Records to be shattered?

[poptart]

Eric Dickerson's single season rushing mark of 2,105 - Chris Johnson

Marvin Harrison's single season receptions mark of 143 - Wes Welker


Dickerson averaged 131.5 yds a game to set that record.
Johnson is averaging 126.9 yds per game.
He'd need to average 141.8 yds per game to break Dickerson's record.

Btw, the Juice averaged 143 a game in becoming the first guy to go over 2,000 yds in a season -- 14 game season, 1973.

Shit, there's a pretty long list of teams that p@ssed on Chris Johnson in the 2008 draft, as he went 24th overall to the Titans.

Is he better than A.P.?

He had 1,200+ yds in his rookie season.
He's averaging 5.6 per carry for his career.
One TD every 26 carries.

A.P. is averaging 5.0 per carry for his career.
One TD every 24 carries.

Hmmmmm ....

Well, he's a SERIOUS homerun threat, we know that.


M. Harrison averaged 8.9 receptions a game to set the single season receptions mark of 143.
W. Welker is averaging 11.2 per game -- he missed two games.
Welker would need to average 9.1 receptions per game to break Harrison's mark.


What do you think?

[Shoalzie]

I'm always against guys being compared to Barry just because he was so unique but Johnson definitely has that burst of speed when he gets loose where no one can catch him. He's the most exciting back in the league right now, no doubt. During this 5 game run the Titans are on, he's had 5 of his 6 best rushing days of the season...he's averaged 160 yards per game during this streak. I can't see how he won't at least break 2K. His remaining opponents...at Indianapolis (15th against the run), vs. St. Louis (28th), vs. Miami (12th), vs. San Diego (21st), and at Seattle (18th).

It's not like Peterson is having a bad year. He's second to MJD in TDs and third in the league in rushing. What kills him is those 6 lost fumbles and damn near had a seventh yesterday. The addition of Favre hasn't taken away from his carries and if anything, I thought he'd get even more room to run with teams being afraid of the passing game. That offense is just as lethal as the Saints at this point and I'd take their defense over New Orleans. The Vikings are the most complete team in the league.

[poptart]

Solid takes, Shoalz.

Barry had a LOT more wiggle & juke to him than Johnson does.
Johnson's got some moves, but he's more of a straight line speed guy.
One move and he's OFF to the races.

Welker had "just" 6 catches v. the Saints.
He's now got 85 receptions for the season.
Needs to average 11.6 per game for the last five games.

Not likely, imo.

Marvin's record is lookin' a bit more safe after tonight's game.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Marvin's record is lookin' a bit more safe after tonight's game.

Welker let up because he didn't want Hoodlum Harrison shooting at him if he broke the record.

[Shoalzie]

I'm always against guys being compared to Barry just because he was so unique

Yeah, nobody had more runs for negative yardage than Barruh. That is unique. Most overrated Hall of Famer....EVER in any sport.

Yeah but...

Averaged 5 yards a carry for his career (Emmitt 4.2)
3rd all-time in rushing
1997...3rd highest single season total, 14 straight 100-yard games (NFL record)
10 year career...10 1000-yard seasons
Emmitt's best 10 year span: 14,229...Barry's 10 year total: 15,269
Lowest 16 game production...1,352 yards (1992)

The marks against him...the poor production in postseason games (notoriously, the sub-zero game at Lambeau) and he just didn't score as many TDs as Emmitt or LT or Payton, just 99 in his career. And yes, the negative carries hurt to an extent.

Throw the homer card at me but that guy was unreal. His career number and highlight runs look even better with each pitiful year the Lions give me now. I'd kill for a 9-7 season right now. Not to turn this into a woe-is-me LionFan pity party...

[BSmack]

I'm always against guys being compared to Barry just because he was so unique

Yeah, nobody had more runs for negative yardage than Barruh. That is unique. Most overrated Hall of Famer....EVER in any sport.

I know I've told this story before but I saw Barry Sanders play once. Sure, he gained 100 yards that day. But what I remember was the score being 13-13 late in the 4th quarter and the Lions having the ball near their own goal. What they need is a back who can get them 3-4 tough yards and get them out from under their own goal posts. What they have is Barry Sanders, who was promptly tackled in his own end zone by Bruce Smith for a safety. Two plays after the free kick, Antowain Smith takes the ball 56 yards to the house to seal a 22-13 Bills victory. And that's my memory of Barry Sanders.

[poptart]

As dynamic as Barry Sanders was, it was always my take that the Lions needed to use him as a complimentary back.
Because they used him as the feature back, they found themself in poor down/distance situations far too often.
While they were waiting for Barry to bust off his next 50 yd run, the chains were not moving consistently.

But the guy was a phenomenal talent.

[Joe in PB]

What I remember is the Lions had Barry and very little else. He seemed more explosive than Emmit Smith at the time, but the Lions didn't have Dallas' Oline, defense, WRs or QB. If Barry would have been a Cowboy, I'm guessing the thoughts on his career would be very different for some.

Welker has the best chance to break the receptions record IMO.

[Shoalzie]

The lack of a Darryl Johnston-like lead blocker and the talk of the Cowboys' line being better than the Lions' is moot when you think about how Barry ran. Many of his greatest runs were all improvisation and were just examples of his freakish ability to maneuver in tight spaces while being surrounded by defenders and to change direction quickly. He was (and until I see different) the greatest escape artist at the running back position in NFL. Why did he have so many negatives runs...he tried to make something out of nothing and many times, he ended up getting less than nothing.

Would he have put up even better numbers behind a great line? He probably would have larger holes to run through but his two best strengths as a back was his ability to use his vision and elusiveness and the guy was also very fast when he got into the open field. Emmitt needed the lead blocker and the great offensive line because he ran for day-light...he didn't have Barry's agility and quickness. Smith could run hard straight into the line and take a short run and turn it into a breakaway run after dropping his shoulder and breaking tackles.

I'm not one of those Barry fans that was a blatant Emmitt hater. The two guys had different running styles but I don't think Emmitt is the all-time leading rusher if he played in Detroit behind that lesser offensive line. Barry would still put up crazy numbers on most teams just because of his athleticism. Barry was the true definition of a home run hitter on the football field. He'd strikeout a lot but when he got a hold of one (break a long run), it was something to behold.

[Shoalzie]

The coaching angle with Barry is interesting because he and Fontes never butted heads but when Bobby Ross came to town, Barry didn't stay around for long. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Ross running a tighter ship than Fontes ruffled the feathers of Barry. He wasn't a bad guy or wild child, I think he just liked having the freedom to do his thing. If Ross wanted Barry to be a more conventional back, I could see where there would be some push-back on Sanders' part. Oddly enough, Ross was the coach when Barry had that great year in '97.