Saquon Barkley vs Todd Gurley

[Elmgrovegnome]

Go hard, pard...have a big time

It's a long off-season and I'm bored with this already

Good critical analysis. It adds so much to the topic of debate. Most people that are bored with the off-season posts just don't read them.

 

[jrry32]

Any decent back breaks tackles. The difference is in what your calling breaking a tackle. A player reaching for a running back as he glides by only to get touched is a broken tackle. Gurley is no Earl Campbell, John Riggins or even Steven Jackson in the tackle breaking department. Breaking tackles and yards after contact aren't the same in my book.
Where Jackson would drag runners and plow them over, Gurley out runs arm tackles and hurdles monomers. Different styles altogether. Barkley is a bit of both.

Gurley was second in the NFL in broken tackles in 2017:
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2017/rotopass-broken-tackles

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Are you really trying to compare NFL holes and defenses to those that Barkley faced?! Your "stronger/faster David Johnson" was completely shut down by a Rutgers defense that ranked 83rd against the rush!

I'm sorry but if you look at their college film Gurley created his own space a lot more frequently and against MUCH better opponents. He threw top players like Vic Beasley around like rag dolls.

I question if you actually watched Barkley. Seems you cherry picked a stat choosing to ignore the good teams he dominated in Big games. I get your Mandurah on Gurley. He is your college hero. You will defend him blindly tooth and nail. So there is no use debating it with you.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Gurley was second in the NFL in broken tackles in 2017:
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2017/rotopass-broken-tackles

There aren't many bruising types of running backs in the NFL anymore. And stats don't tell the entire story. Running through arm tackles is a broken tackle just like running over guys. Gurley broken tackles are more the first variety. He has great speed and subtle moves that make guys miss wrapping up. Barkley has more of a power style combined with the breakaway speed.

I don't dislike Gurley. He is a very good running back and I am happy he is on the Rams. I just answered the topic. It's likely I have watched each player combined more than anyone else here.

 

[jrry32]

There aren't many bruising types of running backs in the NFL anymore. And stats don't tell the entire story. Running through arm tackles is a broken tackle just like running over guys. Gurley broken tackles are more the first variety. He has great speed and subtle moves that make guys miss wrapping up. Barkley has more of a power style combined with the breakaway speed.

You're starting to sound like Champ. I don't really care what variety his broken tackles are. He was the best HB in the NFL this year, he was a MVP candidate, he was #2 in broken tackles, and he averaged 5.5 yards per carry over the final 8 games despite the fact that 5 of those 8 games came against top 10 run defenses (including 3 of the top 4 run defenses). Both Barkley and Gurley are elite talents. Gurley is living up to his talent in the big boy league. We'll see if Barkley can.

I don't dislike Gurley. He is a very good running back and I am happy he is on the Rams. I just answered the topic. It's likely I have watched each player combined more than anyone else here.

I think you need to take a step back and think about your own words:

I get your Mandurah on [Barkley]. He is your college hero. You will defend him blindly tooth and nail. So there is no use debating it with you.

 

[Ramlock]

Good critical analysis. It adds so much to the topic of debate. Most people that are bored with the off-season posts just don't read them.

Point misser

 

[NateDawg122]

I question if you actually watched Barkley. Seems you cherry picked a stat choosing to ignore the good teams he dominated in Big games. I get your Mandurah on Gurley. He is your college hero. You will defend him blindly tooth and nail. So there is no use debating it with you.

You need to chill out man. I've given you fact after fact on almost every single rebuttal and all you've done is offer biased opinions. I'm not defending him blindly, I'm presenting evidence to support my position. I've even given you the footage to watch, which you've clearly not watched on your own.

And I couldn't care less how Gurley breaks tackles as long as he breaks them. I watched him throw Vic Beasley around like a child and truck Trey DePriest. The guy has more than enough power, he just chooses to take the path of least resistance.

And speaking of big games, how did Saquon do against Ohio State this year? Oh that's right, they shut him down, just like Northwestern and Rutgers.

 

[Picked4td]

You need to chill out man. I've given you fact after fact on almost every single rebuttal and all you've done is offer biased opinions. I'm not defending him blindly, I'm presenting evidence to support my position. I've even given you the footage to watch, which you've clearly not watched on your own.

And I couldn't care less how Gurley breaks tackles as long as he breaks them. I watched him throw Vic Beasley around like a child and truck Trey DePriest. The guy has more than enough power, he just chooses to take the path of least resistance.

And speaking of big games, how did Saquon do against Ohio State this year? Oh that's right, they shut him down, just like Northwestern and Rutgers.

bringing up games like Northwestern and Rutgers is exactly why this argument is pointless. if you actually watch the games and dont just look at the box score you would see exactly why he struggled and why he wasnt as dominate of a rusher as he could of been. IDC who you are, when you are constantly getting hit in the backfield almost immediately after getting the ball, you wont have a good rushing game. heck look at 2016 Gurley for that matter.

you continue to be biased toward Gurley, for obvious reasons, and you end up giving him a slight edge in every area. if the difference is as minimal as you continue to make it seem, this argument is incredibly pointless because all you are doing to confirming exactly why people have them both as elite prospects and some preferring one over the other.

if you honestly cant look at Barkley and see an elite prospect with all the skills needed to be a great all around complete back, in the same ways that Gurley was/is, you should probably stop publicly sharing your opinion on prospects until you sharpen your scouting skills.

 

[NateDawg122]

bringing up games like Northwestern and Rutgers is exactly why this argument is pointless. if you actually watch the games and dont just look at the box score you would see exactly why he struggled and why he wasnt as dominate of a rusher as he could of been. IDC who you are, when you are constantly getting hit in the backfield almost immediately after getting the ball, you wont have a good rushing game. heck look at 2016 Gurley for that matter.

you continue to be biased toward Gurley, for obvious reasons, and you end up giving him a slight edge in every area. if the difference is as minimal as you continue to make it seem, this argument is incredibly pointless because all you are doing to confirming exactly why people have them both as elite prospects and some preferring one over the other.

if you honestly cant look at Barkley and see an elite prospect with all the skills needed to be a great all around complete back, in the same ways that Gurley was/is, you should probably stop publicly sharing your opinion on prospects until you sharpen your scouting skills.

In my original post I said Barkley is a better prospect than Zeke...I don't know what more you want. And I didn't invent Gurley's YPC, or his 100M time, or his abilities. I'm just giving you the facts surrounding those topics.

Why don't you talk to the people saying that Barkley's receiving skills "blow Gurley's out of the water" or that Todd isn't really a tackle-breaker? Because both of those statements are demonstrably false. And for that matter, so is the claim that Todd always had massive holes to run through in college. But what would I know, I only watched every single college carry he ever had multiple times.

I really like Barkley because running back is my favorite position and he's a damn good one. But, 1. He's not faster than Todd 2. He's not bigger than Todd 3. He's not a better runner than Todd 4. He's not a better receiver than Todd, and 5. He didn't dominate college teams like Todd. I really fail to see the argument here.

 

[LACHAMP46]

I don’t consider Gurley to be some bruising tackle breaking machine. He is more like Dickerson with speed and subtle cuts that make guys miss.

He's similar in the pros....but in colllege he ran over a bunch of people...he's still a bruising runner....I'm the first to admit I believe he goes down a lil too easy....but he's an awesome PRO back....

I don't see Barkley break nearly half the amount of tackles as Gurley did in college....but again, I think he's awesome. I don't think he's as fast....but more elusive...

And trust me...better backs than him have failed when they reached the pros.

You're starting to sound like Champ.

While I should take any mentions as a compliment....for this one...I don't....I always pick the bigger, faster player...until proven differently....and Gurley is bigger and faster....which usually equals better...not always...but mostly

 

[Loyal]

He's similar in the pros....but in colllege he ran over a bunch of people...he's still a bruising runner....I'm the first to admit I believe he goes down a lil too easy....but he's an awesome PRO back....

I don't see Barkley break nearly half the amount of tackles as Gurley did in college....but again, I think he's awesome. I don't think he's as fast....but more elusive...

And trust me...better backs than him have failed when they reached the pros.
While I should take any mentions as a compliment....for this one...I don't....I always pick the bigger, faster player...until proven differently....and Gurley is bigger and faster....which usually equals better...not always...but mostly

You dirty, rotten SUMBICH! ~John Randle

 

[I like Rams]

Y'all sound like a bunch of jealous women when a new hot broad walks into the room.

 

[Corbin]

So my question remains. Is Barkley a trailer or a tractor and what does that make Gurley?

An SUV?

 

[bluecoconuts]

So my question remains. Is Barkley a trailer or a tractor and what does that make Gurley?

An SUV?

An Abrams.

 

[LACHAMP46]

You dirty, rotten SUMBICH! ~John Randle

He was a wild and mean SOB!....Top line motor....loved the face paint.

So my question remains. Is Barkley a trailer or a tractor and what does that make Gurley?

Doesn't apply anymore....rather, RB's can't carry teams....

QB's can....

Patriots are favored even tho their team is athletically inferior.....you wanna know why?

They gotta tractor back there

 

[Loyal]

He was a wild and mean SOB!....Top line motor....loved the face paint.
Doesn't apply anymore....rather, RB's can't carry teams....

QB's can....

Patriots are favored even tho their team is athletically inferior.....you wanna know why?

They gotta tractor back there

 

[Picked4td]

In my original post I said Barkley is a better prospect than Zeke...I don't know what more you want. And I didn't invent Gurley's YPC, or his 100M time, or his abilities. I'm just giving you the facts surrounding those topics.

Why don't you talk to the people saying that Barkley's receiving skills "blow Gurley's out of the water" or that Todd isn't really a tackle-breaker? Because both of those statements are demonstrably false. And for that matter, so is the claim that Todd always had massive holes to run through in college. But what would I know, I only watched every single college carry he ever had multiple times.

I really like Barkley because running back is my favorite position and he's a damn good one. But, 1. He's not faster than Todd 2. He's not bigger than Todd 3. He's not a better runner than Todd 4. He's not a better receiver than Todd, and 5. He didn't dominate college teams like Todd. I really fail to see the argument here.

again, you're original post said "I don't see how people can justify saying he's better than Todd" and ill im saying here is its completely justifiable.

1. its nearly impossible to know for sure whos faster but either way you are talking milliseconds. its basically a wash

2. Gurley's draft profile has him at 6'1 222 and Barkley is at 5'11 223. again you are talking about a very small difference, and basically a wash. (I would add that while I dont know Gurley's lifting numbers what barkley did in the weight room is tough to match for a running back so if you add strength into "bigger than" theres a legit case to be made for barkley there)

3. Gurley sure did show to be the better runner, but its not like Barkley was some slouch

4. as a prospect, Im really not sure how you can honestly say Barkley isnt the superior receiver. he was used way more in the passing game and showed elite skills in that area basically every game, while by your own admission Georgia didnt use Gurley in the passing game much

5. this is a dumb argument to make. Georgia was a ground and pound team that basically hinged their success on being able to run the ball, while Penn State was a spread offense that made you defend the run and pass on every play. theres not many RBs that carry their team week in and week out in a spread offense

im not going to waste anymore time arguing this tbh. its honestly quite clear they are both elite prospects and very reasonable for people to like one more than the other. but being an elite prospect doesnt mean much if you dont preform in the next level so we'll just have to wait and see how Barkley pans out

 

[Corbin]

He was a wild and mean SOB!....Top line motor....loved the face paint.
Doesn't apply anymore....rather, RB's can't carry teams....

QB's can....

Patriots are favored even tho their team is athletically inferior.....you wanna know why?

They gotta tractor back there

So your saying he is a Snowmobile? :fuelfire::mrburnsevil:

 

[NateDawg122]

again, you're original post said "I don't see how people can justify saying he's better than Todd" and ill im saying here is its completely justifiable.

1. its nearly impossible to know for sure whos faster but either way you are talking milliseconds. its basically a wash

2. Gurley's draft profile has him at 6'1 222 and Barkley is at 5'11 223. again you are talking about a very small difference, and basically a wash. (I would add that while I dont know Gurley's lifting numbers what barkley did in the weight room is tough to match for a running back so if you add strength into "bigger than" theres a legit case to be made for barkley there)

3. Gurley sure did show to be the better runner, but its not like Barkley was some slouch

4. as a prospect, Im really not sure how you can honestly say Barkley isnt the superior receiver. he was used way more in the passing game and showed elite skills in that area basically every game, while by your own admission Georgia didnt use Gurley in the passing game much

5. this is a dumb argument to make. Georgia was a ground and pound team that basically hinged their success on being able to run the ball, while Penn State was a spread offense that made you defend the run and pass on every play. theres not many RBs that carry their team week in and week out in a spread offense

im not going to waste anymore time arguing this tbh. its honestly quite clear they are both elite prospects and very reasonable for people to like one more than the other. but being an elite prospect doesnt mean much if you dont preform in the next level so we'll just have to wait and see how Barkley pans out

1. I didn't say Todd was faster, I said Saquon wasn't faster than Todd. There's a difference. We'll see what Barkley does at the Combine but I know for a fact Gurley was a 4.3 guy in college.

2. I think Barkley has more upper body strength than Todd, but not more lower body strength. Most I've seen Saquon squat was 550 pounds. Nick Chubb can squat 700 pounds and Gurley could rival him in the weight room at Georgia.

Todd also has more length than Barkley, it's why he's so good at stiff-arming people. His height is also why defenders constantly go for his legs, he's too big to tackle high. Luckily, he's also an Olympic-quality hurdler.

3. Saquon is definitely legit, but this is a category Gurley wins hands down.

4. Jerry and I have already explained this several times. A coaches inability to properly use his player's talents is not justification for knocking a player. Terrell Davis never rushed for over 900 yards in collegiate season, but he ended up being a 2K rusher and Hall of Famer in the NFL. That talent didn't come from nowhere, his coach was just an idiot.

5. Saquon had way more touches to damage teams with, and he still couldn't do what Gurley did. Gurley consistently took over games in college and with less opportunities to do so.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

Better than Gurley?

Saquon can saquon my balls

(Forgive me if this astute and classy comment has been mentioned before, i've yet to read all the comments)