Who is the top half back of all time?
Written by EPBaller23, Saturday March 13 2010
Over the years many stellar backs have come through the league and the question has been asked many times; who is the best back that ever played.
We have all seen the finnesse of Barry Sanders and the hard nosed runners such as Franco Harris, but what makes a back rise above? What defines someone as "the best ever"? Well obviously there are some who would argue that this player is Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, I would respectfully disagree with this due to his lack of ability to hold on to the football. Now, granted Peterson is still young and could improve in this category, but there are too many other backs who could do just as much, if not more than Peterson while maintaning possession of the football. Others may look to the all-time rushing records to tell them who the best back is. These are the top five backs in this category:
1. Emmitt Smith - 18,355
2. Walter Payton - 16,726
3. Barry Sanders - 15,269
4. Curtis Martin - 14,101
5. Jerome Bettis - 13,653
Although I do not believe yards alone measures the top back, these are some of the top runners of all time. I believe stats cannot measure a true running back or football player for that matter. To truly measure a great back you need to look at what kind of runner they are.
When looking at a back and asking this question you need to watch what kind of a runner they are, how much intensity they play with, how much heart they have, how smart of a runner they are (do they fumble or have poor judgment), and if they are willing to do whatver it takes to get that extra inch.
Measuring from the standards I have listed above I would say the greatest back of all time is without a doubt Walter Payton. He punished defenders, had a "never die easy" attitiude and hardly ever fumbled. Yes Payton may be second in all-time rushing, but even Emmitt Smith agreed, Walter was a better back than him. In my opinion the top ten all-time best half backs are:
1. Walter Payton
2. Barry Sanders: He was so agile and shifty, but he could make the defenders pay with big hits. He is on here just for his pure elusiveness and quickness, but he was also an extremely smart back which, to me, just ranks him higher.
3. Jim Brown: He was just so good but he was a giant among men and the year he left his backup came in and had two years leading the league in rushing. But he set the bar so high for backs. I still think it hasn't been passed yet. Until some one gets that record in 7 seasons Jim Brown still holds it as far as I'm concerned.
4. Emmit Smith: Although he is the leading rusher of all-time he just had such a good team around him, of course he was going to get the record. Still his acceleration and speed rank him as one of the best runners of all time.
5. Gale Sayers: He was an extremely well rounded back, being a good blocker, a smart, agile and elusive runner. Had he not been plagued by injury he would be ranked even higher.
6. Marshall Faulk: He was such a weapon out of the backfield. He changed the position with his ability to catch and run the ball. Many backs have been able to catch out of the backfield but Marshall did it so well and he is one of only 6 people to have over 100 rushing touchdowns and quite a few catching touchdowns.
7. Franco Harris: He played half of his 13 years in 14 game seasons and compiled 12,120 yards with a 4.1 yard average per carry and scored 91 rushing touchdowns. Harris made the pro bowl nine times. Harris was an extremely imposing football player that carried great agility and speed. He didn't go down without punishing a defender. He ran very hard and with great skill. He had a wonderful sense of timing in redirecting his speed on the opponent’s side of the line of scrimmage. Harris also proved his ability to catch most famously in "The Immaculate Reception".
8. Eric Dickerson: He rushed for 13,259 yards in 11 seasons, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and scoring 90 touchdowns. He was a six time pro bowler. What made him great was his ability to run hard angles.
9. Earl Campbell: He rushed for 9,407 yards averaging 4.2 yards per carry with 74 touchdowns. If presented with the option of running around or over a tackler, Campbell would choose over. He had the ability to make people miss, but Campbell had a great style of loosening up a defender with a change up step and then plowing them over.
10. Adrian Peterson: Even being such a young player Peterson deserves this spot. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in all 3 of his seasons in the NFL. He holds the record for most rushing yards in one game (296) and although he has an issue with fumbles he is a strong, fast, agile and quick runner. Through his career I believe he will move himself further up this list.
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Walter did it all, he could run, catch, block, throw, he was even the back up kicker. Unlike his peers, Walter always fought for the extra yard and never ran out of bounds to avoid a hit, unless it was to stop the clock in the last 2:00 minutes. Players like Walter, with his desire and determination are sorely missed in today's game.