total and complete bs

[Nicbsbll2]

They put the Titans above the Panthers in the rankings that they openly state is ranking the overall running game, not just running backs... yet they don't even list the Titans backup running back?

Chris Johnson may be good, but DeAngelo and Stewart together > just Chris Johnson.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

They put the Titans above the Panthers in the rankings that they openly state is ranking the overall running game, not just running backs... yet they don't even list the Titans backup running back?

Chris Johnson may be good, but DeAngelo and Stewart together > just Chris Johnson.

Based on last years running game it has to go to the Titans. You can't put a guy second when he just rushed for over 2,000 yards.

The Panthers are a very close second.

[j2sgam]

Who gives a sh_t what some hack writer thinks? Not this guy, and the points brought up before I think validate negating the writers credibility. An unproven rookie and lack of a backup to the 1st & 2nd on the list clearly show he is basing his opinion on his mental comparison added with his comprehension of running back vs game along with the fact that he is a closet BPJS. All of which make him wrong...

I say Williams and Stewart go for 1500 each this season, what say you?

[SorthNarolina]

3. Carolina Panthers: In 2008, the Panthers used the combination of DeAngelo Williams(notes) and Jonathan Stewart(notes) as the foundation of a playoff team and kept former quarterback Jake Delhomme(notes) from getting exposed.

Nothing wrong with this statement.

Last season, Williams missed three games with injuries and Stewart was slowed early in the season.

That would be a big deal if they we're on different teams!!!!! Does he realize that he's evaluating TEAMS!!!!!!!

I thought he did when he said this at his introduction:

What that means is this is much more of a period for ranking teams and their running games rather than simply lining up the running backs themselves and putting them in order. There’s still some of that, but the need for depth may explain the rankings, particularly at the top:

Did he notice how when Williams missed 3 games Stewart rushed for 440 yards, at a 6.3 average with 4 TD's against teams with a combined record of 33-15? How many teams have a guy that can do that when their #1 goes down? It's called DEPTH motherfuger!!!!!!!

Not surprisingly, Delhomme and the team were awful.

Mostly Delhome was awful, and this is ranking of the running game anyway. Not QB, not Defense, not the team as a whole, the running game.

The total numbers produced by Williams and Stewart weren’t that much different from the year before, but they clearly weren’t as effective. One thing they could use is more production as receivers.

Panthers go 8-8, Williams/Stewart are clearly not effective. Titans go 8-8, Chris Johnson gets likened to Barry Sanders.

It's kind of hard to get production as receivers when you have Delhome as a QB. Stewart/Williams are also touching the 55% of all offensive attempts. We don't have anymore room to throw them the ball

You could argue that many backs are better than Williams or Stewart. But are any backs better than Williams AND Stewart?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[SorthNarolina]

I think that in this context it's reasonable. We abandoned the run a few times last year, and I haven't noticed a lot of creativity with how we use our backs. I'm sure that if we had a Chan Gailey or Jason Garrett calling plays, our ranking would be different.

how? No matter how you stack it up our running game is more talented and productive.

The Vikings did not do anything in 2009 to garner a #1 ranking. The Titans, Panthers, Jets, and Ravens all had better seasons in 2009.

Factoring in the past three years would give the vikings a much more favorable viewpoint. A lot changes in 3 years though. If the Vikings had maintained the magnificent rushing attack of 2007 then I could see #1. But they have fallen off as of late.

[Nicbsbll2]

Based on last years running game it has to go to the Titans. You can't put a guy second when he just rushed for over 2,000 yards.

The Panthers are a very close second.

2009 Stats

2250 (DeAngelo and Stewart)

2228 (Johnson and Lendale White)

1721 (AP and Chester Taylor)

So with White and Taylor both gone from those teams, and no proven production behind them, I clearly see that as us being the top running tandem in the league.

[panthers55]

The best statistic to measure running backs as a function of the team is average yards per carry for all backs combined:

2009 ranks like this:

Tennessee- 5.2 (1)

Panthers- 4.9 (2)

Dallas- 4.8 (3)

Baltimore- 4.7 (4)

Jacksonville-4.5 (5th)

Saints-4.5 (5th)

Jets-4.5 (5th)

Bills- 4.4 (8th)

Minnesota-4.1 (19th)

So his rankings were somewhat suspect particularly relating to Minnesota. Peterson is not close to being the best back in football at this point.

He had a paltry 4.4 yards per carry. Compare that to Jamaal Charles 5.9, Johnson's 5.6, William's 5.2 and Stewart's 5.1, Ray Rice at 5.3 Etc. All of these guys averaged over 1000 yards with much higher averages. Peterson's only claim to fame is that he is durable averaging over 300 carries the last several years.

[Yaboychris28]

how do these idiots even keep their job after putting out garbage like that

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

2009 Stats

2250 (DeAngelo and Stewart)

2228 (Johnson and Lendale White)

1721 (AP and Chester Taylor)

So with White and Taylor both gone from those teams, and no proven production behind them, I clearly see that as us being the top running tandem in the league.

White only acounted for about 200 yards last year, so that argument is null in void. Also you are missing the point anytime an athlete rushes for more than 2,000 yards in a season his team will be considered the best running team in the NFL.

Also no where in that article does it say they are ranking tandems. Tandems include two to three guys not the whole team. If they were ranking tandems then there is no question that the Panthers would be first.

The Jets (who led the league in rushing yards last year) would have been ranked number one based on last year if they would have kept Thomas Jones. However, they did not so you have to subtract out his 1,402 rushing yards. The Titans were second last year, however they lost LenDale White (and with all the complaining about how he is gone, you guys are making him sound like he is Tim Brown) who rushed for 222 yards last year. Without LenDale's 222 yards it drops the Titans below the Panthers. Nontheless the Titans picked up Stafon Johnson and LeGarrette Blount who are both pretty good runningbacks.

Most people on this board are just going to have to realize that the Titans are getting the benefit of the doubt because they has a runningback on their roster last year who rushed for over 2,000 yards.

Quit bitching and complaing who gives a damn about what the paper says. I didnt know keyboards and mouse's won football games.

[MadHatter]

I don't see how you can argue that. Peterson is without a doubt the best RB in the league. Gerhart is a true bruiser that will complement him very well. Add to that they have a stacked O-line. I think the Panthers should be #2 ahead of the Titans though. CJ got his 2,000 yards because the Titans cared more about that at teh end of the season then winning games. Miami 14th, WTF?? Buffalo 18th, WTF???

You mean the same Adrian Peterson that giftwrapped the NFC Championship Game for the Saints with all of his damn fumbles?

[CatMan72]

The thing to look at is the combined YPC average for both these guys in 2008 and 2009.

In 2008, DWill = 5.5 and JStew = 4.5... combined = 5 YPC

In 2009, DWill = 5.2 and JStew = 5.1... combined = 5.1 YPC

So explain to me how they were not as effective in 2009 when their combined YPC was higher than 2008?

Jake exposed Jake by the simple act of attempting to throw a pass.... it had nothing to do with any other phase of our game. If not for our running game in 2009 I feel very confident we could have easily gone 3-13....

[brandon_87]

They ONLY became the first RB duo in NFL history to both go over 1100 yards, clearly they were ineffective.

lmao, thats exactly what I thought when I read that

[Cyberjag]

how? No matter how you stack it up our running game is more talented and productive.

The Vikings did not do anything in 2009 to garner a #1 ranking. The Titans, Panthers, Jets, and Ravens all had better seasons in 2009.

Factoring in the past three years would give the vikings a much more favorable viewpoint. A lot changes in 3 years though. If the Vikings had maintained the magnificent rushing attack of 2007 then I could see #1. But they have fallen off as of late.

We're third, that's not bad.

And don't you think that with our backs and our line we could be way more productive? If we were using Henning's feed the stud philosophy we would have had two 1200 yard backs, and would probably enjoy the number one ranking. The running game is more than the backs, it's the backs, the OL, the OC, and to a lesser extent the QB.

Third is good. And it's nice to know we can still do better.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I would say were second, behind the Titans and I have listed my reasons why in previous posts. However, there is no way were behind the Vikings. In every single rushing category the Panthers own the Vikings.

The Panthers should be second.