Top Backs square off in Nashville

[Fins1971]

Chris Johnson and Ricky Williams are having the most productive 2nd halfs of the season at the Running back position. Here are the top 10 running backs stats over the last 5 games. Ricky moved up to starter 4 games ago when Ronnie went down.

Chris Johnson 128 rushes for 667 yards (5.2) 5 TD's 1 receicing TD
Ricky Williams 115 rushes for 519 yards (4.5) 4 TD's 1 receiving TD
Adrian Peterson 106 rushes for 416 yards (3.9) 5 TD's
Thomas Jones 114 rushes for 463 yards (4.1) 4 TD's
Steven Jackson 120 rushes for 495 yards (4.1) 3 TD's
Maurice Jones Drew 106 rushes for 399 yards (3.7) 3 TD's
Cedric Benson 130 rushes for 534 yards (4.1) 2 TD's
Ryan Grant 98 rushes for 447 yards (4.5) 3 TD's
Deangelo Williams 82 rushes for 485 yards (5.9) 2 TD's
Ray Rice 86 rushes for 468 yards (5.4) 2 TD's


With the Pro Bowl voting set to conclude after this weeks games this is Ricky's last chance to grab the last running back spot with a big effort against Tennessee.

Obviously Chris Johnson is getting the 1st spot. After that it was close battle for the last 2 AFC spots at running back.

Thomas Jones, Cedric Benson, Jones Drew and Ray Rice were battling for the next two spots. But as you can see statiscally Ricky has outperformed all 4 of these backs over the last 5 weeks in a starting role.

I think the head to head win over Jones Drew last week may have dropped Jones Drew and added Ricky into that 4 man race.

Now he gets a chance to go head to head with the AFC Pro Bowl starting back and rushing leader. If he were to out rush Chris Johnson in a Dolphin victory would this be enough to get him that last spot in the Pro Bowl?

I like to here everyones thoughts on this.

And to all the people who said Ricky was washed up take a look at the stats above during crunch time and tell me he is finsihed now.

 

[Strange]

Those are interesting numbers and I am definitely happy about Ricky's performance. One reason ricky may get it in addition to his stats is that the popularity contest sometimes favors a nice story. One reason he may not get it is 3 fumbles in one game.

 

[Fins1971]

One reason he may not get it is 3 fumbles in one game.

Only one was lost and none resulted in points for the other team.
The miscus didn't cost us a game so I don't think that will cost him in the voting.

And yes Ricky does have some popularity that just might help him.

 

[bongo59]

Cjohnson ia not even in the top three of vote getters which is criminal.

 

[Fins1971]

Cjohnson ia not even in the top three of vote getters which is criminal.

fan voting is only a small portion of the formula. You can bet Johnson will be the starting back once the coaches and media add in their votes.

 

[Vertical Limit]

The old man will take the youngster to school.

 

[Fins1971]

Those are interesting numbers and I am definitely happy about Ricky's performance. One reason ricky may get it in addition to his stats is that the popularity contest sometimes favors a nice story. One reason he may not get it is 3 fumbles in one game.

Also another thing to point out. Ricky is having one of his best season as far as fumbles lost.

Prior to this season he had lost a fumble about 1 in 84 touches.

This year he has lost one fumble in 224 touches. compare this to those top ten backs.

Jones Drew is the only back without a fumble lost in the top 10.
So Ricky is tied for 2nd with the fewest fumbles lost of the top 10 backs.

 

[SabanHater]

that's amazing. the guy steps away from the game he doesn't even love and comes back and is still better than most. He's my favorite player, but it's sad... God gave him ability that he never wanted. I'm glad he rejuvenated his career, but sad that he wasted it also.

 

[Kadiddlehopper]

that's amazing. the guy steps away from the game he doesn't even love and comes back and is still better than most. He's my favorite player, but it's sad... God gave him ability that he never wanted. I'm glad he rejuvenated his career, but sad that he wasted it also.

He didn't waste it, DW did. If Ricky had stayed one more year he'd have been broken by the time DW was through. And would he have really made that much of a difference on the teams we had in between then and now?