Interesting Emmitt Smith Fact

[T-RO]

completely biased comparison. What did he do season 7-9? How about that?

Biased? LOL. What is my bias

To answer your question...What did he do seasons 7-9?
3.98 yards per carry

 

[T-RO]

Probably not fair to include those last two years on a terrible Cardinals team
who had one of the worst offensive lines in the league.

If we remove the last two years at Arizona...seasons 7-12...average is 4.01

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

The point of the game is to score. So I don't get the preserving argument. you don't preserve him until you get into the redzone? XD I just know when I was a teen in 1993, thats one criticism I heard about Barry Sanders back then, that he got a lot of yards, but wasn't so good once he got into the red zone. Guess those were the days before he got elevated into godhood, and well you can't just have any criticism about him since he is the greatest ever.

Now you’re catching on!

 

[T-RO]

I’ll post some other great backs:

Csonka, first 6 years, 4.7 per rush
Csonka, final 5 years, 3.7 per rush

 

[T-RO]

Adrian Peterson

First 6 yrs, 5.0 ave
Next 5 yrs, 4.2 ave

 

[T-RO]

For guys with heavy carries the decline can come faster

DeMarco Murray

First Four seasons, 4.8 YPC
Next three seasons, 4.0 YPC

 

[T-RO]

Chris Johnson

First 5 yrs, 4.7 YPC
Next 5 yrs, 3.9 YPC

 

[T-RO]

L Tomlinson

First 6 yrs; 4.5 YPC
Next 5 yrs: 4.0 YPC

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Someone could argue that someone else was a better pure RB but Emmitt is one of the all time greatest players at any position.

Jim Brown.

 

[T-RO]

Riggins

First 5 yrs. 4.2 YPC
Last 8 yrs: 3.8 YPC

 

[T-RO]

Jim Brown.

Speaking of Brown...he was smart enough to retire after 9 seasons. It also must be noted that when he came into the league the seasons were only 12 games long. His last few seasons the NFL had extended to 14 games. He did stay strong through all 9 years.

In half of Brown’s first 6 seasons he had 230 carries or fewer. And the league was much slower and smaller. So the tread on his tires was much less later in his career.

Brown 2359 career carries
Emmitt 4409 career carries

 

[buybuydandavis]

Most of us know that running backs don’t age well. Six years of premium productivity is usually the best you can expect.

The one guy we think of as an exception is Emmitt. Damn, the guy played 15 seasons!

Out of curiosity I wanted to work up some numbers. How did Emmitt do after his first six years in comparison to the earlier part of his career?

1990-1995...4.5 yards per carry...First 6 seasons
1996-2004...3.9 yards per carry...Next 9 seasons

Hmmm....

It was freaky that Emmitt could last even 6 seasons given his load. He led the league in touches per game 91,92, 94, 95. 4 of the top 25 seasons all time.

He was still 2nd in 93 after holding out 2 games. That shows you how extreme his load was.

Touches (season rank/all time)
1990 NFL 265 (7)
1991 NFL 414 (1/25)
1992 NFL 432 (1/13)
1993 NFL 340 (2)
1994 NFL 418 (1/22)
1995 NFL 439 (1/10)
1996 NFL 374 (4/100)
1998 NFL 346 (9)
1999 NFL 356 (6)
Career 4924 (1)

 

[Trouty]

Now you’re catching on!

I think you missed the point of his post, mensa Eagles fan

 

[Trouty]

Adrian Peterson

First 6 yrs, 5.0 ave
Next 5 yrs, 4.2 ave

He still has 4 more years if he wants Emmitt's longevity. Watch those YPC numbers continue to plummet.

 

[T-RO]

All the guys mentioned here still had big shiny names and super reputations later in their career.

Reality?
NONE of them really played like stars after 2-2.5k carries...and decline virtually always came after year six...or sooner.

 

[T-RO]

He still has 4 more years if he wants Emmitt's longevity. Watch those YPC numbers continue to plummet.

Trouty, bro I’d be shocked if any team (or combination of teams) give AP more than 200 more carries. Don’t be surprised if he’s not on a roster this year.

 

[Trouty]

Trouty, bro I’d be shocked if any team (or combination of teams) give AP more than 200 more carries. Don’t be surprised if he’s not on a roster this year.

Couldn't agree more, T. He's toast if not now, after this season. LOL @ Sean Payton saying they might bring him back. Yeeaaaah, don't see him getting very many touches with the two-headed machine in their backfield.

He was nothing last season.

And this is my point about players such as Sayers, Brown, and especially Sanders retiring with such low football mileage. Can't use career or late-career YPC to evaluate rushers against those three, imo. If you want to do a side-by-side comparison of their first five years, fine, have at it. No one should take issue with that. But that's a very small sample size relative to Emmitt's entire career (not directed at you, T, my brudda).

 

[Swanny]

Barry Sanders first 5 years: 4.7 ypa
Barry Sanders final 5 years: 5.2 ypa

Huh...

I'm confused with how the post has anything to do with Barry Sanders?

Yeah, Barry probably wouldn't know anything about that.

 

[Trouty]

Trouty, bro I’d be shocked if any team (or combination of teams) give AP more than 200 more carries. Don’t be surprised if he’s not on a roster this year.

Thanks for the content and thread, T. It stimulated more discussion on this polarizing subject. We need as much content as we can get during these slow offseasons.

 

[T-RO]

guys here say Dallas is going to re-sign Zeke, who doesn’t take great care of himself, after his 5th season...

They shouldn’t. They won’t.

Enjoy it. Milk it. Ride it will you can.