Running into Obscurity

How important is a great running back? More and more it doesn't seem to be that important. On second thought, its seems to have been historically overrated.

Lets take the maybe the five greatest running backs in history (in no order) Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, O.J. Simpson and for the sake of argument Emmitt Smith. That's a total of five titles between them. Not bad, but three belong to Smith and the Cowboys.

As and aside, I think Smith is wildly overrated. As he ran behind the greatest offensive line ever assembled and wasn't even the best running back of his generation (Sanders). But we'll throw him on here to keep from making the protracted argument of why he should not be here.

Take a look at those five names. How many carried their teams to a title, like the way a great quarterback or defense can? Maybe one. The Cowboys' titles in the 90's had more to do with the passing game and a great defense than it did Smith. Don't get me wrong there were surely games that Smith put those teams on his back but I wouldn't say he did it for long periods. Sanders and the Juice never sniffed a title and Payton won one on the backs of the greatest defense ever. Brown is the lone exception. Throughout his career he was the absolute star of great Browns' teams of the late 50's and 60's. And, in 1964 the Browns won their last title on his back.

Those are arguably the five greatest backs in the history of the game and only one carried his team to a title. Now look at it the other way. How many great, championship teams had really great running backs. There's a smattering of Hall of Famers, Franco Harris, Paul Hourning, Tony Dorsett, Marshall Faulk (when he gets in). But Harris and Hourning weren't all that good, Dorsett was but the Doomsday defense was better and Faulk was only a cog in the "Greatest Show on Turf".

There surely are good running backs who have won titles, but there are some not-so good ones. Maybe having a good running GAME is more important than a good running back. That's what won Denver two titles (I don't want to hear about Elway). Hell a running game may not be that important at all. Not to get all Moneyball on you, but there are statistics out there that suggest you have to throw the ball to set up the run and that rushing numbers for good teams are skewed because they are so often ahead and are running the ball to kill the clock.

I bring this up because the Browns may sign Jamal Lewis and pass on Adrian Peterson. Now, I think Peterson is going to be the next GREAT running in the league. I have a man crush on Peterson. But maybe this is a blessing for the Browns. Now they can focus on making the line better on both sides of the ball or drafting a QB.