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Thinking about our current running back situation got me to thinking. Who are the top five backs to ever put on the maroon and white? In no particular order. James Johnson, Micheal Davis Anthony Dixon, Jerious Norwood, Keefer Mcgee. "I only named the ones that played in my lifetime." #I forgot Dontae Walker
There have been a lot of very, very good ones. Michael Haddix comes to mind as someone deserving of mention. Should add Vic Ballard in there as well. Injuries have done him in, but he was off to a great start in Indy.
JJ I wish he was here longer than 2 years, Jerious, Dincenzo then Haddix
JJ will always be my favorite.
Think of what Norwood coulda done in an actual offense.
I will alway appreciate what Dixon did.
Ballard is under appreciated IMO.
Michael Davis used to carry bodies out of the pile. He was the most powerful RB/FB I've ever seen.
Walter Packer
JJ was a beast. Michael Haddix was a pretty tough customer, too.
A lot of good ones - but Haddix is probably the best of the bunch - he just doesn't get the recognition. Packer is an all-time great. Bouie was good too. Dontae Walker probably had the most potential of the bunch but wasted it. Boobie Dixon and Jerius Norwood were special. Dicenzo Miller and JJ were my personal favorites.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maroon Blood
Without a doubt one of the top RB's in our history. Has to be in the top 5.
Since I've become a fan, which basically was JJ's first year, I'd rank it as follows:
#1 JJ (I think he's probably been the best overall that I've seen)
#2-4 (in some order) Norwood (largely wasted talent but still able to show out some)
Boobie
Vic Ballard
#5-6 Justin Griffith (also wasted talent, which I guess explains why he's so rarely mentioned)
Dicenzo
#7 Josh Robinson (josh was probably a better runner than Vic and Griffith, and had good hands, but was inferior at everything else involving the RB position; not sure about how he would compare to Dicenzo)
Who was the recruit that the Swan had a fight in the front yard over?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bubb Rubb
Robert Elliot... good bulldog but not so much all time material.
All of them... each has their own set of skills... but I did like seeing several of them toting bodies with them... haven't seen that in a while.
Id like to have another Bouie and Davis type backfield.
Justin Griffith had the longest NFL career of the bunch, but I wouldn't call him wasted talent. As crazy as this sounds, he was probably the third best RB on the roster at that time. He played a lot of FB for us. That gives you an idea of the type of running back talent we had in those years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnson85
Davis was a physical freak. They don't come along too often.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinto
Packer was especially tough out of the veer. Hard to take down.Quote:
Originally Posted by AROB44
We need a top 10 rather than top 5. Hard to separate.
I remember the year that Bouie and Davis dismantled OM on a wet field in Oxford. Neither could be stopped that day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinto
Talent/productuon given their situation:
Norwood
Dixon/JJ
Packer/Magee
Dicenzo/Ballard/Davis/Haddix
Bowling ball/ Bouie
Davis ran like a truck. Seemed like he always hit the line hard with both arms covering the ball.i think he became a highway patrolman and even pulled JWS over once for speeding.
I still would have loved to have seen #44 David Fair play more. He was a hoss who blew his knee out in his first game (correct me if I am wrong on the # of games)
He was 6-3 plus and 230 with speed to burn
Justin Griffith was my fav RB of all time with JJ a close 2nd.
JJ Johnson
Walter Packer
Micheal Davis
Vick Ballard
Michael Haddix
Honorable Mention:
Anthony Dixon
Jerious Norwood
Justin Griffith
Dontae Walker
Dicenzo Miller
David Fair was rumored to be the next Herchel Walker at the time. Might have been an exaggeration, but he had it all.Quote:
Originally Posted by BHildreth3
An early injury prevented this potential Heisman candidate for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawgcentral
I'll always remember sitting in Tiger stadium watching Packer come around end and outrunning LSU's secondary for the TD.Quote:
Originally Posted by AROB44
What I'm talking aboutQuote:
Originally Posted by Pinto
and then there are the golden memories of 3rd and 11 and Hank Phillips #29 over the top for a yard. repeatedly....
Wayne Jones and Shorty Mc Williams right at the Top. I think Shorty got Heisman votes. But Ole Hoyle Granger rushed for a 1000 yards with The Houston Oilers.
I remember being at the MSU vs. Mississippi game in Jackson, Wayne Jones's senior year. A massive brawl broke loose, with both sidelines rushing to the field for the fight. Wayne Jones was the only player dumb enough to rush into the fight without his helmet on, and he paid!Quote:
Originally Posted by tcdog70
David Fair. Most talented back ever. Shame the dead Indian tripped him on the sideline.Quote:
Originally Posted by Prentis
Norwood single handedly beat Florida in a game of tackle the man with the football. That was possibly the best game of any RB ever. There are other huge games too though. Boobie had some (UK, Houston come to mind). Nick Turner vs UT.
What about the guy in croom era that got arrested for counterfeiting money? Nick somebody
That dude had all world talent