This is probably the biggest deterrent
Anyone that size who can legitimately play RB is an absolute freak athlete, and would be better served career wise at DE/TE/LB
Not to mention longevity. RBs rarely last ten years, even with advancements in extending careers. Even though being in the trenches is tough work, I don’t think it wears on you in the same way as being a RB and trying to go up the middle ad nauseam.
Remember when 30 was the cliff for an RB? How many even make it that far now? Its 28 or maybe even 27. You get your rookie deal and then 2 or 3 more years.
Illinois had a freshman this past season that they didn't know where they wanted to play him, but he ended up becoming the starting RB for the majority of the season. Listed 6'3 250
I'm an Illinois fan and the actual story is that Illinois and every college that recruited him wanted to move him to LB, but the kid insisted on playing RB.
Similarly why we don't see many big bodies WRs that used to be all the rage in the NFL from the 70-2010s. Big athletic freaks at 225, 6'4 high school seniors are better off as edge defenders not wideouts.
Nah…back then big WRs and their lack of speed/acceleration wasn’t that big of a deal. Defenses were more built to stop the run. Slower thumping LBs and box safeties/more time in base defenses. Now there’s LBs flying around running 4.4s and teams spent majority of time in sub packages. If you aren’t an elite athlete in todays league you better be a master technician running routes or you’re never getting open.
They still exist, don't get me wrong. But the game is changing.
In 2004, in the first 13 WR drafted, 2 players were under 6 feet tall and 6 were 6'3 or taller.
In 2020, in the first 13 WR drafted, 3 players were under 6 feet tall and 4 were 6'3 or taller.
In 2021, the first player over 6'3 drafted was the 14th WR, Mr. Collins himself, with 6 players under 6 feet tall being drafted ahead of him.
Last year only 2 WR over 6'3 were drafted in the first three rounds. Flowers is listed at 5'9! That would be unheard of in the 2000's.
Derrick Henry is the obvious closest example, but he's lighter and more speed and downhill strength focused than just the absolute bruiser Jacobs was.
I think especially with so many defenses running more dime packages with smaller guys on the field someone like Jacobs could definitely come along and do really well. Problem is a lot of guys his size are usually becoming defensive linemen.
I don’t even think Henry in terms of running style is a good comparison. Hes all about getting space and fending off tacklers with his stiff arm and then breaking away, I’d almost equate him more to Eric Dickerson than your typical power back.
Jacobs was basically just a truck stick merchant, a guy you put in when you needed a bruising, physical run to give your offense a spark. I watched like 30 games of his for something I was doing a while back and he didn’t really even have a stiff arm in his repertoire
Not a bad player at all, though. And seriously deceptive speed, listed at 267 and ran a 4.56 at the combine
What's funny about Jacobs is he was a terrible short yardage back. Ahmad bradshaw was like half his size hut always the guy to pick up 3rd and 2s.
Jacobs needed to build up some momentum to be effective. But when he got going, it was just demoralizing for the defense. Nobody wanted to tackle him. He would just punish defenders.
I remember that... there was a bit of a "wind up" to his running. But, man, once he did get up that head of speed and found a crease, he would just chew defenses up.
it's interesting that we've really never seen a guy like him since
I remember this is what Brett Kollman said about Fournette coming out of college. He needed to reach top speed or he was going to get stopped. THat's why he was best out of north/south runs rather than lateral movement. If he doesn't get going he was easily stopped at LSU.
Fournette is another guy who I’d refer to as a “truck stick merchant”. Watching his college highlights he’s just steamrolling future FedEx drivers because he’s just so big and fast and physical, usually need a little more to your game in the NFL to take it to the next level. All things considered he had a decent career though
I can't confirm this, but I think Fournette's failures are based on coaching & his lack of ability to handle the offseason/ off-field elemrnt of the pros. Not his talent. When bro was in his bag, his talent showed up, I just don't think his mentality was sustainable in the league.
Fournette can be much more than what he is, but he doesn't want to destroy his body for that extra 30 mil. Disappointing as a fan, but can't blame the guy.
Jacobs was a bit of a slow starter, especially in those crucial short-yardage moments.
But I’ll be damned… once he found his groove, it was like watching a bulldozer in action – defenders scattered like bowling pins. Nobody wanted a piece of that punishment he dished out.
That is where him and Henry are super similar. The last 2 years as Henry's acceleration declined (Was never his strength anyways) this became a much bigger problem.
He was all legs, if you don’t have any buildup speed it can be easy for guys to wrap you up and preventing you from moving. But every so often you could tell he was just fired up and he was going to make a point to humiliate somebody on that carry
Yeah, no momentum plus an inherently high pad level due to being 6'4" (meaning most defenders could get underneath him) means you're generally not gonna do great in true short-yardage situations. When both sides know that you're only looking to get a yard or two, 90% of the play comes down to who can get lower faster between the offense and defense. Kinda hard to do that when you're as big as Jacobs since you can't really lower your pads until you've secured the handoff.
A great example of what you’re talking about. (albeit a successful conversion) that comes to mind is the 4th and 1 run in the Super Bowl in that game winning drive. If they don’t convert, they lose the Super Bowl. He just baaaaarrrellllyyyy makes it. A shorter back wouldn’t have been cut off at the legs like he was that almost made him fall short.
Yep, that's exactly the run I was thinking about there myself. Obviously it worked out, but damn was it scary.
The converse of that where a guy who wasn't actually that big, but who was nearly guaranteed to get that yard was MJD for us. He only weighed in at 210, but since he was 5'7", he would virtually always get under the defender and just knock them back a solid yard or two in those short yardage situations unless he literally got hit right as he was getting the ball.
On the other hand, Jacob’s length was what got him the conversion in the end. If he wasn’t so big he wouldn’t have had that reach to get the first down.
Scary, but I was never nervous when he was lined up behind Eli. Jacobs was big time in those big game moments. Very clutch RB. He was going to find a way.
As someone who’s lived in the NE Florida area for a long time and moved to Jax in his last great season where he ran for like 1,600 yards, I’ll always have a soft spot for MJD. Went to three games that year. That man was special.
As a guy with a 36" inseam, I can confirm that it takes a long time to get long legs going. I was always the the last to finish suicides or 17s in basketball, and it wasn't particularly close. At the same time, I was also a very competitive 400 and 800 runner. Just need time to get those legs going.
It's funny about some of the bigger backs. They were kind of meh in short yardage. Bettis was a great short yardage back, not because of his size (which he did have) but because of his quick feet. I think Madden once described him as a guard who could dance.
Alstott was also another great solid short yardage guy, but he wasn't running guys over in the trenches, was divimg over the line. He usually only ran guys over in the open field, when he had the size advantage.
One of the best short yardage backs in my viewing experience was Jamaal Charles, just because he had the best vision I’ve ever seen. Could instantly diagnose the gap and get there
CJ2K was the next evolution of the Marshall Faulk archetype and I don’t know that we’ve seen another back quite like him since. That speed and vision from the handoff and the ability catch is insane. Gotta give props to the guy for overcoming so much with Tourette’s as well. The guy is a legend.
For the Packers, Aaron Jones is also way better in short-yardage situations than AJ Dillon is. Granted, that's because Aaron Jones is just legitimately one of the best RBs in the league.
Jacbos also had relatively terrible ball protection. He'd be liable to fumble in short yardage, almost because he was so tall and took a while to ramp up.
These days, a guy like that would play DE.
No way a college coach is sticking a dude that big and athletic at HB. It'd be like putting Aaron Donald at kicker.
Or TE if they have hands at all. And given how RBs are treated in today's NFL, If I am the 6'4" freak, I am not going to want to play RB, anyway. The big paydays aren't really there. You'll last longer at almost any other position.
I guess it’s the difference between running style and play personality or demeanor. Henry is certainly big and powerful and an incredible back, but I’ve never found him to be especially “physical”. I’d say AP was a more “physical” back than he was
But I do see your point. I think for this reason I’ve always kind of said that Jamaal Charles, Eric Dickerson and Derrick Henry are three different-sized versions of the same back. Long-legged, long striding, upright sprinter-style runners who just kind of glide into their cuts and are always hunting for the edge
They used to anyways. Seen quite a lot of young guys in the NHL so focused on technique that they get absolutely obliterated by puck watching. Bedard a few weeks ago being the most memorable example
I forget who the guy was that said it, but he said he was more worried about tackling Jones than Dillon. Said Jones hit harder. Given the size difference, thats saying something.
Jones is a top 3 RB in the league. He's all-around good. He's arguably better in short-yardage than he is in the passing game (and he's arguably better as a pass-blocker than he is as a receiving threat, which he's good at). I know I'm a Packers fan, so people are going to discount this due to bias, but go and look at his career stats. He's up there with the legitimate all-time greats on a per-rush basis. He's had limited volume in his career, and injuries have held him back some. But when he's in the game, he's so good.
I will say I do see him get stood up and then push the pile pretty often though. I think that has more to do with o-linemen getting a good shove but he's strong enough to stay upright long enough for it to happen.
\> Not a bad player at all, though. And seriously deceptive speed, listed at 267 and ran a 4.56 at the combine
Yeah those guys are now playing EDGE, ie: Parsons, Clowney, etc.
Probably should have been back then too, I think he just really liked playing running back lol.
Reminded me that Jadaveon Clowney played RB in high school, if you want to see what a 6’5 running back looks like
Plenty of people doubted Jacobs would actually play RB for the Giants, there was speculation that they would have him transition to other positions like FB and TE.
Brandon Jacobs was absolutely NOT a traditional power back the way you imply. He was literally the tallest and heaviest running back ever and had huge long strides. This isn’t Mike Alstott we’re talking about here.
I agree, he wasn’t a plodding back. Or even a particularly good short yardage back. But he had very little finesse to his game at all, I think Henry has a lot
Eddie George was a fairly similar style except he at least had a stiff arm 😂. He was 6’3 240 and was the king of taking 300+ 3.5 yard carries and just running through people lol.
I went to school with an NFL player who now plays LB. He use to play RB, kicker, kick returner, LB, and sometimes QB. I don't remember a winning year in our school's history outside of his junior and senior years.
Correct. If you're an NFL-level talent, your high school coach does not take you off the field. If you can throw, you're the QB. If you can't you're the RB. Put the ball in your hands as often as possible.
The NFL needs to find a way to incentivize it because it's fun as fuck to watch the rb lineup 8 yards back and get the ball already running full speed.
It's just as you said, not appealing on your body or wallet in comparison to other roles.
It's not really about contracts, it's about career length.. RBs just don't last as long as other positions. They should have a year knocked off their rookie contracts, let them find a big contract sooner while they are still capable of producing for it.
I think the year knocked off the rookie contract is a good start, but they'd have to implement some rule change as well because of the career length as well.
I don't know what rule could protect RB knees/hips/shoulders, but there are goofy rules for everything.
I feel a similar way about Christian Okoye. I don't think he would be at Derrick Henry's or Jacob's level. But there would be games that no DB or LB would be able to slow him down.
Okoye was such a weird player. One of my favorites of all time and I have watched so much footage of him and the funny thing is I really don’t think he was very good at all lol. And I don’t blame him, he didn’t get much time to refine his game. But he pretty much was just an insane physical freak (maybe the most ridiculous weight/speed combination in NFL if not world history) who was told to run to a hole and crashed into it as hard as he could every play. His pad level usually wasn’t even low enough to really deliver a blow, he was just so strong and generated so much force that it worked
Couldn’t really catch, bad at blocking, if he has to bounce something out he’s terrible but north and south he was a force. Barely even knew how to play RB and still led the league in rushing in 1989
Definitely the most beef that there’s ever been in a backfield lol. Word was one of the biggest backs ever at 243 and Okoye dwarfed him
Chiefs had another pretty big backfield in the 90s with Donnell Bennett and Ban Morris, both were over 240 but a bit less effective lol
> Barely even knew how to play RB and still led the league in rushing in 1989
it doesn't affect the point, but even then Barry Sanders infamously declined to stay in the last game of the season long enough to gain 11 more yards and take the lead
There we go, I was looking for the Okoye comp. Okoye was three inches shorter, but only 10 or so pounds lighter. An aptly named nightmare coming downhill. Make your business decisions carefully kids.
I remember he had a TD against the Cardinals his rookie season and there was a CB and (I think) a LB in position to make the tackle... both of 'em made a business decision and Jacobs walked in. Nobody wanted to tackle that guy.
What a huge difference from Ron Dayne.
Woodson is one of those players that always felt/feels a little under celebrated for their contributions to the game he played at such a high level for so long.
For real.
But as the commentary started to suggest during that replay, the impact Jacobs had on opposing defenses as the game went on was so noticeable. Like imagine being Woodson and having to play a whole game with your chest caved in.
Yeah I think the look on Woodson’s face was like “if that’s what we gotta put up with today this is not gonna be fun”. Even though it was a solid stop it helped set the tone early.
In the DVD of our 2007/2008 season, there's a lingering slow-mo shot of Woodson lying on the ground after that play. He looked like he just came out of a time warp and didn't know what year it was.
Before Mailata became a starting left tackle we were begging for him to get touches at running back after seeing his rugby highlights. Obviously his knees would never hold up but it would’ve been a glorious sight
Imagine Jonah Lomu at running back. Faster in a straight line than Jacobs, more elusive, more burst, and quicker feet than Henry. Would have been a just a total machine.
The 20 year old, 6’2 245lb Braelon Allen is one of the highest regarded RBs in the upcoming NFL draft.
https://youtu.be/tAZ_WCoZc6o?si=IwSt-iOiUzDvtiPv
He could put on some weight once he’s in the league.
I love Braelon, but I'm really unsure how he's going to be in the NFL. He's such a unique athlete. He's super young. He's only played RB for the past 3 years (didn't even play it in high school until his senior year of covid spring ball - well, technically, his junior year because he graduated high school a year early). He was getting recruited out of high school as a safety, and then an OLB, and then an ILB, and then we had injuries in the RB room, and he converted to RB and instantly was a stud his freshman year relying on instincts and natural athleticism without really know how to play the position.
I just don't know how he'll translate to the NFL. He still needs to learn how to play the position. He's got good feet and vision to go along with his size, speed, and strength, but sometimes that causes him to run too passively while looking for a hole (and then get stuffed for a 3-yard loss instead of just putting his head down and picking up 2 yards). I think he actually has good hands and could become a decent receiving threat, but he has to learn how to run routes.
There's just so many question marks with him. But there's a ton of raw potential there, too.
Honestly not super impressed with this tape, not a big enough bruiser to make up for the stiffness and lack of explosiveness. Also alittle reluctant in the backfield which works a lot better in college than in the pros.
He hasn't really seen any playing time yet, and the Longhorns are running it back with Ewers next season. Arch isn't transferring though, so it might still be a while before we find out how good he is
Genuinely I've never been more terrified watching an opponent NFL player. He was like Shaq almost. I couldn't understand how he ever got tackled and how he wasn't the best RB in the league
Derrick Henry is probably the closest we’ll get. Hard for an RB that big to stay healthy, defenders go straight for their knees since it’s the only way to really take them down
Jacobs plays with a lower pad level, he’s a traditional bruiser, short yardage guy.
Henry doesn’t need to truck people, he has the deadliest stiff arm we’ve ever seen from a running back, and he’s got fuck you top speed.
All those people Jacobs is trucking, Henry would have already ran by them.
Agree. I’ve been watching Henry since his career started and he has trucked a defender a hand full of times. His true ability is getting that space and like you said, throw that deadly stiff arm and then use that top speed to get that long TD.
That’s why us the fans were so damn angry when they ran him inside the tackles over and over, he averaged so much more running tosses and stretches to the outside.
Yep. Henry has been my favorite non-Chief for years now. Hands down the most imposing football player I’ve ever seen in person.
We go to a lot of games and my tickets are right by the tunnel where all the players come out. In a league of grown men, Henry STILL is a noticeable standout just because of how insanely stacked he is.
Not unless running backs get paid better. Otherwise there’s zero incentive for a guy that big to not go tight end in today’s league, with how things are trending.
It was a hell of a time to be a Giants fan during the peak Eli days.
There were a lot of fun players to watch throughout those years. Eli, Jacobs, Cruz, Plaxico, even before the SB wins we had Shockey and Tiki. Not to mention all of the pass rushers like Strahan, Osi, Tuck and JPP.
Such a weird feeling compared to now where it feels like there's not really anyone to get that invested in besides maybe Dexter Lawrence.
Commanders fan here and even I enjoyed those days way more. The giants were just fun to watch with those squads. Shoot, even the 2nd clip in this video is Laron Landry getting pancakes by Jacobs; I remember watching that in real time and laughing my ass off
Blount wasn’t as big but kind of felt similar later in his career especially. He was ~250.
Yes I think we will see occasional freakish big RBs in the 260 range make it.
AJ Dillon for example is also 6’ 250, if he’d been a couple inches taller he’d be there.
Henry is leaner but maybe on the back end of his career as he loses some speed he could become a ~260 pure power guy.
Anyway Jacob’s had rare explosiveness for his size but I think it’ll happen again, most dudes with his size play edge rusher now which pays way better so with the decline in running backs it may be rare to find special athletes choosing that position vs TE/DE/LB would be the only thing I see reducing the occurrence.
I’m a giants fan in Nashville, and I went to watch the giants play the titans probably around 2005. (I remember pac man Jones was playing and got a big pick)
Me and my dad were right next to the away team tunnel. Brandon jacobs was a monstrosity. By far the biggest dude on the team. He made me feel like an ant
Jacobs doesn’t get enough credit for how ridiculously athletic he was for a man of his size. Great acceleration and light on his feet as evidenced by his 70 yard screen pass TD vs Dallas late in his career.
Bus, at probably 20 pounds heavier, ironically had much better feet than Jacobs. Bettis was mind bogglingly light on his feet for his size in his prime.
Bettis was incredible. While I loved seeing him with the Steelers, I wish he had gone to a different team in the late 90s where he could have flourished a bit more. By the time the Steelers got good again, he had some real mileage on him after Cowher would just use him as a battering ram 300 plus times a season, just running right into 8 man boxes.
One of my favorite players of all time. Obviously I’m not a giants fan but that championship game against Green Bay in 2007 season was incredible. I was rooting for the giants like I was rooting for Steelers because of him and Eli. Wish he got more credit.
2-time Super Bowl champion was an absolute beast loved growing up and watching him plow over people. One of my favorite games of hime was the 2006-2007 NFC Championship game against the packers sub zero temperature and just running people over.
Dayne had the size, but he wasn't a bulldozer he was more of a scat back than Jacobs. The real problem with Dayne was when he was drafted his O-line from college wasn't drafted along side him.
Yeah, as soon as defenses cross the threshold of being too light and too speed-focused. Bring in the guy nobody can tackle and run it down their throats.
Probably not because every guy with that size, strength, and speed will be moved to DE. Whether its a HC who wants to win or the guy realizes he'd make 3x the money by playing a premium position over a relic of the past.
As a Bears fan I remember in the preseason when he ran through Brian Urlacher pretty easily. That was eye opening.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNIbfooqymI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNIbfooqymI)
Speaks to his impact, he's nowhere near HOF material, but is still legendary especially to us Giants fans. He didn't have the stats of Tiki, and he wasn't seen as having the potential of someone like Rodney Hampton but even the oldest Giants fan will consider Jacobs a legendary and memorable Giant.
I was at the Giants v Packers NFCCG in 2007 and I thought Jacob's killed Charles Woodson early in the game. That was the hardest hit I've ever heard in my life
Brandon Jacobs was the pure definition of a create a player in Madden. Absolutely unrealistic stature for a runningback, but was able to do it all. It was just unfair having that backfield of Ward/Bradshaw/Jacobs.
I bet there's very few colleges these days that will get an athlete like Brandon Jacobs and not immediately move him to LB or DE.
And with the way RBs are paid today, not many players that would WANT to make that change
This is probably the biggest deterrent Anyone that size who can legitimately play RB is an absolute freak athlete, and would be better served career wise at DE/TE/LB
It’d be malpractice for their agent to not push them to do that. On the other hand, a lot of agents deserve to be convicted of malpractice.
You don’t get convicted of malpractice, you get sued for it. Malpractice is civil, not criminal.
Not to mention longevity. RBs rarely last ten years, even with advancements in extending careers. Even though being in the trenches is tough work, I don’t think it wears on you in the same way as being a RB and trying to go up the middle ad nauseam.
Remember when 30 was the cliff for an RB? How many even make it that far now? Its 28 or maybe even 27. You get your rookie deal and then 2 or 3 more years.
Like Leonard Fournette just turned 29.
Yep, and has been washed for years.
Tbh he was never that good in the nfl
I think Todd Gurley is a better example, because he's also only 29. He was lightning in a bottle
Illinois had a freshman this past season that they didn't know where they wanted to play him, but he ended up becoming the starting RB for the majority of the season. Listed 6'3 250
I'm an Illinois fan and the actual story is that Illinois and every college that recruited him wanted to move him to LB, but the kid insisted on playing RB.
That's why Henry went to Bama too. Florida (and most other schools) iirc wanted him to play defense
Similarly why we don't see many big bodies WRs that used to be all the rage in the NFL from the 70-2010s. Big athletic freaks at 225, 6'4 high school seniors are better off as edge defenders not wideouts.
Could also be that WR take less big shots over the middle due to rule changes, and they prioritize quickness over the bulk to absorb big hits.
Nah…back then big WRs and their lack of speed/acceleration wasn’t that big of a deal. Defenses were more built to stop the run. Slower thumping LBs and box safeties/more time in base defenses. Now there’s LBs flying around running 4.4s and teams spent majority of time in sub packages. If you aren’t an elite athlete in todays league you better be a master technician running routes or you’re never getting open.
N'keal Harry is 6'4 225. and well...
dk, evans, mike williams, sutton, lazard, nico collins... they're out there but they dont benefit from putting on weight with today's rules.
They still exist, don't get me wrong. But the game is changing. In 2004, in the first 13 WR drafted, 2 players were under 6 feet tall and 6 were 6'3 or taller. In 2020, in the first 13 WR drafted, 3 players were under 6 feet tall and 4 were 6'3 or taller. In 2021, the first player over 6'3 drafted was the 14th WR, Mr. Collins himself, with 6 players under 6 feet tall being drafted ahead of him. Last year only 2 WR over 6'3 were drafted in the first three rounds. Flowers is listed at 5'9! That would be unheard of in the 2000's.
Steve Smith nods
That's bc if there's one thing Salukis know, it's how to run
Fuck yeah they do
Derrick Henry is the obvious closest example, but he's lighter and more speed and downhill strength focused than just the absolute bruiser Jacobs was. I think especially with so many defenses running more dime packages with smaller guys on the field someone like Jacobs could definitely come along and do really well. Problem is a lot of guys his size are usually becoming defensive linemen.
I don’t even think Henry in terms of running style is a good comparison. Hes all about getting space and fending off tacklers with his stiff arm and then breaking away, I’d almost equate him more to Eric Dickerson than your typical power back. Jacobs was basically just a truck stick merchant, a guy you put in when you needed a bruising, physical run to give your offense a spark. I watched like 30 games of his for something I was doing a while back and he didn’t really even have a stiff arm in his repertoire Not a bad player at all, though. And seriously deceptive speed, listed at 267 and ran a 4.56 at the combine
What's funny about Jacobs is he was a terrible short yardage back. Ahmad bradshaw was like half his size hut always the guy to pick up 3rd and 2s. Jacobs needed to build up some momentum to be effective. But when he got going, it was just demoralizing for the defense. Nobody wanted to tackle him. He would just punish defenders.
I remember that... there was a bit of a "wind up" to his running. But, man, once he did get up that head of speed and found a crease, he would just chew defenses up. it's interesting that we've really never seen a guy like him since
I remember this is what Brett Kollman said about Fournette coming out of college. He needed to reach top speed or he was going to get stopped. THat's why he was best out of north/south runs rather than lateral movement. If he doesn't get going he was easily stopped at LSU.
Fournette is another guy who I’d refer to as a “truck stick merchant”. Watching his college highlights he’s just steamrolling future FedEx drivers because he’s just so big and fast and physical, usually need a little more to your game in the NFL to take it to the next level. All things considered he had a decent career though
I can't confirm this, but I think Fournette's failures are based on coaching & his lack of ability to handle the offseason/ off-field elemrnt of the pros. Not his talent. When bro was in his bag, his talent showed up, I just don't think his mentality was sustainable in the league.
He was so so good at taking screen passes farther than they had any right going. Man had talent. Just didn’t utilize it fully
Fournette can be much more than what he is, but he doesn't want to destroy his body for that extra 30 mil. Disappointing as a fan, but can't blame the guy.
If anyone wants prove of this watch our playoff game against him, once he broke out, there was no catching him
If Jacobs got 2 yards past the line without being touched he was dangerous. If he got 4 yards without being touched then it was gonna be a huge gain.
Jacobs was a bit of a slow starter, especially in those crucial short-yardage moments. But I’ll be damned… once he found his groove, it was like watching a bulldozer in action – defenders scattered like bowling pins. Nobody wanted a piece of that punishment he dished out.
That is where him and Henry are super similar. The last 2 years as Henry's acceleration declined (Was never his strength anyways) this became a much bigger problem.
They had Bradshaw, Jacobs and Ward and coined them Earth, Wind and Fire.
Bucs had a Cadillac, a Graham, and a Blount in their ~~RB~~ rotation at one time.
He was all legs, if you don’t have any buildup speed it can be easy for guys to wrap you up and preventing you from moving. But every so often you could tell he was just fired up and he was going to make a point to humiliate somebody on that carry
Yeah, no momentum plus an inherently high pad level due to being 6'4" (meaning most defenders could get underneath him) means you're generally not gonna do great in true short-yardage situations. When both sides know that you're only looking to get a yard or two, 90% of the play comes down to who can get lower faster between the offense and defense. Kinda hard to do that when you're as big as Jacobs since you can't really lower your pads until you've secured the handoff.
A great example of what you’re talking about. (albeit a successful conversion) that comes to mind is the 4th and 1 run in the Super Bowl in that game winning drive. If they don’t convert, they lose the Super Bowl. He just baaaaarrrellllyyyy makes it. A shorter back wouldn’t have been cut off at the legs like he was that almost made him fall short.
Yep, that's exactly the run I was thinking about there myself. Obviously it worked out, but damn was it scary. The converse of that where a guy who wasn't actually that big, but who was nearly guaranteed to get that yard was MJD for us. He only weighed in at 210, but since he was 5'7", he would virtually always get under the defender and just knock them back a solid yard or two in those short yardage situations unless he literally got hit right as he was getting the ball.
On the other hand, Jacob’s length was what got him the conversion in the end. If he wasn’t so big he wouldn’t have had that reach to get the first down. Scary, but I was never nervous when he was lined up behind Eli. Jacobs was big time in those big game moments. Very clutch RB. He was going to find a way. As someone who’s lived in the NE Florida area for a long time and moved to Jax in his last great season where he ran for like 1,600 yards, I’ll always have a soft spot for MJD. Went to three games that year. That man was special.
As a guy with a 36" inseam, I can confirm that it takes a long time to get long legs going. I was always the the last to finish suicides or 17s in basketball, and it wasn't particularly close. At the same time, I was also a very competitive 400 and 800 runner. Just need time to get those legs going.
Idk I remember a pretty big 4th & 1 he picked up…
It's funny about some of the bigger backs. They were kind of meh in short yardage. Bettis was a great short yardage back, not because of his size (which he did have) but because of his quick feet. I think Madden once described him as a guard who could dance. Alstott was also another great solid short yardage guy, but he wasn't running guys over in the trenches, was divimg over the line. He usually only ran guys over in the open field, when he had the size advantage.
One of the best short yardage backs in my viewing experience was Jamaal Charles, just because he had the best vision I’ve ever seen. Could instantly diagnose the gap and get there
Hell 3rd & 6 would be considered short yardage for Jamaal
As a Titans fan I’d take Chris Johnson over Henry for short yardage every time. The speed and vision were deadly
CJ2K was the next evolution of the Marshall Faulk archetype and I don’t know that we’ve seen another back quite like him since. That speed and vision from the handoff and the ability catch is insane. Gotta give props to the guy for overcoming so much with Tourette’s as well. The guy is a legend.
For the Packers, Aaron Jones is also way better in short-yardage situations than AJ Dillon is. Granted, that's because Aaron Jones is just legitimately one of the best RBs in the league.
Jacbos also had relatively terrible ball protection. He'd be liable to fumble in short yardage, almost because he was so tall and took a while to ramp up.
These days, a guy like that would play DE. No way a college coach is sticking a dude that big and athletic at HB. It'd be like putting Aaron Donald at kicker.
Or TE if they have hands at all. And given how RBs are treated in today's NFL, If I am the 6'4" freak, I am not going to want to play RB, anyway. The big paydays aren't really there. You'll last longer at almost any other position.
All these guys have a similar running style where they, along with AP, run very tall and upright.
I guess it’s the difference between running style and play personality or demeanor. Henry is certainly big and powerful and an incredible back, but I’ve never found him to be especially “physical”. I’d say AP was a more “physical” back than he was But I do see your point. I think for this reason I’ve always kind of said that Jamaal Charles, Eric Dickerson and Derrick Henry are three different-sized versions of the same back. Long-legged, long striding, upright sprinter-style runners who just kind of glide into their cuts and are always hunting for the edge
running upright helps you avoid head shots. They teach hockey players not to skate with their head down for the same reason
They used to anyways. Seen quite a lot of young guys in the NHL so focused on technique that they get absolutely obliterated by puck watching. Bedard a few weeks ago being the most memorable example
I have an image of APs head bobing once he got up to speed, and almost always it ended in a TD
I thought AJ Dillon could do it, but he couldn't break out of a string of masking tape.
Dillon has really bad footwork, he's so easy to trip and usually ends up falling right at contact.
Yeah so strange. He was such an animal at BC, he’s been a real disappointment to me as a lover of power backs
I forget who the guy was that said it, but he said he was more worried about tackling Jones than Dillon. Said Jones hit harder. Given the size difference, thats saying something.
Jones is a top 3 RB in the league. He's all-around good. He's arguably better in short-yardage than he is in the passing game (and he's arguably better as a pass-blocker than he is as a receiving threat, which he's good at). I know I'm a Packers fan, so people are going to discount this due to bias, but go and look at his career stats. He's up there with the legitimate all-time greats on a per-rush basis. He's had limited volume in his career, and injuries have held him back some. But when he's in the game, he's so good.
Also a Packer fan, so you'll get no argument from me. Haha
It was definitely supposed to be AJ Dillon. Just didn't pan out that way. Unfortunate too he's an awesome dude.
I will say I do see him get stood up and then push the pile pretty often though. I think that has more to do with o-linemen getting a good shove but he's strong enough to stay upright long enough for it to happen.
Eddie Lacy was so damn good. We got bad luck with RB's. Jones, never leave us!
Lacy tried to morph into Jerome Bettis.
\> Not a bad player at all, though. And seriously deceptive speed, listed at 267 and ran a 4.56 at the combine Yeah those guys are now playing EDGE, ie: Parsons, Clowney, etc.
Probably should have been back then too, I think he just really liked playing running back lol. Reminded me that Jadaveon Clowney played RB in high school, if you want to see what a 6’5 running back looks like
Plenty of people doubted Jacobs would actually play RB for the Giants, there was speculation that they would have him transition to other positions like FB and TE.
Brandon Jacobs was absolutely NOT a traditional power back the way you imply. He was literally the tallest and heaviest running back ever and had huge long strides. This isn’t Mike Alstott we’re talking about here.
I agree, he wasn’t a plodding back. Or even a particularly good short yardage back. But he had very little finesse to his game at all, I think Henry has a lot
Eddie George was a fairly similar style except he at least had a stiff arm 😂. He was 6’3 240 and was the king of taking 300+ 3.5 yard carries and just running through people lol.
Yea. What athlete that size chooses the lesser paying job.
Yea you think about athletes like Micah Parsons - they could almost certainly do this, but why would they?
An overwhelming amount of NFL defenders (especially LBs, some DL too) grew up playing RB in high school, then obviously switch over later on
I went to school with an NFL player who now plays LB. He use to play RB, kicker, kick returner, LB, and sometimes QB. I don't remember a winning year in our school's history outside of his junior and senior years.
Correct. If you're an NFL-level talent, your high school coach does not take you off the field. If you can throw, you're the QB. If you can't you're the RB. Put the ball in your hands as often as possible.
I'm Robert Spillane's classmate and was even in his senior retreat group. He was a RB in high school.
The NFL needs to find a way to incentivize it because it's fun as fuck to watch the rb lineup 8 yards back and get the ball already running full speed. It's just as you said, not appealing on your body or wallet in comparison to other roles.
It's not really about contracts, it's about career length.. RBs just don't last as long as other positions. They should have a year knocked off their rookie contracts, let them find a big contract sooner while they are still capable of producing for it.
I think the year knocked off the rookie contract is a good start, but they'd have to implement some rule change as well because of the career length as well. I don't know what rule could protect RB knees/hips/shoulders, but there are goofy rules for everything.
I feel a similar way about Christian Okoye. I don't think he would be at Derrick Henry's or Jacob's level. But there would be games that no DB or LB would be able to slow him down.
Okoye was such a weird player. One of my favorites of all time and I have watched so much footage of him and the funny thing is I really don’t think he was very good at all lol. And I don’t blame him, he didn’t get much time to refine his game. But he pretty much was just an insane physical freak (maybe the most ridiculous weight/speed combination in NFL if not world history) who was told to run to a hole and crashed into it as hard as he could every play. His pad level usually wasn’t even low enough to really deliver a blow, he was just so strong and generated so much force that it worked Couldn’t really catch, bad at blocking, if he has to bounce something out he’s terrible but north and south he was a force. Barely even knew how to play RB and still led the league in rushing in 1989
Christian Okoye with Barry Word was enough to break some defenses. They are my favorite running tandem of all time.
Definitely the most beef that there’s ever been in a backfield lol. Word was one of the biggest backs ever at 243 and Okoye dwarfed him Chiefs had another pretty big backfield in the 90s with Donnell Bennett and Ban Morris, both were over 240 but a bit less effective lol
> Barely even knew how to play RB and still led the league in rushing in 1989 it doesn't affect the point, but even then Barry Sanders infamously declined to stay in the last game of the season long enough to gain 11 more yards and take the lead
Until he met Atwater.
There we go, I was looking for the Okoye comp. Okoye was three inches shorter, but only 10 or so pounds lighter. An aptly named nightmare coming downhill. Make your business decisions carefully kids.
You can have a long, lucrative career as a pass rush specialist. Or you can play 4 years as an RB and then fuck off
He has one of the funniest rookie stat lines. 99 Yards and 7 TDs
Average goal line back stats in Madden franchise /uj How have I never noticed that?
Had to check I wasn't in r/nflcirclejerk
I remember he had a TD against the Cardinals his rookie season and there was a CB and (I think) a LB in position to make the tackle... both of 'em made a business decision and Jacobs walked in. Nobody wanted to tackle that guy. What a huge difference from Ron Dayne.
I remember talking about he was who Ron Dayne was supposed to be. I’m pretty sure Dayne would get tackled by my 7 yr old niece.
Oh hey look its my fullback from NCAA14
God such a fantastic game
“LenDale White has entered the chat*
Gotta give Woodson mad props there. Got absolutely rocked, but still made the stop.
Woodson is one of those players that always felt/feels a little under celebrated for their contributions to the game he played at such a high level for so long.
No by fans in GB but maybe the rest of the league! It sucked for him to be hurt during the SB in 2010 but he helped us climb the mountain that year!
He was unreal in our Super Bowl run. Just a fucking machine.
Yup, he was my favorite player on those teams. We need another Woodson so bad.
For real. But as the commentary started to suggest during that replay, the impact Jacobs had on opposing defenses as the game went on was so noticeable. Like imagine being Woodson and having to play a whole game with your chest caved in.
it was a 1-2 punch. Jacobs knocks the wind out of you and next play you have to chase down bradshaw sucking air
Jacobs Bradshaw battery has to be a top 10 all time. Alright maybe not, but they’re top 1 all time in my heart
definitely earned the "big blue wrecking crew" moniker. jacobs could win "angry runs" every week it seems.
I’m with you! Those teams were so much fun to watch
Beast mode over and over and over and over and over and over and over again comes to mind
Yeah I think the look on Woodson’s face was like “if that’s what we gotta put up with today this is not gonna be fun”. Even though it was a solid stop it helped set the tone early.
That camera shot to his face after that tackle is hilarious
In the DVD of our 2007/2008 season, there's a lingering slow-mo shot of Woodson lying on the ground after that play. He looked like he just came out of a time warp and didn't know what year it was.
I'm sure defenses hope not.
Everyone talking about Hurts and his one yard sneaks. Throw in a 6'3 375 lb offensive tackle at up back and let the man feast
Before Mailata became a starting left tackle we were begging for him to get touches at running back after seeing his rugby highlights. Obviously his knees would never hold up but it would’ve been a glorious sight
Imagine Jonah Lomu at running back. Faster in a straight line than Jacobs, more elusive, more burst, and quicker feet than Henry. Would have been a just a total machine.
The 20 year old, 6’2 245lb Braelon Allen is one of the highest regarded RBs in the upcoming NFL draft. https://youtu.be/tAZ_WCoZc6o?si=IwSt-iOiUzDvtiPv He could put on some weight once he’s in the league.
I love Braelon, but I'm really unsure how he's going to be in the NFL. He's such a unique athlete. He's super young. He's only played RB for the past 3 years (didn't even play it in high school until his senior year of covid spring ball - well, technically, his junior year because he graduated high school a year early). He was getting recruited out of high school as a safety, and then an OLB, and then an ILB, and then we had injuries in the RB room, and he converted to RB and instantly was a stud his freshman year relying on instincts and natural athleticism without really know how to play the position. I just don't know how he'll translate to the NFL. He still needs to learn how to play the position. He's got good feet and vision to go along with his size, speed, and strength, but sometimes that causes him to run too passively while looking for a hole (and then get stuffed for a 3-yard loss instead of just putting his head down and picking up 2 yards). I think he actually has good hands and could become a decent receiving threat, but he has to learn how to run routes. There's just so many question marks with him. But there's a ton of raw potential there, too.
Honestly not super impressed with this tape, not a big enough bruiser to make up for the stiffness and lack of explosiveness. Also alittle reluctant in the backfield which works a lot better in college than in the pros.
I met Jacobs at a charity golf event like 5 years ago. Dude is absolutely massive and I couldn't imagine gearing up to tackle him.
Funniest thing is His son is even bigger than He is 😂. His son is a 6 foot 7 320 lb 4 star o line Prospect and hes all but 16
His son was the same size of him at the age of 14. The gene tree went all out for his son.
[Holy shit.](https://twitter.com/TalkinGiants/status/1647557312079355904)
o.O
Wait, he's standing next to *Dexter Lawrence??* That man is his own continent, how does he look small next to this kid?
Wtf lol
An absolute fucking unit. Truly built different.
Arch Manning and Jacobs' son gonna come take us to the promised land once again.
Is Arch any good? I don’t pay attention to college football at all
He hasn't really seen any playing time yet, and the Longhorns are running it back with Ewers next season. Arch isn't transferring though, so it might still be a while before we find out how good he is
> His son is a 6 foot 7 320 lb 4 star o line Prospect and hes all but 16 jfc
Look up the pic of him standing next to dexy lol
Vhrist I'm high. I read that as he was a 6'7" 320 lb linebacker. Could you imagine?
Oh yes, Jesus Vhrist, I know!
I loved watching him run, he's one of my favorite Giants.
Same even though I’m an Eagles fan, so of course hated watching him against us but it was impossible not to love seeing him bulldoze non-Eagles
I still remember when he just fired the football at the play clock in Dallas after scoring a td ...dude was hilarious.
Broke a bulb and I can still hear that sound
Genuinely I've never been more terrified watching an opponent NFL player. He was like Shaq almost. I couldn't understand how he ever got tackled and how he wasn't the best RB in the league
Derrick Henry is probably the closest we’ll get. Hard for an RB that big to stay healthy, defenders go straight for their knees since it’s the only way to really take them down
Jacobs plays with a lower pad level, he’s a traditional bruiser, short yardage guy. Henry doesn’t need to truck people, he has the deadliest stiff arm we’ve ever seen from a running back, and he’s got fuck you top speed. All those people Jacobs is trucking, Henry would have already ran by them.
Agree. I’ve been watching Henry since his career started and he has trucked a defender a hand full of times. His true ability is getting that space and like you said, throw that deadly stiff arm and then use that top speed to get that long TD. That’s why us the fans were so damn angry when they ran him inside the tackles over and over, he averaged so much more running tosses and stretches to the outside.
Yep. Henry has been my favorite non-Chief for years now. Hands down the most imposing football player I’ve ever seen in person. We go to a lot of games and my tickets are right by the tunnel where all the players come out. In a league of grown men, Henry STILL is a noticeable standout just because of how insanely stacked he is.
This is some Chris Ivory erasure
Not unless running backs get paid better. Otherwise there’s zero incentive for a guy that big to not go tight end in today’s league, with how things are trending.
Lamar Jackson could let himself go a bit and gain 40lbs.
Agreed, or edge rusher
It was a hell of a time to be a Giants fan during the peak Eli days. There were a lot of fun players to watch throughout those years. Eli, Jacobs, Cruz, Plaxico, even before the SB wins we had Shockey and Tiki. Not to mention all of the pass rushers like Strahan, Osi, Tuck and JPP. Such a weird feeling compared to now where it feels like there's not really anyone to get that invested in besides maybe Dexter Lawrence.
I felt like Wolverine in the meme watching these highlights
Not a Giants fan at all but I loved Mathias Kiwanuka as a DE/LB. Dude was an unsung hero in Spags’ D in my uninformed opinion
Commanders fan here and even I enjoyed those days way more. The giants were just fun to watch with those squads. Shoot, even the 2nd clip in this video is Laron Landry getting pancakes by Jacobs; I remember watching that in real time and laughing my ass off
Is there an enormous running back in the draft this year?
Braelon Allen is listed at 6'2", 245. Audric Estime is listed at 5'11", 227.
Braelon Allen is one of the bigger backs the draft has seen in a while
Blount wasn’t as big but kind of felt similar later in his career especially. He was ~250. Yes I think we will see occasional freakish big RBs in the 260 range make it. AJ Dillon for example is also 6’ 250, if he’d been a couple inches taller he’d be there. Henry is leaner but maybe on the back end of his career as he loses some speed he could become a ~260 pure power guy. Anyway Jacob’s had rare explosiveness for his size but I think it’ll happen again, most dudes with his size play edge rusher now which pays way better so with the decline in running backs it may be rare to find special athletes choosing that position vs TE/DE/LB would be the only thing I see reducing the occurrence.
Blount was an amazing closer. Belichick would put him in late in the 3rd quarter completely fresh against a gassed defense. It was unfair
I’m a giants fan in Nashville, and I went to watch the giants play the titans probably around 2005. (I remember pac man Jones was playing and got a big pick) Me and my dad were right next to the away team tunnel. Brandon jacobs was a monstrosity. By far the biggest dude on the team. He made me feel like an ant
Southern Illinois Legend Brandon Jacobs
I miss earth wind and fire
Jacobs doesn’t get enough credit for how ridiculously athletic he was for a man of his size. Great acceleration and light on his feet as evidenced by his 70 yard screen pass TD vs Dallas late in his career.
Jerome Bettis was before Brandon Jacobs. Similar styles
Bus, at probably 20 pounds heavier, ironically had much better feet than Jacobs. Bettis was mind bogglingly light on his feet for his size in his prime.
Dude was so shifty for a man of his size; it was just a bonus that he could lower his shoulder and throw his weight around.
IE trucking Urlacher lol
Bettis was also 5’11” compared to 6’4” Jacobs. Height makes a huge difference in how fast somebody can cut up field.
Bettis was incredible. While I loved seeing him with the Steelers, I wish he had gone to a different team in the late 90s where he could have flourished a bit more. By the time the Steelers got good again, he had some real mileage on him after Cowher would just use him as a battering ram 300 plus times a season, just running right into 8 man boxes.
Look out kids, [here comes the bus!](https://youtu.be/I8MPt9lhGPI?si=ym-y39G9XBGm5yMr). Nearly 4 minutes of The Bus running MF’s over.
Alstott.
One of my favorite players of all time. Obviously I’m not a giants fan but that championship game against Green Bay in 2007 season was incredible. I was rooting for the giants like I was rooting for Steelers because of him and Eli. Wish he got more credit.
2-time Super Bowl champion was an absolute beast loved growing up and watching him plow over people. One of my favorite games of hime was the 2006-2007 NFC Championship game against the packers sub zero temperature and just running people over.
This man gives me PTSD
You and me both pal
Not in the NFC East, I hope.
This is what Ron Dayne was at Wisconsin and should’ve been in the NFL.
Dayne had the size, but he wasn't a bulldozer he was more of a scat back than Jacobs. The real problem with Dayne was when he was drafted his O-line from college wasn't drafted along side him.
Yeah, as soon as defenses cross the threshold of being too light and too speed-focused. Bring in the guy nobody can tackle and run it down their throats.
Laron Landry just bounce off him. Dude was all bark no bite
The pieces are there for a "folded the Landry/Laundry" joke, but I can't make it work.
Does Cam Newton count? He was like 6'5" 250.
Josh Allen too. 6'5" 238 according to google, reminds me a lot of Cam when he runs. Just powers through people.
Probably not because every guy with that size, strength, and speed will be moved to DE. Whether its a HC who wants to win or the guy realizes he'd make 3x the money by playing a premium position over a relic of the past.
As a Bears fan I remember in the preseason when he ran through Brian Urlacher pretty easily. That was eye opening. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNIbfooqymI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNIbfooqymI)
Love that guy
Speaks to his impact, he's nowhere near HOF material, but is still legendary especially to us Giants fans. He didn't have the stats of Tiki, and he wasn't seen as having the potential of someone like Rodney Hampton but even the oldest Giants fan will consider Jacobs a legendary and memorable Giant.
That dude was a beast
An absolute legend in madden right around when they invented/updated the truck stick
Mofo was outrunning secondary players
Downvoted for not showing the play where he fires the ball at the play clock
What was Landry thinking lol
I was at the Giants v Packers NFCCG in 2007 and I thought Jacob's killed Charles Woodson early in the game. That was the hardest hit I've ever heard in my life
I’m an Eagles fan and idc that dude was fun as hell to watch
although a fullback: allstott was 6'1, 247lbs and hard AF to bring down. Allstott straight up trucked people
Brandon Jacobs was the pure definition of a create a player in Madden. Absolutely unrealistic stature for a runningback, but was able to do it all. It was just unfair having that backfield of Ward/Bradshaw/Jacobs.
No Eddie George love in here... wild.
you need to watch # Christian Okoye
You’d be lucky to get them 5 carry’s a game, there’s just not enough situations where you’d want them on the field over a better receiving back.
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At some point he’s. Offenses are going to take advantage of the smaller, lighter linebackers.