RealDriscoll
Still Perfect.. and You're Not.
In 2005 the Dolphins drafted #2 overall and there were many players in play to be selected. The list of possible suspects were Cedric Benson, Carnell Williams, Braylon Edwards, Alex Smith, and of course Ronnie Brown. I remember being totally stocked when Alex Smith went first because I was afraid that Saban wanted this guy. I didn’t ever think Braylon was a true possibility for us because we had Chris Chambers who was playing at a Pro-Bowl level at the time so I knew we were going Running Back; not to mention that Ricky Williams stuck it to the Dolphins just a few months prior. Cedric Benson was where I thought we were going but Nick Saban’s knowledge of the Auburn duo lead to us taking Ronnie Brown. Cadillac had more mileage and Ronnie Brown looked the part of being the better pro. The question remains, Was Ronnie Brown worth the 2nd overall selection in the 2005 NFL Draft?
I guess its still a matter of opinion but Running Back was a major need when our starter and best player on the team at the time Ricky Williams unexpectedly retired I feel that drafting Ronnie Brown was absolutely the right pick. In retrospect the only player I would rather have is Demarcus Ware; Shawn Merriman I would past on due to his problems with performing enhancing drugs and injury issues. Let’s look at how Ronnie stacks up against Cadillac Williams and Cedric Benson. The first flag is that Williams cannot stay healthy and I will not question the guys heart because he is trying to fight the injury but the truth is that he has a bad wheel and unfortunately you can only do so much. Benson had some off the field issues involving law enforcement where he was eventually arrested. Ronnie Brown did tear his ACL but after last years’ Pro-Bowl season I feel like it is safe to say that he rebounded quite nicely. In four seasons Ronnie Brown has rushed for 3,433 yards, caught 1,151 yards, and has a total of 25 touchdowns. Benson has rushed for 2,340 yards in that same time period, caught 365 yards, and has 12 touchdowns. Cadillac has rushed for 2,417 yards, caught for 337, and scored 14 touchdowns. Cleary statistically Ronnie Brown is the superior players. Devil’s advocate will say he has played more games but the bottom line is that injuries and off-field issues all play a part in how good you are as an overall football player because if you are not on the field you cannot produce.
While Benson and Williams have faded from their NFL spotlight, Ronnie Brown has started to emerge as a true play maker and revolutionized the game as we know it with his involvement in the “Wild-Cat” offense. If Ronnie Brown wasn’t heading the “Wild-Cat” last season the Dolphins are not Division Champions. In 2008 before tearing his ACL, Ronnie Brown was a one man show playing at not just a Pro-Bowl level but at a MVP level. Ronnie Brown became the face of the franchise and started to prove worthy of that #2 overall selection. He did get hurt though. A lot of players would have folded but he worked harder and harder to get back into game shape and had a marvelous 2009 season considering he had tore his ACL less than a year earlier. He also split carries with Ricky Williams which alterered his production in terms of statistics. His involvement in the Wild-Cat was simply exciting and most importantly productive,
In my honest opinion I value Ronnie Brown as a top five Running Back in the NFL and truly believe that his best years are ahead of him starting now. This is a contract year for Brown and he will have a full year of off-season training, is now removed from his ACL injury, and should see an increase in the workload. Not to mention that the Dolphins bolstered their offensive line with the addition of Jake Grove. This line should be stronger, meaner, and more run focused this season. I think Ronnie Brown is in for a good, if not great season. Once again he will be representing the AFC in the Pro-Bowl and I believe he will become an impact player in the NFL. Ricky Williams is starting to show signs of aging while Ronnie Brown has looked faster and stronger than ever.
The biggest issue with the big time Running Backs in this league is consistency. Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson, and LaDanian Tomlinson were all dominant Running Backs but have seen injuries and age seen a major decline in their play. The only true dominant all-around Running Back that I see currently is Adrian Peterson and in terms of overall production I see Ronnie Brown lingering around the top of this list. I mean take a look around the league and I can say without question I’d rather have him than the following starting backs… Jets (Thomas Jones), Patriots (Fred Taylor and Laurence Maroney), Broncos (Knowshon Moreno), Chiefs (Larry Johnson), Raiders (Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas), Colts (Joseph Addai), Texas (Steve Slaton), Ravens (Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, Leron McClain), Steelers (Willie Parker), Bengals (Cedric Benson), Browns (Jamal Lewis), Lions (Kevin Smith), Packers (Ryan Grant), 49ers (Frank Gore), Saints (Reggie Bush), Buccaneers (Derrick Ward), Cardinals (Tim Hightower), and Seahawks (Julius Jones). This accounts for 18 of the league’s Running Backs so let’s look at the rest. The guys who I will simply say have been flat out better than Ronnie Brown and who I would rather have on my team include Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook, Steven Jackson, and even despite the fact that I wouldn’t take him over Ronnie is Brandon Jacobs. Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Maurice Jones Drew, Michael Turner, and DeAngelo Williams all had very good years but I am not about to give them the nod over Ronnie based off of one year. The people who are in the same class as Brown are Marshawn Lynch, Clinton Portis, and Marion Barber. That leaves just good ol’ LT who at this point I would not take over Ronnie. His production is down; he is always injured, and never plays well when it counts. So where do I see Ronnie as it compares to the rest of the league..
1) Adrian Peterson
2) Steven Jackson
3) Brian Westbrook
4) Brandon Jacobs
5) Clinton Portis
6) Ronnie Brown
7) Marion Barber
8) LaDanian Tomlinson
9) Marshawn Lynch
10) Maurice Jones Drew
I never been one to hide my belief that Ronnie Brown is an elite player and I have taken a lot of heat for it. I think this column is a fair evaluation of Ronnie Brown. The difference I see with a lot of the guys who hit thirty and start to decline is that he split carrier at Auburn with Caddy Williams and has for the most part split carrier with Ricky Williams in Miami. He will be 28 but he doesn't have the mileage that most backs do. I think 2009 will be the best season of Ronnie's career and will cement my belief that Ronnie is a Tier 1 Running Back.
Projected Stats
1,246 Rushing Yards
12 TD's
580 Receiving Yards
2 Receiving TD's
What do you think?
I guess its still a matter of opinion but Running Back was a major need when our starter and best player on the team at the time Ricky Williams unexpectedly retired I feel that drafting Ronnie Brown was absolutely the right pick. In retrospect the only player I would rather have is Demarcus Ware; Shawn Merriman I would past on due to his problems with performing enhancing drugs and injury issues. Let’s look at how Ronnie stacks up against Cadillac Williams and Cedric Benson. The first flag is that Williams cannot stay healthy and I will not question the guys heart because he is trying to fight the injury but the truth is that he has a bad wheel and unfortunately you can only do so much. Benson had some off the field issues involving law enforcement where he was eventually arrested. Ronnie Brown did tear his ACL but after last years’ Pro-Bowl season I feel like it is safe to say that he rebounded quite nicely. In four seasons Ronnie Brown has rushed for 3,433 yards, caught 1,151 yards, and has a total of 25 touchdowns. Benson has rushed for 2,340 yards in that same time period, caught 365 yards, and has 12 touchdowns. Cadillac has rushed for 2,417 yards, caught for 337, and scored 14 touchdowns. Cleary statistically Ronnie Brown is the superior players. Devil’s advocate will say he has played more games but the bottom line is that injuries and off-field issues all play a part in how good you are as an overall football player because if you are not on the field you cannot produce.
While Benson and Williams have faded from their NFL spotlight, Ronnie Brown has started to emerge as a true play maker and revolutionized the game as we know it with his involvement in the “Wild-Cat” offense. If Ronnie Brown wasn’t heading the “Wild-Cat” last season the Dolphins are not Division Champions. In 2008 before tearing his ACL, Ronnie Brown was a one man show playing at not just a Pro-Bowl level but at a MVP level. Ronnie Brown became the face of the franchise and started to prove worthy of that #2 overall selection. He did get hurt though. A lot of players would have folded but he worked harder and harder to get back into game shape and had a marvelous 2009 season considering he had tore his ACL less than a year earlier. He also split carries with Ricky Williams which alterered his production in terms of statistics. His involvement in the Wild-Cat was simply exciting and most importantly productive,
In my honest opinion I value Ronnie Brown as a top five Running Back in the NFL and truly believe that his best years are ahead of him starting now. This is a contract year for Brown and he will have a full year of off-season training, is now removed from his ACL injury, and should see an increase in the workload. Not to mention that the Dolphins bolstered their offensive line with the addition of Jake Grove. This line should be stronger, meaner, and more run focused this season. I think Ronnie Brown is in for a good, if not great season. Once again he will be representing the AFC in the Pro-Bowl and I believe he will become an impact player in the NFL. Ricky Williams is starting to show signs of aging while Ronnie Brown has looked faster and stronger than ever.
The biggest issue with the big time Running Backs in this league is consistency. Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson, and LaDanian Tomlinson were all dominant Running Backs but have seen injuries and age seen a major decline in their play. The only true dominant all-around Running Back that I see currently is Adrian Peterson and in terms of overall production I see Ronnie Brown lingering around the top of this list. I mean take a look around the league and I can say without question I’d rather have him than the following starting backs… Jets (Thomas Jones), Patriots (Fred Taylor and Laurence Maroney), Broncos (Knowshon Moreno), Chiefs (Larry Johnson), Raiders (Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas), Colts (Joseph Addai), Texas (Steve Slaton), Ravens (Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, Leron McClain), Steelers (Willie Parker), Bengals (Cedric Benson), Browns (Jamal Lewis), Lions (Kevin Smith), Packers (Ryan Grant), 49ers (Frank Gore), Saints (Reggie Bush), Buccaneers (Derrick Ward), Cardinals (Tim Hightower), and Seahawks (Julius Jones). This accounts for 18 of the league’s Running Backs so let’s look at the rest. The guys who I will simply say have been flat out better than Ronnie Brown and who I would rather have on my team include Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook, Steven Jackson, and even despite the fact that I wouldn’t take him over Ronnie is Brandon Jacobs. Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Maurice Jones Drew, Michael Turner, and DeAngelo Williams all had very good years but I am not about to give them the nod over Ronnie based off of one year. The people who are in the same class as Brown are Marshawn Lynch, Clinton Portis, and Marion Barber. That leaves just good ol’ LT who at this point I would not take over Ronnie. His production is down; he is always injured, and never plays well when it counts. So where do I see Ronnie as it compares to the rest of the league..
1) Adrian Peterson
2) Steven Jackson
3) Brian Westbrook
4) Brandon Jacobs
5) Clinton Portis
6) Ronnie Brown
7) Marion Barber
8) LaDanian Tomlinson
9) Marshawn Lynch
10) Maurice Jones Drew
I never been one to hide my belief that Ronnie Brown is an elite player and I have taken a lot of heat for it. I think this column is a fair evaluation of Ronnie Brown. The difference I see with a lot of the guys who hit thirty and start to decline is that he split carrier at Auburn with Caddy Williams and has for the most part split carrier with Ricky Williams in Miami. He will be 28 but he doesn't have the mileage that most backs do. I think 2009 will be the best season of Ronnie's career and will cement my belief that Ronnie is a Tier 1 Running Back.
Projected Stats
1,246 Rushing Yards
12 TD's
580 Receiving Yards
2 Receiving TD's
What do you think?
