Best Open-Field Runners?
 

Made a thread for Onterrio McCalebb awhile ago, and another guy I really like in this capacity is Kenjon Barner. Probably not first-round picks, but every NFL team wants to have a couple of these guys on their roster.

Dem Ray Graham cuts...

The Honey-badger.

*double-post deleted*

...He of the knee injury? always hate to see guys injure their knees, but the guys whose games are about sudden movement and cutting always seem to lose the most.

Black Mamba

That'd be him. Hopefully he can regain what he was. Mighty impressive pre-injury.

Think Tavon Austin probably belongs in this thread:

The honey badger might not be the ideal pick here, but his speed and jukes on punt returns and INT/Fumble returns is scary.

McGuffie is still a beast.

step 1: watch the clip
step 2: repeat
step 3: see steps 1 and 2

Braxton Miller, Keenan Allen

Roy Finch...

A few names to throw out there....

DeAnthony Thomas (i know he's not eligible, but he's easily the best in the nation)

Kenjon Barner is already listed for good reason

Robbie Rouse is a freak of nature, he actually is a Sproles clone (that term is thrown around too loosely now, but he's the closest thing i've seen to it, the foot speed, body type (that thick lower body) and agility, but doing a great job of knowing when to and putting his head down and grinding out extra yards is just what sets him apart from the other guys compared to Sproles). See Vids below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyeDDXt0mLc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_0nQjfSw0A

Surprised Andre Ellington hasn't been mentioned here.

Obviously not the top guy, but Dennard Robinson is an interesting one here, great open field guy.

This has always been my favorite. One of the best ever runs in my opinion.

So many people confuse "speed" with "elusiveness" and there is a big difference.



When it comes to runningbacks elusiveness in traffic is far more important than in space anyway. So this is a rather pointless discussion.

Which... is why the names I've thrown out have been change-of-pace runners who also catch the ball and return kicks, as well as a receiver. This is about running in space, and yes, speed has a lot to do with elusiveness. McCalebb's not the shiftiest, but he can start and go quickly and hits seams hard - when he's doing that through a broken field, it's pretty damn hard to get a good shot at him.

The guys that are being discussed are all fast track guys that aren't real great football players. Excluding Ray Graham who is the real deal if healthy at RB.

Then throw out a name, and quit trying to be the guy who "knows it's not all about speed."

You don't have to be fast to be elusive,(hard to catch), but many fast guys do have a type of 'elusiveness', in that if they make a cut and get a step on you, they're gone.

Thread title was best-open-field-runners, and I'd put Mathieu's open field skills with the ball up there with anyone in the BCS.

Lots of wiggle in this kid...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKdmmyvM5vM

Ray Graham is ultra elusive and also has good speed.

Montee Ball is sneaky elusive.

I haven't seen much from anyone else that has really stood out to me but I won't really get into scouting guys until the season starts.

Exactly. There's all types, and I don't think there's been a 40 time mentioned in this thread anyways.

Charles Sims

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Roy Finch is def not a burner.

Not really.


I really like Sims as a bit of a sleeper prospect. He's more of a one cut type back who is great in the pass game. The skill set reminds me of McFadden. He will have a lot to prove with more on his shoulders without Keenum around.