Where have all of the elite backs gone?

no love · 10-12-2007, 07:22 PM

AKA The elite back excuse thread.

This thread is for all of the people who are fans of elite backs* such as Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, Shaun Alexander, Ladanian Tomlinson, and Larry Johnson.

Where have our elite backs gone? Post the reasons why your elite back is not performing. Is it injuries, line play, game plan, etc.

Frank Gore: It's the same problems the 49ers have always had. A lot of people want to blame Hostler, but I really blame the lack of a deep threat or even a threat on the outside. Our Wrs are doing just about everything wrong from dropping passes, to running bad routes. Say what you want about Antonio Bryant, but he blocked well on the outside and provided the niners with a deep threat to make safeties think twice. The line hasn't been THAT bad, but now defenses don't have to worry about anyone except for Frank Gore.

*Note: The only other backs that I considered elite, that are not on this list are Brian Westbrook and Willie Parker. But if you want to say why your back is not performing go right ahead.

619 · 10-12-2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no love

AKA The elite back excuse thread.

This thread is for all of the people who are fans of elite backs* such as Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, Shaun Alexander, Ladanian Tomlinson, and Larry Johnson.

Where have our elite backs gone? Post the reasons why your elite back is not performing. Is it injuries, line play, game plan, etc.

Frank Gore: It's the same problems the 49ers have always had. A lot of people want to blame Hostler, but I really blame the lack of a deep threat or even a threat on the outside. Our Wrs are doing just about everything wrong from dropping passes, to running bad routes. Say what you want about Antonio Bryant, but he blocked well on the outside and provided the niners with a deep threat to make safeties think twice. The line hasn't been THAT bad, but now defenses don't have to worry about anyone except for Frank Gore.

*Note: The only other backs that I considered elite, that are not on this list are Brian Westbrook and Willie Parker. But if you want to say why your back is not performing go right ahead.

times have changed and some of them u mentioned arent elite any longer due to several reasons such as age, injuries, O-Line, supporting cast, etc

TitanHope · 10-12-2007, 07:30 PM

I wouldn't say Frank Gore is an elite back yet, but it depends on the definition. He's only had one great year. The other players listed have had two or more great years.

no love · 10-12-2007, 07:41 PM

Well then who would you consider elite?

619 · 10-12-2007, 07:50 PM

LT and Westbrook are the only RBs i can see as ELITE

scottyboy · 10-12-2007, 07:53 PM

I've always considered Ronnie Brown better than people have given him credit for. If he keeps this season up, I think he may make his way toward "elite" status.

BrownsTown · 10-12-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 619

LT and Westbrook are the only RBs i can see as ELITE

Westbrook? Seriously? How can you be elite if you can't run between the tackles?

I think right now the only ones you can really say are elite are Joseph Addai and Willie Parker.

619 · 10-12-2007, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyboy

I've always considered Ronnie Brown better than people have given him credit for. If he keeps this season up, I think he may make his way toward "elite" status.

AGREED. hes a beast with freakish ability at a coveted position and doin this all on a crappy team

619 · 10-12-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrownsTown

Westbrook? Seriously? How can you be elite if you can't run between the tackles?

I think right now the only ones you can really say are elite are Joseph Addai and Willie Parker.

its not always about the numbers u know lol

BrownsTown · 10-12-2007, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 619

its not always about the numbers u know lol

lol says the person who says Brian Westbrook is elite. He's all about numbers. Parker and Addai are the only ones who have really been consistently good this year.

Go_Eagles77 · 10-12-2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrownsTown

Westbrook? Seriously? How can you be elite if you can't run between the tackles?

When was the last time you saw Brian Westbrook play?

doingthisinsteadofwork · 10-12-2007, 08:01 PM

I consider Lamont Jordan elite.

TitanHope · 10-12-2007, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no love

Well then who would you consider elite?

Tomlinson, Alexander, and L. Johnson are the only ones I consider to be
"Elite." I would have put Jackson in that category if he would have had a good year. Frank Gore, as I said, had one great year.

When discussing the Top 5 RB's in the NFL last year, then yeah, I have no problem with your opinion.

neko4 · 10-12-2007, 08:04 PM

I kidnapped all of them and replaced them with clones that sucked.
As a packer fan i feel jealous that all these teams have elite backs...
Next on my list:
Westbrook
Parker
Addai
Portis
Brown

619 · 10-12-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go_Eagles77

When was the last time you saw Brian Westbrook play?

we can all just look at your sig and see for ourselves :p

BrownsTown · 10-12-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go_Eagles77

When was the last time you saw Brian Westbrook play?

I'm not going to lie and say I've seen him every week, but when I see him he seems to be incapable of running inside. Just not his strength. He isn't a complete RB, which is why I don't consider him elite.

619 · 10-12-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neko4

I kidnapped all of them and replaced them with clones that sucked.
As a packer fan i feel jealous that all these teams have elite backs...
Next on my list:
Westbrook
Parker
Addai
Portis
Brown

portis elite??

keylime_5 · 10-12-2007, 08:06 PM

Tomlinson, Johnson, S.Jackson, and Frank Gore are the elite backs in the league right now. Alexander is past his prime, he's only going down from here on out. Everyone else has issues that make them not elite.

EDIT: ....and Brian westbrook is not, never was, never will be considered an elite back. He's good, not elite. That would be a heck of a way to soil the term.

scottyboy · 10-12-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doingthisinsteadofwork

I consider Lamont Jordan elite.

sure if elite changed to meaning being slow

duckseason · 10-12-2007, 08:06 PM

This just further illustrates the fact that stats attributed to individual players is not always an accurate measure of that players worth or skill. While these guys all possess tremendous talent, (some more so than others) I think it's important to realize that the stats they accumulate is a reflection of the entire team. Many variables go into creating a great statistical season for a RB, and just as many go into creating a statistical letdown the following year. These guys are just representatives for their respective teams' rushing attack.

619 · 10-12-2007, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyboy

sure if elite changed to meaning being slow

production is production and u cant deny that from him but then again this is comin from a raider fan

scottyboy · 10-12-2007, 08:09 PM

Well Brian Leonard sure isnt elite... He's WAY passed that level. He's HOF/god status right now

619 · 10-12-2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duckseason

This just further illustrates the fact that stats attributed to individual players is not always an accurate measure of that players worth or skill. While these guys all possess tremendous talent, (some more so than others) I think it's important to realize that the stats they accumulate is a reflection of the entire team. Many variables go into creating a great statistical season for a RB, and just as many go into creating a statistical letdown the following year. These guys are just representatives for their respective teams' rushing attack.

AKA parker and addai

Windy · 10-12-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyboy

Well Brian Leonard sure isnt elite... He's WAY passed that level. He's HOF/god status right now

it never gets old. it's WAY past that level.

Xenos · 10-12-2007, 08:12 PM

LT: The 9 to 10 men stacked lines prevent him from running very far. However, he's still as dangerous as ever in space, so it's more important than anything that we get him the ball through screens and other types of passes. If he's not going to get his yards rushing, then he needs to get it through receptions.