That was exactly what I was saying. I'd rip my balls off right now, if I had any.

Anyway, this is some sexy running.

[youtube]j1p5mgaT6mY[/youtube]

I think the yards per carry is just one aspect of what makes an elite running back. I know Emmit Smith is the all time rushing leader, but I don't consider him elite. I'd say more great than anything. That's no slam on Emmit, but gosh, he benefited a lot from having a solid team around him and a defense that gave the ball back to the offense. And we won't even talk about that dominate OL.

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I'm with you on that one. I never thought of him as much as an amazing player, than as a durable one.

Don't get me wrong, he could run the ball and, in his best season, he was awfully good, but I just wouldn't put him up there with the likes of O.J. and Barry.

Jackson got 3.7 this year

Take away his longest run from each game then. Then see what his average is.

I'm not saying Lynch is a great back, and without that long run in the Saints game he would've had just an 'ok' game. But don't think that the great backs have the type of averages they do either if you take away their longest runs.

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Did you watch the game?

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Yup....He was being hit hard and he was hitting hard...FOR ME he did a lot of what RB do

Yes.....O.J. sure knew how to "knife" through defenses, and to "cut" back against the grain.
I didn't notice in the video......did he ever wear gloves when he played???

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Question: are videos from that area ramped down slightly for effect? The players look like they're practically jogging.

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I thought he ran tough, broke some tackles, fell forward, and was an important part of the offense that torched the Saints, even before the big run.

It sounds like you have two problems with this thread: 1. Lynch didn't have that good of a game anyway; and 2. Even if he did, it doesn't cancel out his mediocre season.

To the first point, all I can say is that if you think 19 carries for 131 yards and a TD, including a fantastic game-clinching 67 yard TD run, is not a very good game, then we will just have to agree to disagree. It wasn't just one great play, but even if it was, it would have been enough. One great play can sometimes define a whole game for a player and his team.

As for the second point, I mostly agree, although I will say that when a player delivers a performance like Lynch did in the playoffs, especially in a game in which his team was a heavy underdog, it makes up for a lot.

This thread was just intended as sort of an olive branch for those who, unlike me, thought Ted should've paid what he needed to pay to get Lynch. Personally, I'm fine with what Ted did, and I think he is one of the ten best GMs in the league, and maybe one of the top five. In fact, I have so much confidence in Ted that I don't mind if somebody praises a good performance by a player he could've acquired.

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