Apr 26, 2020 3:15:00 GMT thereallt said:

Apr 26, 2020 0:17:47 GMT UT said:

What NFL have you been watching? Teams run out of shotgun in every situation now.

Sure teams run draw plays every now and then (and have for the longest time now) but NO ONE uses the shotgun as their bread and butter formation for running plays.

Kansas City and Baltimore both ran way more out of shotgun than they did under Center, and those are just the first two teams I was interested in looking at.

Apr 28, 2020 3:01:55 GMT mikec said:

Apr 26, 2020 3:15:00 GMT thereallt said:

Sure teams run draw plays every now and then (and have for the longest time now) but NO ONE uses the shotgun as their bread and butter formation for running plays.

Kansas City and Baltimore both ran way more out of shotgun than they did under Center, and those are just the first two teams I was interested in looking at.

By my reckoning you can add Houston, Arizona, Seattle, Philly, Chicago and Pittsburgh to that list. 

49ers , Ravens , Titans and Vikings were the Top 4 in shotgun percentage.

5. Ladainian Tomlinson 

Years Active 

2001 - 2011 

Career Rushing Yards 

13684 

Career Rushing Touchdowns 

145 

Career Rushing Average 

4.3 

Career Receptions 

624 

Career Receiving Yards 

4772 

Career Receiving Touchdowns 

17 

Career Accolades 

- 5th overall pick in 2001 Draft 

- 5x Pro Bowl Selection 

- 3x First Team All Pro 

- 3x Second Team All Pro 

- 2006 NFL MVP 

- 2006 Offensive Player of the Year 

- 2x Rushing Champion 

- 2000's All Decade Team 

- #21 Retired by Chargers 

- NFL Record for Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Season 

- NFL Record for Most Total Yards in a Season

 

LT is my favorite back of all time and one of my favorite non Packers ever , as I said in the last countdown - I owned his jersey and loved it. His career fizzled out faster than I ever would have hoped and he went to the Jets but watching him in his prime on the Chargers he was one of the best and most well rounded running backs I have watched. He doesn't have the gaudy receiving stats of a Faulk but he was extremely good in that department when called upon - as a runner though his vision was impeccable and he has the athletic ability to back up all the natural instincts that make backs great. I remember the 2001 draft being the first draft I ever sat down and watch and San Diego trading down and still getting him and the hype coming out of TCU that he ultimately lived up to ... maybe thats why I've always followed and connected with his career.

Either way I was bias and rated him #3 but #5 is probably more accurate for THE REAL LT.

Apr 28, 2020 17:59:04 GMT UT said:

Either way I was bias and rated him #3 but #5 is probably more accurate for THE REAL LT.

I'm a massive fan of Tomlinson as well but no way can I cosign this. I'll still sit back though and eat the popcorn as you and thereallt needle each other.

I had Tomlinson at 7, as I said his O-Lines weren't always the best so his numbers were all that more impressive. He was a reliable receiver out of the backfield and he had an incredible ability to switch directions. Combine that with his instincts to find holes and you have on of the more explosive backs in history.

Had LT at #6

I had the other LT one spot below Faulk at #6. I mention Marshall only because I always sort of viewed Other LT as a lesser version (but still great!) of Faulk. Turns out Other LT scored a lot more touchdowns than Faulk, but his receiving stats lag well behind Marshall. So I'll just say I was right. Anyway, Tomlinson lead the league in rushing twice and touchdowns thrice. He also an extremely prolific passer based on an admittedly small sample size.

I also had Tomlinson at #6, right behind Faulk. As great as he was, I don't think he had the same kind of impact on the league that Faulk did. Still though he was one of the most well-rounded backs to ever play, and does deserve a measure of respect.


But I still ain't calling him "LT" He didn't reach that level of greatness, precious few have.

Ladanian Tomlinson was the best fantasy football RB ever until CMC came along. At least for me.

He was dominant and a pleasure to watch and follow. Ladanian will always have a place in my heart for personal reasons. I also owned his jersey and he’s the greatest Charger to ever play.

Apr 28, 2020 13:48:18 GMT UT said:

49ers , Ravens , Titans and Vikings were the Top 4 in shotgun percentage.

Are you sure that isn't just run play percentage? Sharp Football Stats has the Vikings as one of the teams running fewest from the shotgun, only 46 times compared to 480 runs from under centre.

Apr 29, 2020 0:38:13 GMT @admin said:

Apr 28, 2020 13:48:18 GMT UT said:

49ers , Ravens , Titans and Vikings were the Top 4 in shotgun percentage.

Are you sure that isn't just run play percentage? Sharp Football Stats has the Vikings as one of the teams running fewest from the shotgun, only 46 times compared to 480 runs from under centre.

No it’s % of snaps out of shotgun.

Apr 29, 2020 0:40:16 GMT UT said:

Apr 29, 2020 0:38:13 GMT @admin said:

Are you sure that isn't just run play percentage? Sharp Football Stats has the Vikings as one of the teams running fewest from the shotgun, only 46 times compared to 480 runs from under centre.

No it’s % of snaps out of shotgun.

Where are you getting that from? Using the filters here Minnesota called the least amount of shotgun plays by far of any team last season. Whereas the four teams you mentioned are top for overall rushing play percentage.

Apr 29, 2020 0:50:28 GMT @admin said:

Apr 29, 2020 0:40:16 GMT UT said:

No it’s % of snaps out of shotgun.

Where are you getting that from? Using the filters here Minnesota called the least amount of shotgun plays by far of any team last season. Whereas the four teams you mentioned are top for overall rushing play percentage.

Yeah I just read the sharps one now. I’d have to look at the sites but I generally trust sharps.

Apr 28, 2020 23:04:04 GMT KING KID said:

Ladanian Tomlinson was the best fantasy football RB ever until CMC came along. At least for me.

He was dominant and a pleasure to watch and follow. Ladanian will always have a place in my heart for personal reasons. I also owned his jersey and he’s the greatest Charger to ever play.

He's up there for sure.  It's between him, Junior Seau, and Kevin Winslow Sr.

He and Seau would be an interesting choice. Seau is actually who I think of despite me being a bigger fan of LT.

4. Emmitt Smith 

Years Active 

1990 - 2004 

Career Games 

226 

Career Rushing Yards 

18,355 

Career Rushing Touchdowns 

164 

Career Rushing Average 

4.2 

Career Receptions 

515 

Career Receiving Yards 

3,224 

Career Receiving Touchdowns 

11 

Career Accolades 

- 17th Overall pick in 1990 NFL Draft 

- 8x Pro Bowl Selection 

- 4x First Team All Pro 

- 2x Second Team All Pro 

- 1993 NFL MVP 

- 1990 Offensive Rookie of the Year 

- 4x NFL Rushing Champion 

- 1990's NFL All Decade Team 

- Member of Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor 

- Named to NFLs 100th Anniversary Team 

- NFL Record for Career Rushing Yards 

- NFL Record for Career Rushing Touchdowns 

- NFL Record for Career Carries 

I have a hard time ranking Smith always , on one hand he was great and had some impeccable vision and ran hard - on the other hand he ran behind possibly the greatest offensive line ever assembled. He deserves credit for sure and #4 is probably fair too him despite holding so many records - I had him behind LT because I think when it's all said and done and given some of the lines LT had to work behind - he was a better pure running back. Can't prove it , can't quantify it but just watching them both I wonder what their career look like could they switch roles and you put someone like LT behind that line in the 90's.

Also Emmitt was more involved in the passing game than I though but he career averages for that seems low , but 500+ catches is impressive.

I had Smith ranked #4 and I think that is the correct ranking. No one hates the Cowboys more than I do, but Emmitt is one of the most disrespected backs ever. Everyone wants to give all the credit to the Dallas O-line yet just about every time Emmitt missed a game the Cowboys LOST. He's the only member of the triplets where that is the case.



Am I missing something?  The man's tape is incredible to watch. Vision, moves, toughness, power everything was there. His breakaway isn't quite as good as others on the list, but he was still fast enough to breakaway from defenders.

As far as Tomlinson and the teams he was on, sorry I'm not buying it. Tomlinson was on some incredible Charger teams and they just didn't get it done. You can't fault Emmitt for being on teams that did.

Now Emmitt did stay on a little too long and watching him in a Cardinal uniform was cringe. But that shouldn't take away from his overall body of work.

I had Emmitt at 2, the numbers, longevity and impact on his team were just too much for me to ignore. Guys like Barry Sanders we'll just never know. If he had played one more year he could have had a career ending neck injury. Emmitt shouldn't be penalized for going the long haul.

San Diego placed 25th in run blocking in 2007, and 11th in 2003 yet his stats were about the same as when they were top 10 in 05/06. He had to do at least some of the work in those years.

Had Emmitt at #5

I also had Emmitt at #4. He wasn't the flashiest but he got the job done and racked up the numbers to become the all time record holder. Emmitt was a workhorse who demoralized defenses during da Dallas dynasty with his 5 yards and a cloud of dust stylings.

I miss Emmitt on ESPN. He was a more enjoyable Booger.

I had LT @ #2 behind the GOAT CMC, by the way.

I also had Emmitt at #4, but the dude should've been #1.

3. Walter Payton 

Years Active 

1975 - 1987 

Career Games 

190 

Career Rushing Yards 

16,726 

Career Rushing Touchdowns 

110 

Career Rushing Average 

4.4 

Career Receptions 

492 

Career Receiving Yards 

4538 

Career Receiving Touchdowns

15 

Accolades 

- 4th overall pick in 1975 NFL Draft 

- 9x Pro Bowl Selection 

- 7x First Team All Pro 

- 1x Second Team All Pro 

- 1977 NFL MVP 

- 1x NFL Offensive Player of the Year 

- 1970's NFL All Decade Team 

- 1980's NFL All Decade Team 

- NFL 100th Anniversary Team 

- NFL 75th Anniversary Team 

- #34 Retired by Chicago Bears

I had Payton at #3. This is probably the most "accurate" PW list I ever submitted. I only caught the tail end of Payton's career. In my head he's basically a flashier Emmitt Smith in that he combines Emmitt's longevity and consistency with more pizzazz.

Sweetness was my number 1, he was an iron man who really could do it all even playing a few snaps at QB iirc. He could run through defenders or out juke them in a phone booth. Plus with Chicago's long history of terrible QB's was basically their offence for over a decade. He also personified class off the field, my heart sunk when I heard of his passing. I even did an essay about him in middle school, just one of my favorite all around athletes.

I had Sweetness at #3. My heart sank when he didn't get a chance to score a TD in the SB against the Patriots. One of the good guys in the NFL. Died far too young sadly. He and the defense were the Bears. Shootist, is so right about them not having a QB forever, hell Jay Cutler is their all time leader for yards...that says a lot.

The Bears haven't had a great QB since Sid Luckman. Prove me wrong.

Apr 30, 2020 19:55:10 GMT Baker said:

The Bears haven't had a great QB since Sid Luckman. Prove me wrong.

I can't...I'd like to see someone try, but I feel that's impossible.  Since, I now live in the land of the Bears, a QB is what everyone holds out hope for.