What was our best RB tandem?

[THUMPER]

I was thinking about Jones and Barber and how good they were together last season and anticipating that they will be even better this year and it got me to wondering if they were the best RB tandem we've had.

I did some research and came up with 9 tandems (well 7 plus 2 trios) from 1960-2006 who qualified. The qualifications were: the leading rusher could not have more then twice the yards of the next guy(s), they had to total more than 1400 yards between them.

Here are the "contenders":

1962 - Don Perkins and Amos Marsh:
--- Perkins: 222 carries, 945 yards, 7 TDs
--- Marsh: 144 carries, 802 yards, 6 TDs
--- Total: 366 carries, 1747 yards, 13 TDs
--- Per Game: 26.1 carries, 124.8 yards, 4.77 avg, 0.93 TDs

1969 - Calvin Hill & Walt Garrison:
--- Hill: 204 carries, 942 yards, 8 TDs
--- Garrison: 176 carries, 818 yards, 2 TDs
--- Total: 380 carries, 1760 yards, 10 TDs
--- Pr Game: 27.1 carries, 125.7 yards, 4.63 avg, 0.71 TDs

1970 - Duane Thomas, Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison:
--- Thomas: 151 carries, 803 yards, 5 TDs
--- Hill: 153 carries, 577 yards, 4 TDs
--- Garrison: 126 carries, 507 yards, 3 TDs
--- Total: 430 carries, 1887 yards, 12 TDs
--- Per Game: 30.7 carries, 134.8 yards. 4.39 avg, 0.86 TDs

1972 - Calvin Hill & Walt Garrison:
--- Hill: 245 carries, 1036 yards, 6 TDs
--- Garrison: 167 carries, 784 yards, 7 TDs
--- Total: 421 carries, 1820 yards, 13 TDs
--- Per Game: 30.1 carries, 130.0 yards, 4.35 avg, 0.93 TDs

1973 - Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison, Robert Newhouse:
--- Hill: 273 carries, 1142 yards, 6 TDs
--- Garrison: 105 carries, 440 yards, 6 TDs
--- Newhouse: 84 carries, 436 yards, 1 TD
--- Total: 462 carries, 2018 yards, 13 TDs
--- Per Game: 33.0 carries, 144.1 yards, 4.37 avg, 0.93 TDs

1977 - Tony Dorsett & Robert Newhouse:
--- Dorsett: 208 carries, 1007 yards, 12 TDs
--- Newhouse: 180 carries, 721 yards, 3 TDs
--- Total: 388 carries, 1728 yards, 15 TDs
--- Per Game: 27.7 carries, 123.4 yards, 4.45 avg, 1.07 TDs

1986 - Tony Dorsett & Herschel Walker:
--- Dorsett: 184 carries, 748 yards, 5 TDs
--- Walker: 151 carries, 737 yards, 12 TDs
--- Total: 335 carries, 1485 yards, 17 TDs
--- Per Game: 20.9 carries, 92.8 yards, 4.43 avg, 1.06 TDs

2001 - Emmitt Smith & Troy Hambrick:
--- Emmitt: 261 carries, 1021 yards, 3 TDs
--- Hambrick: 113 carries, 579 yards, 2 TDs
--- Total: 374 carries, 1600 yards, 5 TDs
--- Per Game: 23.4 carries, 100.0 yards, 4.28 avg, 0.31 TDs.

2006 - Julius Jones & Marion Barber III:
--- Jones: 267 carries, 1084 yards, 4 TDs
--- Barber: 135 carries, 654 yards, 14 TDs
--- Total: 402 carries, 1738 yards, 18 TDs
--- Per Game: 25.1 carries, 108.6 yards, 4.32 avg, 1.13 TDs

I included the 2 trios because the 2nd & 3rd RBs carried a considerable portion of the load. I did not include Emmitt and Moose, even though they were probably the best pair we ever had, as Moose hardly ever carried the ball but was almost exclusively a blocker and receiver.

1962 was an interesting year because we sucked on defense but were 2nd in the league in offense. 1962 & 1986 were the only 2 losing seasons represented.

I included 1986 because based on talent alone, I would consider Dorsett and Herschel the best tandem we've ever had. Too bad Steve Pelluer was our QB that year after Danny White went down in mid season and we lost 7 of our last 8 games.

The idea was not to determine what pair of RBs gained the most yards but which tandem was most effective sharing the load.

I would have to consider Perkins & Marsh in 1962 as a remarkable pair considering they were playing on what was still a new team with very little talent around them. They also played from behind a lot, unlike most of the others, yet still were very effective having the highest average per carry (4.77) of all the contenders.

The 1973 trio of Hill, Garrison, & Newhouse ground out yardage and controlled the clock. They carried the ball the most and gained the most yards but they were playing with a lead most of the time and could rely on an outstanding defense and Roger Staubach to keep them there.

Jones & Barber scored the most TDs thanks to Barber's 14 by himself.

So which tandem would you choose and why?

My heart leans towards Perkins and Marsh because they did it without much help but I wouldn't consider them the "best", just the most effective.

 

[fortdick]

I

1986 - Tony Dorsett & Herschel Walker:
--- Dorsett: 184 carries, 748 yards, 5 TDs
--- Walker: 151 carries, 737 yards, 12 TDs
--- Total: 335 carries, 1485 yards, 17 TDs
--- Per Game: 20.9 carries, 92.8 yards, 4.43 avg, 1.06 TDs

Other Than 1995, when it was Emmitt and Emmitt, this was the best we have had.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Pretty good question. I think before I could give an opinion, I'd have to see the receptions as well.

 

[THUMPER]

Other Than 1995, when it was Emmitt and Emmitt, this was the best we have had.

Talent-wise I totally agree but they weren't as effective once Danny went down and we were stuck with Pelluer at QB. We were 6-2 when White went out and ended up at 7-9.

Also, they didn't co-exist very well as Dorsett was upset about Herschel getting his carries. Particularly the following year (1987, strike year) when Walker was the primary ball-carrier and Tony was relegated to a secondary role. Had we been able to keep Danny healthy and Dorsett happy this could have been one of the best tandems ever in the NFL. Herschel also led the team in receptions that year and the following year as well.

In 1988, when we went 3-13, Herschel gained over 1500 yards rushing, Dorsett, meanwhile was with the Broncos (pre-Shanahan) where he struggled to gain yards and seemed to be nicked all the time. He retired after that and has seemed a bit disgruntled ever since. I don't believe he ever forgave the Cowboys for Bringing Herschel in.

A good choice and it would be hard to argue with it from a pure talent standpoint.

 

[THUMPER]

Pretty good question. I think before I could give an opinion, I'd have to see the receptions as well.

I thought about including receptions but I wanted to stick with the running game for now. If you look at them and make a decision based on it that is cool with me, just let me know what you find.

 

[joseephuss]

Also, they didn't co-exist very well as Dorsett was upset about Herschel getting his carries. Particularly the following year (1987, strike year) when Walker was the primary ball-carrier and Tony was relegated to a secondary role. Had we been able to keep Danny healthy and Dorsett happy this could have been one of the best tandems ever in the NFL. Herschel also led the team in receptions that year and the following year as well.

Dallas also lacked a good receiver in 87 & 88 as well as a good tight end. Dorsett and Walker were very talented and good weapons, but there was little else on the offensive side of the ball. They also had to contend with Pozderic holding every other play.

 

[carphalen5150]

I loved the Dorsett and Newhouse combo...Preston Pearson was in the mix too. You had power with Newhouse and the big play ability of Dorsett.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Doug Dennison and Scott Laidlaw.

End of discusssion. PERIOD.

 

[quincyyyyy]

Julius Jones is bringing down our tandem from the inside.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I looked back at some of the past seasons, both rushing and receiving, from the RB position and I'd probably say 1995 with Emmitt and Moose. They combined for 2507 yards total with 28 TDs. Now, 1972 with Hill and Garrison was also a great year, especially in light of the fact that the offenses had not opened up yet. What they accomplished in that year, for the time period is astounding. 2574 total yards with 19 TDs is very comperable to 95 IMO. The 86 year with Hershel and TD was also great. This is actually the highest yardage producing year for a tandom we've ever had with 2589 yards but they only managed 7 TDs that season. Much of it was due to the QB situation and the fact that Tony only played in 13 games that year but still, just not enough TDs to overcome Emmitt and Moose IMO.

 

[joseephuss]

I looked back at some of the past seasons, both rushing and receiving, from the RB position and I'd probably say 1995 with Emmitt and Moose. They combined for 2507 yards total with 28 TDs. Now, 1972 with Hill and Garrison was also a great year, especially in light of the fact that the offenses had not opened up yet. What they accomplished in that year, for the time period is astounding. 2574 total yards with 19 TDs is very comperable to 95 IMO. The 86 year with Hershel and TD was also great. This is actually the highest yardage producing year for a tandom we've ever had with 2589 yards but they only managed 7 TDs that season. Much of it was due to the QB situation and the fact that Tony only played in 13 games that year but still, just not enough TDs to overcome Emmitt and Moose IMO.

In 1986 Herschel had 12 rushing TDs and 2 receiving TDs. Dorsett had 5 rushing TDs and 1 receiving TD. That is 20 total TDs.

1987 was pretty impressive for yards. They combined for 2239 total yards, but only 10 TDs. That was in only 12 games due to the strike and Dorsett missed one game due to injury.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

In 1986 Herschel had 12 rushing TDs and 2 receiving TDs. Dorsett had 5 rushing TDs and 1 receiving TD. That is 20 total TDs.

1987 was pretty impressive for yards. They combined for 2239 total yards, but only 10 TDs. That was in only 12 games due to the strike and Dorsett missed one game due to injury.

Your right Josee, they did have 20 TDs in 86. Still, for me, that doesn't overcome the additional 8 TDs.

1987 was impressive. One has to wonder what they might have done had they played a full season. Very impressive for such a short season.

 

[Number82]

I'd have to go with the 1970 or 1973 Trios with an edge to the 1973 version.

1970 - Duane Thomas, Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison:
--- Thomas: 151 carries, 803 yards, 5 TDs
--- Hill: 153 carries, 577 yards, 4 TDs
--- Garrison: 126 carries, 507 yards, 3 TDs
--- Total: 430 carries, 1887 yards, 12 TDs
--- Per Game: 30.7 carries, 134.8 yards. 4.39 avg, 0.86 TDs


1973 - Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison, Robert Newhouse:
--- Hill: 273 carries, 1142 yards, 6 TDs
--- Garrison: 105 carries, 440 yards, 6 TDs
--- Newhouse: 84 carries, 436 yards, 1 TD
--- Total: 462 carries, 2018 yards, 13 TDs
--- Per Game: 33.0 carries, 144.1 yards, 4.37 avg, 0.93 TDs

 

[Muhast]

He was way past his prime but still effective.

Chris Warren and Emmitt

 

[THUMPER]

I'd have to go with the 1970 or 1973 Trios with an edge to the 1973 version.

That was an era of running the ball and controlling the clock and we were one of the best at it. The trio we had was pretty darn good too, whether with Thomas or Newhouse. Those were grind-it-out type runners too, not a breakaway type in the bunch. Although Thomas had good speed he was still more of a power runner than what you would consider a speed guy.

It wasn't until we drafted Dorsett that we really had a RB with real speed. It wasn't the style that Landry favored but Tony was too good to pass up and he was well worth it as it turned out.

Any way you look at it, we have had an awful lot of excellent RBs over the years

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

That was an era of running the ball and controlling the clock and we were one of the best at it. The trio we had was pretty darn good too, whether with Thomas or Newhouse. Those were grind-it-out type runners too, not a breakaway type in the bunch. Although Thomas had good speed he was still more of a power runner than what you would consider a speed guy.

It wasn't until we drafted Dorsett that we really had a RB with real speed. It wasn't the style that Landry favored but Tony was too good to pass up and he was well worth it as it turned out.

Any way you look at it, we have had an awful lot of excellent RBs over the years

Very True Statement Thumper.

 

[THUMPER]

I looked back at some of the past seasons, both rushing and receiving, from the RB position and I'd probably say 1995 with Emmitt and Moose. They combined for 2507 yards total with 28 TDs. Now, 1972 with Hill and Garrison was also a great year, especially in light of the fact that the offenses had not opened up yet. What they accomplished in that year, for the time period is astounding. 2574 total yards with 19 TDs is very comperable to 95 IMO. The 86 year with Hershel and TD was also great. This is actually the highest yardage producing year for a tandom we've ever had with 2589 yards but they only managed 7 TDs that season. Much of it was due to the QB situation and the fact that Tony only played in 13 games that year but still, just not enough TDs to overcome Emmitt and Moose IMO.

The problem is that Emmitt and Moose weren't really a tandem as it was all Emmitt running and Moose blocking and receiving, particularly in 1995 when Emmitt had 377 carries and the next highest guy, Sherman Williams, had 48.

Good info though, especially on Hill & Garrison in 1972.

 

[burmafrd]

No team in the history of the NFL over the last 45 years has had the talent at RB the Boys have had. Perkins, Thomas, Hill, Dorset, Walker, Smith; every one of them had HOF talent. I believe that Walker will get in one day; Perkins should. Thomas would have if he had kept his head straight; and Hill to me has always been under rated. Add very good players like Garrison and Newhouse, and older guys like Warren, and the overall quality is really incredible. The only year we did not have at least good quality was the year of Hambone.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

sherman williams and Emmitt

 

[dogberry]

This may be a homer reaction, but didn't defenders take advantage of Pozderac's 6"9" frame by jamming their arms inside his and getting a cheap holding call on Poz. Wasn't the holding rule changed?