backrow said:
Gi-15 said:
whiteafflete15 said:
Watching Packers RB Ryan Grant run has reminded how succesful Luke Staley could have been in the NFL. Grant isn't that shifty at all, he just makes a cut and runs foward or he makes an effort to fight for extra yardage, yet he is an effective runner. I was pretty young and didn't watch as much football when Staley played, but after seeing highlights, Staley appeared to be the same type of player, only much stronger and faster. He made a cut, stuck with it, then flat out outran the opposition. Damn shame. I think he would've been a top 5 back in the NFL. I know he's been discussed before, but his lost potential really hit me even harder just now.
you're right dude. Grant is THE prime example why there should be more white runners in the NFL. He makes me think about Lumsden with his running style. Find the hole, hit it as fast and hard as you can. But, when you look at it, Grant went undrafted too.
yeah, and he spent a year on Giants practice squad too. the difference is, that they kept him around and gave him a shot. no doubt in my mind Lumsden, Englehart and of course Staley (although here injuries played a part) could have been just as, or more, succesful in the NFL
ARRRRGHH!! You mentioned Luke Staley and injuries. This always gets me started because DWF's always say that Staley never got a shot because of "injuries" (I'm not saying that was your intent).
Staley was HEALTHY coming out of BYU. Yet he was drafted in the 7th round, he did not get injured until the preseason with the Lions where he tore an ACL, the same thing that happened with Willis McGahee in his last college game (McGahee's was actually worse he tore several ligaments).
McGahee went in the first round of course and the team waited for him to heal. Luke was healthy and playing well the next year in summer camp after rehab when he pulled a hamstring. The Lions decided to cut him for that. So the injury that ended Staley's career was a pulled hamstring. When the Lions cut Staley they kept the following superstar black running backs: Autry Denson, Shawn Bryson, Avon Cobourne, Artose Pinner. Yes that's right the lions didn't even want to take a practice team spot with the best combination of speed and power since Jim Brown.
The previous Doak Walker Award winner, Ladanian Tomlinson and the following winner, Larry Johnson, are "All-world" running backs, who both have been injured in their careers. Of the three which one is now currently a pharmacutical salesman????
I noticed in a pre draft write up on Staley that he resembled Craig James, Tom Matte, and Ed Podalak in running style. Wonder why they picked those 3 guys????? What about Red Grange and Bronco Nagurski?
