Yes a lot of dumb comments on there. They feel Harrison isn't getting fair treatment from the coach and should be getting more carries.....but I thought the coaches play the best players to win? always? at least according to dwfs. I guess it doesn't apply when its a white guy. In this case the coach is playing the best player, but in my opinion he still didn't get enough carries. He had a costly mistake but they don't pull black players when they fumble.
Peyton Hillis
- Thread starter backrow
- Start date
The main arguement they use to favor Harrison in the article and comments section is Harrison's "amazing" last half of the season. Harrison ran for a lot of yards in the last half of the season, but that will happen when you get 30 some carries a game nearly every game. In Harrison's last 8 games, he managed to get over 4 yards per carry in only one game. Peyton Hillis has a 5.0 ypc career average, while Harrison has a not bad 4.9 ypc career average. With many many more carries Jerome Harrison has found the end zone just 6 times, while Hillis in about 1/3 of Harrison's carries has also found the end zone 6 times. But just how is it that Hillis is still just a goal line guy? Ridiculous. He has a higher ypc average, is a better short yardage and goal line back, and a much better pass reciever. What else is there?Edited by: Kaptain Poop
foobar75
Master
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- Jul 29, 2008
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- 2,332
Found an interesting article about Peyton Hillis, including some very nice statements by one commentor, someone from CF, perhaps? 
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/14670
I have two sisters who graduated from John Carroll University, so I have deep respect for the college and openly root for graduates of the Jesuit institution located in University Heights. When it was rumored that JCU alumnus Josh McDaniels was high on the list for the Browns head coaching job after the 2008 season, I was put in the position of rooting against the Barberton native because I thought he was too young to guide an NFL franchise. McDaniels, of course, wouldn't land the job in his hometown but would follow in the footsteps of Don Shula, a 1951 graduate of JCU, and land a head coaching job at age 33 in the NFL. The son of the former Warren Harding head coach would be taking his talents to the Rocky Mountains.
McDaniels looked like he may replicate the greatness of Shula for a brief moment last season when his Denver Broncos started at 6-0. Due to my blind allegiance to John Carroll grads and Buckeye State natives I refrained from writing a scathing rebuke of him acting like the team had won the Super Bowl in October after defeating his mentor Bill Belichick. After the 6-0 start and brash cockiness by McDaniels things started to unravel as the team went 2-8 down the stretch and missed the playoffs.
McDaniels started his tenure in Denver with good deal of controversy after trading starting quarterback Jay Cutler for draft picks. The gamble worked in the short term as Cutler struggled in Chicago and Kyle Orton was an adequate enough game manager for the Broncos. Time will tell who got the better of the deal but in the short term it looks like the Broncos. As the season progressed, a decision that wasn't on the radar nationally was what happened to Peyton Hillis. Denver football fans couldn't understand the disappearance of the second year back from Arkansas in the Broncos offense. Many Broncos fans had thought that Hillis was a superstar in the making after games which included a breakout 116 yard game catching the ball out of the backfield against Miami, and a ground assault of 129 yards on 22 carries in the second last game of the year in 2008 against the Jets. As a "reward" for his production, the NFL sophomore was given the ball only 13 times on hand-offs the entire season, playing primarily the roll as blocking back and only caught 4 passes out of the backfield despite his reputation for great hands going all way back to his college days. Hillis, in some ways, got the last laugh rumbling for 6.7 yards a carry for 47 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. The mop-up duty in a blowout win was the only game he would get more than 2 carries in a game the entire year. His production in the contest again showed the Broncos faithful that he should probably be a bigger player in the offensive scheme.
Reading between the lines, Hillis was irritated about his lack of touches in McDaniels's offense and was exiled to Cleveland because of his unhappiness. It is not very often that a team would give up on a young running back who averaged 5 yards a carry and had a cult following fan base. The Browns gave up one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory for Hillis and had a 6th round draft choice thrown in for good measure. McDaniels likely thought he could resurrect Brady Quinn's career but anyone who knows football that watched him quarterback the Cleveland Browns the past two seasons could tell you that the former Notre Dame quarterback just doesn't have the arm to make it in the National Football League.
It looked like a tale of two careers yesterday as Hillis got the starting nod at tailback for the Browns and Quinn was relegated to holding a clipboard as the third string quarterback in Denver. The 24 year old from Arkansas rushed 9 times for 41 yards and a touchdown while also nabbing 4 catches for 24 yards. A concerning thing is the two fumbles the young running back committed, but his track record says that was most likely an aberration. Depending on the attitude of Quinn, a native of the Columbus area, he may be on his way out if can't handle being the #3 quarterback with little hope in sight after a dreadful preseason in an offense he should have been somewhat familiar with after running a variation of it for the Fighting Irish.
Worse for McDaniels is the state of the Broncos backfield.The team seems to banking their hopes on Knowshon Moreno, who they selected with the 12th pick out of Georgia in the 2009 draft. Moreno had a pedestrian start to his career rushing for 3,8 yards per carry in his rookie season. Even if Moreno has a breakout season the team has zero depth at the position. Correll Buckhalter is 31 and on his last legs as an NFL player is the primary backup for the youngster. McDaniels auditoned J.J. Arrington, Justin Fargos, and LenDale White this preseason and none made the active roster. Making matters even more dicey is the fact that both Moreno and Buckhalter were nursing injuries throughout the preseason, so durability is a major question mark.
If Hillis keeps on fumbling, which I find unlikely, the trade makes a little more sense. I believe the bruising running back has the legitimate potential to become the first white running back to rush for 1,000 yards since Craig James accomplished the feat in 1985. If that happens, you have to wonder how well Josh McDaniels can evaluate NFL talent.
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/14670
I have two sisters who graduated from John Carroll University, so I have deep respect for the college and openly root for graduates of the Jesuit institution located in University Heights. When it was rumored that JCU alumnus Josh McDaniels was high on the list for the Browns head coaching job after the 2008 season, I was put in the position of rooting against the Barberton native because I thought he was too young to guide an NFL franchise. McDaniels, of course, wouldn't land the job in his hometown but would follow in the footsteps of Don Shula, a 1951 graduate of JCU, and land a head coaching job at age 33 in the NFL. The son of the former Warren Harding head coach would be taking his talents to the Rocky Mountains.
McDaniels looked like he may replicate the greatness of Shula for a brief moment last season when his Denver Broncos started at 6-0. Due to my blind allegiance to John Carroll grads and Buckeye State natives I refrained from writing a scathing rebuke of him acting like the team had won the Super Bowl in October after defeating his mentor Bill Belichick. After the 6-0 start and brash cockiness by McDaniels things started to unravel as the team went 2-8 down the stretch and missed the playoffs.
McDaniels started his tenure in Denver with good deal of controversy after trading starting quarterback Jay Cutler for draft picks. The gamble worked in the short term as Cutler struggled in Chicago and Kyle Orton was an adequate enough game manager for the Broncos. Time will tell who got the better of the deal but in the short term it looks like the Broncos. As the season progressed, a decision that wasn't on the radar nationally was what happened to Peyton Hillis. Denver football fans couldn't understand the disappearance of the second year back from Arkansas in the Broncos offense. Many Broncos fans had thought that Hillis was a superstar in the making after games which included a breakout 116 yard game catching the ball out of the backfield against Miami, and a ground assault of 129 yards on 22 carries in the second last game of the year in 2008 against the Jets. As a "reward" for his production, the NFL sophomore was given the ball only 13 times on hand-offs the entire season, playing primarily the roll as blocking back and only caught 4 passes out of the backfield despite his reputation for great hands going all way back to his college days. Hillis, in some ways, got the last laugh rumbling for 6.7 yards a carry for 47 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. The mop-up duty in a blowout win was the only game he would get more than 2 carries in a game the entire year. His production in the contest again showed the Broncos faithful that he should probably be a bigger player in the offensive scheme.
Reading between the lines, Hillis was irritated about his lack of touches in McDaniels's offense and was exiled to Cleveland because of his unhappiness. It is not very often that a team would give up on a young running back who averaged 5 yards a carry and had a cult following fan base. The Browns gave up one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory for Hillis and had a 6th round draft choice thrown in for good measure. McDaniels likely thought he could resurrect Brady Quinn's career but anyone who knows football that watched him quarterback the Cleveland Browns the past two seasons could tell you that the former Notre Dame quarterback just doesn't have the arm to make it in the National Football League.
It looked like a tale of two careers yesterday as Hillis got the starting nod at tailback for the Browns and Quinn was relegated to holding a clipboard as the third string quarterback in Denver. The 24 year old from Arkansas rushed 9 times for 41 yards and a touchdown while also nabbing 4 catches for 24 yards. A concerning thing is the two fumbles the young running back committed, but his track record says that was most likely an aberration. Depending on the attitude of Quinn, a native of the Columbus area, he may be on his way out if can't handle being the #3 quarterback with little hope in sight after a dreadful preseason in an offense he should have been somewhat familiar with after running a variation of it for the Fighting Irish.
Worse for McDaniels is the state of the Broncos backfield.The team seems to banking their hopes on Knowshon Moreno, who they selected with the 12th pick out of Georgia in the 2009 draft. Moreno had a pedestrian start to his career rushing for 3,8 yards per carry in his rookie season. Even if Moreno has a breakout season the team has zero depth at the position. Correll Buckhalter is 31 and on his last legs as an NFL player is the primary backup for the youngster. McDaniels auditoned J.J. Arrington, Justin Fargos, and LenDale White this preseason and none made the active roster. Making matters even more dicey is the fact that both Moreno and Buckhalter were nursing injuries throughout the preseason, so durability is a major question mark.
If Hillis keeps on fumbling, which I find unlikely, the trade makes a little more sense. I believe the bruising running back has the legitimate potential to become the first white running back to rush for 1,000 yards since Craig James accomplished the feat in 1985. If that happens, you have to wonder how well Josh McDaniels can evaluate NFL talent.
JReb1
Mentor
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2009
- Messages
- 838
I think Harrison fumbled twice yesterday, once running and once receiving. So being "fumble" prone can't be used as the reason if Hillis doesn't get the bulk of the carries next game, Hillis has significantly outperformed Harrison in every aspect running, catching and blocking this year and has more than earned a chance to be the featured back going forward.
Tom Iron
Mentor
Of course, I'm happy about Hillis getting the ball and doing well once he gets it, but I do have a beef. I wish he'd stop his antics after he scores. Nothing good will come of carrying on like that. Maybe the only thing that'll cure him is a taunting penalty. Hopefully not, because that may mean he'd be benched. That wouldn't surprise us here in the least.
Tom Iron...
Tom Iron...
from bleacher report, an article about how Browns can find their identity:
Welcome to the AFC North. While the rest of the division has lived and died on the run, smash-mouth football has yet to be seen on the shores of Lake Erie.
Some may question if Cleveland has the backs to be such a club. Montario Hardesty is out for the season, we still haven't seen running back James Davis, and the workload has been shouldered by Jerome Harrison.
Unfortunately for the Browns, "The Ghost" Jerome Harrison has been just that, a ghost. Virtually being a no show with no signs of the speedy back that helped carry the Browns to four straight wins last season.
One back, however, defines the very essence of what the North stands for: hard-nosed and straight ahead, a downhill power runner named Peyton Hillis.
When Hillis was acquired from the Denver Broncos last season for Brady Quinn, immediately the Browns' skeptics insisted they were fleeced.
So far, however, Cleveland has gotten anything but the short end of the stick in this deal.
Hillis through the first two games has had 17 carries, gaining 76 yards with two touchdowns.
That works out to a 4.47 yard per carry average, statistically putting him alongside Jamaal Charles, Kevin Faulk, and Fred Jackson.
Against the Baltimore Ravens next week, Cleveland needs to feature Peyton Hillis being led by hard-hitting fullback Lawrence Vickers.
The only thing a defense like Baltimore understands is brute in-your-face power that only Hillis can deliver
Welcome to the AFC North. While the rest of the division has lived and died on the run, smash-mouth football has yet to be seen on the shores of Lake Erie.
Some may question if Cleveland has the backs to be such a club. Montario Hardesty is out for the season, we still haven't seen running back James Davis, and the workload has been shouldered by Jerome Harrison.
Unfortunately for the Browns, "The Ghost" Jerome Harrison has been just that, a ghost. Virtually being a no show with no signs of the speedy back that helped carry the Browns to four straight wins last season.
One back, however, defines the very essence of what the North stands for: hard-nosed and straight ahead, a downhill power runner named Peyton Hillis.
When Hillis was acquired from the Denver Broncos last season for Brady Quinn, immediately the Browns' skeptics insisted they were fleeced.
So far, however, Cleveland has gotten anything but the short end of the stick in this deal.
Hillis through the first two games has had 17 carries, gaining 76 yards with two touchdowns.
That works out to a 4.47 yard per carry average, statistically putting him alongside Jamaal Charles, Kevin Faulk, and Fred Jackson.
Against the Baltimore Ravens next week, Cleveland needs to feature Peyton Hillis being led by hard-hitting fullback Lawrence Vickers.
The only thing a defense like Baltimore understands is brute in-your-face power that only Hillis can deliver
another article from Bleacher Report.
Game Ball #1
My first game ball for week two goes to Peyton Hillis.
Hillis had his second straight strong performance of the season given the opportunities that he has had. Against the Chiefs, Hillis had only eight carries for 35 yards and a touchdown. These may not seem like great numbers but Jerome Harrison had double the amount of rushes for less yards on the day.
Other reasons why Hillis gets my first game ball are his three receptions and his ability to be a reliable receiver for the Browns quarterbacks. Every time the Browns ended up in a manageable third down or short yardage situation Hillis' number was called.
I look for the Browns to incorporate Hillis more into the system if Harrison continues to struggle.
Game Ball #1
My first game ball for week two goes to Peyton Hillis.
Hillis had his second straight strong performance of the season given the opportunities that he has had. Against the Chiefs, Hillis had only eight carries for 35 yards and a touchdown. These may not seem like great numbers but Jerome Harrison had double the amount of rushes for less yards on the day.
Other reasons why Hillis gets my first game ball are his three receptions and his ability to be a reliable receiver for the Browns quarterbacks. Every time the Browns ended up in a manageable third down or short yardage situation Hillis' number was called.
I look for the Browns to incorporate Hillis more into the system if Harrison continues to struggle.
Tom Iron said:
I love it. I honestly really love the rage/emotion/jubilation/tough guy bravado Hillis puts on. Its a sight to see. If only because he is the minority making it rain on the majority black league who (if they're not on Hills' tm) want to kick the crap out of him.
Electric Slide
Mentor
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- Messages
- 1,016
whiteCB said:
I right there with you whiteCB. I see where Tom Iron is coming from though. This is a different NFL then it was a long time ago. The flexing, stomping, etc. didn't fly in the 50s and 60s. While I don't want Hillis pulling ochocinco style antics after TDs, I don't mind seeing him flex, yell etc. after nice runs and TDs. If anything white players don't do this enough.
Anyway, I'm glad to see that the stars appear to be aligning for Hillis. He truely has the talent to be one of the top tier RBs in the league. I think there can truly be some game changing moments this year in the NFL. Hillis topping 1000 yds, Gerhart getting worked into the running game in Minn, Woodhead getting significant carries in NE, Kuhn running the ball and scoring a few TDs in Green Bay, and the same thing for Brian Leonard in Cinn. I really think things are working in white RBs favor this season. If by some miracle of miracles Jacob Hester gets worked into the running game in SD then fans, coaches, and the media will be forced to realize that reports of the death of the white RB have been exaggerated.
I'm happy to see Don and others discussing the cracks in the foundation of the caste system. I have a feeling that the worst is actually over, and that it may all be over sooner than we think. I believe that there's something in the subconscious of the DWFs that notices that if in 2010, a dominant white running back like Hillis can still star in the NFL after years of being informed of this impossibility, that something was being missed all these years and that maybe whites make good RBs after all.
Tom Iron said:
I would agree with you Tom being a humble old school sort myself. However, I think I can understand why Hillis is doing it and why many other whites might be doing it though this braggadocious behavior is counter to the nature of their genes. Unfortunetley in the NFL their are few independent thinkers and with the dumbed-down NFL and American audience perception often becomes reality. Years ago this braggadocious behavior would have been reviled, but now Americans have been thoroughly trained to idolize such behavior in every way. I needn't cite examples ingrained in Hollyweird, music, TV, and modern American culture. I now see Hillis' celebration behavior as one of ultimate defiance - an "in your face" foot stomping to all those who refused to toot his horn when he was so deserving of it, and thus he must toot his own to the point of blasting some ears off. Edited by: Kaptain Poop
Who cares what he does after runs or TDs?!? We should be ecstatic that he is playing and succeeding. Really, this is the least of concerns right now. Modest small cracks are appearing the Caste system and talented guys such as Hillis have the opportunity to knock a wall down.
We must support 100% all of our White players, especially RBs...besides, celebrating and being hyped up is the passion that more White NFL players need to engage in. Remember that the media puts forth their agenda.
This is why the few times skilled players kick the crap out of super afflete blacks, it earns locker room credibility and respect.
This buys you time for things such as injury/play slumps (see Jeremy Shockey for example).
I think it's high time that White players demand respect and show emotion. This goes against the media thesis, so for that, it is a great thing.
Go Hillis! Keep stomping away and kicking a$$!!
We must support 100% all of our White players, especially RBs...besides, celebrating and being hyped up is the passion that more White NFL players need to engage in. Remember that the media puts forth their agenda.
This is why the few times skilled players kick the crap out of super afflete blacks, it earns locker room credibility and respect.
This buys you time for things such as injury/play slumps (see Jeremy Shockey for example).
I think it's high time that White players demand respect and show emotion. This goes against the media thesis, so for that, it is a great thing.
Go Hillis! Keep stomping away and kicking a$$!!
whiteathlete33
Hall of Famer
Here is an old scouting report on Hillis.
Peyton Hillis, Arkansas
Height: 6-0. Weight: 240.
Projected 40 Time: 4.78.
Combine 40: 4.58.
Pro Day 40: 4.57.
Benchx225: 26. Vertical: 35. Broad .
Projected Round: 4.
Peyton Hillis could be this year's top fullback. In addition to his
solid blocking and receiving skills, he displayed adequate speed,
running a 4.58.
Blocks for Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. 'Nuff said. Also important to note that he caught 19 passes in 2006.
It's from Walterfootball and it's sickening how the writer says Hillis displays "adequate" speed. As you can see by the report he was expected to run a 4.78 but then again what white power back wasn't. Gerhart was projected to run a 4.7 as well. Anyway, that's faster than Noshawn Slowreno and a significant amount of running backs in the league. Plus the guy is 250lbs.
Edited by: whiteathlete33
Peyton Hillis, Arkansas
Height: 6-0. Weight: 240.
Projected 40 Time: 4.78.
Combine 40: 4.58.
Pro Day 40: 4.57.
Benchx225: 26. Vertical: 35. Broad .
Projected Round: 4.
Peyton Hillis could be this year's top fullback. In addition to his
solid blocking and receiving skills, he displayed adequate speed,
running a 4.58.
Blocks for Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. 'Nuff said. Also important to note that he caught 19 passes in 2006.
It's from Walterfootball and it's sickening how the writer says Hillis displays "adequate" speed. As you can see by the report he was expected to run a 4.78 but then again what white power back wasn't. Gerhart was projected to run a 4.7 as well. Anyway, that's faster than Noshawn Slowreno and a significant amount of running backs in the league. Plus the guy is 250lbs.
Edited by: whiteathlete33
WHITE NOISE
Mentor
I would like to hear some negro rap music accompanying his post touchdown celebration.
I like Peyton's post big play celebrations. It's not too much and besides, it is one of the only way dwfs remember players as they are usually too drunk or consumed in junk food to actually know what is going on in the game. White guys all around the league make play after play and dwfs never notice, and they say these players aren't "flashy". Hillis pumps his chest and they are more likely to remember, hell they probably won't even remember what he did on a particular play, they just remember him celebrating and assume he did must have done something big, because that is how it is with every black guy that celebrates after routine play, dwfs eat that stuff up, so its about time a white guy does it. He deserves it, he is extremely talented, he plays hard, and has been screwed over for most of his career.
Edited by: snow
Edited by: snow
I think it's like you said snow...he got screwed over by Eminem in Denver...he has some pinned-up agression that just comes out! I have no problem with his post TD flexing...at least it'snatural and not some silly scripted-out crud!
Hillis needs to be carrying the ball 15-20 times a game and actually get into a rythym; with his 4+yard avg. he could easily be having 75-100 yards per game...all's he needs is to avg 63 yards per game! + his receiving skills are big-time too! Esp. if Harrison continue to avg sub-par numbers (like Moreno is now)...minus the 39 yard run...he has 24 carries for only 46 yards..LESS THAN 2.0avg!
As of now after 2 games...
Hillis has 17 carries76 yards 2 TD's,,,,7rec 50yds
Harrison 25 carries 85 yards 0 TD's....4rec 42 yards
What did dwf's think when the lumbering short-yardage back Hillis at 235 when hechased down CB-Ronde Barber on the INT?? Media justexcusing itsaying Barber "ran outta gas"...forget the white man only outweighs him by at least 50 pounds!!
Edited by: TwentyTwo
Hillis needs to be carrying the ball 15-20 times a game and actually get into a rythym; with his 4+yard avg. he could easily be having 75-100 yards per game...all's he needs is to avg 63 yards per game! + his receiving skills are big-time too! Esp. if Harrison continue to avg sub-par numbers (like Moreno is now)...minus the 39 yard run...he has 24 carries for only 46 yards..LESS THAN 2.0avg!
As of now after 2 games...
Hillis has 17 carries76 yards 2 TD's,,,,7rec 50yds
Harrison 25 carries 85 yards 0 TD's....4rec 42 yards
What did dwf's think when the lumbering short-yardage back Hillis at 235 when hechased down CB-Ronde Barber on the INT?? Media justexcusing itsaying Barber "ran outta gas"...forget the white man only outweighs him by at least 50 pounds!!
Edited by: TwentyTwo
Here's a nice article. Check out the poll at the article (and vote), where Hillis is favored over Harrison to be the main runner, 89% to 11%.
Peyton Hillis Is a Beast: So Why Don't The Cleveland Browns Use Him?
by Andrew Bailey
As ahigh school senior in Arkansas,Peyton Hillis ran for 2,631 and 29 touchdowns on 261 carries. That year he won the Landers Award, which is given to the top high school football player in the state of Arkansas.
He chose to play football for the University of Arkansas, where he was used more as a lead blocker for Darren McFadden than as an actual running back. The Razorbacks would never use him as a featured back. Even with a very limited number of carries (4.7 per game), Hillis was able to make an impact. His average yards per carry during his career as a Razorback was 4.7 and he scored 12 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 11 touchdowns.
In 2008 he was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Once again, Hillis was used sparingly for much of the year. That is, until injuries forced Mike Shanahan to give Hillis a more prominent role. Over a four-game stretch toward the end of the year, Hillis carried the ball 57 times for 305 yards andfive touchdowns. In a game a couple weeks prior to that outburst, he caughtseven balls for 116 yards and a touchdown.
An injury prematurely ended Hillis's rookie campaign, but Denver fans were excited to get him back for the next season. Enter Josh McDaniels. Hillis carried the ball 13 times in his second season, andfirst under McDaniels. He was packaged in a trade for Brady Quinn the following offseason.
Now, Hillis plays for the Browns where he is more appreciated than he was under McDaniels' regime. However, he is still underused. Here are the stats of the Browns top two backs through the first two weeks of the season:
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 563px; HEIGHT: 61px" border=0 align=left>
<T>
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>Carries</TD>
<TD>Yds</TD>
<TD>TD</TD>
<TD>Rec</TD>
<TD>Yds</TD>
<TD>TD</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>Peyton Hillis</TD>
<TD>17</TD>
<TD>76</TD>
<TD>2</TD>
<TD>7</TD>
<TD>50</TD>
<TD>0</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>Jerome Harrison</TD>
<TD>25</TD>
<TD>85</TD>
<TD>0</TD>
<TD>4</TD>
<TD>42</TD>
<TD>0</TD></TR></T></TABLE>
Hillis outperforms Harrison and is a more versatile back. He can block, catch and run for power much better than Harrison. Coming out of college, Hillis ran a 4.57 second 40-yard dash while Harrison ran a 4.47. So, Harrison is a bit faster.
All around though, Hillis brings more to the table. The Browns offense is more effective with him than it is with Harrison.
Peyton Hillis has proven multiple times that he has what it takes to be an elite running back at any level. So why don't his coaches utilize his talent?
In today's world, there is a stigma that follows white athletes everywhere they go. They are considered slower and less athletic than theirAfrican-American peersbefore they're even given a chance to prove otherwise.
It's common knowledge that a white man cannot play running back, wide receiver or cornerback: the "skill positions". There are players who are proving this wrong, but the stigma is still there.
We want to believe that we are a society that has come beyond racial issues. The simple fact of the matter is, we aren't. These racial stigmas are all over sports: white man can't jump, black men can't play quarterback or hockey, etc.
Scouts, coaches and management all over the world of sports still include race as part of their evaluation of talent. That practice should have become outdated long ago. A blind assessment made on the basis of one's skin color is unfair to the player and the fans.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/469703-peyton-hillis-is-a-beast-so-why-dont-the-cleveland-browns-use-him
Peyton Hillis Is a Beast: So Why Don't The Cleveland Browns Use Him?
by Andrew Bailey
As ahigh school senior in Arkansas,Peyton Hillis ran for 2,631 and 29 touchdowns on 261 carries. That year he won the Landers Award, which is given to the top high school football player in the state of Arkansas.
He chose to play football for the University of Arkansas, where he was used more as a lead blocker for Darren McFadden than as an actual running back. The Razorbacks would never use him as a featured back. Even with a very limited number of carries (4.7 per game), Hillis was able to make an impact. His average yards per carry during his career as a Razorback was 4.7 and he scored 12 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 11 touchdowns.
In 2008 he was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Once again, Hillis was used sparingly for much of the year. That is, until injuries forced Mike Shanahan to give Hillis a more prominent role. Over a four-game stretch toward the end of the year, Hillis carried the ball 57 times for 305 yards andfive touchdowns. In a game a couple weeks prior to that outburst, he caughtseven balls for 116 yards and a touchdown.
An injury prematurely ended Hillis's rookie campaign, but Denver fans were excited to get him back for the next season. Enter Josh McDaniels. Hillis carried the ball 13 times in his second season, andfirst under McDaniels. He was packaged in a trade for Brady Quinn the following offseason.
Now, Hillis plays for the Browns where he is more appreciated than he was under McDaniels' regime. However, he is still underused. Here are the stats of the Browns top two backs through the first two weeks of the season:
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 563px; HEIGHT: 61px" border=0 align=left>
<T>
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>Carries</TD>
<TD>Yds</TD>
<TD>TD</TD>
<TD>Rec</TD>
<TD>Yds</TD>
<TD>TD</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>Peyton Hillis</TD>
<TD>17</TD>
<TD>76</TD>
<TD>2</TD>
<TD>7</TD>
<TD>50</TD>
<TD>0</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>Jerome Harrison</TD>
<TD>25</TD>
<TD>85</TD>
<TD>0</TD>
<TD>4</TD>
<TD>42</TD>
<TD>0</TD></TR></T></TABLE>
Hillis outperforms Harrison and is a more versatile back. He can block, catch and run for power much better than Harrison. Coming out of college, Hillis ran a 4.57 second 40-yard dash while Harrison ran a 4.47. So, Harrison is a bit faster.
All around though, Hillis brings more to the table. The Browns offense is more effective with him than it is with Harrison.
Peyton Hillis has proven multiple times that he has what it takes to be an elite running back at any level. So why don't his coaches utilize his talent?
In today's world, there is a stigma that follows white athletes everywhere they go. They are considered slower and less athletic than theirAfrican-American peersbefore they're even given a chance to prove otherwise.
It's common knowledge that a white man cannot play running back, wide receiver or cornerback: the "skill positions". There are players who are proving this wrong, but the stigma is still there.
We want to believe that we are a society that has come beyond racial issues. The simple fact of the matter is, we aren't. These racial stigmas are all over sports: white man can't jump, black men can't play quarterback or hockey, etc.
Scouts, coaches and management all over the world of sports still include race as part of their evaluation of talent. That practice should have become outdated long ago. A blind assessment made on the basis of one's skin color is unfair to the player and the fans.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/469703-peyton-hillis-is-a-beast-so-why-dont-the-cleveland-browns-use-him
SuperSpeed23
Guru
This is another good article from bleacher report. I remember they had one about hillis last season to.
WHITE NOISE
Mentor
This is positive stuff and Hillis is way ahead in the poll.
G
Guest
Guest
My WAG is that football's caste system is headed for the rocks of outsized black entitlement sentiment and the paying public whites who fund everything blacks have. The drunks in the media and their cultists the DWFs won't be able to hold back the outrage with any of their taboos. We can drop this turkey (caste system) with a few well placed and well thought out questions, because the CS has gotten so extreme that it is the King's New Clothes of our era.
whiteathlete33
Hall of Famer
One thing the writer does incorrectly is compare their 40 times. Harrison is 205lbs and Hillis is around 250lbs. That's a huge difference and Peyton's 40 time is only .1 slower so he's actually a better athlete.