunders they used even more. I'm not sure the scheme matters as much as the performance. Through the first 8 games or so last year the OL was run blocking really well. Down the stretch things fell apart, I can't count the number of times CP was getting hit in the backfield. Block well and he will run well.

People forget that in Denver, CP benefited from one of the dirtiest o lines in the league. Alex Gibbs always coaches his guys to cut block and it's pretty hard to stop the run when you're watching out for your knees the whole game.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

How can you put AP and Jackson above Mason? Get real dude!

I'm such a hater

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

But only 2 players had more carries of 20 or more yards last year; and only 5, I think, had more carries of 10 or more yards. Plus, in my opinion, there isn't a better blocking back in the league.

My top five would be:

Adrian Peterson
Steven Jackson
Clinton Portis
Brian Westbrook
Marcus Mason

Spot on.

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by irish

Riggo was a power back, a bruiser that was used to pound the ball. He was never considered a breakaway threat. Thats why they called him The Diesel. CP is a speed back that can take a pounding. Big difference.

Riggins had wheels. Like someone else said, he was a 2-time 100M sprint champ in Kansas. There are some good videos on Youtube of him just blowing by defenders and, of course, one of the most memorable runs in Super Bowl history is him busting a tackle and taking it 40 plus yards to the house. He was da man.

[44Deezel]

Pete Prisco's list, if anyone cares:

NFL - CBSSports.com Football

[skins89moss]

I cant see how Maurice Jones Drew is better than C.Portis. LT. is a little older than CP and right now i would take Portis over him. Andrian Peterson is the only back you can say is better than C.Portis. All the backs on Marshall Faulks list have a back up that spells them during the game which allows them to be fresh in the 4th when you can make the longer runs whe the defense gets tired. We have Ladell Betts backing Portis and thats not saying much.

[Ldyskns fan 26]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Along with being 4th in rushing yards, he was 4th in total yards (1,705), and 4th in 100 yard games (6). I don't think it's that unrealstic to call him a top 5 back.

I couldn't agree more. I know that was Marshall's top 5 list and he's entitled to his opinon. C.P is a top 5 back on my list. He doesn't have to take it to the house everytime he touches the ball.Come Sunday you know #26 is giving it his all.Adrian Peterson,Matt Forte ,Micheal Turner and all these young guys are entertaining in all..but if I had to put my team on a rb's back to carry it would be Clinton Portis'. He hasn't had the luxuries afforded to A.P (a stud O line)or Chris Johnson,DeAngelo Williams or even LaDanian having your back up be just as good as the #1.


In no particular order.... Clinton Portis, Westbrook, Steven Jackson, LaDanian Tomlison, Marion Barber

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by skins89moss

I cant see how Maurice Jones Drew is better than C.Portis. LT. is a little older than CP and right now i would take Portis over him. Andrian Peterson is the only back you can say is better than C.Portis. All the backs on Marshall Faulks list have a back up that spells them during the game which allows them to be fresh in the 4th when you can make the longer runs whe the defense gets tired. We have Ladell Betts backing Portis and thats not saying much.

Amazing how a couple years will change soooo much. We were talking about how Portis / Betts was the best combo in the NFL, some suggested ever.

[budw38]

Originally Posted by irish

Riggo was a power back, a bruiser that was used to pound the ball. He was never considered a breakaway threat. Thats why they called him The Diesel. CP is a speed back that can take a pounding. Big difference.

Riggo outran the cowpukes < D. Thurman > for a 66 yd td run in 79 , and outran the "killer Bees " in Super Bowl 17 . Riggo was not quick , but did have very good top speed .

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by budw38

Riggo outran the cowpukes < D. Thurman > for a 66 yd td run in 79 , and outran the "killer Bees " in Super Bowl 17 . Riggo was not quick , but did have very good top speed .

And once he got a head of steam, DBs wanted no part in bringing him down, which may have caused them to tap the brakes just a little Riggo was an all around BEAST! He finished 4th all time in yards even though he voluntarily took an entire season off.

[an23dy]

Originally Posted by jsarno

18th? You have Jones-Drew ranked 18th? Seriously? I think this post belongs on the epic fail thread. This is a guy that has 34 rushing tds, 38 rush/rec tds, and 40 total tds in 3 seasons as a PART TIMER (he's only started 4 games in his career). Portis over that same span has only 28 total tds despite having 794 carries to Jones-Drew's 530. Jones Drew also averages 4.8 yards per carry. In the last 3 years, only Westbrook, Bush, Jackson, Tomlinson and Gore have more receptions that Jones-Drew and only Bush and Jones Drew were not starters.
Now that Jones-Drew is a starter, he is CERTAINLY worthy of a top 10 at the least, I have him top 5.
FYI, sporting news fantasy football mag has Portis ranked 8th, and Jones-Drew ranked 6th. NFL.com fantasy football magazine has Portis ranked 12th and Jones-Drew ranked 4th.

My top 5:
1- Peterson
2- Turner
3- Jones-Drew
4- Jackson*
5- Forte

Jackson is my only hesitation due to his injuries. He started only 11 games last year (although still managed to get 1042 yards and 8 total tds) and 12 games back in 2007 (although had 1002 yards and 7 total tds)
If healthy, his numbers would be pretty darn good...assuming he played a full season both of the last two years, he would have had these numbers:
2008- 1392 yds, 11tds, 51 receptions, 505 rec yds (1897 total yards)
2007- 1344 yds, 9 tds, 53 receptions, 361 rec yds (1705 total yards)
Keep in mind the numbers would be higher if he didn't get injured and miss time in games in both 08 and 07.

That wasn't a ranking of 20 guys, that was just a list of 20 guys that you could argue for. Left the numbers out, but I guess I should've said in no particular order. I would put MJD in my top 10 though.