See if you can figure out who this player is. In high school (2003), he ran the 100 meter dash in 11.25 (which is home run hitter speed). He also went over 6 feet in the high jump and 20 feet,11 inches in the long jump.
He played defensive back for one season as a joke, and he accumulated 20 interceptions. His coaches put him at defensive end for one game, and he forced three fumbles. Rivals.com had him ranked #1 in the nation as a defensive back and also #2 at running back behind Adrian Peterson.
In College:
3 Seasons
490 carries for 3,230 yards @ 6.5 yards per carry
17 100+ yard games
29 Rushing Touchdowns
68 catches for 600 yards @ 8.8 yards per catch
Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2006
As a Pro:
Combine numbers: 40 yard dash – 4.46, Vertical – 35.5 inches
Scouting Report on draft day: “Big play threat who is faster in pads”
Drafted 12th Overall & was the 2nd Running back off the board (again, to Peterson)
Rookie Season – 280 carries for 1,115 yards @ 4.0 yards per carry
2nd Season- 250 carries for 1,036 yards @ 4.1 yards per carry
3rd Season – 120 carries for 450 yards @ 3.8 yards per carry (After falling out of favor due to legal circumstances)
4th Season – 221 carries for 868 yards @ 3.9 yards per carry (behind arguably the worst o-line in the NFL)
5th Season – 225 attempts for 969 yards @ 4.3 yards per carry
Let’s throw out his third season because his coaches were down on him. His career total would be: 976 carries for 3,988 yards @ 4.1 yards per carry. He also had 32 touchdowns in 65 games meaning he scores in every other game he plays in. Add in another 137 receptions for 986 yards.
I doubt you would have guessed who this player is, because he does not get much national attention or sufficient respect for his skills.
The player in question is Marshawn Lunch.
Now, lets look at the best running back in football. Adrian Peterson has 1,384 carries for 6,654 yards @ 4.8 yards per carry. He has 63 touchdowns in 71 games for an eye popping .88 chance to score every time he laces them up. Keep in mind, he has played behind what many consider to be the best line in football the last 5 years.
Lynch has never played behind a line like they have in Minnesota. It’s debatable how bad those Buffalo lines were. With Cable, I think Lynch has some potential to get better as the Seahawks line improves. If we can get Lynch to the second level there are going to be more runs like the one last year against the Saints. Or the 56 yard TD run in 07. Or the 53 yard one in 2008. Or even the 47 yard one this year against the Giants. Maybe the 40 yard one against the Eagles a few weeks back will convince these so called analysts.
For the record, Steven Jackson’s career long run 59 yards, almost 10 yards shorter Lynch’s famous “Beast Quake” run. I have never heard a single person say that Steven Jackson doesn’t have “that next gear” that Lynch seems to be “missing” so often.
It is frustrating to hear radio and television personalities saying he can’t break off long runs. Do they have amnesia?
When other RB’s are physical, and break long runs, we usually call them elite. As Mike Ditka said on the radio earlier in the week “There are only a couple running backs in this league that can get you yards after contact. Marshawn Lynch is one of those backs.”
He’s two years younger than Jackson and has 1000 less carries with very similar production. He’s also never had a major injury. The Seahawks should pay this man his money and look forward to more great things from one of the premier playmakers in the NFL.
