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Vinny Iyer
http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/new...ng-back-jared-goff/1ewi5j4f2f8331rxq4xvsiyp4y
Marshall Faulk is one of the smartest players in NFL history. He proves it when he breaks down current players and teams as an NFL Network studio analyst.
He proved it to us over the phone, too.
SN: You have a choice between the Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott and the Cardinals' David Johnson. Do you like one of their games more than the other's?
Faulk: I like them both. If you switched teams, you would be getting the exact same production from both guys. They do a lot of the same things. They're good running inside, they're good running outside. Both can catch the ball. David may have gotten a chance to line up as a receiver and showcase his talent more because he played receiver at one point in time, but if the Cowboys asked Ezekiel Elliott to do that, he could do it, too.
It's just good to see such talent at the running back position, and both of them being the kind of guys who can carry the load. You see a lot backs spitting time, a guy tapping out and the other guy coming in. Both of these guys are high-volume touches guys."
SN: Elliott has been great as a rookie as expected, but what you think of the big surprise there, the Bears' Jordan Howard?
Faulk: The Bears being in Illinois, as we know, are close in geography to Indiana, and they scouted him pretty well. They saw the talent. With them allowing Matt Forte to be gone and with not knowing whether Jeremy Langford could handle the load, they brought this kid in. Sometimes all you need is an opportunity.
Howard didn't play on very good teams at Indiana. There wasn't much talent around him, and you watched him produce. He produced pretty darn well against the good teams. The productivity wasn't like Ezekiel Elliott, but he didn't have the same help. Watching him now, it's good to see how he's been able to step in and not even have questions be asked about if there's a fall-off with him in the pro game.
SN: Speaking of Indiana, what are your thoughts on how the Falcons are getting the most of Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman in a happy committee?
Faulk: I don't want to lead you down the path to think the Falcons are trying to make both guys happy. The only way that both guys are happy if both guys are out there with the opportunity to compete. Both of them want to be starters, both of them want to be the guy — and that's why it's working. They're trying to maximize opportunity with each and every play. They're trying to outdo each other on every play.
That's what this is, that's what you get, that's how it is. That's all you want. If they continue to compete, you can give the ball to either guy, and nobody is capitulating the chance to be the No. 1 guy. That makes your team better.
SN: With Case Keenum starting to play well for the Rams, is there any chance for No. 1 overall pick to quarterback them this season?
Faulk: I don't know if there's a scenario for that. Jeff Fisher and Les Snead have subscribed to the fact that when they see what they need to see out of Jared, he'll have an opportunity to play.
With that, Case has to be playing severely bad. It has to be something drastic on Case's end coupled with the things they want out of Jared happening while he's going through this process. And these are just practice things. Then you have to put him in the game and see if those things translate to him playing winning football.
SN: The Vikings are having an outstanding season, but do you think their lack of a running game will come back to bite them?
Faulk: They've only struggled to try to run the ball because there's no Adrian Peterson in there. If I'm a defense, guess what I'm going to do? I'm taking away the running game and making whoever's at quarterback beat me. When teams get tired of Sam Bradford throwing the football around to these receivers that everyone keeps saying aren't No. 1s and they're beating you, then the running game is going to open up. Until then, Sam needs to continue to have the games he's having, and the defense has to keep playing the way it has. You give Mike Zimmer a lead, and you put him on defense, he's going to call a great game against an offense that's playing catch up.
MORE: All-time greatest Rams players
Faulk spoke to SN on behalf of Courtyard, the league's official hotel. For Super Bowl LI in Houston, one lucky fan and a guest will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a decked-out NRG Stadium suite as winners of the Courtyard Super Bowl Sleepover Contest.
Explained Faulk: "In order to win, all fans have to do is submit their most passionate NFL fan photo via Twitter or Instagram by using the hashtag #CourtyardSuperBowlContest and they'll have a chance. It's that simple."
Faulk, who will be traveling more often for games starting in November, appreciates Courtyard's friendly stay wherever he's taking in an NFL game.
"What you want for those two days on the road is a hotel that feels like home," he said. "You want the people at the front desk to be hospitable. You don't want to feel like you're away, even though you are away. That's the experience Courtyard provides us.
http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/new...ng-back-jared-goff/1ewi5j4f2f8331rxq4xvsiyp4y
Marshall Faulk is one of the smartest players in NFL history. He proves it when he breaks down current players and teams as an NFL Network studio analyst.
He proved it to us over the phone, too.
SN: You have a choice between the Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott and the Cardinals' David Johnson. Do you like one of their games more than the other's?
Faulk: I like them both. If you switched teams, you would be getting the exact same production from both guys. They do a lot of the same things. They're good running inside, they're good running outside. Both can catch the ball. David may have gotten a chance to line up as a receiver and showcase his talent more because he played receiver at one point in time, but if the Cowboys asked Ezekiel Elliott to do that, he could do it, too.
It's just good to see such talent at the running back position, and both of them being the kind of guys who can carry the load. You see a lot backs spitting time, a guy tapping out and the other guy coming in. Both of these guys are high-volume touches guys."
SN: Elliott has been great as a rookie as expected, but what you think of the big surprise there, the Bears' Jordan Howard?
Faulk: The Bears being in Illinois, as we know, are close in geography to Indiana, and they scouted him pretty well. They saw the talent. With them allowing Matt Forte to be gone and with not knowing whether Jeremy Langford could handle the load, they brought this kid in. Sometimes all you need is an opportunity.
Howard didn't play on very good teams at Indiana. There wasn't much talent around him, and you watched him produce. He produced pretty darn well against the good teams. The productivity wasn't like Ezekiel Elliott, but he didn't have the same help. Watching him now, it's good to see how he's been able to step in and not even have questions be asked about if there's a fall-off with him in the pro game.
SN: Speaking of Indiana, what are your thoughts on how the Falcons are getting the most of Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman in a happy committee?
Faulk: I don't want to lead you down the path to think the Falcons are trying to make both guys happy. The only way that both guys are happy if both guys are out there with the opportunity to compete. Both of them want to be starters, both of them want to be the guy — and that's why it's working. They're trying to maximize opportunity with each and every play. They're trying to outdo each other on every play.
That's what this is, that's what you get, that's how it is. That's all you want. If they continue to compete, you can give the ball to either guy, and nobody is capitulating the chance to be the No. 1 guy. That makes your team better.
SN: With Case Keenum starting to play well for the Rams, is there any chance for No. 1 overall pick to quarterback them this season?
Faulk: I don't know if there's a scenario for that. Jeff Fisher and Les Snead have subscribed to the fact that when they see what they need to see out of Jared, he'll have an opportunity to play.
With that, Case has to be playing severely bad. It has to be something drastic on Case's end coupled with the things they want out of Jared happening while he's going through this process. And these are just practice things. Then you have to put him in the game and see if those things translate to him playing winning football.
SN: The Vikings are having an outstanding season, but do you think their lack of a running game will come back to bite them?
Faulk: They've only struggled to try to run the ball because there's no Adrian Peterson in there. If I'm a defense, guess what I'm going to do? I'm taking away the running game and making whoever's at quarterback beat me. When teams get tired of Sam Bradford throwing the football around to these receivers that everyone keeps saying aren't No. 1s and they're beating you, then the running game is going to open up. Until then, Sam needs to continue to have the games he's having, and the defense has to keep playing the way it has. You give Mike Zimmer a lead, and you put him on defense, he's going to call a great game against an offense that's playing catch up.
MORE: All-time greatest Rams players
Faulk spoke to SN on behalf of Courtyard, the league's official hotel. For Super Bowl LI in Houston, one lucky fan and a guest will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a decked-out NRG Stadium suite as winners of the Courtyard Super Bowl Sleepover Contest.
Explained Faulk: "In order to win, all fans have to do is submit their most passionate NFL fan photo via Twitter or Instagram by using the hashtag #CourtyardSuperBowlContest and they'll have a chance. It's that simple."
Faulk, who will be traveling more often for games starting in November, appreciates Courtyard's friendly stay wherever he's taking in an NFL game.
"What you want for those two days on the road is a hotel that feels like home," he said. "You want the people at the front desk to be hospitable. You don't want to feel like you're away, even though you are away. That's the experience Courtyard provides us.
