Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post - What do you want pundits to be wrong about?

GTripp0012 · 07-29-2010, 02:38 PM

I voted for Haslett because I'm really hoping the defensive coaching switch brings the new ideas/energy and stuff, but I'm going to comment on the age of the running backs instead.

It's hard to say when old becomes too old. It's not like age thirty is a magical number either. For Willie Parker, I would say 29 is probably too old. For Portis, there was a decline/altering of style at age 26. He probably has a year or two left at the same "heavily dependent on the OL" level, where he can go for 5.0 YPC if holes are being blown open, and 3.2 if he's running into backs of lineman.

Larry Johnson was an older back coming into the NFL, so 30 isn't a very critical age for him. Johnson was a fairly useless player by age 27, so whatever he had in the tank then, he probably still has.

Brian Westbrook has declined more in the last three seasons than any of these guys, but still had his short area running and receiving skills. Breakaway speed is history though.

07-29-2010, 02:38 PM	#7
GTripp0012 Living Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Evanston, IL Age: 37 Posts: 15,994	Re: What do you want pundits to be wrong about? I voted for Haslett because I'm really hoping the defensive coaching switch brings the new ideas/energy and stuff, but I'm going to comment on the age of the running backs instead. It's hard to say when old becomes too old. It's not like age thirty is a magical number either. For Willie Parker, I would say 29 is probably too old. For Portis, there was a decline/altering of style at age 26. He probably has a year or two left at the same "heavily dependent on the OL" level, where he can go for 5.0 YPC if holes are being blown open, and 3.2 if he's running into backs of lineman. Larry Johnson was an older back coming into the NFL, so 30 isn't a very critical age for him. Johnson was a fairly useless player by age 27, so whatever he had in the tank then, he probably still has. Brian Westbrook has declined more in the last three seasons than any of these guys, but still had his short area running and receiving skills. Breakaway speed is history though. __________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.