ESPN: Best backs in the league

mooby

You think Peterson being too high is ridiculous? He got a vote when ESPN was doing the "top 10 best backs of all time" list. That's insane.

As for Portis' ranking, I don't care that he's ranked #9. I don't like the fact that they criticized his pass blocking skills though, pass blocking has actually been one of Portis' better strengths.

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Buster

I saw a report that the Chiefs are planning on reducing LJ's carries this season to protect him from injury.

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Mattyk72

That would be the smart thing to do, however it seems like even going back to NY when he had Martin and Jordan as his backs Herm Edwards always says he wants to keep his #1 back fresh, and he always ends up pounding the hell out of his #1 anyway.

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GTripp0012

re: pass blocking, sometimes Portis does sell out to make a block and totally whiffs on it because he lunges at the guy and misses -- I mean it's right there on the tape for everyone to see.

Obviously it's not for lack of effort, I've never seen any back work harder trying to protect the passer than Portis does, and that's certainly a credit to his character and team oriented attitude. He does seem to lack proper pass blocking fundamentals.

Of course, he is surprisingly successful on the whole, I mean lunging like he does you'd think he'd whiff all the time -- and he really doesn't. Just to the people who think he's never missed a blocking assignment before: You don't know what you're watching.

I think 9th is about where I would put him, theres a few people who shouldn't be ranked above him on this list that are, but also 2-3 guys they have below him that should probably be higher.

Overall, this is a pretty good list, though they seem to be guzzling the Peterson kool-aid at a fast pace.

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SBXVII

How did they get that Portis puts the ball on the ground to much in critical situations? He didn't have a lot of fumbles. They were stupid fumbles but no to many?

If he mentioned Betts as being the fumbler then yes. or Rock but Portis? and the Pass Protection? He does have trouble with the 300 pound lineman sometimes but he almost always takes out the LB or DB on pass rushes.

firstdown

Last year Portis had six fumbles and lost five. He had an off year and people remember the past year not years back.

sandtrapjack

Well that adds up nicely since they drafted Jamaal Charles in the second round.

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itvnetop

I'm glad he's not in our division. I told the Cowpoke fans during that draft they were idiots for taking Julius Jones over Jackson... they reacted like fanboys.

sandtrapjack

Well include me in the minority on that one. I was totally ticked during that draft when Jackson fell to Dallas and they traded out of the first round.

Adding insult to injury, we all saw how Julius Jones worked out in Dallas, when they let him pack his bags for Seattle.

Another wasted draft pick.

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nofromakron

portis top five no doubt am taking him in fantasy with the four pick

hail_2_da_skins

I stand by my comments on Larry Johnson and Steven Jackson. I live in St Louis and unfortunately the Rams and the Chiefs are on television in this market every week. When you see guys this much, you see their flaws. Both players in my view are overrated, that doesn't mean that I don't think they are good. Not top five.

You're analysis about Larry Johnson is right. His offensive line sucks and it affects his production but I also think he is injury prone. Steven Jackson is a big, strong and physically imposing running back but he runs like a finesse back. That commercial they made of him plowing over Steelers was such a joke. The guy runs out of bounds whenever possible and rarely gets extra yards after first contact.

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Sheppdog

I might rate Portis a little higher but there are a lot of better backs in the league. I have no clue how this guy says Portis cant block because i remember him stopping Derrick Brooks in his tracks in the playoffs "05". I would be hard pressed to even name a back that blocks as well as CP. And Marion Barber ahead of Portis is just BS. All we have seen of Barber in his career is comming in late in games with fresh legs, running all over tired beaten teams. He might play well as a starter now but I remember when we played them last year ......... He had negative yards. And what is all this BS about Elite size........ Its all bogus..... Emmit Smith..... LT..... Barry Sanders. Stop trying to tell me you need more then heart.

Mattyk72

As GTripp pointed out Portis tends to lunge and as a result he does miss blocks on occassion. I'd say overall he's a good blocker for a back and he's not afraid to stick his nose in there, but his lunging does result in some missed blocks.

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