Which RB will take your NFL team to the Super Bowl?

[mudloggerone]

Let's say that you are the owner of a real NFL team. For the last three years you've been slowly putting the pieces together to make a run at the Super Bowl. Low and behold you've got cash remaing under the cap and miracle of miracles there are some HOF RB's available as free agents. Which one of these three RB's will you sign to make the One Year push to be the champions? Of course we are assuming that each of these listed RB's are in the prime of their careers.

 

[mudloggerone]

Although all three RB's could likely get me over the hump I went with Barry Sanders. The man seemed to have magic in his legs when I watched him play.

 

[Miller]

lol, Mike is going to have a fit that Emmitt is not included on the list.....

As for the question, man, this is tough between Jim Brown and Barry Sanders as these were the two backs I would chose in DD's dream team example he showed in the Montana/Marino thread.

I think I'd stick with Barry. He was just special and give him a quality line and I don't think many defenses could keep up with him. Just the best RB I have ever seen run.

 

[mudloggerone]

lol, Mike is going to have a fit that Emmitt is not included on the list.....

Sorry but the widow of Jerry Jones had signed Emmitt to a lifetime contract the year before we were ready to make our big push.

Just the best RB I have ever seen run.

He was sure special. One of the reasons that I pointed out that this was for a one year push was because Barry might up and retire on us after gaining 2000 yards and winning the Super Bowl, LOL.

 

[RUBBER DUCKIE]

If I only had one year, Sanders is my last choice. He was a great runner and gave DC's headaches but I want to be able have some consistancy. Sanders would run for 1yd, 3yd, -4yd, 2yd, 47yd, 1yd, etc.

I want a bruiser that intimidates the other teams DC and the other teams def players. Give me Payton to run over a guy and pull another 5 yards. Power run game is where it's at.

I never saw Brown play, but I'd still take him over Sanders. I'd end up pulling out as much of my own hair as the DC for the other team if Sanders was my RB. Sanders had some good lineman when he was with Detroit, so you can't really make the arguement he needed a better line. His dancing around helped him and hurt him at times.

 

[Mike]

I will never understand Barry Sanders coming up in these conversations.

Yes, the man was a dynamic runningback, and was always a threat to make a big run. He was more of a threat though to dance around and lose yardage in the backfield, and kill a drive. The obsession with "breaking the big one" always seemed to be his downfall as far as I am concerned.

When you are in a big playoff game, and it is 3rd and 2, you need your runningback to focus on getting you those "2" yards, not looking to for a way to break it to the endzone.

This is why a guy like Bill Belichick can get these rings without hall of fame running backs. His running backs can be relied on to move the chains on a drive when needed.

My vote goes to Walter Payton, but I almost want to split this vote with Jim Brown. Guess I would favor Payton just a little more, maybe because I seen him play, rather than just hearing about him and watching limited films.

And yeah, I am considering banning the thread starter for leaving out Emmitt in this

 

[mudloggerone]

You brought up some really good points Mike and Duckie that I over looked.

And yeah, I am considering banning the thread starter for leaving out Emmitt in this

Perhaps Mike, you could work a deal and make a trade with Mrs. Jones and land Emmitt.:grin:

 

[Mike]

My people are on the phone now seeing what we can get done.

 

[mudloggerone]

My people are on the phone now seeing what we can get done.

I've heard that she is the touchy, feely type of gal.:koolaid:

 

[Mike]

hmm... maybe I will find a different running back, LOL

 

[Miller]

I have heard these argument on Barry before, and you are right, he had those inconsistent runs.....but if I am putting my team in contention and need a RB to put me over the top I would hope I would have a much better line than Detroit gave Barry. He wouldn't have to dance around in the backfield with my line, he'd be dancing around in the secondary......

 

[Mike]

That is assuming he was dancing around "because" of the offensive line.

Perhaps if there was a more disciplined runner in the backfield, the offensive line would be doing a better job.

An undisciplined running back results in the offensive line looking back because A) They can't scheme properly, and get frustrated after constantly dealing with an undisciplined back, and B) By trying to adjust to the lack of discipline, you get increased injuries on that line.

Reference the kickass offensive line Dallas had in 2007, compared to how much it suddenly sucked in 2008. The difference? An undisciplined runner got the starting job.

 

[Miller]

did you watch those Lion lines....they were not good. Barry, just was an amazing back. He averaged 5.0 ypc for his entire career!! Walter's avg was 4.4 and Emmitt was 4.2.

The back I put right behind him is Jim Brown and he was 5.2....and to be honest, if Brown played when i could have watched him he would likely be #1 on my list.

You can say Barry danced all you want, but he had to make his own holes not just just strole through them like Smith did.....when there is no hole to run through, a little dancing is necessary.

 

[Mike]

Did I watch them? yes.

You have a split second to commit to a running lane when an off-tackle run is called. Barry Sanders failed to commit to those lanes, so yeah, things quickly broke down.

Now, if he was dancing in the backfield by design, then I say it was a coaching issue.

I am not saying that the Lions offensive lines were good, bad, or whatever, but they would have looked much better if there was a running back that was disciplined enough to run the play called.

 

[Mike]

You can say Barry danced all you want, but he had to make his own holes not just just strole through them like Smith did.....when there is no hole to run through, a little dancing is necessary.

Yes, I can say it.

Emmitt didn't "strole" through a hole. He had an amazing ability to drop a shoulder, or whatever it took, to make that first guy miss.

On 3rd and 2, that ability is important. Dodging that first tackle got you those two yards, and the chains moved.

 

[Arctic Dawgs]

did you watch those Lion lines....they were not good. Barry, just was an amazing back. He averaged 5.0 ypc for his entire career!! Walter's avg was 4.4 and Emmitt was 4.2.

The back I put right behind him is Jim Brown and he was 5.2....and to be honest, if Brown played when i could have watched him he would likely be #1 on my list.

You can say Barry danced all you want, but he had to make his own holes not just just strole through them like Smith did.....when there is no hole to run through, a little dancing is necessary.

Doesn't Barry hold some kind of record for most runs for a loss by a huge margin ?? I'd rather have the guy that moves the chains consistantly when I need a 1st Down

 

[Deacon]

Wow, I am really surprised that Jim Brown is thought of so lowly. So far I am the lone voter for Brown.

The biggest reason why I would take Brown over Payton or Sanders: His size!

Here is a quote from sportingnews:

"Brown was a physical masterpiece, a gift from the football gods. His 18-inch neck, wide shoulders and 45-inch chest tapered down to a 32-inch waist and massive thighs that carried him around the field with the grace and power of a jaguar. Brown ran with head high, nostrils flaring, legs pumping and powerful arms swatting away tacklers like flies. He was an amazing combination of power and speed who could juke past slower defenders or run over linebackers and defensive backs."

I feel that Jim Brown, Gayle Sayers, and Barry Sanders were the 3 most talented RBs in football history. I would take Brown all things being equal just because he was such a physical specimen.

Somewhere along the line you are going to need to convert a crucial 3rd and 2, or 4th and goal from inside the 5. That is where Brown's size is a huge advantage. This guy was the same size as any LB playing and was much faster and elusive.

Brown led the league in rushing 8 of the 9 years he played. The first 5 years he played they only played 12 games a season, the last 4 they played 14 games yet he still remains 3rd in career rushing yds behind Walter Payton and Emmit Smith. Both of whom played 16 game seasons most or all of their careers.

Brown also had a career 5.2 average yds per rush!

 

[WesDawg]

Had to go Payton since I'm partial to his nickname.

I also feel he's got the most natural ability of the 3 and consistently produced during times when he was the only threat whatsoever on that offense. Brown was playing in an era where he was so far superior athletically than 95% of his defensive competition. LB's typically played in the 210-215 lb. range back then, for example. Barry did the "Lion's Share" (har) of his damage while running from the run-n-shoot so there were some gaping holes to be exploited once he made the first tackler miss, which was more often than not.

 

[cctekguy]

Given the circumstances provided by the thread starter, I'd have to say Brown as my first pick.

I've presumably got a decent QB, set of WR's and O-Line. I don't need 30 yards 10% of the time, I need 3 yards 90% of the time.

This player is also "seemingly" the difference between being a championship team or not. I need someone that isn't fragile or scared to play with "turf toe".

Brown is just the warrior I need on my "just need a RB" team.

Peyton next....then Sanders.

Now if you set me up as a last place team that's looking to boost attendance and finish at 500 the order may be reversed.

 

[Beermutts]

sanders is last on that list for me...

J Brown was untouchable