Best RB Duos
| 16
|
by Behbigben15
Today in the NFL there are many teams that have more than one great back. While others, like maybe the Dolphins or Rams, only have one back they can count on. Here is what I think are the top ten best RB duos in today's NFL.
10. Seattle Seahawks : Shaun Alexander/Maurice Morris- In '06 backup RB Maurice Morris gained 604 rushing yards while filling in for injured starter Shaun Alexander. Alexander still managed to gain 896 yards on the ground despite playing in only 10 games. Morris averaged 3.8 yards per carry and started just eight games.
9. Atlanta Falcons : Warrick Dunn/Jerious Norwood- At age 32, the Falcons starter is slowing down, but was able to rush for 1,140 yards in '06. Last years rookie RB Jerious Norwood ran for 633 yards on just 99 carries for an average of a whopping 6.4 yards per carry. If Norwood gets more attempts this year he could break 1,000 yards, and if Dunn retires soon, he will most likely turn into a 1,500 yard back. You can't forget that Norwood didn't even get a single start last year, and he just played in 14 games, Norwood will start to be relied upon pretty soon if Vick doesn't come back.
8. Dallas Cowboys : Julius Jones/Marion Barber- In 2006 starter Julius Jones broke out for his first career 1000-yd seasons, while second string Marion Barber had 654 yards on 135 carries (in '05 Barber had three more carries than '06 for less yards, 538), Barber had an average of 4.8 yards per carry. But since both backs are young (Jones will be 26 on the fourteenth, and Barber is 24), they will probably be sharing the carries for maybe five more years, unless one is traded away. Expect Jones to be the starter again this year, and Barber to be a very succeessful third down back, Barber will probably get a majority of the TD's, again.
7. San Diego Chargers : Ladainian Tomlinson- The only thing keeping this duo from being out of the top three, is that it is mainly LT doing the work, Michael Turner doesn't get much playing time (usually just when LT is tired). Tomlinson is the single-season leader for most rushing TD's, and has had over 1000 yards in each of his six seasons, but don't forget about Turner. Turner doesn't get much carries (80 in '06), but he has certainly made the most of them. He rushed for 502 yards in '06 for an average of 6.3 yards per carry. If Turner was on a different team, say, the Raiders or Lions, Turner could be the next LT.
6. New York Giants : Brandon Jacobs/Reuben Droughns- Brandon Jacobs last year was the goal line back, since Tiki Barber was the starter, but now that Barber stunned everyone with his early retirement, Jacobs is the starter, for now anyway. I guess the Giants didn't have faith in him, and like him as just their goal line back, because the Giants went out and signed former Browns, Broncos, and Lions 5'11 220 pound back Reuben Droughns, who has had just two 1000 yard season in his seven years as a pro. Although, he has only started twelve or more games for the past three seasons. Last year with the Browns, Droughns rushed for 758 yards on 220 carries and four TD's. The Giants goal line back, Brandon Jacobs, last year had 423 yards for 9 TD's, and this year the 6'4 264 pound back will be relied upon as the starter, for now.
5. Carolina Panthers : DeShaun Foster/DeAngelo Williams- In fourteen games as the starter in '06, DeShaun Foster rushed for 897 yards on 227 carries, and 3 TD's. While, rookie RB DeAngleo Williams rushed for 501 yards on just 121 carries and 1 TD in just 2 games as a starter (but he also played in 11 other games). Both backs had a good average of 4 yards per carry. This year, the Panthers RB's are expected to split time 50/50, now that Williams isn't a rookie I expect the Panthers to trust him a little more than in '06.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars : Fred Taylor/Maurice Jones-Drew- This RB situation is alot like the Falcons, you have a veteran back who expects playing time as well as money, and then you have a second-year back who is fresh, and has alot of speed, who has too much talent to sit the bench. What do you do? Well, all you really can do is let the vet do his thing, and if he makes a mistake put in the fresh, and "ready to prove himself" back give it a shot. Fred Taylor is a risk, since he is getting old (31) and beaten up, but Taylor quietly rushed for over 1,100 yards on 231 carries, he had an average of 5.0 yards per carry, that is good enough that you cannot ignore it, no matter who you got sitting on the bench. But, second-string rookie, Maurice Jones-Drew, has already proved that he can be a Reggie Bush-like RB in the NFL. Jones-Drew rushed for 941 yards on just 166 attempts, and 13 TD's. Jones-Drew had a better average than Taylor (5.7 yards per carry). The Jags are stuck in a situation, but it is a good situation. As of right now, Fred Taylor is the starter for Jacksonville, but I think that by mid-season Maurice Jones-Drew will be the starter.
3. Washington Redskins : Clinton Portis/Ladell Betts- Most of you may be thinking that Portis is the better back, but I think that it is Betts. In 2006, when Portis got injured, Betts stepped in and was effective immediatley. Portis missed a career high, eight games in 2006, and Betts had a career high in games started (9), rushing yards (1,154), attempts (245), TD's (4), and a few other categories, but the point here is that Betts is a super back if he is given the right amount of carries. Betts had an average of 4.7 yards a carry. As for Portis, before he was injured he started seven games, and rushed 127 times for 523 yards, and 7 TD's. Yes, that is good considering the amount of touches he had, but Betts have been overlooked, bottomline here is that they are both outstanding backs, and Betts deserves more credit.
2. Minnesota Vikings : Chester Taylor/Adrian Peterson- Some of you may diagree, since AP hasn't played a single game in the NFL yet, but don't worry, he may not be as big a factor as Maurice Jones-Drew, and Jerious Norwood were during their rookie seasons, but he will get enough to make this duo number two. Chester Taylor had 1,216 rushing yards on 303 attempts and 6 TD's, which went for an average of 4.0 yards per carry. Chester Taylor will have another outstanding year, and it wil most likely be overlooked again, but Adrian Peterson will get a majority of the TD's, and will be the Offensive Rookie of the Year, this duo will prove itself this year that it deserves the number two spot, just watch and find out for yourself.
1. New Orleans Saints : Deuce McAllister/Reggie Bush- The starter Deuce McAllister got most of the carries last year (244), mainly because they were uunsure Reggie Bush was ready for the NFL, but Bush was an outstanding KR, and PR, and Bush led the team in receptions (88), and he had many big plays throughout the season. Bush is an energetic player who is bound to make a long run every single time he touches the ball. Bush has a really bright future ahead of him (he had 155 ATT, 565 Rushing yards, and 6 TD's, along with 88 receptions for 742 yards, and 2 TD's). McAllister, the starter, had 1,057 rushing yards in '06 for 10 TD's, and was the main back, while Bush was the third down back, PR/KR. Look for a big year from these two backs.
