RB Rankings

[Patler]

Loved Ahman, but I'd take Peterson in a heartbeat.

Why?

I don't think Peterson gives a lot more as a runner than Green did in his prime, some perhaps. Green was a better receiver and a much better blocker....and fumbles...as bad as some think Green was, Peterson is even worse.

[retailguy]

My point is that I believe you could "plug in" a bunch of guys and not suffer much, if any loss in production. As you said, it wasn't that way with Green. Isn't that way with Peterson, or Johnson, or the other "elite" backs.

Might be a bit of homerism on my part, but I would have taken Ahman Green in his prime over Adrian Peterson, without hesitation. Peterson MIGHT be a better runner, but I'm not completely convinced of it. He is not the receiver Green was, but has improved. He is quite bad as a blocker, and he fumbles a lot more frequently than Green did, (20/1000 vs 37/2500)

I don't disagree at all. Even when I knew he was almost done, even when I knew it was probably the right call to let him go, I have never been so pissed at Ted Thompson as I was that day.

Green was special. I truly enjoyed watching him run as a Packer. I'd take him over Peterson any day of the week.

[Scott Campbell]

Loved Ahman, but I'd take Peterson in a heartbeat.

Why?

I don't think Peterson gives a lot more as a runner than Green did in his prime, some perhaps. Green was a better receiver and a much better blocker....and fumbles...as bad as some think Green was, Peterson is even worse.

Did teams typically load 8 in the box against Green?

[Lurker64]

Loved Ahman, but I'd take Peterson in a heartbeat.

Why?

Because then the Vikings wouldn't have him!

[mraynrand]

Loved Ahman, but I'd take Peterson in a heartbeat.

Why?

I don't think Peterson gives a lot more as a runner than Green did in his prime, some perhaps. Green was a better receiver and a much better blocker....and fumbles...as bad as some think Green was, Peterson is even worse.

Did teams typically load 8 in the box against Green?

Good point. Favre changes the whole dynamic. You saw what happened last year when teams tried to stop Peterson - Favre carved 'em up. But we really never saw what Ahman could do when he had no QB compliment. Probably wouldn't have been as dangerous as Peterson. But from 2000-2004, Ahman was right up there with Tomlinson and Holmes in total yards from scrimmage (he even returned to 2004 numbers in 2006). But TT was right - after 2006 , he was seriously out of his prime.

[Patler]

Loved Ahman, but I'd take Peterson in a heartbeat.

Why?

I don't think Peterson gives a lot more as a runner than Green did in his prime, some perhaps. Green was a better receiver and a much better blocker....and fumbles...as bad as some think Green was, Peterson is even worse.

Did teams typically load 8 in the box against Green?

Good point. Favre changes the whole dynamic. You saw what happened last year when teams tried to stop Peterson - Favre carved 'em up. But we really never saw what Ahman could do when he had no QB compliment. Probably wouldn't have been as dangerous as Peterson. But from 2000-2004, Ahman was right up there with Tomlinson and Holmes in total yards from scrimmage (he even returned to 2004 numbers in 2006). But TT was right - after 2006 , he was seriously out of his prime.

In 2003 Favre broke his thumb and the passing game changed significantly. The Packers became a running team, and actually had more rushing attempts than passing attempts, 507/473. Green was the focus of the offense with 355 carries and almost 1900 yards, which was more yards on fewer carries than Peterson had in 2008, his best year so far.

Only one other time did Green get even 300 carries, with 304 in 2001

[mraynrand]

Loved Ahman, but I'd take Peterson in a heartbeat.

Why?

I don't think Peterson gives a lot more as a runner than Green did in his prime, some perhaps. Green was a better receiver and a much better blocker....and fumbles...as bad as some think Green was, Peterson is even worse.

Did teams typically load 8 in the box against Green?

Good point. Favre changes the whole dynamic. You saw what happened last year when teams tried to stop Peterson - Favre carved 'em up. But we really never saw what Ahman could do when he had no QB compliment. Probably wouldn't have been as dangerous as Peterson. But from 2000-2004, Ahman was right up there with Tomlinson and Holmes in total yards from scrimmage (he even returned to 2004 numbers in 2006). But TT was right - after 2006 , he was seriously out of his prime.

In 2003 Favre broke his thumb and the passing game changed significantly. The Packers became a running team, and actually had more rushing attempts than passing attempts, 507/473. Green was the focus of the offense with 355 carries and almost 1900 yards, which was more yards on fewer carries than Peterson had in 2008, his best year so far.

Only one other time did Green get even 300 carries, with 304 in 2001

If you are trying to argue that Favre with a bad thumb was equivalent to what MN has had at full strength behind center during the Peterson era, I strongly disagree with you.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Kind of an interesting argument: Green vs. Peterson. I think Green was special, and I think he was a Hall of Fame caliber back. He was a better all around RB than Peterson is now. Peterson has ridiculous talent running the ball. Personally, I think he ranks in the top 5 all-time in running the ball. He has the potential to surpass Green, but right now I think Ahman at his peak (2003) was better than Peterson at his peak as an all around RB, thus far.

[Lurker64]

Peterson may well be the greatest 1st and 10 running back I've ever seen. But at the same time, he's not even a good 3rd and 2 running back. His upright running style makes him a very big target in the hole, so he has to overpower people. He doesn't know when to go down, and is prone to fumbling even without being stood up and having guys hacking at the ball. If you have him in on third down, you'd better not be passing because his blitz pickups are quite possibly the worst of any starting RB in the league.

Green in his prime is a guy I'd be happy to have playing RB in any down and distance and in any field position regardless of the play call. Peterson isn't, and that's what's going to keep him from being one of the all-time greats, unless he really grows as a player this late into his career.

[Patler]

If you are trying to argue that Favre with a bad thumb was equivalent to what MN has had at full strength behind center during the Peterson era, I strongly disagree with you.

Not arguing that at all. Just pointing out that for one season Green was the focus of the offense, and defenses knew he would be getting a lot of carries each game. I suspect a lot of the defensive game planning went toward stopping Green that year.

[Patler]

Kind of an interesting argument: Green vs. Peterson. I think Green was special, and I think he was a Hall of Fame caliber back. He was a better all around RB than Peterson is now. Peterson has ridiculous talent running the ball. Personally, I think he ranks in the top 5 all-time in running the ball. He has the potential to surpass Green, but right now I think Ahman at his peak (2003) was better than Peterson at his peak as an all around RB, thus far.

That's where I'm at, Green as an all around back was really special.

[Patler]

Peterson may well be the greatest 1st and 10 running back I've ever seen. But at the same time, he's not even a good 3rd and 2 running back. His upright running style makes him a very big target in the hole, so he has to overpower people. He doesn't know when to go down, and is prone to fumbling even without being stood up and having guys hacking at the ball. If you have him in on third down, you'd better not be passing because his blitz pickups are quite possibly the worst of any starting RB in the league.

Green in his prime is a guy I'd be happy to have playing RB in any down and distance and in any field position regardless of the play call. Peterson isn't, and that's what's going to keep him from being one of the all-time greats, unless he really grows as a player this late into his career.

Do you remember when over his first bunch of seasons in GB Green had something like 36 or 37 consecutive successes at converting 3 and 2 or less for 1st downs? He was a very talented short yardage runner.

[RashanGary]

I remember the first time I saw Ahman Green run. I wasn't a know-it-all fan like I am now. I just watched the games and that was it.

Anyway, the first time I saw him run I said, "this isn't even like watching Packer football. I've never seen a Packer run like that"

He was just so damn fast, explosive, hard to tackle, etc. . . . He was an amazing player, especially in his early years.

[RashanGary]

When Peterson first came out and everyone thought he was going to get better at everything and be that great runner, I think he got a little more hype than he deserved. The way Peterson has trended and the way I remember Green, I think there is something to what Patler is saying. Green was more impressive than we remember because he slowly lost his burst and speed and we remember that more, but for 5 years, I agree that Green was a greater overall RB than AP and damn near as impressive, just didn't come out as highly touted and was under-hyped where Peterson came out a hype machine.

[packerbacker1234]

When Peterson first came out and everyone thought he was going to get better at everything and be that great runner, I think he got a little more hype than he deserved. The way Peterson has trended and the way I remember Green, I think there is something to what Patler is saying. Green was more impressive than we remember because he slowly lost his burst and speed and we remember that more, but for 5 years, I agree that Green was a greater overall RB than AP and damn near as impressive, just didn't come out as highly touted and was under-hyped where Peterson came out a hype machine.

If I remember correctly, AP was actually talked about as a potential bust, due to his injury in college. He was hardly hyped.

At the end of the season, after putting up AMAZING numbers for a rookie, he then got hyped to all hell because hey, he had a great year. Everyone thought "look at those numbers, he can only get better, right?" - but he hasn't really improved in any areas yet, and it's been 3 seasons.