The Beast that broke the grading system

[c_hawkbob]

While I was reading through PFF's top 101 players in the NFL I found Marshawn Lynch's write up particularly enjoyable;

This season he forced 75 missed tackles as a runner in the regular season, 11 more as a receiver and the postseason added another 22 across three games. That is a ridiculous rate and by far the most PFF has ever recorded for one runner over a single season.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... awn-lynch/

[burrrton]

Fun read. Thanks, Bob.

[NorthHawk]

Imagine how many more yards Lynch would get behind a very good OL.
Those figures show that our run game is built on Lynch and not much else. If he were an average RB, we might be in a very different position.
I hope Michael has learned from him to continue to give all out effort, but Lynch's innate feel for how to slip a tackle is something that can't be learned or taught.

[PasadenaHawk]

Thanks for posting.

[RiverDog]

While I was reading through PFF's top 101 players in the NFL I found Marshawn Lynch's write up particularly enjoyable;

This season he forced 75 missed tackles as a runner in the regular season, 11 more as a receiver and the postseason added another 22 across three games. That is a ridiculous rate and by far the most PFF has ever recorded for one runner over a single season.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... awn-lynch/

How long has PFF been recording missed tackles?

[c_hawkbob]

While I was reading through PFF's top 101 players in the NFL I found Marshawn Lynch's write up particularly enjoyable;

This season he forced 75 missed tackles as a runner in the regular season, 11 more as a receiver and the postseason added another 22 across three games. That is a ridiculous rate and by far the most PFF has ever recorded for one runner over a single season.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... awn-lynch/

How long has PFF been recording missed tackles?

Like I should know? You're gonna have to do your own research to get that answer ...

[Futureite]

Best RB in the NFL.

[burrrton]

How long has PFF been recording missed tackles?

Like I should know? You're gonna have to do your own research to get that answer ...

The C-Hawk Bob Random Hostility Generator™.

[RiverDog]

It didn't say how long they'd been recording missed tackles it in the link, at least so far as I could tell. Most credible sources qualify such grandiose statements by noting how long they've been collecting data on the subject. Not that I doubt their conclusion, but it would be helpful to know how long they've been following the subject if their objective is to make some sort of impression on me.

Did they include in their analysis Barry Sanders? Gale Sayers? Hugh McElhenny? Red Grange?

[HumanCockroach]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/about/history/

started officially in 04 but from what I was able to find out, went back several decades to come up with the grading formula's, whether that includes or excludes Barry etc I have no idea.

I spent time trying to get actual numbers posted, but while PFF continually makes reference to him, a breakdown of actual missed tackles is missing. So in essence PFF did study him, however, my guess is they didn't watch all the games ofcarrier so data isn't complete. Either way, pretty damn impressive.

Edit: after further researching this subject it becomes apparent that there was really not much actual breakdown other than specific historical accomplishments which sad to say missed tackles isn't. For my money Sanders is the greatest back I've ever watched in person, and as much as I love the way Lynch plays, I don't see that opinion changing. Barry simply IMHO was the best ever ( and I know many feel it was Brown or Sayers or Payton, with valid reasons, hell my son insists Smith was the "guy" even though he never saw him actually play live. But again IMHO Smith falls below the ones mentioned in my book, and to be honest, if Lynch has two more seasons at the level he is at now, I might rank him above Smith as well). That all said, still pretty damn impressive, McCoy finished second last year by 20 missed tackles, which is approximately a full 1/4 less missed tackles which is INSANE in my book.

[RiverDog]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/about/history/

started officially in 04 but from what I was able to find out, went back several decades to come up with the grading formula's, whether that includes or excludes Barry etc I have no idea.

I spent time trying to get actual numbers posted, but while PFF continually makes reference to him, a breakdown of actual missed tackles is missing. So in essence PFF did study him, however, my guess is they didn't watch all the games ofcarrier so data isn't complete. Either way, pretty damn impressive.

OK, thanks, HC, for adding some perspective.

[c_hawkbob]

How long has PFF been recording missed tackles?

Like I should know? You're gonna have to do your own research to get that answer ...

The C-Hawk Bob Random Hostility Generator™.

Couldn't be further off base!

As is almost always the case there was zero hostile intent in that post. I just couldn't find the sarcasm button ...

When reading anything I write here, unless I preface it otherwise, always assume a 'friends in a bar playing a game of pool talking sports' demeanor. If you assume that phrase to have been uttered while passing him the cue and followed by "it's you'r shot" you'd be a lot close to the way it was intended.

[c_hawkbob]

For my money Sanders is the greatest back I've ever watched in person

I'd take OJ, Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson or Adrian Peterson over Barry Sanders. He had the coolest skill set to watch, but I don't think he was the greatest back.

[HumanCockroach]

For my money Sanders is the greatest back I've ever watched in person

I'd take OJ, Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson or Adrian Peterson over Barry Sanders. He mad the coolest skill set to watch, but I don't think he was the greatest back.

Like I said, always another back someone else will see as the greatest, and I have zero problems with those backs ( though Peterson tends to put the ball on the ground far to much for me to even place him with those other names). For my money or IMHO Sanders is the greatest back I have ever seen, nothing more. Valid points can be made for all.

[RiverDog]

For my money Sanders is the greatest back I've ever watched in person

I'd take OJ, Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson or Adrian Peterson over Barry Sanders. He mad the coolest skill set to watch, but I don't think he was the greatest back.

Like I said, always another back someone else will see as the greatest, and I have zero problems with those backs ( though Peterson tends to put the ball on the ground far to much for me to even place him with those other names). For my money or IMHO Sanders is the greatest back I have ever seen, nothing more. Valid points can be made for all.

I hate comparing players from different eras or crowning one player or another as "best ever." The best running back in my memory was Jimmy Brown, but I was young and impressionable. Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Sanders, Dickerson, OJ, et al, are all very deserving and should be included in the conversation.

As far as Beast goes, the closest player I can think of that most resembles his running style is Earl Campbell. I've never seen a player gain so many yards after contact as Beast has.

[NorthHawk]

If I were to rank Running Backs it would be Jim Brown and Walter Payton a few steps ahead of everyone else.
They both had a combination of power and slipperiness that allowed them to shake tackles, but also the speed to outrun many others.

Lynch has an ability in a small area to make a subtle move that changes a defender from being in a strong tackling position to a weak tackling position.
Combined with his power and will he's a difficult guy to stop.

[burrrton]

Couldn't be further off base!

As is almost always the case there was zero hostile intent in that post. I just couldn't find the sarcasm button ...

The Burrrton Sarcasm Recognition Appliance™ obviously wasn't working!