By TJ Troup
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| Hall of Fame Steve Sabol |
This is a special time of year for me with Senior Softball playoffs, selling my book, and relishing watching the games this season.
As always would enjoy hearing opinions from all of you, and as such you need a question so I can get those opinions.
Which teams looks strong enough to go the distance to earn a spot in the final four?
Dan Campbell sure has his Lions on the prowl, and with the schedule the next few weeks with so many road games. Can Detroit position themselves to again win the division? Detroit against Minnesota has never been much of a rivalry, yet this year the games are gonna be key.
During my visits to NFL Films when Steve and I would have coffee, always was asked the same question,"Coach what are you working on"?
Since I had determined that returning an interception for a touchdown means an 80% chance of victory, and when one team has a 100-yard rusher, and their opponent does not equate to a 77% chance of victory.
I bet you can surmise where I am going with this—what happens when a team has both.
Felt that this stat needed a "catchy" nickname, and to this day call it "Apocalyptic Horsemen". This past Sunday in San Francisco Fred Warner returned an interception for a touchdown, and Jordan Mason gained over 100 yards in the Niner victory.
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| Fred Warner and Jordan Mason |
San Francisco has won 18 of the 21 times they have accomplished this feat (85.7%), and the league average historically is 91%.
In the last four years the 49ers have achieved the Apocalyptic Horsemen stat! Only four other teams have accomplished this stat at least four years in a row. Buffalo with six consecutive seasons holds the record. One of my projects years ago was compiling a list of long runs from scrimmage of at least 50 yards and called it "Elusive".
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| Derrick Henry |
Derrick Henry with his long touchdown run against Buffalo now is tied with Jim Brown with 15!
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ReplyDeleteAlot a football left but a season of attrition so far. Who would have thought that the two SB teams would have so many injuries?
With McCaffrey out, Derrick Henry or Saquan Barkley could go for the rushing title but both need to be fresh and ready for a postseason run. Had Henry gained one more yard, he could have been the all-time leader in 200 yrd rushing games but may still get there by seasons end. I predict he will have 110 regular season TDs by years end and be well on his way for the HOF.
Detroit should be 4-0 but team health will determine their season. If teams want to make a postseason run, they may need to stick with ball control running games because many QBs look mediocre so far to me ...
perhaps it's just an unfortunate phrasing, but Brian...."well on his way to the HOF"? the only question in my mind is "first ballot"......he's already a lock.....depends on how long he can keep going......thoughts?
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DeleteHenry isnt a lock yet, Jim. He probably should be, but the last runner to be elected--James--had over 12,000 yards and the nearest to that--Taylor--is still waiting. Despite running for 16,000 yards, people feel Frank Gore will wait as well. The receivers backlog is well documented but nobody ever talks about a runners backlog?
Marshawn Lynch and Henry are very similar, powerful runners ... It will be interesting seeing how long Lynch gets elected ...
different opinions make for interesting conversations Brian....I respectfully disagree....you seem to be suggesting that yardage is the determinative factor....while Marshawn was a beast (see what I did there?), imo there have been a very very few guys who have been as physically dominant as Henry....lots of bruisers, but I'd put him (in prime) with Nagurski, Campbell, Motley......Gore's longevity deserves a spot, but he'll wait a few years....thoughts? (did I leave anybody off the Rushmore of all time tackler-draggers/tramplers?)
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DeleteUnfortunately Jim, these voters dont care about the total back as runner, receiver or blocker. Running numbers are mostly it. Henry is probably faster with more big plays than Lynch, but Lynch was harder to tackle and played when there were fewer defensive restrictions and fines handed out to defensive players. Lynch defied tacklers to bring him down, while Henry looked for enough of an opening to accelerate through the defense and employ his great stiff arm to defensive backs. Lynch has a championship and EVERYONE felt had he gotten the ball at the end of the Seahawks second SB game, the team would have went back-to-back. Both will get elected IMO.
Other Big Physical Backs
Hinkle
Casares
Brown
Jim Taylor
Cookie Gilchrist
Zonk
George
Bettis
Dillon
"eye of the beholder" Brian.....it appears we both agree that Henry is a HoFer, but I think you missed my point about what will be his place in history.....you've got a pretty decent list there....fwiw, let's agree that Gilchrist is on the list with an asterisk due to a. shortness of career and b. > early AFL defenses.....all your guys are great backs.....but.....here's how I break them down....."bruisers": big strong guys getting tough yards (a lot of tough yards and inflicting bruises): George, Dillon.....next level:
Deletebruisers+tooth rattlers....guys who relished dishing out contact: Zonk, Casares, Hinkle, and especially Taylor. and Lynch......my Rushmore is a Rushmore of style/legend and would be described as: bruiser+tooth rattler+ trampler.....Nagurski, Motley, Campbell....I am adding Henry....the Bus falls somewhere between second and third group......I think we can agree Jim Brown is "out of category" (like mountains in the Tour de France) great.....you forgot John Henry Johnson in your list......thoughts?
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DeleteOh, yeah ... lots of punishing type runners. Johnson, absolutely. We forgot someone before Nagurski or Hinkle ... Tony Latone. Though he didnt play as long, another runner similar to Henry was Brandon Jacobs. Mike Alstott and Natrone Means could bruise tacklers as well. Eric Dickerson was fast like Jim Brown and liked to accelerate through a defense. The 1990s, were the last great era for runners.
Getting back to TJ, a number of games had interception returns for TDs yesterday. The Rams did it with a 100 yard rusher but still lost. McKinney tied the record with Comp for GB and could catch Larson--due to Eric Goska's research--next week.
Brian, I've read all about the Maroons too and as great as Latone is described, I have a problem including him given that there's no film and only the td stats in PFR (as far as I know).....now if we want to go back there, do we put Jim Thorpe on the list? I don't because as great as Thorpe was, he's not the dominant FULLBACK of my mind's eye.....Alstot, Nigerian Nightmare, there's been a lot of good ones of course (Ameche, Perry, et.al.) but not on my Rushmore.....Dickerson shouldn't be on this list.....he's on the Payton, Simpson, McElhenny list......thoughts?
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DeleteYeah, I mentioned Dickerson based more on his size. How many 6'3 240 pound tailbacks are out there? Henry is one as well but Walter Payton ran harder than both of them. Watching Henry his whole career, I worry that he may wear down if the Ravens continue to call his number. Jackson needs to keep throwing to keep defenses more honest but he never utilizes his talent enough. Andrews isnt catching anything and Likely doesnt get enough targets as well. They will need Henry and halfback Justice Hill to play well against the Steelers but being smart with Henry will help their postseason chances.
Can the Vikings keep it going and when will the Chiefs lose a game? Alot of drama with the HC getting fired in NY but can the Jets offensive line run the ball better and keep Rodgers upright?
A victory against Buffalo could give this team a shot in the arm. That defense flies to the ball and can only get better.
Can't be a ton of games that featured one team with a 100+ return yard touchdown and the opposing team with a blocked field goal return touchdown.
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