Who is the best RB in NFL? (ESPN-grantland)

[Ravenseconbeast]

[url="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8190917/breaking-numbers-game-ground-pounders"]http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8190917/breaking-numbers-game-ground-pounders[/url]

VS. Matt Forte,Arian Foster, MJD, Lesean McCoy (AP is out obviously due to his injury)


Interesting article about Ray Ray and the rest of elite RBs.

[Ed_Reed20]

If I needed a RB for one game, I'd take Darren McFadden over all of them.

[RavensAllTheWay]

Rice hasn't missed a game since taking over as the #1 back in 09, and he has over 1,200 touches in the regular season, 1,300+ overall. Those are hard to accomplish as a RB.

I also think CJ should still be considered, despite his down year.

[hawkprey]

Interesting that each of Barnwell's (wrote the article) top RBs had about a 3 year reign. Thanks to the injury, Peterson's reign might be over, which I hadn't considered. If that's true, in a few years he won't be credited as the best RB of 2011, having only played half the season. That honor will likely go to whichever RB takes over in 2012+, meaning whoever is the next "best" RB is has actually already started his reign. No RB on the list held the title for only a year, so it's unlikely that 2012's best will be different from 2011's best.

Looking at that list, Rice is a serious contender for the best overall. Since he lead the league last year in yards from scrimmage, has no serious backup contender, and has a line that should far exceed 2010's dismal performance, Rice might be entering his statistical prime.

[codizzle]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1343081468' post='1102161']
If I needed a RB for one game, I'd take Darren McFadden over all of them.
[/quote]
Thank you... Glad someone appreciates him..

If he could stay healthy, he'd be putting up LT numbers

[Yoonkeem]

McCoy.
He's in for a big year.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1343083712' post='1102169']
Thank you... Glad someone appreciates him..

[b]If he could stay healthy[/b], he'd be putting up LT numbers
[/quote]
Until he can stay healthy I'm not interested. What good is a RB who is always getting hurt? He has always had the talent.

[Bullrush]

I have to go with Peterson, when he has the ball in his hands he's the one guy you don't want to run into. He does it all, he's the total package. Unfortunately he's playing on a bad team with a bad offense and a terrible O-Line. He could put up 3000 yards in Oakland or Kansas. Those other backs are good behind a good O-Line, Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Darren McFadden. But they need room to run and make plays. Peterson doesn't need that, he can be effective everywhere. And what happens if you don't block well for those one trick pony type RB's we've seen last year with Chris Johnson. They have no running room and then they just go down after 1-2 yards.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Bullrush' timestamp='1343088430' post='1102190']
I have to go with Peterson, when he has the ball in his hands he's the one guy you don't want to run into. He does it all, he's the total package. Unfortunately he's playing on a bad team with a bad offense and a terrible O-Line. He could put up 3000 yards in Oakland or Kansas. Those other backs are good behind a good O-Line, Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Darren McFadden. But they need room to run and make plays. Peterson doesn't need that, he can be effective everywhere. And what happens if you don't block well for those one trick pony type RB's we've seen last year with Chris Johnson. They have no running room and then they just go down after 1-2 yards.
[/quote]
Peterson doesnt do it all. He isnt a good receiver and he has fumble-itis. He is a beast of a RB, but he isnt the weapon out of the backfield that Rice, McCoy or Foster are.

Just to put it in perspective, Peterson has never eclipsed 2,000 total yards form scrimmage. Rice has done that twice in 3 seasons.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1343083389' post='1102166']
Interesting that each of Barnwell's (wrote the article) top RBs had about a 3 year reign. Thanks to the injury, Peterson's reign might be over, which I hadn't considered. If that's true, in a few years he won't be credited as the best RB of 2011, having only played half the season. That honor will likely go to whichever RB takes over in 2012+, meaning whoever is the next "best" RB is has actually already started his reign. No RB on the list held the title for only a year, so it's unlikely that 2012's best will be different from 2011's best.

Looking at that list, Rice is a serious contender for the best overall. Since he lead the league last year in yards from scrimmage, has no serious backup contender, and has a line that should far exceed 2010's dismal performance, Rice might be entering his statistical prime.
[/quote]


He also mention a very important thing in the article. Out of all the elite RBs mentioned he is the 2nd youngest (age 25). I was surprised to read that the rest of the pack were older than him. Rice has room to grow. This could be his best year if given the chance.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1343083712' post='1102169']

Thank you... Glad someone appreciates him..

If he could stay healthy, he'd be putting up LT numbers
[/quote]

A big if. He reminds me of B.Rob right now..lol

[The Raven]

I gotta go with MJD. Best all around back in the NFL. Imagine if he was on a team where he wasn't the only weapon. He is literally the only good thing the Jaguars have. Put him on a team with a decent offensive line and other threats, and he'd be insanely good. He had that monster year with Gabbert at quarterback.

[Tiz]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1343089297' post='1102197']
I gotta go with MJD. Best all around back in the NFL. Imagine if he was on a team where he wasn't the only weapon. He is literally the only good thing the Jaguars have. Put him on a team with a decent offensive line and other threats, and he'd be insanely good. He had that monster year with Gabbert at quarterback.
[/quote]

My thought as well. If he wasn't the only option he'd be ray rice...

[usmccharles]

very interesting article. All our good choices and out of foster, rice, mccoy its a toss up to me. I like foster because hes a bigger guy and can still catch very well and extremely fast for a big guy. it always hard to judge the best at a position on different teams due to different schemes, better oline vs worse oline, no wrs, pass happy offense etc...I dont see how chris johnson isnt in the argument though, i dont know how you leave him out of it. I need to see it from foster another year to see if hes consistent then i would be ok calling him the best if he posts identical numbers. But it seems rice is the clear choice with what was presented.


Also, McFadden: if he can stay healthy he would prolly be the best back in the league. But if i was a millionaire i wouldnt have joined the Marines....i cant say id take a rb thats never finished a full season, even in fantasy i wont touch him lol

[Blex64]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1343083712' post='1102169']
Thank you... Glad someone appreciates him..

If he could stay healthy, he'd be putting up LT numbers
[/quote]

But he can't, so who cares?

He's never going to be good because he can't finish a season.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Bullrush' timestamp='1343088430' post='1102190']
I have to go with Peterson, when he has the ball in his hands he's the one guy you don't want to run into. He does it all, he's the total package. Unfortunately he's playing on a bad team with a bad offense and a terrible O-Line. [b]He could put up 3000 yards in Oakland or Kansas. Those other backs are good behind a good O-Line[/b], [b]Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Darren McFadden. But they need room to run and make plays. Peterson doesn't need that, he can be effective everywhere[/b]. And what happens if you don't block well for those one trick pony type RB's we've seen last year with Chris Johnson. They have no running room and then they just go down after 1-2 yards.
[/quote]

3000 yards? No is doing that.

As for running talent, McFadden can run just as well between the tackles as he can outside them. Before his injury, Peterson was the more talented runner, but McFadden was/still is easily a better pass-catcher and blocker than Adrian.

[RAYvenFan20]

best? thats a tough one. my favorite running back is foster, just like rice he is an excellent receiver but hes gotta be one of the toughest guys in the league to take down and is excellent is pass protection

[Alexir]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1343081468' post='1102161']
If I needed a RB for one game, I'd take Darren McFadden over all of them.
[/quote]

Yeah, if I needed a running back for a whole season you can cross DMC out with AP and Steven Jackson.

I am very high on Arian Foster and hopefully Jamaal Charles can return to form.

[Purple Punishment]

[quote name='Bullrush' timestamp='1343088430' post='1102190']
I have to go with Peterson, when he has the ball in his hands [b]and can hold on to it[/b], he's the one guy you don't want to run into. He does it all, he's the total package. Unfortunately he's playing on a bad team with a bad offense and a terrible O-Line. He could put up 3000 yards in Oakland or Kansas. Those other backs are good behind a good O-Line, Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Darren McFadden. But they need room to run and make plays. Peterson doesn't need that, he can be effective everywhere. And what happens if you don't block well for those one trick pony type RB's we've seen last year with Chris Johnson. They have no running room and then they just go down after 1-2 yards.
[/quote]

fixed

[The Raven]

It appears that many people think AP just came off a 20 fumble season... He fumbled a whopping 1 time. Just thought I'd clear that up

[ellicottraven]

Read each and every word and lapped it up! I agree that the way the author broke down every running back and the conclusion he drew, makes total sense to me! Yes - Ray Rice is the best running back in football and am I mighty glad he will be a Raven for many years to come! Go Ravens! Superbowl time baby!

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1343093835' post='1102223']
Yeah, if I needed a running back for a whole season you can cross DMC out with AP and Steven Jackson.

I am very high on Arian Foster and hopefully Jamaal Charles can return to form.
[/quote]

McFadden's injury-proneness is well documented. That's why I clearly wrote one game. As for Peterson and Jackson, both have been relatively durable their respective careers. especially considering how violently they play.

I'd love to see Charles return strong as well.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1343101784' post='1102295']
I'd love to see Charles return strong as well.
[/quote]
Coming off his injury it should be hard. Especially since he's a speed back. I'm rooting for him too though.

[codizzle]

Not sayin I would choose DMac people justsaying I'm glad someone actually mentioned him

Obviously because of his injury record I would never choose him over foster rice mcCoy Peterson etc.

[The King]

Before the injury I would have said that Peterson is easily the best pure rusher in football. He had speed, power, agility, and great field vision. He wasn't much of a blocker and he was never a star catching the ball out of the backfield, but he was never really asked to do those things. The guy was like a thoroughbred. Put the ball in his hands and watch him go.

But I think the article is very right in his losing the title with the injury and the likelihood of missing part of next season. With that in mind I think that Rice is the most versatile and durable of the top backs, and he plays in a scheme that understands his strengths and utilizes them well the majority of the time. And while the article sites his splitting carries as a cause for concern, without a solid veteran backup that shouldn't be an issue again this year, and might be part of why he has been remarkably healthy since taking over as the top back for the Ravens.

One thing the article didn't mention is the role of the fullback in building a top back. While a lead blocker may not be as important to many schemes as they once were, Baltimore has carried on a tradition of nabbing the best there is to pave the way for the running game. While mentioning offensive line as a significant factor, fullback was one they neglected, and a variable I would have liked to see controlled for or integrated.

[Ravenslifer]

When healthy I'd say Peterson.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1343081468' post='1102161']
If I needed a RB for one game, I'd take Darren McFadden over all of them.
[/quote]

So True. The guy is the ultimate RB package comparable to AP. But since McFadden can't stay healthy (partly because of his style and play) and AP is coming back from injury, both are disqualified. But AP would be tops if healthy.

Foster is the best cut back runner in the league. But a lot of what he does is helped by an awesome O-Line (which tends to overcredit him). Ray Rice is probably the most versatile.

Currently, I do like Rice in this race. Because he's durable and versatile. If you swap Rice and Foster. I think Foster isn't as effective behind our line, while Rice will continue to flourish in Houston.

[Tiz]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1343093835' post='1102223']


Yeah, if I needed a running back for a whole season you can cross DMC out with AP and Steven Jackson.

I am very high on Arian Foster and hopefully Jamaal Charles can return to form.
[/quote]

It's funny you go from crossing off players who can't last the season to mentioning one who missed a few games for a hammy and another who missed a year...

[The Raven]

[quote name='Tiz' timestamp='1343146821' post='1102451']
It's funny you go from crossing off players who can't last the season to mentioning one who missed a few games for a hammy and another who missed a year...
[/quote]

They don't have an extensive history of injuries. AP and McFadden do...

[nk02442]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1343088821' post='1102191']
Peterson doesnt do it all. He isnt a good receiver and he has fumble-itis. He is a beast of a RB, but he isnt the weapon out of the backfield that Rice, McCoy or Foster are.

Just to put it in perspective, Peterson has never eclipsed 2,000 total yards form scrimmage. Rice has done that twice in 3 seasons.
[/quote]

he also doesnt get the targets and the reps. If any of the backs got the kind of check down work that RR gets, they would all put up similar numbers. Its between AP/ Foster /Mccoy. AP has it all and the guy just get yards where most backs would go down. Foster is also another one who has crazy speed for his size and Mccoy as he showed last year, is a monster.

They are all better than Ray. Ray could be the best but he is indecicive and cannot run between the tackels. Watch every single sound fx or replace of the ravens and its nothign but the Burk and Leach telling rice to trust the line and run behind him. Thats why we have so many runs for loss and small gains. He needs to make one move and hit the hole. he either doesnt trust himself or the line, which is a bad bad situation for a runningback.. It makes you sick to see him run into the back of a 320 pound lineman, bounce off and get tackled by the other team. They need to get the blocking and assignments settled.