The RB Position in Today's NFL
 

While we are waiting...

I think Seatlle has hurt itself by signing S. Alexander to an eight-year $62 M contract. It's going to weaken their ability to fill other positions on the team.

Running the football is an innate talent, it isn't something to be learned from experience. Consequently, the RB position is one that smart football GMs fill out of the draft in order to reduce the hit on their salary cap.

The best move: Pick a good back with a number one or number two pick, pound his young legs for four or five years, then trade him or cut him loose and plug another one in.

Any thoughts?

Re: The RB Position in Today's NFL
 

I agree to a certain extent. Seattle did already have a pretty dominant team on both sides of the ball. They most certainly need some help on the defensive side and they may lose Bernard to FA. I think they're sticking with a proven commodity since Hutchinson may be gone.

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While I agree with most of your statements, you have to remember this 8 year deal is probably for 3, 4 max and only $15 million is guaranteed. Although he is 28 years old, he is still in awesome shape and can be productive for the next 3 or 4 years with the type of game they play out there. They pass a very high percentage of the time on 1st down when alot of teams crowd the line expecting run. He doesn't get beat up alot, plus he goes out of bounds when he can, he doesnt enjoy the down field contact.

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Or any contact at all.

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Seattle couldn't afford to let the league MVP walk away. They're likely to make another run at the Super Bowl again next year.

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While running may be an innate talent, good backs are plentiful....great ones are scarce. I would have to say Alexander falls in the latter category.

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Would you put him in the great backs category? The good backs you are talking about would become "great" behind that line. Arguably the best offensive line in football (at least the left side is).

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[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]I agree to a certain extent. Seattle did already have a pretty dominant team on both sides of the ball. They most certainly need some help on the defensive side and they may lose Bernard to FA. I think they're sticking with a proven commodity since Hutchinson may be gone.[/QUOTE]

You probably have their thinking right: "sticking with a proven commodity." But, picking RBs in the draft isn't nearly as risky as say picking a QB.

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[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]Would you put him in the great backs category? The good backs you are talking about would become "great" behind that line. Arguably the best offensive line in football (at least the left side is).[/QUOTE]

Possibly, but I think all of the truly great ones ran behind dominant lines. The only exception I can think of would be Barry Sanders. But I would put Alexander in the "great backs" category as far as present day, active runners are concerned. Of all time?? Maybe not, but I think history will ultimately put Alexander in that category when it's all said and done.

To me he just lacks something, but who can argue with his stats.

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[QUOTE=#56fanatic]While I agree with most of your statements, you have to remember this 8 year deal is probably for 3, 4 max and only $15 million is guaranteed. Although he is 28 years old, he is still in awesome shape and can be productive for the next 3 or 4 years with the type of game they play out there. [/QUOTE]

He has been durable, but he has five years of hard mileage on him.

We saw two backs drafted out of Auburn last year who probably could have produced as well in Seattle's system for less money.

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[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]Would you put him in the great backs category? The good backs you are talking about would become "great" behind that line. Arguably the best offensive line in football (at least the left side is).[/QUOTE]

[color=black]The man has put up 15+ rushing touchdowns a season for, what, 5 years in a row? Regardless of your O-line, that's pretty damn great if you ask me. He is a constant threat to break a big run so the opposing D can't relax with him on the field.[/color]

[color=black] [/color]

[color=black]It's true that RB is probably one of the 'easiest' positions for a player to make the transition from college to the pros; but a college kid doesn't guarantee you the kind of consistency that Alexander has for them the past few years. He is getting older, but with that line, he doesn't seem to be slowing down.[/color]

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[QUOTE=Mattyk72]Seattle couldn't afford to let the league MVP walk away. They're likely to make another run at the Super Bowl again next year.[/QUOTE]

Five of the last six Super Bowl losers didn't make the playoffs the next season. In this era of parity, there isn't much difference between number two and number 22.

Letting the league's MVP walk might have been bad press...the kind New England used to get hit with when they let some of their big name talent walk.

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I just never, ever, ever see Alexander break tackles. He's fast, I'll give him that, but it always seems he's running behind his Pro Bowl fullback and his Pro Bowl tackle, Walter Jones and his Pro Bowl guard Hutchinson before he ever gets touched.

And also let's remember that their passing game wasn't exactly shabby and I'm sure that opened up some things for him. I just thought it was a shame that he broke Priest's record because Priest was a far tougher runner than Alexander will ever be. He definitely had the benefit of a great line, but not of the passing game nor of a great fullback.

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[QUOTE=ArtMonkDrillz][color=black]The man has put up 15+ rushing touchdowns a season for, what, 5 years in a row? Regardless of your O-line, that's pretty damn great if you ask me. He is a constant threat to break a big run so the opposing D can't relax with him on the field.[/color][/QUOTE]

If you have a Barry Sanders, a Jim Brown, or an Earl Campbell...you have a great running back. Alexander is a very good running back but not in that category.

The knock on Clinton Portis when he came here was that he was a "system back" at Denver. All RBs, for better or worse, are system backs in my opinion.

Alexander has done exceptionally well for five seasons, and is coming off his best year. But the question is: How likely is it that he will be worth the money he will be paid during the term of the contract?

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I'll say this with some warning, it might not have worked out this way, but I bet that Mike Anderson behind that line could have had easily the same production.

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[QUOTE=Huddle]If you have a Barry Sanders, a Jim Brown, or an Earl Campbell...you have a great running back. Alexander is a very good running back but not in that category.

The knock on clinton Portis when he came here was that he was a "system back" at Denver. All RBs are system backs in my opinion.

Alexander has done exceptionally well for five seasons, and is coming off his best year. But the question is: How likely is it that he will be worth the money he will be paid during the term of the contract?[/QUOTE]

First of all he's not going to play out that contract. Promise you that. Either it will get restructered, he get's cut/traded or retires before the eight year deal is up.

I think today's running backs can be called system backs more so than your Earl Campbells, your Barry Sanders or your Jim Browns....backs from another era.

Is he worth the money....well, how do you measure a contract worth $62 million. In part, I think you have to consider the fact that they keep him off the market. But if they can put together a Super Bowl win [i]and [/i]he averages somewhere in the ballpark of what he's been doing over the past five seasons, then I would guess Seattle think they've gotten their money's worth.

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[QUOTE=12thMan]First of all he's not going to play out that contract. Promise you that. Either it will get restructered, he get's cut/traded or retires before the eight year deal is up.

I think today's running backs can be called system backs more so than your Earl Campbells, your Barry Sanders or your Jim Browns....backs from another era.

Is he worth the money....well, how do you measure a contract worth $62 million. In part, I think you have to consider the fact that they keep him off the market. But if they can put together a Super Bowl win [i]and [/i]he averages somewhere in the ballpark of what he's been doing over the past five seasons, then I would guess Seattle think they've gotten their money's worth.[/QUOTE]

Of course, he won't play out the eight years. It's the cap hit for the next few seasons that will hurt in this kind of deal.

I'm not sure why you think that "backs from another era" are more likely to be system backs. The great RBs could do things that other RBs couldn't. They achieved results that were unexpected given the support they had.

My first post talked about a strategy for the RB position that holds the [u]probability[/u] of a better outcome. The question to be asked: How [u]likely[/u] is it that Alexander will continue to perfrom at the level he has over the past five seasons ---especially if his big contract prohibits the team from re-signing an offensive lineman, Hutchinson for example?

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[QUOTE=Huddle]Of course, he won't play out the eight years. It's the cap hit for the next few seasons that will hurt in this kind of deal.

I'm not sure why you think that "backs from another era" are more likely to be system backs. The great RBs could do things that other RBs couldn't. They achieved results that were unexpected given the support they had.

My first post talked about a strategy for the RB position that holds the [u]probability[/u] of a better outcome. The question to be asked: How [u]likely[/u] is it that Alexander will continue to perfrom at the level he has over the past five seasons ---especially if his big contract prohibits the team from re-signing an offensive lineman, Hutchinson for example?[/QUOTE]

Okay, I think you have my quote twisted just a little....I was saying the backs from the other era aren't system backs like the ones of today.

I think the probability of Alexander continuing at this pace is unlikely, however.

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8$mill a year for a running back is crazy. he has the best LT and LG in the nfl and a top 5 FB... AND a top 5ish QB to boot. I think his contract is a huge mistake, but they have the cap room.

I think mike anderson wouldn't have had the same production cause he's a slower back. holmes or edge could have though, and probably portis too (portis is much better at running behind blockers now than he was two years ago).

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[QUOTE=12thMan]Okay, I think you have my quote twisted just a little....I was saying the backs from the other era aren't system backs like the ones of today. [/QUOTE]

Sorry, about that. I did mis-read it.

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[QUOTE=That Guy](portis is much better at running behind blockers now than he was two years ago).[/QUOTE]

I think Portis will put up 1500 this year on fewer carries as he get's better at this.

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[QUOTE=That Guy]8$mill a year for a running back is crazy. he has the best LT and LG in the nfl and a top 5 FB... AND a top 5ish QB to boot. I think his contract is a huge mistake, but they have the cap room.[/QUOTE]

Yes, they have the cap room but I can't believe they can't find better ways to use it. Can you?

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[QUOTE=Huddle]Sorry, about that. I did mis-read it.[/QUOTE]

no worries, dude:)

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[QUOTE=Huddle]Yes, they have the cap room but I can't believe they can't find better ways to use it. Can you?[/QUOTE]

I agree. With their losses (most likely) on defense, their D as a whole will suffer and even though they might have a good offense, they're losing part of what made them great. AND if they get an offer for Hutchinson don't they have to match the salary another team would pay him?

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[QUOTE=12thMan]I think Portis will put up 1500 this year on fewer carries as he get's better at this.[/QUOTE]

If Al Saunders is as unpredictable in his play calling as advertised, Portis will put up 1,500 on less carries even if he doesn't improve in following his blockers.

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People love to hate on Alexander and I admit I'm not a huge fan of his, but when you look at the numbers the guy puts up you can't deny he's a big time player. Like him or not the guy produces.

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[QUOTE=Huddle]Yes, they have the cap room but I can't believe they can't find better ways to use it. Can you?[/QUOTE]

sure.

Isaac Bruce
Ty Law

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Exactly. Law would have been a PERFECT fit with that cash.

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[QUOTE=Mattyk72]People love to hate on Alexander and I admit I'm not a huge fan of his, but when you look at the numbers the guy puts up you can't deny he's a big time player. Like him or not the guy produces.[/QUOTE]

No disagreement here. I think he deserved the MVP.

But, the RB position isn't worth that kind of money. For the reasons stated in Post One, this is perhaps the one position on your roster that you allows you to gain some cap room by selecting from the draft.

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you dont think that steve smith deserved the mvp? he was a one man wrecking crew with not much of a supporting cast

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[QUOTE=PWNED]you dont think that steve smith deserved the mvp? he was a one man wrecking crew with not much of a supporting cast[/QUOTE]

Close call. But the MVP, to an extent, is a team award. Alexander's team made it to the Super Bowl.

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which is unfortunate, because if its a team award, it should be called the MVT.

i thought that smith was more valuable as an individual to the team.

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[QUOTE=12thMan]I think Portis will put up 1500 this year on fewer carries as he get's better at this.[/QUOTE]

If we continue to improve our passing game, I think there's no question his numbers will improve. Saunders' offensive changes, in general, will likely improve Portis' numbers. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 1,700 yard season (at 4.7 ypc) out of Portis if he doesn't get injured.

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screen pass to portis! YAY