Best Running Back in UT history?

#151
#151
MphsBlues said:
Don't know if he's the best, but my favorite is Reggie Cobb. He is a really nice guy when you meet him and he was part of the great orange Cobb-Webb, if any of you can remember that. Chuck Webb was really good, as well.
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We all remember Cobb-Webb, how could you not? And while Reggie was outstanding, Chuck was the better of the two IMO.
 
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#152
#152
Webb on talent alone. Vfl34. Best single game..swamp drainer....

Next for me is a tie between cheese and jamal. Then cobb/thompson.

Dear lord we were loaded back then at rb...having 2 or 3 NFL running backs at a time...Shawn Bryson turned out to be the best fullback in the pros but who here remembers the duo of Greg amsler and Roland poles??? Those 2 were bruisers and we're both so good that they got carries at fb even though we had monster NFL tailback at the time. Wish we has a monster fullback right now that could block as well as Hurd does so that Hurd could get carries with a true lead blocker.

While I agree that Hurd isn't the fastest back we have had, I too have seen him run down from behind more than once, I BELIEVE THAT JALEN HURD IS THE TOUGHEST RB WE HAVE EVER HAD. And cheese was damn tough. Cheese didn't have to break his first tackle every carry 3 yards deep in the backfield. Webb,jamal,henry, etc. Played in the days when at least 2 out of 5 starters on our o line were NFL locks. I don't know if any of the ones from hurds first 2 years will even get invited to a pro camp for a shot at the practice squad. And he is still going to hold all the records if he stays for 4...that's a big deal IMO.
 
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#153
#153
It would be awesome if someone like POA would do a highlight video of all these great backs.

My first memories watching tenn football was of Johnny jones. He was the first great back for me.

I have been very spoiled and privileged growing up with likes of Cobb, Webb, Stewart, Hayden, Garner, Graham, Henry, Stephens, Foster, Davis, and now Hurd/Kamara. I'm sure i left good ones out but it's hard to remember them all.
 
#154
#154
VolPack22 said:
I think the majority of people are going to say Webb, followed by probably Jamal Lewis and/or Travis Henry. However, if Hurd decides to play all 4 years, he would get my vote. He's going to break the rushing record in 3 years in an era where everyone airs it out. There's something to be said for that, and he had the worst OL in team history to run behind as a freshman or else he would've had 1,000 yards. He came in with a lot of hype and has lived up to every bit of it.
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Just wanted everyone to read this quote again. Hurd is very special!!!

I can't wait to get some updates from spring practice, I believe it is going to be a really fun year!





GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!
 
#157
#157
Thunder Good-Oil said:
Flowers was a running back his senior year (1968).
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Yes. That's why I specifically said Morgan's "last 3 years". For some reason, probably because he was such a great NFL WR, many think Morgan was a WR at Tennessee....but, as you know, that was only true for Stanley as a freshman.
 
#158
#158
TennFan said:
All were great! Jamal was AWESOME! When he went down for injury, Stephens and Henry picked up for him! :good!::eek:k:
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So many great ones over the years. I'll be glad when we have 2-3 all-sec/all-American type RBs on the roster every year. It's been awhile.
 
#159
#159
I'd go with Garner if we're talking most talented. He had better production than Webb and a deadly burst.

Doubt we'll ever see another back have a 1,000 yard season and average 7.3 ypc
 
#160
#160
MurphyVol said:
I'd go with Garner if we're talking most talented. He had better production than Webb and a deadly burst.

Doubt we'll ever see another back have a 1,000 yard season and average 7.3 ypc
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Garner was amazing and is often forgotten as this thread has shown. I think it's because he's seen as more of a third down or all purpose back. Just a guess. His numbers were great and he's the quickest UT RB I've ever seen....only slightly quicker than Webb though. And I think Webb ran with more power. Both were beyond outstanding and I can see why you might choose Garner.
 
#161
#161
Webb was the best in my football lifetime, imo...


Dude was violent and silky smooth at the same time. He could have been amazing if not for the injury.
 
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#163
#163
MurphyVol said:
I'd go with Garner if we're talking most talented. He had better production than Webb and a deadly burst.

Doubt we'll ever see another back have a 1,000 yard season and average 7.3 ypc
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Well you might expect that since he played twice as many games.
 
#165
#165
HoptownVol said:
Well you might expect that since he played twice as many games.[/QUO.

Compare each of their breakout seasons. I said nothing about total yardage or games played.

By reading the whole post, one might ascertain that the 7.3 ypc would be considered "good production"
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#166
#166
VolFan4Life87 said:
Hurd's downside is his seeming lack of big play potential. I don't know that he has busted through the line or to the edge for a long 30-40+ yd TD run at all. He's a very dependable and sturdy, every down back though.
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Minor misconception. Hurd's downside is he is so good that even when Dobbs makes the wrong read, Hurd still gets positive yards. If Dinns where to give it to him every time, he would get 8+ if it was the right read and only 2+ I it was the wrong read. Over use of Hurd takes away the balance an Offense needs. Both Dobbs and Hurd realize that only when a team knows he is getting the ball can they keep him from a first down or touchdown. If they have to play it straight, they will lose.

Jump higher Vols.

Go Vols!
 
#167
#167
MurphyVol said:
HoptownVol said:
Well you might expect that since he played twice as many games.[/QUO.

Compare each of their breakout seasons. I said nothing about total yardage or games played.

By reading the whole post, one might ascertain that the 7.3 ypc would be considered "good production"
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Yes, it was... especially compared to a redshirt freshman's only season. LOL
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#168
#168
Iam4utalways said:
Minor misconception. Hurd's downside is he is so good that even when Dobbs makes the wrong read, Hurd still gets positive yards. If Dinns where to give it to him every time, he would get 8+ if it was the right read and only 2+ I it was the wrong read. Over use of Hurd takes away the balance an Offense needs. Both Dobbs and Hurd realize that only when a team knows he is getting the ball can they keep him from a first down or touchdown. If they have to play it straight, they will lose.

Jump higher Vols.

Go Vols!
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Perhaps, but I doubt either of us are well-versed enough in Jones' offense to be able to definitively say when and how many times Dobbs has made the wrong read. And oftentimes, there is no read at all, it's just a straight give to Hurd. On the other hand, there's no doubt about whether or not Hurd has produced 40-50 yd td runs after 2 seasons and more than 450 carries.....he's yet to have a single one. He's a tough runner, a powerful runner, and outstanding SEC RB....but he just hasn't shown a lot of big play ability at this point.
 
#169
#169
KBVol said:
Perhaps, but I doubt either of us are well-versed enough in Jones' offense to be able to definitively say when and how many times Dobbs has made the wrong read. And oftentimes, there is no read at all, it's just a straight give to Hurd. On the other hand, there's no doubt about whether or not Hurd has produced 40-50 yd td runs after 2 seasons and more than 450 carries.....he's yet to have a single one. He's a tough runner, a powerful runner, and outstanding SEC RB....but he just hasn't shown a lot of big play ability at this point.
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I see your point, but I can only remember one time he was caught by a good angle that left me thinking about his open field speed. What stands out in my mind is his tackle breaking and move making would turn a loss into a gain of 10+ on a third and medium we get the first down or it would extent the drive resulting in points, or he would go in for the TD. The play may not have been the long run for TD but still a big play.

Seems all the quick hitting stuff, he would have DBs diving into his knees and ankles due to not being able to bring him down any other way. He would set them up for a move after trucking them or even a simple cut.

I guess what I saw a lot was him having to make a move or two within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage often behind the line resulting in defensive player that should have been a non factor in the play able to get involved due to the timing being being thrown off from lack of quality blocks.

Jump higher Vols.

Go Vols!
 
#170
#170
KBVol said:
Perhaps, but I doubt either of us are well-versed enough in Jones' offense to be able to definitively say when and how many times Dobbs has made the wrong read. And oftentimes, there is no read at all, it's just a straight give to Hurd. On the other hand, there's no doubt about whether or not Hurd has produced 40-50 yd td runs after 2 seasons and more than 450 carries.....he's yet to have a single one. He's a tough runner, a powerful runner, and outstanding SEC RB....but he just hasn't shown a lot of big play ability at this point.
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Agree, Hurd this is next level of development but in fairness, KB, Hurd has had some big plays / long runs of 35+ yards
 
#171
#171
KBVol said:
Garner was amazing and is often forgotten as this thread has shown. I think it's because he's seen as more of a third down or all purpose back. Just a guess. His numbers were great and he's the quickest UT RB I've ever seen....only slightly quicker than Webb though. And I think Webb ran with more power. Both were beyond outstanding and I can see why you might choose Garner.
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Imagine his NFL stats if the Eagles hadn't wasted the first 5 years of his career. He had 10,000 yards from scrimmage was was relegated to spot duty for a chunk of his NFL seasons.
 
#172
#172
It has to be Garner due to consistency. I due recall that every time I saw Jay Graham in the Orange & white he always made a big run.
 
#175
#175
If anybody doesn't recall how good Jay Graham was, turn on SEC network right now and watch him vs Georgia in 1995. Quick, sudden, ran with power and had sprinters speed.
 
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