Running backs used to be the guys every NFL team was looking for, the guy who would put your franchise over the top and lead them to the playoffs year after year. That has changed, the RB is now just another replaceable part on the 53 man roster.
Proponents of drafting a RB high in the 1st round will point to the impact Adrian Peterson had on the Vikings last year from 6-10 to 8-8, two more wins than they had in 2006. He did rush for 1341 yards including 224 against the Bears and 296 against the Chargers but no playoffs for the Vikings and after he was hurt against the Packers his production dropped. With his injury history from OU, and his running style the chances of him being a 10 year/1000 yards a season back are slim.
What about the backs taken in the first round of 2006; Reggie Bush, Laurence Maroney, DeAngelo Williams and Joseph Addai? Addai and Maroney have had an impact, and they have been helped by the fact they went to good teams, they didn't need to carry their teams right away but Bush and Williams have had little if any impact on their teams. Bush has not broken out the way many thought he would coming out of USC, he may still impact his team but right now the Texans look pretty good for taking Mario Williams instead of Bush.
The backs taken 2005 have fared even worse, remember Cadillac Williams, Cedric Benson, and Ronnie Brown? If not, that's fine, you aren't the one paying their salaries. They were taken 2,3 and 4, paid big money and have produced almost nothing at the pro level. Williams has been hurt the past two years and may not play ever again, Brown was starting to live up to his contract last season until he too got hurt. Benson, he's just plain been a bust. Interesting fact from the 2005 draft, Maurice Clarett was taken AHEAD of both Marion Barber and Brandon Jacobs.
The list goes on and on, you can look at drafts from the past 10 years and find only a handful of backs taken in the first round who have made an impact on their teams. Want one of the worst drafts on list; try 1995 Ki-Jana Carter, Tyrone Wheatley, James Stewart, Rashan Salaam all drafted before Terrell Davis.
If you want to see franchise backs, you'll have to find tapes of Emmitt Smith and Jerome Bettis you won't see any today.
Friday, April 18, 2008
The myth of the franchise running back
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2 comments:
I understand your point about RBs not being the saviors they used to be but saying that Peterson only lead to two more Viking victories is a little misleading, considering that there wasn't a whole lot of consistency coming from the QB/WR positions all season.
Good entry, I totally agree. I've been saying for a long time that it's stupid to take a RB in the 1st round, because it's easy to find RB talent in the later rounds, and because RBs just plain don't last very long.
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