yankeehillbilly said:
4 other running backs that are darn good? Like who?
Gordon was injured but it was hoped he would be good.
Morris was OK...wouldnt say "darned good". Struggled last year
Minor is Minor.QUOTE]
dude.....ANY runningback can be Barry Sanders as long as they have a good offensive line to clear the way. A runningback's job is to run, but he needs an offensive line to create the hole. Barry Sanders had a good rush blocking line...along with Jamal Anderson, Terrell Davis, Corey Dillon, Jamal Lewis. Ricky Williams had a good line in Miami when we had Ruddy, Nails, Wade. Our line is crap, well the left side is....if we have a good O-line, then even Lamar Gordon can be a 1000 yard rusher...its all about getting the blocks. A QB being good, also needs a good pass blocking line....like New England and Tom Brady. If Feeley had a line to protect him, he'd be awesome...he was amazing against Buffalo in the 1st quarter cuz his line protected him. Im a huge advocate of OFFENSIVE LINEMAN being the main guys. I personally think offensive lineman win super bowls, win championships, win games.
Um, don't take this the wrong way but are you sure you are remembering the Lions O-Line correctly? They were terrible. Barry would run 20-30 yds laterally back and forth before a hole opened up that he could exploit. It was common for Barry to have the most carries for negative yds in the league, it was just that when he did get through he would go the distance. A lesser RB would have been lucky to get 50yds/game with that line. So, on that point I have to strongly disagree with your statement that "any RB can be Barry Sanders".
Dillon was also a special back. Cincinatti's line while he was there certainly wasnt phenominal. I'll agree that Davis benefitted from Denver's line just as all the Bronco's backs have. Lewis to a degree also with Balt.
Good offensive linemen are necessary, and they will make an average RB look good, but dont dismiss the value of a good running back. A good back can make an average line look good, and a great back like Sanders will make a terrible line look at least average.