Marshall Faulk's Top 5 RB's...No Portis?!

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

Here's what I hate about these rankings. Let's take a look at LaDainian Tomlinson. He's had a great career, but didn't his team almost cut him because they thought that he was getting old and would not restructure? So, can the Chargers win without him? I think they might; whereas in the case of Westbrook, I don't think the Iggles can with without him. I'm sure the same could be said of Portis.

RBs hit the wall like no other position, and I'm sure Faulk is taking that into consideration. Look at Sean Alexander.

[redsk1]

CP is a top 10 but not a top 5.

[jdlea]

Ya know, everyone keeps saying CP isn't a top 5 back, I really wish all of you would put up your lists. I'm not going to deny that CP is my favorite player in the league, so I have no problem saying that I'm biased, but I'd like to see who everyone believes is in the top 5.

Personally, I wasn't going to put a guy in my top 5 who only had 1 great season under his belt, but that's me. Regardless, I wanna see some top 5's that don't include Clinton Portis since everyone believes he's not in the top 5 anymore.

[Lotus]

1. DeAngelo Williams
2. Steven Jackson
3. Steve Slaton
4. Matt Forte
5. Adrian Peterson

[MTK]

My top 7 would be:

1. Peterson
2. Jackson
3. Westbrook
4. Turner
5. Tomlinson
6. Portis
7. Jones

It's so subjective though. I could arrange this list a bunch of different ways depending on what stats I'm looking at or how my mood strikes me. Portis is right there, I've got no problem with someone saying he's top 5, top 7, or top 10. Rankings in the end are kinda silly and just a discussion topic. All I know is he's damn good, and a very good all around back.

[Zerohero]

adrian peterson
steven jackson
michael turner
deangelo williams
thomas jones

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Skins4Eva

On NFL Total Access last night they, I mean Marshall Faulk presented his top five running backs I the league and the lists was as follows:

1. Adrian Peterson
2. DeAngelo Williams
3. Michael Turner
4. LaDanian Tomlinson
5. Maurice Jones-Drew/Brian Westbrook (tied for 5th)

I can hardly disagree with Adrian Peterson but, seriously, no Portis anywhere on the list?! That is just plain ridiculous. Allow me to 'critique' Faulk's list and then present my own. I agree with Adrian Peterson. DeAngelo Williams isn't even the best RB on his own team, Michael Turner has been a number 2 most of his career until last season in which he did have an outstanding year, but to say he is now among the elite is a bit premature. LaDanian Tomlinson, IMO, should always be in this discussion despite his nagging injuries of late. Maurice Jones-Drew and Westbrook are close although I think defensive coordinators fear scheming against Westbrook far more than Jones-Drew. What would be your guys list of the Top 5 RB's in the NFL?....This is my attempt to break the monotony of all of the Campbell sucks, Vinny sucks, Zorn sucks, and Snyder sucks threads LMAO.

Really? Who's better? Jonathan Stewart is pretty good, but D'Angelo had a monster year.

I'd say:

A.P.
D'Angelo
Turner
LT
Westbrook
Portis
Gore
MJD
Barber

Something like that.

[GTripp0012]

Portis > Turner, but Gore is as well. Even CP would go to bat for Gore.

I don't know if Portis is a top five back, but he wouldn't be more than a small step behind Peterson in any given year.

[Chico23231]

1. Peterson
2. Westbrook
3. Jones-Drew
4.Chris Johnson
5. Turner
Portis not there

[firstdown]

Was CP ever a break away runner? The only time I remember hi breking away was his first run as a skin.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Was CP ever a break away runner? The only time I remember hi breking away was his first run as a skin.

Lots of people like to talk about his "breakaway" ability from his time in Denver. If we measure that by 40+ runs (which is the easiest way since the NFL keeps that stat) those runs have tracked as follows:

2002 - 3
2003 - 6
2004 - 1
2005 - 2
2006 - 0
2007 - 0
2008 - 0

He also averaged 5.5 yds/carry both years in Denver and has never done better than 4.3 in Washington. That probably says more about the talent and system in D.C. than it does about Portis.

His 20+ runs also declined in Washington, though they spiked again last season.

2002 - 11
2003 - 13
2004 - 5
2005 - 6
2006 - 3
2007 - 3
2008 - 13

Maybe the fact that he was able to break the 20 yard runs last year, but not able to turn any of those into 40+ carries does suggest that he is no longer the same back that he was early in his career.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Lots of people like to talk about his "breakaway" ability from his time in Denver. If we measure that by 40+ runs (which is the easiest way since the NFL keeps that stat) those runs have tracked as follows:

2002 - 3
2003 - 6
2004 - 1
2005 - 2
2006 - 0
2007 - 0
2008 - 0

He also averaged 5.5 yds/carry both years in Denver and has never done better than 4.3 in Washington. That probably says more about the talent and system in D.C. than it does about Portis.

His 20+ runs also declined in Washington, though they spiked again last season.

2002 - 11
2003 - 13
2004 - 5
2005 - 6
2006 - 3
2007 - 3
2008 - 13

Maybe the fact that he was able to break the 20 yard runs last year, but not able to turn any of those into 40+ carries does suggest that he is no longer the same back that he was early in his career.

I wonder how much of that is due to Denver's zone blocking and cut blocking vs. the Skins (Gibbs) man-to-man blocking. Last yr they used some zone blocking.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

I wonder how much of that is due to Denver's zone blocking and cut blocking vs. the Skins (Gibbs) man-to-man blocking. Last yr they used some zone blocking.

I think a lot (all?) of it has to do with different schemes. That he was able to match his career high (from Denver) in 20+ runs might also support that. But that he was not able to turn any 20+ runs into 40+ runs might also suggest that the years of grinding (and vicious pass pro) has taken some toll. I really don't say any of that as a knock on Portis, I was just trying to answer the "was Portis ever a break away runner" question.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

I wonder how much of that is due to Denver's zone blocking and cut blocking vs. the Skins (Gibbs) man-to-man blocking. Last yr they used some zone blocking.

This is a good question but to me it is somewhat irrelevant. When you are already 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, the blocking scheme from that point on really doesn't matter.

Put differently: CP had several runs last year where he had just one last defender to beat and then CP was takin' it to the house. In these situations it was a one-on-one: could CP make that last guy miss or not? Sadly, the answer again and again was "not," i.e., CP did not make that last man miss. Hence no runs over 40 yards.

My own subjective memory of his first couple of years in Denver was that he did, in fact, make that last man miss. Hence the 40+ yard runs reflected in the numbers posted above.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Lots of people like to talk about his "breakaway" ability from his time in Denver. If we measure that by 40+ runs (which is the easiest way since the NFL keeps that stat) those runs have tracked as follows:

2002 - 3
2003 - 6
2004 - 1
2005 - 2
2006 - 0
2007 - 0
2008 - 0

He also averaged 5.5 yds/carry both years in Denver and has never done better than 4.3 in Washington. That probably says more about the talent and system in D.C. than it does about Portis.

His 20+ runs also declined in Washington, though they spiked again last season.

2002 - 11
2003 - 13
2004 - 5
2005 - 6
2006 - 3
2007 - 3
2008 - 13

Maybe the fact that he was able to break the 20 yard runs last year, but not able to turn any of those into 40+ carries does suggest that he is no longer the same back that he was early in his career.

But only 2 players had more carries of 20 or more yards last year; and only 5, I think, had more carries of 10 or more yards. Plus, in my opinion, there isn't a better blocking back in the league.

My top five would be:

Adrian Peterson
Steven Jackson
Clinton Portis
Brian Westbrook
Marcus Mason