ESPN Scouts Inc: RB rankings

[Vintage]

Watch out for the Jags this year with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Drew should get more touches this season and is tough to bring down with his squat build. Taylor should be fully recovered and they could be the best tandem in the league along with McAllister/Bush in New Orleans.

Agreed. I really like Jax tandem as well.

 

[redskins1]

Commanders ranked #3,any you cowboy fans surprised about that?

 

[Stautner]

Maybe he meant by rediculously overrated by the fans.

We did, after all, have some here saying that LJ was on par with our running back tandem in other threads..... and that there wouldn't be an upgrade if we acquired LJ....or alluding to stuff like that.

Or saying how we've got one of the best tandems in the league.

All homerism.

I can agree with this. Homerism is kind of painful to watch. A little homer bias is one thing, but getting ridiculous with it is another.

No, we're ridiculously overrated because the lead back of the 10th ranked RB group has less than half the amount of big plays (20+ yards) last year as the lead back of the 19th ranked RB group. Nice that we have decent 3rd stringers and all, but I don't wouldn't trade the Colts WR corps for the Broncos WR corps because the Broncos have a better #4 WR.

This is an argument for the Eagles being ridiculously underrated, not the Cowboys being ridiculoussly overrated.

 

[Vintage]

Commanders ranked #3,any you cowboy fans surprised about that?

In another thread, I grabbed the stats of all the NFC tandems and posted there combined stats.

Portis/Betts was near the top.

I am a little surprised at top 3. But not surprised they are in the top 6-8 range.

 

[adamknite]

Commanders ranked #3,any you cowboy fans surprised about that?

yes. I was surprised they weren't ranked #2, to be honest with you.

 

[redskins1]

yes. I was surprised they weren't ranked #2, to be honest with you.

I agree they are a helluva tandem,on the Commanders board over at ES they debate who should be our starter,and say a healthy portis is the handsdown winner..just curious how you cowboy fans see it..any takes?

 

[adamknite]

I agree they are a helluva tandem,on the Commanders board over at ES they debate who should be our starter,and say a healthy portis is the handsdown winner..just curious how you cowboy fans see it..any takes?

I think Betts is a little overrated at times. Last year was his first year gaining more than 400 yards. Sure he was a backup all that time and this was his first time to ever get any real starting duty, but I'm not sold that it wasn't just him having one great season. If you remember our Julies Jones had an amazing rookie year but when we turned to him and made him our go to guy he didn't seem to fair so well for whatever reason (some say it was strictly Parcells, we'll see this season though).

Portis to me should still be the stater, he's still the better back IMO. Or atleast until I'm proven wrong and Betts does show he's capable of handling the starting job for a full season.

 

[Twyst]

I think Betts is a little overrated at times. Last year was his first year gaining more than 400 yards. Sure he was a backup all that time and this was his first time to ever get any real starting duty, but I'm not sold that it wasn't just him having one great season.

Just out of curiosity, do you apply that same logic to romo?

 

[adamknite]

Just out of curiosity, do you apply that same logic to romo?

Some. On one hand I'm worried that what he showed last season was a flash in the pan, while on the other I'm excited over having a probowl QB leading our team for the first time in a long time. I don't think Romo has been overrated if that's what you're asking, he may be overexposed (that's for sure) but most people recognize that he only has a little over half a season of experience and shouldn't be crowned, so not overrated (maybe by a few, but not by the majority).

 

[Stautner]

Just out of curiosity, do you apply that same logic to romo?

I would to a point. To me last season told a lot about Romo's potential, but the jury is easily still out. Last year was a teaser - this year has to provide the proof that he is for real.

 

[Twyst]

I would to a point. To me last season told a lot about Romo's potential, but the jury is easily still out. Last year was a teaser - this year has to provide the proof that he is for real.

I feel the same about marques colston

 

[Stautner]

I feel the same about marques colston

I think it's only smart to realize that one season (or in Romo's case, part of a season) doesn't provide concrete proof of a player's talent or how his career will go.

The one thing that should provide you some comfort is that Colston was solid and strong all year, whereas Romo only played part of a season.

Still, a little time is needed with both players before making any concrete determinations about them.

 

[arync]

How can the skins be ranked #3. They have the most expensive backfield but thats because Snyder is an idiot and will give money to anyone. Jones and Barber's production together gave them similar numbers to LJ and the Chiefs are #2. This is ridiculous!!!!

 

[Stautner]

How can the skins be ranked #3. They have the most expensive backfield but thats because Snyder is an idiot and will give money to anyone. Jones and Barber's production together gave them similar numbers to LJ and the Chiefs are #2. This is ridiculous!!!!

Did you ever consider LJ and Tucker's number's together - that's what you have to do to make a fair comparison.

 

[adamknite]

How can the skins be ranked #3. They have the most expensive backfield but thats because Snyder is an idiot and will give money to anyone. Jones and Barber's production together gave them similar numbers to LJ and the Chiefs are #2. This is ridiculous!!!!

No reason to get so worked up over it though.

 

[AtlCB]

i figured we would have been third or so :/

I definitely would take your RB's over Minnesota's. How did Minnesota get ranked 5th?

 

[joseephuss]

No, we're ridiculously overrated because the lead back of the 10th ranked RB group has less than half the amount of big plays (20+ yards) last year as the lead back of the 19th ranked RB group. Nice that we have decent 3rd stringers and all, but I don't wouldn't trade the Colts WR corps for the Broncos WR corps because the Broncos have a better #4 WR.

It is a little in how you look at it. If Westbrook gets hurt, the Eagles will suffer a big drop off. If Julius gets hurt(assuming he is the starter), there is not that big of a drop off. Forget the 3rd string guy. The Cowboys group is good. Not great. I would not complain if both the Eagles and Rams were ranked ahead of the Cowboys. I just don't see how them being ranked 10th is them being greatly over rated or even slightly over rated. Seems about right within a spot or two.

 

[AdamJT13]

There are several teams rated worse than us that I would gladly trade running backs with. Rams, Falcons, and Begnals for sure.

Yikes.

The Rams have a great starter, but if he gets hurt, they're starting Travis Minor. No thanks.

The Falcons' starter is 32 years old. Their backup has fewer than 100 career carries. No thanks.

The Bengals have Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry. Johnson is a workhorse, but he's a plodder who tops out as mediocre. Perry was a first-round pick but has looked like a career backup. No thanks.

I'd rather have our two running backs over any of those two. I'd rather have Julius than any of the starters but Jackson, and I'd definitely take Barber over any of the other backups.

 

[theebs]

Commanders ranked #3,any you cowboy fans surprised about that?

Nope. I happen to think you (the Commanders) have the best group of running backs in the league.

along with minnesota, new orleans are outstanding groups.

IMO though the Commanders have the best overall group of running backs in the league.

 

[zeromaster]

I'm puzzled about Minnesota and Seattle being up there, given the "if"s of the article. Oh well, more water cooler stuff I guess.