Comparing Ricky & Ronnie after 3 seasons and 3 games | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Comparing Ricky & Ronnie after 3 seasons and 3 games

hugoguzman

hugoguzman

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I thought it might be fun to compare Ricky and Ronnie's production after their first 3 seasons and 3 games in the league. Here's what I came up with:

*Both Ricky and Ronnie missed significant time due to injury.
-Ricky missed 10 games in his first 3 seasons
-Ronnie missed 13 games in his first 3 seasons

Ricky (1999 thru 3rd game of 2002 season)
-41 games played
-882 rushing attempts
-3,523 rushing yards (3.99 rushing yards per carry)
-19 rushing touchdowns (1:46 touchdown to carry ratio)
-143 receptions
-1,237 receiving yards (8.65 yards per catch)
-3 receiving touchdowns (1:47 touchdown to catch ratio)
*4,760 total yards
*22 total touchdowns (1 touchdown every 47 touches)
-21 total fumbles (12 lost for a turnover)

Ronnie (2005 thru 3rd game of 2008 season)
-38 games played
-601 rushing attempts
-2,678 rushing yards (4.46 rushing yards per carry)
-18 rushing touchdowns (1:33 touchdown to carry ratio)
-110 receptions
-953 yards (8.7 yards per catch)
-2 receiving touchdowns (1:55 touchdown to catch ratio)
*3,631 total yards
*21 total touchdowns (1 touchdown every 34 touches)
-8 total fumbles (6 lost for a turnover)

Make what you will of the numbers, but it seems quite apparent that Ronnie is capable of matching Ricky's production.

Let's just hope that Ronnie can stay healthy and make the quantum leap that Ricky made in his fourth season, because he's still 26 years old and should have plenty of big years ahead of him if he can stay on the field.
 
hugoguzman said:
I thought it might be fun to compare Ricky and Ronnie's production after their first 3 seasons and 3 games in the league. Here's what I came up with:

*Both Ricky and Ronnie missed significant time due to injury.
-Ricky missed 10 games in his first 3 seasons
-Ronnie missed 13 games in his first 3 seasons

Ricky (1999 thru 3rd game of 2002 season)
-41 games played
-882 rushing attempts
-3,523 rushing yards (3.99 rushing yards per carry)
-19 rushing touchdowns (1:46 touchdown to carry ratio)
-143 receptions
-1,237 receiving yards (8.65 yards per catch)
-3 receiving touchdowns (1:47 touchdown to catch ratio)
*4,760 total yards
*22 total touchdowns (1 touchdown every 47 touches)
-21 total fumbles (12 lost for a turnover)

Ronnie (2005 thru 3rd game of 2008 season)
-38 games played
-601 rushing attempts
-2,678 rushing yards (4.46 rushing yards per carry)
-18 rushing touchdowns (1:33 touchdown to carry ratio)
-110 receptions
-953 yards (8.7 yards per catch)
-2 receiving touchdowns (1:55 touchdown to catch ratio)
*3,631 total yards
*21 total touchdowns (1 touchdown every 34 touches)
-8 total fumbles (6 lost for a turnover)

Make what you will of the numbers, but it seems quite apparent that Ronnie is capable of matching Ricky's production.

Let's just hope that Ronnie can stay healthy and make the quantum leap that Ricky made in his fourth season, because he's still 26 years old and should have plenty of big years ahead of him if he can stay on the field.
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If u just look at it from a numbers standpoint, but I dont see Brown as a back that can carry the load like Ricky did in 2002. He has never carried that type of load so its really quite a stretch to say that he could.
 
I think Ronnie is hungry and wants the ball as often as he can get it, but Ricky in his first three seasons had something Ronnie doesn't and that was a burst and top end speed. I also don't think Ronnie can match Ricky's ability to see a hole, hit it, and take it to the house like Ricky could. Maybe I'm wrong, but Ronnie just isn't nearly as quick AND fast as Ricky.
 
i think ronnie can meet and exceed ricky's numbers if he stays healthy. once our o line gels - if they haven't already - there is no limit to his potential. that kind of speed coupled with that kind of ability to break a tackle is such a devastating combination.

ricky's career was dictated by talent b/c we all know the desire was lacking.

his health is the major issue. if ronnie can stay healthy and keep his head on straight i see ronnie having a much bigger and better career. here's to hopin.
 
@dlockz - I'm pretty sure that you're smart enough to know that just because someone hasn't done something doesn't mean that he is not capable of it (at least I hope so). Statistics show that Ronnie has his best performances when he's given a lot of touches, and where it not for a freak non-contact knee injury last year, he was well on his way to proving that he could produce week in and week out with a heavy load of carries and receptions.

@feelthepain - I'm not trying to be confrontational but what you're saying makes no sense. Brown has 3 rushes over over 60 yards in his career. Ricky has just 2. So how is it that he doesn't have the "burst and top end speed"? You need to admit to yourself that you're basing your observation on opinion and favoratism for the guy you like better. And for seeing a hole and hitting it, that's exactly what he did on his touchdown second touchdown of Sunday's game (that and he finished with a big pop on New England's safety). How many times does he have to do it in order for you and others to let go of this foolish notion that Brown doesn't know how to hit holes hard?

If Ronnie hits the hole hard and gains a tough 3-4 yards, he has no vision. If he's patient and finds a seem for a nice 5-yard gain, then he doesn't have burst and doesn't hit the whole hard. Hell, even when he busts out 60-yards, he somehow failed to do something.

It's a no-win situation for Ronnie at this point, but god forbid he becomes a Pro Bowler down the line or helps win a Super Bowl. I can't wait for all of the revisionist history to start pouring in...
 
The point of Ricky is to limit the touches that Ronnie has. You can not carry the ball 350 times a season and have any type of longevity. Points in case are:

1998 Jamal Anderson: 410 carries for 1846 yards. Next year injured out of league by 01
1996 -1999 Terrell Davis: 1106 carried for 5296 yards. Next year injured out of league by 01
2001 – 2005 Shaun Alexander: 5 - 300+ seasons. Since his average has dropped a yard a carry.
2000 – 2002 Corey Dillon: 3 – 300+ seasons. Out by 06 only one season over 1000 yards.
2002 – 2003 Deuce McAllister: 676 carries since 632 carries.
1999 – 2000 Edgerrin James: 369 and 387. Next year out and took 3 years to return to form.

It is almost like the magic number is 300 to 330 carries in a season. If you go over that number for too long it wears down the back significantly more. Even Jamal Lewis has never truly returned to form after his 387 touch year (I also know jail time had a huge effect).

Of course some exceptions to the rule applies Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Barry, maybe even Curtis Martin and of course LT. But the 350 rule is a great rule to limit your running backs, it significantly prolongs their running life!
 
We all know this,

But the problem with Ronnie is his inability it seems to stay healthy. Where as Ricky who got all those carries has proven durable.

I was always in favor of starting Ronnie when he was healthy, like it appears he now is. Ricky is a great complimentary back but i don't think we're looking at the same guy from five years ago, so starting him seems kind of counter productive to me.
 
Im not really sure what the point of this thread is. The HFL is starting to go through its next transformation to the 2 back system... its still got a couple feature backs but even they are becoming extinct. Ronnie has a great deal of speed, Im not really concerned enough to check but i believe he ran a sub 4.4 40 time at the combine and he likes to lower the shoulder and finish runs strong... Ricky has great vision and extremely fast feet with good hands and blocking skills. Ive been saying since Ricky unretired that this was the best 1-2 punch in the league and i think sunday was a display of what could be if the team gels.
 
SpaceMountain16 said:
We all know this,

But the problem with Ronnie is his inability it seems to stay healthy. Where as Ricky who got all those carries has proven durable.

I was always in favor of starting Ronnie when he was healthy, like it appears he now is. Ricky is a great complimentary back but i don't think we're looking at the same guy from five years ago, so starting him seems kind of counter productive to me.
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Yes yes and yes! I argued way back in order to use Ronnie Brown the proper way you need a split back offense. Of course you still need a productive offensive line as well. Ronnie and Caddy split the carries at Auburn and look how that paid off. One of the biggest knocks on both Cadillac and Ronnie was durability in a single back set.

Right now if the line gels and proves to be even a top 15 line rushing by the end of the year Ronnie and Ricky will both remain fresh because of it. Using Ricky to limit Ronnie is perfect right now.

Taking the chance of drafting or signing the next LT is too big. It is kind of like trying to sign the next Marino, we all know where that got us. Let the two back set thrive and Ricky will be reinvented and Ronnie will be healthy.
 
hugoguzman said:
@dlockz - I'm pretty sure that you're smart enough to know that just because someone hasn't done something doesn't mean that he is not capable of it (at least I hope so). Statistics show that Ronnie has his best performances when he's given a lot of touches, and where it not for a freak non-contact knee injury last year, he was well on his way to proving that he could produce week in and week out with a heavy load of carries and receptions.

@feelthepain - I'm not trying to be confrontational but what you're saying makes no sense. Brown has 3 rushes over over 60 yards in his career. Ricky has just 2. So how is it that he doesn't have the "burst and top end speed"? You need to admit to yourself that you're basing your observation on opinion and favoratism for the guy you like better. And for seeing a hole and hitting it, that's exactly what he did on his touchdown second touchdown of Sunday's game (that and he finished with a big pop on New England's safety). How many times does he have to do it in order for you and others to let go of this foolish notion that Brown doesn't know how to hit holes hard?

If Ronnie hits the hole hard and gains a tough 3-4 yards, he has no vision. If he's patient and finds a seem for a nice 5-yard gain, then he doesn't have burst and doesn't hit the whole hard. Hell, even when he busts out 60-yards, he somehow failed to do something.

It's a no-win situation for Ronnie at this point, but god forbid he becomes a Pro Bowler down the line or helps win a Super Bowl. I can't wait for all of the revisionist history to start pouring in...
Click to expand...


Well he has never carried that type of laod that it would require to get that type of yardage. Doesn't mean he is not capable but means he has never proven that he can, until he proves that he will not be the great back that some make him out to be.
 
I agree with your latest take, dlockz, but what you originally said is that it's "really quite a stretch to say that he could"

It's not a stretch to believe that Ronnie could carry the load and excel. It's just that he has to do it first before we proclaim him to be the greatest thing since sliced Ricky Williams.
 
I'm glad the Fins locked up Ricky for another year. Watching both of them on Sunday will never get old.
 
hugoguzman said:
I agree with your latest take, dlockz, but what you originally said is that it's "really quite a stretch to say that he could"

It's not a stretch to believe that Ronnie could carry the load and excel. It's just that he has to do it first before we proclaim him to be the greatest thing since sliced Ricky Williams.
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Until he does it I see it as quite a stretch. I would like to see him stay healthy a full season and see what he can do but these proclamations of greatness based three seasons , one of which he barely broke a 1000 yards are silly.
 
I think they are about even. Ricky was amazing with Miami yes, he had 1853 rushing yards in one year, but now the NFL trend has changed a bit. Back when Ricky played, alot of Runningbacks were getting 1400+ yardage. Whereas now, the NFL is a more pass happy league rather than run happy, only a couple of backs get to 1400+. So Ricky had a lot more carries also compared to Ronnie in a year. It will be interesting in some years to see Ronnie carry the full load and see what he can do with it.
 
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