Running Backs you loved to watch

[Mason Maniac]

For fun:

I’m not necessarily talking about the best ever, or those guys you saw on old NFL footage, but the backs you were around to watch on Sunday. Which guys did you love to watch run the ball?

Mine...

http://www.profootballhof.com/assets/photo_galleries/630x536/Brockington_Week11.jpg

John Brockington, Green Bay Packers (Rookie year 1971)
I was too busy playing with my GI Joes to remember much of Hornung and Taylor, but my first NFL hero, the first guy I worshiped in my early days as a fevered pro football fan was this bruising Fullback. GB has a history of great FBs and for a while John was one of the very best, with the deadly combination of brute strength and speed. Back when 1,000 yards meant something, Brock was the first to reach that mark for his first 3 seasons (not even Walter accomplished that).

His problem though, was twofold – He (and kicker Chester Marcol) was Green Bay’s total offense. And coach Devine lacked any imagination and just ran him to death (with some mentoring I think Scott Hunter could have developed into a steady enough QB, who could have kept defenses honest), after 3 years he was done, worn to the nub, no gas left in the tank and when run mate MaCarthur Lane was traded in 1974, he lost his lead blocker.

He’ll never make the HOF, but for 3 seasons he was a HOF caliber back. He was the NFL rookie of the year in 71, a 3 time consecutive pro bowler and one of the games very best.

Video: Outside the lines (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2PX7a6hRk)

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0807/nfl_g_campbell_260.jpg

Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers (Rookie year 1978)
Watching Earl in powder blue was awe-inspiring. I thought I knew all about power running, then I saw Earl Campbell and I realized I knew nothing. With those huge legs, Earl was in a whole different world. The man gave me so many wow moments. That run against Miami, the famous goal line collision with Jack Tatum… just an incredible man to watch.

Youtube highlights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWKtv4gxuvQ)

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/147/485/Warner_display_image.jpg

Curt Warner, Seattle Seahawks (Rookie year 1983)
As incredible as he was, he was never completely the same after the devastating injury in his second season. Now think of that, because if you followed his career you know how great he was afterward… but that rookie year, the first season the Hawks went all the way to a conference championship game (they lost to the Raiders) --- that was magic time. He was fast, could cut back like nobody's business and was a receiving threat as well. It seemed liked nothing could stop him. He only played 8 seasons and in his last few seasons the tank was out of gas. Oh what might have been had he never been tripped up by that damn artificial turf.

Youtube highlights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjE3Dte3VsM)

http://www.itsalreadysigned4u.com/shop/media/images/product_category/aaa-76074.jpg

Ickey Woods, Cincinnati Bengals (Rookie year 1988)
I know I’m not supposed to like the Bengals, but I couldn’t help myself in 1988. And it was all a rookie RBs fault: I loved Ickey, loved his smile, loved to watch him run, loved that horribly goofy dance, the Ickey Shuffle. The thing cracked me up. And that was the point, Icky made football fun. Damn I wish they had won that SB against flippin San Fran. His shot in the spotlight only lasted one season, but what a season.

NFL Video –with too many stupid opponents making disparaging comments (http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d8074303e/Top-Ten-One-Shot-Wonders-Ickey-Woods)

http://chroniclesofdad.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/barrysanders.jpg

Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions (Rookie year 1989)
This guy took my breath away from the first moment he stepped on the field. I have never seen anything like the things #20 did on game day. His best run wasn’t even official, it was a pre-season game against the Redskins and it wasn’t a touchdown run, but it was amazing, how he snaked back and forth among a sea of maroon jerseys, elusive, magical… breathtaking. The fact was he was often surrounded by opponents and still found a way to get yards. I’ve never seen anyone like him and he’s my all time favorite RB

NFL highlights (http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80748016/Top-Ten-Elusive-Runners-Barry-Sanders)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GnCjXJJdb2g/S37s7RZRb0I/AAAAAAAABPk/Z4oYSAz1L5M/s400/Chris+Johnson+Titans.jpg

Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans (Rookie year 2008)
After the refs robbed the Seahawks of their Superbowl I lost heart, I just couldn’t watch the game without getting angry all over again. So what brought me back? 2 men. One: Brett Favre signed with my bothers Vikings. And it was while watching the Vikes, supporting my bro that I saw a highlight of one of Johnson’s runs. That was an OMG moment - I couldn’t take my eyes off of him; it was like watching lightening strike. Despite some rough games for the Titans, CJ restored the fun back into football.

Youtube highlight video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoUr82vUx60)


Honorable mentions –
Jim Otis, Cardinals: Don’t know him? I’m related to him so I was always interested in his stats. He was drafted by the Saints and wound up in KC at the end. But when he was a Cardinal in the mid 70s, that’s when he shined. That 1975 club was a pretty good one too (an 11-3 record thanks to an offense featuring Pro Bowl players in quarterback Jim Hart, receiver Mel Gray, running back Terry Metcalf, fullback Jim Otis and offensive linemen Dan Dierdorf and Conrad Dobler)

http://maizeandgoblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Jim-Otis.jpg

Chuck Forman, Vikings
Little Joe Morris, Giants
Eric Dickerson, Rams/Colts: I didn’t like the man, but he was interesting to watch. Tall, he ran upright and had this long galloping stride.
Walter Payton, Bears: He wasn’t the fastest, the most fancy or the strongest, he just got the ball and did his job. Plus he played for the hated Bears… so most of the time I was rooting against him, but I do have great respect for him nonetheless.
Shaun Alexander, Seahawks
Ahman Green, Packers


And of course, Eddie George

[Sect309Fan]

My favorite running back before I became a Titans fan was John Riggins of the Redskins

44

He just overpowered people, and the Hogs really knew how to block for him.

[Titansfan777]

As funny as it sounds, mine was ron dayne...I attended his games that magical season and he was just amazing.

[TitansGiantsBears]

In my lifetime I've had the pleasure of watching many great running backs in the NFL. Sometimes though, it's not the "great" running backs that catch your eye. Don't get me wrong. My list DOES include some greats as well, but some guys may leave you thinking, "Huh?".

First of all let me start with Barry Sanders because ANY list of great players I've seen in my lifetime begins with Barry. He did things others could only dream of doing. Look at his body in the picture Mason Maniac posted above. How does a human being contort himself into that shape while running? In that pic his eyes are going one way and his feet have already made the move in the other direction. When they teach you to tackle they tell you to watch the torso. Ok, so his hips are going one direction and his torso is pointed in another. Just crazy, mad skills that come along once in a lifetime. I heard Gale Sayers say one time that he used to dream of moves in his sleep he thought were impossible until he saw Barry do them.

My 1B on favorite RBs is Franco Harris. I was a kid growing up in the '70s in a small coal-mining town so far removed from a major city you'd have to drive for hours to reach one. There were no "local" pro teams to cheer for so you cheered for what was on tv. That meant either the Steelers or Cowboys. I hated the Cowboys with a passion (and still do). Franco was my favorite player on that team. Like many great players who hung around too long many folks remember his last few years when he lumbered along like Eddie George running on a bed of marshmallows. That wasn't Franco Harris. In his heyday, Franco was a hellaciously good running back. He was big and fast. He had soft hands. He could block. He always held onto the ball.

Walter Payton still stands as the greatest running back I've ever seen. There were guys who did one thing or another better than Walter. Some were better open field runners. Others were great in traffic. Some were great in short-yardage or the passing game. Walter did it all well. There was no weaknesses in his game. None. Zilch. Zero. Nada. He was a great pure runner. He could make you miss. He could run over you. He ran well in traffic. He was great in short yardage. He was an amazing threat out of the backfield. Few today realize he held the record for receptions by a running back when he retired.

Earl Campbell was the best big back I've ever seen. He was fast for a big guy but it was that power. My god, what power he had in those tree tunks he called legs! Head-to head collisions with the Tyler Rose were violent and ill-advised. They changed the way NFL jerseys were made because of Earl! To this day the most memorable hit I've ever witnessed was between Earl Campbell and Jack Lambert in a regular season game in the late '70s. Both would just unload on opponents and were used to a guy falling when they hit them. They were one on one and something had to give - except nothing did. The immovable force met the unmoveable object and they bounced off one another and for a moment seemed frozen in time, shocked that the other hadn't fallen. Of course a host of black and gold jerseys piled on Earl seconds later but for that one glorious moment there were only two players on the field that mattered, both deserving of the legendary status they earned.

I have to tip my hat to Mason Maniac for listing another of my faves - Joe Morris. I'm a Giants fan and I can't tell you how many times this pint-sized wrecking ball made my Sunday afternoon! For two seasons ('85 and '86) he was as good as anyone to ever play the game.

Billy Sims was Barry Sanders before Barry Sanders came along. Known to many youngsters as the crazy old guy who yelled "Boomer" during a Heisman presentation, Sims was a monster in his day. Had he not gotten hurt he would have retired in the top 5 in rushing. He was THAT good.

Another favorite of mine was Rocky Bleier. He was the other half of that Steelers backfield that included Franco Harris. His story is one of the most inspirational in the history of the game. He was the ultimate blue-collar guy. He wasn't a starter at Notre Dame before he went to Vietnam and nearly had his legs blown off. He came home and got into the NFL as an afterthought. He would go on to be a valuable cog in the Steeler machine as a third down back and lead blocker for Harris. He even rushed for 1,000 yards in '76 as both he and Franco topped that milestone back when it meant something and in only 14 games to boot!

OJ is also on my list but not the knife-wielding "If the glove don't fit" variety. Few remember that Ottis Anderson was nicknamed "OJ" long before winning a Super Bowl MVP with the Giants. Much like Franco, he lumbered along in his later years. He was a big power back. But early in his career he was worthy of the nickname. He was fast and elusive. He could break tackles or make you miss. he was so fun to watch. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1979, nearly taking the rushing title from Earl. He ran for 1,000 yards in five of his first six seasons. Only the players strike in '82 kept him from making it six in a row to begin his career. He was #11 that year in yards rushing. But let's not forget that lumbering old man either. Anderson was hurt in '85, picking up just 479 yards, and was never the same player. Over the next few years he was cut from the Giants and St. Louis Rams only to return later to the Giants. Over a five year period he had only 151 attempts. He was on his way out of football or so it seemed. When Parcells brought him back to the Giants it was insurance due to Joe Morris getting injured. He wanted a veteran that would hold onto the football. Anderson told a funny story about a rookie teammate that thought it was funny that he had the same name of that Ottis Anderson who was so good in the late 70's and early 80's. He changed his style, became a bruiser, won a Super Bowl MVP and finished his career with over 10,000 yards.

Lorenzo Neal is familiar to everyone on this board but few remember that he was drafted to be a feature back, not a fullback. He blew out his knee in the second game of his rookie season but looked so promising. He actually had a 74 yard TD run! He was a shoo-in for a 1,000 yard rookie season. But from the moment he blew out that knee, he was a fullback. Some would consider it a fall to go from being a feature back with a promising career to a fullback who woulnd't amass 1,000 total rushing yards in a 16-year career but he seemed to relish the role. He blocked for a 1,000 yard back 11 seasons in a row. He's a 4 time Pro Bowler and a 2 time All Pro. In my opinion, he's Hall of Fame worthy.

Does anyone remember Rob Carpenter? He was a promising rookie runner for the Oilers in 1977. Unfortunately for him, the club drafted Earl Campbell the following season and he spent his career as somewhat of a journeyman. He came to the Giants just about the time I began following them. He ran with power and was the epitome of the blue collar player. He could lay a lick on a defender.

Another back I'm glad I saw play was Marcus Allen. If Payton is the best overall back I've seen, then Marcus is certainly #2. He reinvented himself several times and showed he wasn't just a running back but a football player. Early in his career he was the guy no one could catch. His runs were flashy and brilliant. He possessed a rare combination of speed and power. He could catch very well and made people miss after he caught the ball. Later he showed he was far from a prima donna type by sharing the backfield with Bo Jackson, even when Bo became a pheomenon. After Bo went down he continued to share the backfield but with subpar talent that was beneath him. He never said a word. He then went to Kansas City and provided them with leadership and contributed as a runner. It was in KC that he became known as one of the best short-yardage backs in history, although I would like to point out he was ALWAYS great at this. It was just in KC that he gained notoriety for it. I guess it was overshadowed by the aforementioned flash and brilliance when he was younger. :)

And finally, I submit a name many have probably never heard of - Hank Bauer. Who? Hank Bauer was a fullback and sometimes backup in San Diego during the late 70's and early 80's. He finished his career there with only 377 rushing yards in six seasons. So why in the world does he make my list? For one thing he was a terrific blocker. Secondly the guy had the best nose for the end zone of probably any player I've ever seen. Consider that in his career he carried the ball 123 times and caught just 12 passes. That's a combined 135 touches, right? They guy scored an amazing 20 TDs on those 135 touches! That's a TD every six times he touched the ball! I chuckle every time I hear them talk of Buddy Ryan's infamous "All he does is score touchdowns" line about Cris Carter. I immediately think of Hank Bauer. If there's ever been a player who deserves that to be said of him, it's Bauer.

[TTP77]

TGB....why don't you tell us what you really think?


lol I'm just kidding dude! but wow that was long hahahah :)

[Yvette]

Another back I'm glad I saw play was Marcus Allen.
I hate the Faiders with a passion and I couldn't avoid watching him and Bo. I was soooo glad when KC got Marcus. He was in great shape thanks to the dumbass Crypt Keeper :D

[don28]

Tony Dorsett
Walter Payton
Roger Craig
Christian Okoye
Priest Holmes
Thurman Thomas
Marcus Allen
Eddie George
Earl Campbell
Barry Sanders
Emmitt Smith
Terrell Davis
LaDanian Tomlinson (before the Chargers burned him out)

[RegulatRR27]

Eddie in his prime was always fun to watch in a weird way, u dont see many backs 6'3 240 + with no fat to speak off on his body= horse. And no one is gonna like this but Jamal lewis during his 2000 year was something else to watch, especially on the day he torched the browns, comparing 09 titans to was it 03 ravens? Anyway their offense was very bad all they had was a running game and lewis was a monster, kinda reminded me of Eddie. I also like Bettis, especially at the end of his career and he wud come in mostly on short yardage and was usually a sure thing.

[Titanico]

Earl Campbell
Erick Dickerson
Walter Payton
Joe Riggins
Frank O'harris
Barry Sanders
Marshall Faulk
Eddie George
Chris Johnson

[Mason Maniac]

TGB....why don't you tell us what you really think?


lol I'm just kidding dude! but wow that was long hahahah :)

Long but a great read.

TGB - on Marcus and short yardage, I remember an old Packer backer telling me that Marcus reminded him of Paul Hornung in that regard - in terms of goal line productivity they were money iin the bank. For an old school Packer fan that was a great compliment.

And while I'm not a Giants fan I like those players, coach and that team from the mid 80s. Bavaro, LT, Simms.... and Joe Morris was a little spitfire. It's sad how players get forgotten over the years - because at his peak he was amazing - and yet no one talks about him.

Oh and another name I didn't mention but I should give a nod to, was Marshall Faulk.

Edit: BTW, yeah when I saw that pick of Barry I thought, "Oh yeah, that's the picture, that sums him up... in a nutshell, impossible"

[TitansGiantsBears]

TGB....why don't you tell us what you really think?


lol I'm just kidding dude! but wow that was long hahahah :)

Can I just say... :p :)

[TTP77]

of course it was a great read. I think TGB knows I respect his posts/opinions (even when we disagree). :)

I couldn't resist razzing him tho :lol

[TitansGiantsBears]

of course it was a great read. I think TGB knows I respect his posts/opinions (even when we disagree). :)

I couldn't resist razzing him tho :lol

Of course I do and hope you feel likewise. What a boring message board it would be if everyone agreed about everything all the time or we couldn't razz one another from time to time. I value the opinion of others greatly, especially those who can tell me WHY they feel the way they do about a topic. There are no posters on here I agree with all the time, but plenty who challenge me to think (and do so civilly). That's why I've always loved this board over so many others. On too many boards disagreements become personal and nasty. The way I see it, if I disagree with someone about football or any other topic for that matter- so what? It doesn't make either of us less of a person to see something from a different perspective. God help me if I ever see the day I think I know it all.

That said....

I may not know it all but I am always right. :lmao