philyphreak1

I have been looking at stats and thinking about it and the more I look at it Marshall Faulk changed the way the running back position is played in today's NFL. He was the first back to ever rush for 1000 yards, and total 1000 or more recpetion yards. Since then teams have been looking for running backs like that and to be completely honest I think only three teams have found a guy who can play in that same class.

L.T. in San Diego is probably the best back in the league and will go down in history as one of the best ever. He will end his career either above Emmitt Smith's rushing record or very close to it while also putting up massive recieving numbers. He is the best back because without him his offense can't function the same. He makes the offense better as a whole and no matter if someone plays 9 guys in the box or 6 in the box they will not stop him. He is consistantly good.

Brian Westbrook in Philadelphia is the leading reciever on his offense as well as the top running back. When he first came into the league he was more of a reciever than he was a runner and his numbers reflect that. His rushing yards never went over 1000 yards until 2006 when he hit 1200 yards rushing while still totalling 699 reception yards with 4 touchdowns. Last season he rushed for 1333 yards and caught 90 passes for a total of 771 yards and 5 touchdowns. He already has a total of 53 touchdowns. Having run for 27, caught 23, 2 return touchdowns, and threw for a touchdown. I can't wait to see this season with yet another weapon on offense and special teams being drafted, in DeSean Jackson. Also another thing I have liked this offseason they have looked very hard for a fullback having tried out Luke Lawton, Dan Klecko, Jed Collins, Jason Davis, and Kris Wilson. I think a guy they should look at for a fullback is Tony Hunt the 3rd round draft pick a couple seasons ago. With Ryan Moats, and Correll Buckhalter coming back this season as well as Lorenzo Booker coming over in a trade they have enough depth at runningback to move him to fullback and not worry. He might also turn into an assett being on the field being a running or recieving threat while also being a blocking back. Regardless of who starts at fullback they have a good rotation of guys fighting for the job and they will be a good lead blocker no matter who it is.

Ironically the third guy that I see as one of these guys is Steven Jackson. Last season alone he had 90 catches for 800 yards and 3 touchdowns on top of the 1500 yards and 13 touchdowns he had rushing. His stats slumped a little last season but that is merely due to injury. He missed 4 games. He will return to form this season and have another huge season and show he was he right guy to step in for Marshall Faulk when he retired.

I have been thinking about it and the more I look into it the more I realize there is probably not a reciever in the game today that will come near touching any of Jerry Rice's recieving records, and yet all of these big name players complain about their contract. Now correct me if I am wrong but Jerry Rice never once complained about his contract even when he played for the Raiders and they couldn't win a game if the other team threw 12 interceptions. I looked at the numbers and probably the only ones with a slight chance of coming near Rice's records 10 or 15 years from now are Brandon Marshall from the Denver Broncos, and Larry Fitzgerald from the Cardinals. Brandon Marshall came in as a rookie reciever playing in the slot for most of the season behind Rod Smith, and Javon Walker and even that season there was a feeling around the league that Marshall was a star in the waiting. He proved exactly that coming back with over 100 receptions, 1300 yards, and 7 touchdowns. Now don't get me wrong he would have to average 95 catches, 1400 yards, and 13 touchdowns for the next 15 seasons to tie the records so I am not saying he will do it I am saying he has a chance, but back to my point. Already in his 3rd season he has pissed off his quarterback, and his coach by enduring a dumb injury and causing a little contraversy around his team. Now Larry Fitzgerald came into the league as a first round pick standing at 6'3 225 lbs. He is a big dude but since coming into the league he has put up big numbers already going into his 5th season he has two seasons with 100 receptions or more, both of which went for 1400 yards. He also has 34 touchdowns. These numbers are something teams want from a guy they pick in the first round. But onto the problems. The problems weren't exactly that big but the domino effect kicked in when Fitzgerald's problems were solved. He wanted to be paid more but like I just pointed out he has put up numbers in his 4 seasons that warrant getting a raise so the Cardinals happily resigned him to a big contract but then Anquan Boldin wanted a new contract which he still hasn't gotten. That is where the problems come in. Either way Larry Fitzgerald would still have to average 94 catches, 1400 yards, and 13 touchdowns for the next 13 seasons to come tie the records. Now don't get me wrong when Fitzgerald is on he is hands down the best reciever in the game in my opinion and he has the ability to put up these numbers however with a guy like Boldin on the other side, and emphasis on the 3 reciever set in this offense along with the fact that he will most likely not play 13 more seasons, and the other fact of how hard it is to consistantly put up those kind of numbers for 17 years in this league shows how improbable it will be for any reciever to ever touch Jerry Rice's records. Now add onto that the fact that just about all of the "elite" recievers in this league have caused problems at some point or another you begin to wonder if the days of old where selfless players did what they had to do, shut their mouths and just played are gone for good. I mean teams are begining to show they will crack down on some of this behavior but then if the teams let these guys go someone else picks them up. The NFL itself is letting the players act like this by paying them the money they want when they ask for it despite the problems they cause. Year after year you hear about how T.O. yelled at McNabb, or Randy Moss quit on a play, or Chad Johnson wants a trade, Boldin and Fitzgerald want a new contract, Steve Smith got in a fist fight, whatever it may be or whenever it may happen there is always drama when it comes to elite recievers. Few and far between are guys like Hines Ward, Tj Houschmanzadeh, Marvin Harrison, and Reggie Wayne the guys who consistantly go out there and perform and let their actions get them the money they deserve. The worst part about it is Marvin Harrison who has been considered one of the best for years still needs 507 receptions, 8951 yards, and 74 touchdowns to be able to considered the best reciever ever. He would need at least 7 or 8 more years to realistically put up the numbers he needs to get there and he is already going into his 13th season.  If only he hadn't missed 11 games last season. His numbers would have been way closer to those of Rice. Reggie Wayne is going into his 8th season and needs 1055 receptions, 15911 yards, and 150 touchdowns and we all know how hard those numbers would be to get even if he plays 13 more seasons. Andre Johnson, Braylon Edwards, Lavernous Coles, Chad Johnson, Chris Chambers, or even Randy Moss will never ever touch these numbers. Its amazing to think about.

It is the same thing when it comes to the rushing title. The best in the league come no where near Emmitt Smith's numbers except maybe LaDainian Tomlinson but how much longer can a guy like that take the beating of around 360 touches a year? He is a beast when it comes to conditioning, and overall talent but not even Emmitt had to be his teams leading reciever, and leading rusher. I have no doubt in my mind that when LaDainian Tomlinson retires he will be a hall of fame player hands down. He is way too versatile and way too good not to be considered a first ballet inductee. If even this guy will never come close to Emmitt's numbers who will? Adrian Peterson? Doubtful. It just seems to me in this day in the NFL no one is as disiplined, trusted, and counted on as these guys were. Except a select few who may never come close to the production.

I like the Texans to be this season's dark horse to not only make the playoffs but possibly even go deep in the playoffs. Here is why:

1. At quarterback you have the unquestioned starter Matt Schaub and behind him you have Rosenfels, and Quinn Grey both of which have starting experience. There will be a battle for the back-up qb. If Schaub stays healthy this season the offense will go great places. Behind them they have Shane Boyd, and Alex Brink, the 7th round pick from Washington State.
   
2. At runningback they have Ahman Green, Chris Brown, Darius Walker, and Chris Taylor. Green has shown he can be a 1000 yard back in this league but is coming off 2 straight injury marred seasons. Chris Brown is a powerful runner who should spell Green and be a good change of pace and goal line back. Darius Walker last season showed he can be a contributor, he has good hands and quickness. Chris Taylor is a bruiser and a guy who can add depth at fullback as well.
3. At Fullback they have Vonta Leach who is a good lead blocker, and also has good hands. Behind him is Jameel Cook a guy who has started for Tampa before and another person who is a good lead blocker and special teams performer.
4. At reciever the Texans are deeper in talent than ever before. Of course the top guy is Andre Johnson who should put up probowl numbers again this season. behind him I expect there to be a battle between Kevin Walter and Andre Davis for the number 2 spot. Walter led the team in receptions last season with 65 and Davis showed again he is a deep threat and a guy who can catch a screen pass and take it the distance. Behind him they have the former 2nd round pick Jacoby Jones who should improve on last season in which he had only 17 receptions. I also like David Anderson he is a solid 5th reciever and a guy who will perform on special teams as well.
5. Tight end is a solid position for this team with Owen Daniels catching 60+ passes this season. Bruener was resigned this season and is a good blocker. Behind them there is Joel Dreesen who saw some action in 2 tight end sets last season and is more athletic than Bruener but not as solid as a blocker, he is also the back-up long snapper.
6. Offensive Line is solid as well. They added Chris Myers a guy who will compete at center and left guard for this team he started 16 games for the Broncos last season.