NFL 2014 Week 16

[Carolina Speed]

Gerhart spent his first four years as a backup. Those are usually the best years a RB will have.

John Riggins had 1,000 yard seasons at age 26, 29, 30, 34, and 35!

Gerhart's career is not over yet!

 

[Riggins44]

Well that didn't last long. Coach Ron Rivera says that sCam Newton will be back behind center this week.

Which will ensure that Carolina will lose.

 

[Wes Woodhead]

John Riggins had 1,000 yard seasons at age 26, 29, 30, 34, and 35!

Gerhart's career is not over yet!

Big Rig was also the last White RB to get enough carries to reach a thousand for multiple seasons. Hillis did it in 2011, but never got enough carries again to repeat that. I highly doubt Toby will ever get more than 150 carries in a season.

 

[Don Wassall]

Gerhart needs to become durable. Riggins wasn't continually coming off the field and/or missing games with "rib contusions," ankle problems, pulled hamstrings, etc., like Toby often has.

When you think of a White power back you think of Riggins, Csonka, Taylor, and all the way back to Grange and Nagurski, indestructible types. White running backs get so few chances that they can't afford to be nicked up all the time. I know Gerhart tried to play through a bad ankle earlier this year, to his detriment, but his tendency to get nagging injuries has worked against him. Hillis too for that matter -- he was healthy in his great 2010 season, but was injured as a rookie in '08 when all the other RBs went down in front of him with injuries and he kicked ass as the starter before getting hurt himself, and every season since '10 he's had hamstring issues, concussions and other injuries.

 

[white lightning]

Gerhart needs to become durable. Riggins wasn't continually coming off the field and/or missing games with "rib contusions," ankle problems, pulled hamstrings, etc., like Toby often has.

When you think of a White power back you think of Riggins, Csonka, Taylor, and all the way back to Grange and Nagurski, indestructible types. White running backs get so few chances that they can't afford to be nicked up all the time. I know Gerhart tried to play through a bad ankle earlier this year, to his detriment, but his tendency to get nagging injuries has worked against him. Hillis too for that matter -- he was healthy in his great 2010 season, but was injured as a rookie in '08 when all the other RBs went down in front of him with injuries and he kicked ass as the starter before getting hurt himself, and every season since '10 he's had hamstring issues, concussions and other injuries.

Good points Don. I agree. You can never expect to be a starter without being available every game. It's 16 games a year. I don't count the preseason because you usually don't play much until the last game or 2. Toby Gerhart has to find a way to stay on the field. He is lucky to have signed a good contract that has payed him nicely. Now it is time for him to start earning that money. He needs a big game next weekend. These 50 yards games do very little to convince Jacksonville that they made the right decision to sign him. I really hope he can regain their faith & trust. Love the kid but like many here I just want to see him stay on the field as a workhouse like when he was in college.

 

[sport historian]

John Riggins had 1,000 yard seasons at age 26, 29, 30, 34, and 35!

Gerhart's career is not over yet!

And Riggins was at his best physically his first two years 1971-72. He showed he had the talent to be outstanding. Gerhart has yet to do so, especially regarding durability, as Don says.

 

[jaxvid]

Gerhart needs to become durable. Riggins wasn't continually coming off the field and/or missing games with "rib contusions," ankle problems, pulled hamstrings, etc., like Toby often has.

When you think of a White power back you think of Riggins, Csonka, Taylor, and all the way back to Grange and Nagurski, indestructible types. White running backs get so few chances that they can't afford to be nicked up all the time. I know Gerhart tried to play through a bad ankle earlier this year, to his detriment, but his tendency to get nagging injuries has worked against him. Hillis too for that matter -- he was healthy in his great 2010 season, but was injured as a rookie in '08 when all the other RBs went down in front of him with injuries and he kicked ass as the starter before getting hurt himself, and every season since '10 he's had hamstring issues, concussions and other injuries.

Probably steroid related. Roids overstress joints and ligaments as muscle gets unnaturally strong. Not that I'm blaming or accusing anyone, the NFL is full of PED's, guys are getting busted all the time. How can you blame anyone for not wanting to have the same competitive edge?

I doubt Riggins or Csonka spent hours in the weight room becoming work out warriors. But neither did their competition. So being naturally gifted was rewarded more then artificially beefed up. The real problem is only having one or less white guys to root for. With the attrition rate so high for running backs it's too easy to have the few players get injured. If there was say 10 white running backs in competition a few of them would be able to dodge the injury bug for a couple of seasons at a time.

When I was young the knock on white running backs was that they weren't as durable (on average) as black running backs, I don't think that was necessarily true, but the stereotype went a long way toward the 100% black teams that we see now.

 

[Westside]

Well, I'm sure that Westside was simply mixing up Gerhart with Peyton Hillis. You know, all of those white running backs look the same, anyway! :doh:

Yup, my bad, I got them mixed up.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Gerhart needs to become durable. Riggins wasn't continually coming off the field and/or missing games with "rib contusions," ankle problems, pulled hamstrings, etc., like Toby often has.

When you think of a White power back you think of Riggins, Csonka, Taylor, and all the way back to Grange and Nagurski, indestructible types. White running backs get so few chances that they can't afford to be nicked up all the time. I know Gerhart tried to play through a bad ankle earlier this year, to his detriment, but his tendency to get nagging injuries has worked against him. Hillis too for that matter -- he was healthy in his great 2010 season, but was injured as a rookie in '08 when all the other RBs went down in front of him with injuries and he kicked ass as the starter before getting hurt himself, and every season since '10 he's had hamstring issues, concussions and other injuries.

I thought the reason Gerhart wasn't playing much was because he had to back up Petersen in Minnesota for four years. I didn't know he was constantly dinged up.

...and now in Jacksonville he just wasn't getting the chances/attempts. I didn't realize he'd been injured.

BTW, Gerhart's stats show him available for 74 of his first 79 games of his career.

Riggins is shown as being available for 61 of his first 70. He missed games in '1972' due to a knee injury.

Riggins also missed 9 games in 1977 at age 28 due to another knee injury.

 

[Wes Woodhead]

To compare ANY RB of any race to Big Rig is very unfair. Riggins is a HOFer that had freakish God given ability that only a hand full of guys have ever had. However since its the inevitable comparison that ALL White backs must face he are some numbers.....For what its worth.

Riggins first 4 seasons looked like this..
690 carries for 2875 yards, and 17 TDs.

Gerharts first 4 seasons look like this..
276 carries for 1305 yads, and 5 TDs.

 

[Don Wassall]

I thought the reason Gerhart wasn't playing much was because he had to back up Petersen in Minnesota for four years. I didn't know he was constantly dinged up.

...and now in Jacksonville he just wasn't getting the chances/attempts. I didn't realize he'd been injured.

BTW, Gerhart's stats show him available for 74 of his first 79 games of his career.

Riggins is shown as being available for 61 of his first 70. He missed games in '1972' due to a knee injury.

Riggins also missed 9 games in 1977 at age 28 due to another knee injury.

Toby hasn't been "constantly" dinged up but he's had more than his share of injuries. Just last season when Peterson hurt his hamstring and didn't start the last two games, Gerhart pulled his hamstring in his first start. It happened during his excellent long TD run against Baltimore in Minnesota's comeback win. Matt Asiata ended up starting the next week, the final game of the season.

 

[sport historian]

Toby hasn't been "constantly" dinged up but he's had more than his share of injuries. Just last season when Peterson hurt his hamstring and didn't start the last two games, Gerhart pulled his hamstring in his first start. It happened during his excellent long TD run against Baltimore in Minnesota's comeback win. Matt Asiata ended up starting the next week, the final game of the season.

And when Riggins really wanted to play in his last few years, he didn't seem to get injured very much.

 

[The Spaniard]

Robert Griffin getting good treatment from the refs, gifting him roughing the passer calls.

 

[MetalHed]

Robert Griffin getting good treatment from the refs, gifting him roughing the passer calls.

Too bad RTP calls and screen plays don't take you to Super Bowls.

 

[MetalHed]

Cooper with a killer TD catch.

 

[Riggins44]

Cooper with a killer TD catch.

2nd TD of the game for Riley. Hopefully the Eagles pull this out!

Ertz with a career high 10 catches for 83 yards also.

 

[Hawkeye2]

****ty Eagles defense making Griffen look decent.

 

[Hawkeye2]

Redskins won.

 

[Wes Woodhead]

Robert Griffin getting good treatment from the refs, gifting him roughing the passer calls.

The refs have always been instructed by their masters to call roughing the passer anytime anybody even looks at RGscreen. Anybody who thinks these NFL games are not corrupted is blind, or stupid.

 

[The Hock]

You didn't really think Sanchez would lead the Eagles to a last minute victory did you? When the chips were down and the playoffs were on the line and things got tight, so did Sanchez's arm. He couldn't handle the presssure. Very few people, even NFL QBs, can.

This was his second chance and he blew it. I was rooting for him, but I knew better.

I think that pick sealed his fate as an NFL player in any role.

 

[MetalHed]

Redskins won.

It'll be good for Foles. Sanchez just doesn't cut it. Good to see Ertz and Cooper play well.

 

[PHillisFan]

Amazing game by Sanchez goes down the toilet on a careless interception. The story of his career. Unless Dallas loses Tomorrow, Philly is out.

 

[icsept]

Eagles are essentially eliminated from the playoffs. They were 6-2 with Foles, and 3-4 with Sanchez. Maybe the DWFs can do the math and welcome back Foles.

 

[Riggins44]

You didn't really think Sanchez would lead the Eagles to a last minute victory did you? When the chips were down and the playoffs were on the line and things got tight, so did Sanchez's arm. He couldn't handle the presssure. Very few people, even NFL QBs, can.

This was his second chance and he blew it. I was rooting for him, but I knew better.

I think that pick sealed his fate as an NFL player in any role.

Wonder if Eagles' fans still think Sanchez is their QB of the future?

 

[PHillisFan]

You didn't really think Sanchez would lead the Eagles to a last minute victory did you? When the chips were down and the playoffs were on the line and things got tight, so did Sanchez's arm. He couldn't handle the presssure. Very few people, even NFL QBs, can.

This was his second chance and he blew it. I was rooting for him, but I knew better.

I think that pick sealed his fate as an NFL player in any role.

I should have known better. When the blitz came he felt the pressure and never set his feet on the throw. He might get another shot as a backup somewhere. Too his credit he got Ertz his first 100 yard game, which never occurred with Foles.