No. AP is not hurt. It's just a different system.

Someone like Pack93z could explain this better than I could, but it has to do with the scheme. The Vikings are now a pass first team that throws in the run to keep their opponents off balance. If you see AP in the open field, he's still dangerous. He still makes 5 yards out of what should have been a no gain. He's still the #2 best RB in the NFL and would be the best had it not been for Chris Johnson having one of the best seasons for a RB ever.

The thing is, this is the best thing for AP. History tells us over and over again that the best thing for a RB is to NOT have tons of carries in a year. I don't know the exact number, but it's somewhere in the 300s if I'm not mistaken where almost every time a RB reaches that number, their next year declines significantly.

Limiting carries prolongs a career. RBs bodies take a pounding. If you look at a guy like Grant, he's someone who can actually have a long (8+ years) career as a RB because he doesn't get too many carries.

OK, you want examples? Shaun Alexander, best PLAYER in the NFL in 2005, doesn't even get 1000 yards in '06 because of the beating he took in '05. Earl Campbell, one of the best RBs ever, only lasts 7 seasons because of the continuous beatings he took as he was pretty much Houston's offense.

Larry Johnson, 416 carries in '06. Pro Bowl, All Pro. 1789 yards, 17 TDs. In '07, he doesn't even make 1000 yards.

LaDainian Tomlinson pounds it in '06 for 1815 yards and 28 TDs, breaking Paul Hourning's scoring record and every year after that, his yardage declines signifcantly until this year he's under 1000 yards.

Edgarrin James gets 1709 yards on 387 carries in '00 but doesn't even make 700 yards the next year. He's the exception though as he actually rebounded in 2003, which is a fluke because usually for a RB, once they take their pounding, they're done.

I actually like AP, and the best thing that can happen for AP is for Favre to keep playing as Favre limits AP's carries. Whereas AP led the NFL in yards rushing and all-purpose yards in '08, I bet if you asked him, he'd say he had a better year in '09 as he got 18 TDs rushing and this may be the team that makes it to the SB.

Sorry to take this off-topic as we're supposed to be talking about preferred SB match-ups, but this is a topic I've always been fascinated by.

"PackFanWithTwins" wrote:

Good post. And I'm sure that has a factor in APs stats.

I'm also pretty sure that he's still needing to be more patient. Also, he added a few pounds of muscle this off season, so that may have something to do with it.

"PackFanWithTwins" wrote: