Panthers' Or Ravens' Running Backs?

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='POE' date='22 June 2010 - 08:06 AM' timestamp='1277212016' post='424691']
I have a lot of respect for Williams and Stewart and both could start on most any other team in the league, but I look at our RB's and if you include McClain then I think we have three backs that could start on most any other team so i have to give the edge to Rice, Willis, and LeRon. IMO McClain tops the scales in the Ravens' favor in this argument. You can never argue having a pro-bowl FB that can take on the full load if it was needed, and his blocking is phenominal as well.
[/quote]

Just what I was thinking. Yes, the Panthers have two phenomenal backs. But we have a heavy, bruising pro-bowl fullback to go with ours. IMO Williams might be a step above Rice right now but if Rice keeps improving (and I think he will) he'll come out on top. And while Stewart is better than McGahee, McGahee is still a valuable asset. All in all I'd take the Raven's backfield.

And while having two backs both break 1,100 yards is a tremendous accomplishment it's also a testament to how one-dimensional the Panther's offense is.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Ngata92NT' date='22 June 2010 - 09:37 AM' timestamp='1277213867' post='424696']
Just what I was thinking. Yes, the Panthers have two phenomenal backs. But we have a heavy, bruising pro-bowl fullback to go with ours. IMO Williams might be a step above Rice right now but if Rice keeps improving (and I think he will) he'll come out on top. And while Stewart is better than McGahee, McGahee is still a valuable asset. All in all I'd take the Raven's backfield.

[b]And while having two backs both break 1,100 yards is a tremendous accomplishment it's also a testament to how one-dimensional the Panther's offense is.[/b]
[/quote]

It's also a testament to how good [i]Double Trouble [/i] are. Teams know that outside of Smith, the Panthers have to run the ball to be successful and yet few teams stopped them both.

And to the people talking about McClain. I'm not saying he can't factor into the discussion but based on the amount of a carries he got last season, I don't think he can sway the discussion on the Ravens' favor. Plus, the title says, "Panthers' or Ravens' [b]Running Backs[/b]".

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='justifythegame' date='22 June 2010 - 05:01 PM' timestamp='1277179310' post='424629']
[b]Do some of you actually even watch Panthers games? Because if you did, this wouldn't even be an argument.[/b] I love Ray Rice, i even think the guy could be the next Marshall Faulk. But we can't know anything for sure yet just after 1 season - and Cam Cameron can make RBs better than they actually are without him (LT, Ronnie Brown). [b]DeAngelo Williams is imo a top 5 RB[/b]. Johnathan Stewart ran 1100 yards as a backup too. I followed Stewart up until the draft feeling that he was going to be a big deal at RB for some team, and i feel badly for him because he is playing backup when he could be a pro bowler elsewhere. The Panthers have 2 of the best RBs in the NFL and hands down the best duo, i don't even think this is an argument. Some of you guys need to be more objective.
[/quote]
They're fantastic runners, DeAngelo is an absolute freak. That season he had 20 total touchdowns, he was the best back in the league in my opinion. It's relentless, powerful, agile and amazing to watch.

[quote name='Romo Ravens' date='22 June 2010 - 06:57 PM' timestamp='1277186267' post='424652']
I don't have time to read through all the comments, so sorry if this has been used.

The Panthers by a long shot. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart form some kind of RB duo straight from the Twilight Zone. Both are amazingly amazing, and not to mention both are very young, and don't have a history of injuries. Although I do think Ray is better than Stewart, he's about tied with Williams in terms of pure speed/elusiveness/athleticism. [b]If you've ever watched Williams play, he has the same "wow" factor comparable to Chris Johnson.[/b]

Plus it's not even worth discussing who's better between McGahee/Stewart, McGahee/Williams. McGahee is on the decline.
[/quote]
I agree, Williams is a beast!

[berad]

[quote name='BloodRaven' date='22 June 2010 - 06:34 AM' timestamp='1277202858' post='424671']
I don't think McGahee is on the decline either, he just gets lax on his work ethic. At 28 and with relatively low wear and tear he probably won't decline before 30 like other feature backs do, besides, [b]declining HBs don't rack up 12 touchdowns.[/b]
[/quote]

[url="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00.htm"]Yes they do.[/url]

I'm not of the opinion that McGahee is declining, he has plenty left in the tank and is an excellent compliment to Ray Rice. But, I've said it before, rushing touchdowns are less indicative of performance in comparison to total yards, yards per carry, etc.

For example, Willis averaged five yards a pop as opposed to Tomlinson's 3.3 ypc. [i]Both[/i] had 12 rushing touchdowns.

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='BloodRaven' date='22 June 2010 - 02:34 AM' timestamp='1277202858' post='424671']
I don't think McGahee is on the decline either, he just gets lax on his work ethic. At 28 and with relatively low wear and tear he probably won't decline before 30 like other feature backs do, besides, declining HBs don't rack up 12 touchdowns.
[/quote]

Yea well when you get placed on the five yard line everytime you're in the red zone, you're bound to score. I love Willis, but he just dances everytime we put him in. I don't see anymore burst.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

Touchdowns don't really tell the score in Willis' case, he did get a lot of goal line work last season.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='23 June 2010 - 02:14 AM' timestamp='1277277276' post='424972']
Touchdowns don't really tell the score in Willis' case, he did get a lot of goal line work last season.
[/quote]

Willis had 15 goal line attempts, 3 more Rice. I mean look at guys like Michael Turner and Steven Jackson, they're not exactly track athletes or spring chickens themselves but they have the power and size to be effective.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='BloodRaven' date='23 June 2010 - 10:25 PM' timestamp='1277285155' post='424981']
Willis had 15 goal line attempts, 3 more Rice. I mean look at guys like Michael Turner and Steven Jackson, they're not exactly track athletes or spring chickens themselves but they have the power and size to be effective.
[/quote]
Yes indeed. I couldn't see why Rice didn't get more goal line work though, his low centre of gravity behind that huge offensive line seems to be the perfect approach - just look at MJD in Jacksonville.

[flynismo]

I give the edge to us....having McClain broke the tie IMO.

[DrMoonTooth]

I think if you put both of our RBs against both of Carolina's Rbs, there unfortunately isn't a comparison. Ray Rice at this point might have an edge over Williams, but Jonathan Stewart would be the most talented RB on at least 80% of the other teams in the NFL. He is without a doubt the most talented Backup RB in the NFL, and it's unfortunate that he doesn't get to start elsewhere. Just look at how he did last year when Williams was out due to injury:

1)Tampa Bay (Week 13)- 26 Carries, 120 Yards (4.6 avg), 1 TD

2)Giants (Week 16)- 28 Carries, 206 Yards (7.4 avg), 1 TD

3)New Orleans (Week 17)- 16 Carries, 125 Yards (7.8 avg), 1 TD

These are incredible numbers for a backup RB. Keep in mind that Williams was out for all three of these games.