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Nicholas Donsky's avatar

What most talking heads forget is that the offensive line and the scheme has a huge bearing on a RBs success.

Remember the idiot Bill's never gave Beast Mode enough carries to establish a rhythm or wear opposing defenders down and they used OJ as a receiver until the coach was canned!

Some schemes are more amenable to RBs success than others.

And last but not least, there a more RBs in the HOF than any other position. A balanced offense is usually the most successful.

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Chris Snape's avatar

Ken you know how I have always backed Rashaad Penny. He has always been a stud and scored some memorable TDs in his first three seasons. Two off the top of my head, first was around a 25 yarder against the Rams, in his first season. He took off towards the left side line, got three quarters of the way there, then reversed field and out ran the entire Rams defense and scored in the right corner. The other was a 50 yard beauty in the Steel city. Penny got the handoff from Russ almost at the same time their defensive end broke through the line of scrimmage on a B Line for Penny. Penny made one quick jab step to his right and left the D End grasping at thin air. All he did after that was out race the entire Steelers defensive backs scoring from 50 yards like he did against the Lions last week. I have always publicly backed him as he did show us enough that his talent was obvious. I really wanted to see Carson and Penny on the field at the same time, both are big enough to fill the Fullback spot. We have seen KW3 and Penny on the field together but it's always been Walker linning up at Fullback, Pete must have his reasons. For all who think Pete is far to enamered by running the ball, the Hawks had a successful coach in the early 80s who ran more. His nickname said it all "ground Chuck", Knox. We used a play that worked everytime and I think it would be great for our backs. In the dark ages maybe watching on black and white TV. John L Williams would line up at Fullback and Curt Warner would be the tailback. It was a screen to Warner in the flat or so everybody always believed. John L would run into the line put a rub block on who ever was there, then he would escape to the other side of the field unguarded..Pump fake the screen to Curt, and QB Dave Craig would sell it, then he would turn and throw to John L on the open side no one was ever with in 20 yards and that was if a defender was lying down hurt. The play never went for less than 30 yards, and they scored a number of times over 3 or 4 years. Can you imagine how well that would work for KW3. I have been thinking about it since I saw Walker line up at FB. A good runninback is worth his weight in gold and they should be paid on a higher scale in their first 4 years, a great majority get hurt and don't make it that long

In my view and not a coincidence, the 2011 players contract helped devalue the runners, which is right on your time scale.

Finally I apologize for the length there is one player you listed that I would have wanted more than Penny using 20/20 hindsight and that is the Dolphins Mike Gizeki, tightends are second in being under payed.

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