NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?!! - Week 16

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Zopperoni
It's a toss-up between Housh and Welker though... Housh has better numbers, but still, the Bengals have a **** record.

Which makes it a bit more impressive, doesn't it? Housh may have Palmer... but Palmer is no Brady. And CJ on the other side is no Moss.

[-Jrabbit]

Considering he's never doubled when Moss is on the field makes Welker's numbers a little suspect. Light on TDs, light on YPC. Plus, it would be very unusual to see two WRs from the same team make the Pro Bowl.

This year is Housh's only chance to get in ahead of 85, and I think that loomed large with some voters. The Pro Bowl often rewards players who have been snubbed in the past, and Welker has never been even remotely on the radar before this year.

[Ben Kenobi]

Makes it even more impressive that Taylor isn't the only one running for Jacksonville, yet has more yards than Addai.

Sproles ran for 120 yards Sunday after Tomlinson got his yards in and yet I hardly think anyone would say that Sproles is the one to be credited with them.

YPC is more dubious when you don't have to do the short carry situations. Fred Taylor isn't an every-down back Maurice Jones-Drew does the heavy lifting which is why Taylor has a higher yards per carry.

TDs are also a function of the team. It helps that Addai has Peyton Manning and co. to get him more chances at short yardage TDs .

True, but some Running backs just don't excel in that situation, Barry Sanders being probably the best example.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Sproles ran for 120 yards Sunday after Tomlinson got his yards in and yet I hardly think anyone would say that Sproles is the one to be credited with them.

What? Sproles is credited for the yards he gains... at least in every single statistics page.

All this doesn't diminish that Taylor does have more yards than Addai and only about 35 less carries (which is less than 3 carries a year fewer).

YPC is more dubious when you don't have to do the short carry situations. Fred Taylor isn't an every-down back Maurice Jones-Drew does the heavy lifting which is why Taylor has a higher yards per carry.

If MJD does the "heavy lifting", why does MJD have fewer carries? And fewer yards?

Oh, and MJD has a yards per carry of 4.6. Which isn't as good as Taylor, but 0.5 yards per carry better than Addai.

True, but some Running backs just don't excel in that situation, Barry Sanders being probably the best example.

So are saying that Taylor doesn't excel in those situations? I'm sure if he had the explosive supporting cast offense Addai does, we may see .

[Lord Avalon]

IIRC Barry Sanders got subbed out in short yardage situations, so he'd miss out on TD chances.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon
IIRC Barry Sanders got subbed out in short yardage situations, so he'd miss out on TD chances.

Wasn't it alleged it was because of some contract incentives?

[Jaguar]

The real point about Taylor being in a committee (unlike Addai or Parker) is that it's easier to run when you're not tired out and the defense is. Taylor gets to trade carries with MJD. If you look at the league leaders in yards per carry, it's guys like Jerious Norwood or Marion Barber who get to trade off with someone else.

[Lord Avalon]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Wasn't it alleged it was because of some contract incentives?

I think the coaches just had the mindset to go with a bigger back for short yardage.

Also, early in his career Sanders would often get caught on long runs before reaching the end zone. In the off-season (not sure what year) he worked on sprinting endurance, resulting in a more TDs.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Re: the Welker discussion, it's hard because he's not really been in a traditional WR role. His numbers reflect that, and I can see why he wouldn't be selected. On the other hand, he's done exactly what he's been asked to do and done it extremely well in a very valuable role for the team. He's been doubled many times and still gotten free, he catches a ridiculous percentage of attempts, and he helps keep Brady upright. He wouldn't have the talent to be a WR in the mold of Moss or Housh, so if those are the guys who go to the Pro Bowl then he shouldn't be among them. I feel bad for the guy since he really is excelling at what he's supposed to do...just not at the right thing in this case.

[Lord Avalon]

Don't feel too bad for Welker - he was traded to the Pats from the cheapskate Dolphins (who didn't want to pay him what he got).

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I didn't say things couldn't be worse......

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Jaguar
The real point about Taylor being in a committee (unlike Addai or Parker) is that it's easier to run when you're not tired out and the defense is. Taylor gets to trade carries with MJD. If you look at the league leaders in yards per carry, it's guys like Jerious Norwood or Marion Barber who get to trade off with someone else.

As I've pointed out, Taylor only has like 35 fewer carries than Addai this season.

And Norwood doesn't rush enough to lead in ypc. AP may "share" carries, but for most of the year he didn't. Neither did Ronnie Brown was he was healthy. Or Ryan Grant. Or LT.

Actually one thing I wonder is why was Addai chosen over McGahee. McGahee has a 4.1 ypc as well and more receptions.

[Jaguar]

More receptions on more passes, and with fewer yards.

You're just messing around cherrypicking stats.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think the stats, regardless of how you wish to cherrypick them, shows Taylor to be more deserving. Unfortunately, he plays for Jacksonville.

[Jaguar]

Taylor is more deserving than Parker, though. Perhaps Addai, but not as obviously. I have no idea why you're continuing to attack the player who's actually playing pretty well, instead of the one who has no business being in the Pro Bowl.