[Bryan88]

As a rookie he ran for 1341 yards on 238 carries, which makes for a ridiculous 5.6 yards per carry. I mean he nearly averaged 100 yards rushing a game and added 12 touchdowns. Oh and he also broke the single game rushing record with 296 vs the Chargers. He also had 224 yard game against the bears. He did all of this in 14 games, only 6 of which he had 20 or more carries, thanks to him sharing the role with Chester Taylor (who had 844 yards). What does everyone else think?


I would like to submit this for evidence;

YouTube - Adrian Peterson - Unstoppable (widescreen)

[simple simon]

how did i know this thread was on its way

like i said in another thread .... he needs to show me what he can do in an injury free season before i can put him on the LT level

is he amazing .... yes of course

thing is ... "the best" are not injury prone ...... is he injury prone .... maybe/maybe not ..... too soon to tell

see Bryan .... youre all hopped up on that delicious Viking-aid ..... tastes good now that you see a future for your team doesnt it ..... just post again when youre not as drunk on your RB

[Bryan88]

I have only had a little of the Viking-aide this morning, so I'm not drunk on Peterson... ok maybe just a bit Regardless though, I challenge you to name me 4 or 5 RB's better than Peterson.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

I have only had a little of the Viking-aide this morning, so I'm not drunk on Peterson... ok maybe just a bit Regardless though, I challenge you to name me 4 or 5 RB's better than Peterson.

first in my defense i qualified my original statement with the fact that he was injured last season .... he could be fine from now on .... or it could be a chronic problem

LT
Joseph Addai
Marion Barber
Jamal Lewis
Maurice Jones Drew

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by simple simon

first in my defense i qualified my original statement with the fact that he was injured last season .... he could be fine from now on .... or it could be a chronic problem

LT
Joseph Addai
Marion Barber
Jamal Lewis
Maurice Jones Drew

I will give you LT, but I am going to have to take exception to the rest. Addai is a good back who will give you 1000 yards, but that is all he is. He averaged 4.1 ypc this last year and his longest run was 23 yards.
Barber again is a good back and his 4.8 ypc is nothing to scoff at, but AP averaged 5.6 while facing 9 in the box because the Vikings had no QB or passing game to speak of. The Boys had Romo and and great receivers lead by Owens to take the pressure off Barber.
Jamal Lewis is a good up the middle 20+ carry guy who is going to get you some yards. But his career ypc is 4.3 and the last 3 years it has been a dismal 3.4, 3.6, and a decent 4.4.
Maurice Jones Drew is also a very good back and probably your best non-LT argument, but he doesn't have the talent level of Peterson and has never rushed over 1000 yards (due to shared role).

Now I can understand you worrying about injuries and wanting to see more than 1 year of production, but I think at worst he is the 2nd best... then again I might have had to much Viking-aide this morning.

[Lefty Noob]

Is Adrian Peterson the best running back in the NFL? No. But I think he will be. He's the most physically gifted back in the NFL, that's for sure, and as he learns more about the game (and ways to keep himself from taking the big hits), I can honestly see him re-writing all the record books.

[Bette]

The worst you can say about him is he has a chip on the shoulder and looks to give and get big hits. That has to go if he wants to stay on the top. Peterson is explosive and fun to watch. But no passing game last year. Give him a passing game and then what will happen.
Sometimes they are bright shining stars but then they fade away. Will it or wont it happen to Peterson?
I can see LT, Addai, but not the rest. Besides Barber and I have like a major prejudice there.
I hate to say he is the top RB when he has only had one year. But then again I think they had the no.1 running game last year.

[Seahawker 562]

No im gunna go with LT. A lot of AP's success was from hutchinson. LT had to earn his yards a bit more

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Seahawker 562

No im gunna go with LT. A lot of AP's success was from hutchinson. LT had to earn his yards a bit more

LT has a good O-Line and has a respectable passing game that kept the D honest. AP was facing 9 in the box most of the year since he had no passing game. So IMO AP had it a lot tougher because basically the defense was saying that we are going to focus solely on you and let passing game beat us, something you can't to do the Chargers.

[Bleedin Purple]

Originally Posted by Seahawker 562

No im gunna go with LT. A lot of AP's success was from hutchinson. LT had to earn his yards a bit more

What are you talking about!?!? The Chargers had one of the best 0-Lines in the league last season. You just hatin on the Vikes.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

AP was facing 9 in the box most of the year since he had no passing game.

Exactly, that's what makes what Peterson did so amazing. Opposing defenses knew what was coming and still couldn't stop it.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Exactly, that's what makes what Peterson did so amazing. Opposing defenses knew what was coming and still couldn't stop it.

Yes, but despite that, the man gets nicked a bit here and there...so would you honestly rate him the best back all around? If you had a choice of any back this year would it be him? Or do you need another season or two to see if he can maintain his start?

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Exactly, that's what makes what Peterson did so amazing. Opposing defenses knew what was coming and still couldn't stop it.

Am the only one who remembers, the end of the year where AP was only getting 40 or so yards because teams were putting 8 and 9 in the box. LT is the best.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Yes, but despite that, the man gets nicked a bit here and there...so would you honestly rate him the best back all around? If you had a choice of any back this year would it be him? Or do you need another season or two to see if he can maintain his start?

Yeah, I think I would, even though I think LT at this point is still technically the better back. AD is younger with more upside.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by bears9

Am the only one who remembers, the end of the year where AP was only getting 40 or so yards because teams were putting 8 and 9 in the box. LT is the best.

He wore down towards the end of the year as many rookies do and he was battling a few lingering injuries. It doesn't change what he did the first half though (he was seeing 8 and 9 in the box then) and I think you will see more of that next year. Now the one question that you can honestly have about the guy is his injury issues, but on talent alone he is the best.