Gil Brandt has graded 492 running backs over 60 years

of the franchise, but it was in the best interest of me, a fan of such an age that I'm not looking ahead 10-15 years.

Now there is something to look forward to next season. If they protect Eli, a big IF, he should be serviceable enough.

In finding a new star quarterback, you are always playing the odds. The odds would have been at their best had they taken a quarterback with the second pick, but like the Cowboys we may be lucky and have the clouds part and our next QB fall out of the sky.

In comment 13952081 SB 42 and 46 and ? said:

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of the franchise, but it was in the best interest of me, a fan of such an age that I'm not looking ahead 10-15 years. Now there is something to look forward to next season. If they protect Eli, a big IF, he should be serviceable enough. In finding a new star quarterback, you are always playing the odds. The odds would have been at their best had they taken a quarterback with the second pick, but like the Cowboys we may be lucky and have the clouds part and our next QB fall out of the sky.

The odds argument really only applies to dumb , random chance. It very much ignores whether or not you've done research or have knowledge or experience. It's like picking a card and saying you have a 50-50 chance at a red card or black suited card. However, if you've been watching them flip cards over and the first 26 cards turned over were red, then you have more confidence in picking a black-suited card.

than Brandt ever knew.

In comment 13951544 Greg from LI said:

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The ZOMG HE'S THE GREATEST EVER AND WILL ABSOLUTELY BE AMAZING happy talk that's going on now is ridiculous. That's why I keep saying "we'll see". The value of the position is relatively low - even great backs tend to wear down quickly relative to other positions, and I don't think the margin separating him from, say, Guice or Chubb is so great as to make picking him #2 overall a quality use of resources.

Guice and Chubb are the 'run of the mill' fairly high end Rbs you see almost every draft. Sure they can play at a nice level and complement your team but they aren't game changers.

Its like the difference from having a quality receiver like Amani Toomer vs and Odell Beckham. One is a game changer the other is a strong talent.

Adrian Peterson was a game changer. Barkley is graded at that level.

In comment 13951282 Greg from LI said:

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Which we were setting aside, remember? He was a DT as a freshman in 1997. Dan Neil was a senior when Ricky was a sophomore so, again, my point about the line in 1997 stands.

I was talking production in college, I said through his junior year.

Even still setting aside, freshman and soph campaigns...
Jay Humphrey played on the 1996(with Dan Neil), 1997 and 1998(with Leonard Davis) lines and , was outland finalist, an all american and was drafted and played in the NFL for 5 years.

Not even trying to nitpick Ricky Williams because I thought he was a fantastic runningback and made first team all pro. If his head was on straight his career could have been much different.

However, even if you strictly want to focus on just the junior campaign, Barkely is still right there..it's not as if Williams is in some otherwordly stratosphere...

Ricky had 2043 yards from scrimmage and 25 TDS for 6.8 yards per play.

Barkely had 1903 yards from scrimmage and 23 TDS(21 rush/rec plus two kick return tds) for 7.0 yards per play.

Pretty comparable. Williams had 140 more yards from scrimmage on 28 more touches, and 2 more touchdowns, Barkley had a shade higher average.