Best College RB You've Seen Since Barry Sanders?

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by BigWoof31

If someone makes a best WR thread - I'm voting for Tim "Mutha[censored]in" Dwight from Iowa

To be fair, the thread would have to be titled "Best College WR You've Seen Since Tim "Mutha[censored]in" Dwight"...

[buchtelgrad04]

I'd have to say Beanie. Simply because of the fact that he can do everything that all of those other RB's can do just as well as them. But not all of those RB's can do everything he can do just as well. The closest one to him is AP.

Hurdle? Cake.
Stiff Arm? In his sleep.
Run over LB's? Easy.
Outrun DB's? Morgan Trent & Craig Steltz...'nuff said.
Balance? Ask MSU's defense.
Spin Move? Shawn Crable's head is still spinnin'.

The coaches just don't use him as a receiver out of the backfield. But when they do, it's effective.

[powerlifter]

Oddly enough on any other rb poll in the world wells won't even be considered.

[Tresselbeliever]

Even though I voted for Beanie, the only thing that's holding him back is his lack of elite top speed. He has broken many runs, don't get me wrong, but he's also been caught from behind on many long runs. If he had the speed to break those, there would be no doubt that he's the top RB.

[fourteenandoh]

Originally Posted by powerlifter

Oddly enough on any other rb poll in the world wells won't even be considered.

i was thinking about that when i read the thread yesterday. i tend to agree with you. do you think that is because he hasn't gotten much attention nationally because of the injuries and hasn't had a chance to run up the stats, do you think since we get to watch him week in week out we know better than the rest of the country, or do you think we are homers? i lean toward the 2nd choice. i don't think it is very homerish to include him with the greats. i didn't choose him, but i definitely think he deserves consideration.

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by powerlifter

Oddly enough on any other rb poll in the world wells won't even be considered.

Oddly enough that if he played for Nebraska, you'd be arguing against Eddie instead.

[t_BuckeyeScott]

Peterson gets my vote
I'm not sure that any of the guys ran as nasty as he does/did. Peterson runs with the same intensity that Ray Lewis plays linebacker. Fastest big back too. Power. Speed. Intensity. Getting stiff armed by Beanie would not be any fun, but Peterson would run straight through and leave cleat marks on your back.

[powerlifter]

Originally Posted by fourteenandoh

i was thinking about that when i read the thread yesterday. i tend to agree with you. do you think that is because he hasn't gotten much attention nationally because of the injuries and hasn't had a chance to run up the stats, do you think since we get to watch him week in week out we know better than the rest of the country, or do you think we are homers? i lean toward the 2nd choice. i don't think it is very homerish to include him with the greats. i didn't choose him, but i definitely think he deserves consideration.

Wells is everything as a buckeye fan we would love. Huge man,that's pretty fast,and amazing to watch. He makes us feel like USC fans did,when Bush was running the ball,because he can do something,when it shouldn't have been done. It is exciting to see such an elite athlete come along and know he's 100% buckeye. What's even more promising with Beanie is that you really can't look back and question him. It almost seems like he never really messed up(from the beginning of being here),other then a fumble here or there,that will happen in football,and we know that as fans. Aside from injuries(something that is very difficult to control) there's nothing really to fault him for. I could be wrong,but it's also time for him to leave as well. His personality on and off the field is going to be greatly missed. People realize this already.

The fact that he doesn't have the stats definitely hurts to a degree. That doesn't take away from his talent or potential at all. Think about how easy it is to remember stats from Steve Mcnair or Antwan Randel El,Marshall Faulk etc etc..That's what draws the attention to someone,and gives them the opportunity to become "media famous". Sometimes guys take advantage and sometimes they don't,but there is a certain aura of putting up big statistics,that are hard to deny,when it comes to distinguishing "who's best".

In the same regard I think people obviously see the flaws with living and dying with statistics so much,that they begin to not care enough about them (For the best rb discussion).

The reason I brought up Ahman Green was simply,because he is a fair comparison to Wells. Tough guy,who had a great college career,and even furthermore proved his legitimacy by actually producing in the NFL. His stats are better then Beanies. He won multiple national championships. That honestly is a hell of a resume isn't it?

If this was a Cornhusker board,and the same question was posed. How many votes would Beanie get? Honestly,that's just how being a college football fan is .

The argument over offensive lines will never hold weight. It definitely has a DRAMATIC impact on the running back's production,but as I stated above..That's just how it is. You can't go back in time and say Beanie is better,then Eddie just because of that. What happens if Eddie George was running the ball right now,and Beanie was running in 95? Eddie's pulling in a heisman..running for 314 against illi..Do you think people would honestly put Beanie ahead of him then? Nope..It's the "today factor"..Then you will have someone say "well beanie could run with more yards with that line"..That is a variable that cannot ever be proved.That does not mean it's not a realistic thought,but it makes it worthless in these kinds of discussion.

The problem I have with grading people on "potential",because of nagging injuries or not carrying the ball enough is this.

Maybe Al Bundy could have scored 5 touchdowns in one high school game if he had a better offensive line. Maybe if he didn't marry Peg he would have put Polk High on the map,and won the super bowl. What if they had a different offensive scheme that was more suitable for his running style?..The only facts you know are the ones that happened..4 touchdowns..One high school football game.

[CCI]

From the list Adrian Peterson with Reggie Bush a close second.

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by powerlifter

That is a variable that cannot ever be proved.That does not mean it's not a realistic thought,but it makes it worthless in these kinds of discussion.

This whole [censored]ing discussion is a variable that cannot ever be proved. If it were provable, there would be no discussion. So O Line play can, and will be brought into it by anyone that thinks it realavant.

[powerlifter]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

This whole [censored]ing discussion is a variable that cannot ever be proved. If it were provable, there would be no discussion. So O Line play can, and will be brought into it by anyone that thinks it realavant.

You can only grade backs on what they have done. You can decide what back was better then any other,and form an opinion. However,going back in time and mixing and matching players is ignorant. Why not just open the greatest (insert position here)thread,and put them all on one team,and say [censored] it? Of course great players will play better with other great players. Some are fortunate enough to have multiple great players around them. You can't fault them for that. If they had that blessing and performed better then another back who didn't have the talent around them,then it looks like they made a great choice at a great time for the school they attended. What if Beanie would have played at Texas this year? Would you like him more,because their oline is stronger,and he produced more or would you like him less,because he would be playing for Texas and not ohio state?

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by powerlifter

You can only grade backs on what they have. You can decide what back was better then any other,and form an opinion. However,going back in time and mixing and matching players is ignorant. Why not just open the greatest (insert position here)thread,and put them all on one team,and say [censored] it?

Well, different backs had different Olines. To completely ignore that would be ignorant, imo. I don't know how you believe it should be tossed aside like it doesn't matter. It's like with Barry in the pro's...the one comment I've heard more than any other from not just fans, but broadcasters, and football analysts, is that given the Cowboy's Oline, Barry would've smashed Emmit's records...and I'd agree. I just don't know how you can take the one thing that can make a [censored]ty RB good, and a good one GREAT, and toss it aside like it's irrelevant. I can't, and I won't.

[berryfan]

Peterson was just way too impressive.

[powerlifter]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

Well, different backs had different Olines. To completely ignore that would be ignorant, imo. I don't know how you believe it should be tossed aside like it doesn't matter. It's like with Barry in the pro's...the one comment I've heard more than any other from not just fans, but broadcasters, and football analysts, is that given the Cowboy's Oline, Barry would've smashed Emmit's records...and I'd agree. I just don't know how you can take the one thing that can make a [censored]ty RB good, and a good one GREAT, and toss it aside like it's irrelevant. I can't, and I won't.

I have heard that a lot as well,but I can only judge things on what realistically happened. Would Jim Brown have dominated pros now? Highly unlikely,but unprovable. Would Bo Jackson have been the greatest RB ever,if he was never injured(most people will agree that he was one of the greatest athletes ever)? What if the lions would have made some changes and had a solid oline? Who's to say there aren't MANY running backs that made it into the pros that wouldn't have excelled with that cowboys offensive line? Impossible equation

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by powerlifter

I have heard that a lot as well,but I can only judge things on what realistically happened. Would Jim Brown have dominated pros now? Highly unlikely,but unprovable. Would Bo Jackson have been the greatest RB ever,if he was never injured(most people will agree that he was one of the greatest athletes ever)? What if the lions would have made some changes and had a solid oline? Who's to say there aren't MANY running backs that made it into the pros that wouldn't have excelled with that cowboys offensive line? Impossible equation

And precisely because of that, this whole discussion is an impossible equation. That's what makes it fun to argue.

Now, just admit that Beanie is the best EVAR and we can all move on.