Before the season, I wrote an article describing Darren Sproles as the most underrated running back in the NFL. However, he's now beyond simply underrated. Sproles showed his talents on Sunday against the Broncos, gaining 317 all purpose yards and collecting two touchdowns.
Sproles is such a talented player and I think that he could be one of the best running backs in the NFL. Maybe the Chargers should think about using him as much as LaDainian Tomlinson?
Tomlinson didn't seem to be as dominant last year as he was during his MVP 2006 season. The offensive line hadn't changed much, yet LT's numbers dropped quite a bit.
Then in the playoffs, Tomlinson, who is rarely ever injured, got hurt. And yet without him the Chargers didn't seem to miss a beat, as they defeated the Colts and advanced to the AFC championship game.
LT's injury problems have continued this year. On Sunday against the Broncos, he was bothered by a toe injury and wasn't much of a factor, with only 10 carries for 26 yards.
Sproles on the other hand had seven carries for 53 yards, two receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown, and a 103 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
I'm not saying that LT isn't a great back anymore. I just don't think he's the MVP caliber player he once was. I think that Sproles' time has come and he is destined for greatness.
He is the quickest player I've ever seen besides Barry Sanders, and he is freakishly strong for his 5'6" frame.
It might seem as though I am overreacting to this past game. However, it's not just about this game. Every time I've seen him play, he's wowed me. Why do you think I wrote that article earlier this year?
The Chargers don't seem to have as good a defense as last year and they need to start using Sproles more this year if they want to have a chance at winning the Super Bowl.
Here are some of Sproles' highlights:
2007 Week 15 regular-season game against the Lions.
2008 Preseason Week Three against the Seahawks.
2008 Week Two regular-season game against the Broncos
60 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Inglis 9 months ago
Sproles is a good player but part of that is because he is the backup. When a player only carries the ball 5 or 6 times a game the defense doesn't zone in him. They aren't looking for him to get the ball. Also, Sproles is only 5-6 tall, can you name me a few backs who were great at that size?
LT is still better than Sproles and will still get at least 1100 yds this season which is a bad year for him. That should tell you how good he is.
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ed letman 9 months ago
Interesting article. I agree. If Sproles was given more playing time I bet he would be one of the best in the league.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Sproles actually bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times at the NFL combine, which was more than his fellow draftee, Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman, did at the combine. He is extremly strong so why should his size matters.
Sproles was not used as just a backup who came in on third downs. In fact he played as the main back in a few key drives because LT wasn't performing. If you watched the game, you would have seen that.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
Sproles was the main back during the end of the game because LT was hurt. That's the only reason.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
Also, strength rarely dictates success. Former Steelers running back Amos Zereoue was known for being one of the strongest running backs in the league, benching upwards of 400 lbs., but he was never good enough to be a starter at any point in his career, even getting beaten out by TYRONE WHEATLEY in Oakland.
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
Ari, don't tell me how much a guy benches to try a justify him being a a good player. That has nothing to do with football. It's like saying someone's 40 time makes them good or bad.
Again, can you name a few backs at his size who have had good careers at the featured back. And today he only had 7 carries so my piont is made. Defenses aren't preparing for him, that's huge.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
Sproles may be a serviceable back for an NFL team one day, but to compare him to LT is ridiculous. LT is one of the top 10 running backs in NFL history and Sproles is a nice, shifty, change-of-pace back who spells LT very well. He could potentially be a Reggie Bush-type player, but that's probably as high as his ceiling goes.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
He was the leading rusher last year because the Chargers have arguably the best offense in the league. The only team that might have a better rushing offensive line is the Vikings, but their quarterbacks is so bad, teams put 8 or 9 in the box. The Chargers offense is a running back paradise.
Did you know that LT had 2 100 yard rushing games in his first 12 games last season?
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
The Chargers have arguably the best offense in the league BECAUSE of LT. Think about it. Aside from LT the only other offensive weapon the Chargers had last season was Antonio Gates. They have Philip Rivers and a slew of mediocre receivers. You think teams stack 8 in the box against the Vikings? They do the same against the Chargers because their passing offense isn't very good. Yes, it's better then the Vikings, but it still wasn't very good last season. The reason they have success is because of LT. Maybe he only has 2 100-yard games through 12 last season, but he still scored 10 TDs in those games. AND he finished with four 100-yard games through his final five games.
When did the Chargers start to get good last year? Towards the end of the season. The same time LT started producing. Interesting...
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
When Michael Turner spelled LT in past years he did very well. I don't think LT is the reason why? Plus Chambers is a great reciever.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Ya well if he is as good as you say he is it shouldn't have taken him till week 13 to start producing.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
Chris Chambers is a great receiver? WOW! So his ONE CAREER 1,000 yard season and the FOUR TOUCHDOWNS he scored last season makes him great? Yes, Chambers is a pretty good NFL-caliber receiver. But great is a stretch.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
He didn't take until week 13 to start producing. As I said before, he still scored 10 rushing TDs through the first 12 games last season. And getting in the end zone is what it's all about in the end, isn't it?
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Michael, your the one being a hypocrite now. Your the one who brought up his height. But now I cna't bring up his strength. Don't bring up his height next time. Let's only focus on his field production!!
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
LT now isn't as good as LT a couple years ago. He's 29 years old and has had a lot of carries in his career.
Why does Sproles have to be just a change of pace back? What proof does somebody have? Whenever Sproles has gotten 10 plus carries, he has had great games.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
Ok, it's completely possible that Sproles could be great, if that's what you're arguing. ANYTHING is possible. It's also possible that Matt Cassel is better then Tom Brady. But it's not going to happen. LT struggled in the first half against Denver with an injured foot, however, a healthy LT is still the BEST running back in football. EVEN at the age of 29. True, he isn't as good as he was 2 or 3 years ago, but still, LT a few notches below his best is better than anyone else. Do you forget that just last season he was still the rushing leader in the NFL? And now after 2 games you're ready to demote him because his backup has had a few good games in place of him? That makes no sense.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Ya and he played better than LT
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Don't compare Amos Zereoue to Sproles. Zereoue would have trouble producing one highlight even close to as good as Sproles' best highlights.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
As soon as Darren Sproles gets an opportunity to start every week for an NFL team and becomes better then LT, this will be a moot argument. And it will always be a moot argument because that will never happen.
The reason? Because there are dozens of highly-paid NFL scouts and coaches who have determined that Sproles is not good enough to be a starter in the NFL. At least not at the moment. I think I'm going to go ahead and assume that these guys who have been doing their jobs for a long time know more then to assume Sproles' greatness due to a few good games and highlight-reel plays. There's a reason he's not getting an opportunity.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Ya the same scouts who thought Warner and Brady weren't good enough to be starters.
It doesn't work that way. Do you how many undrafted or late drafted players like Colston become great.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
Yes, every now and then there is a "diamond in the rough" that comes out of nowhere to be incredibly successful. But For every Warner, Brady, and Colston, there's HUNDREDS of nobody's who never make it.
This argument is still incredibly silly. You want to demote the NFL's leading rusher and top scoring threat in the NFL for a guy who has played decent in a few select appearances. Say what you want, but if my team has a game to win and I have one guy to play running back in that game, I'm taking LT. You can have Sproles.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Ya well every time I've seen Sproles play he has looked like a diamond in the rough.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
He only played started 7 games last year for the Chargers and in those games he got his 4 touchdowns. He has played for some horrible dolphins teams and that is why his statistics aren't very good. In 2005 he had 1100 yards and 11 touchdowns. He just now has started creating good chemistry with Rivers.
This year he already has three touchdowns. Chambers is a great receiver.
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Samuel Bell Jr 9 months ago
Sproles is nowhere near LT dude. LT has been the most consistent back in the NFL for many years now. Sproles is good, but not an every down feature back. He's deceptively fast, and does most of his damage on screen plays with that big O-line in front of him. He's like a more experienced Reggie Bush. Just as Atlanta will see with Turner, LT is in a class of his own, period. This article is kind of discrediting him a little.
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
Are you really trying to sit hear and say LT had a bad year last year. You just lost all credibilty.
The man lead the NFL is rushing yards last season and you don't do that by only having a good 4 week stetch. Sugar coat it anyway you want but LT is the man and sproles is a nice backup.
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
Quentin Griffen is a good example. He exploded onto the scence in Denver when Clinton Portis was hurt and when he got the full time job he sucked. He fumbled the ball to much and only averaged 3.7 yds a carry. Now he is out of football. There is a big difference between being the backup who gets a few carries and the starter who everyone on the defense knows about and gets 25 carries.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
By the way Griffin didn't explode on the scene as a back-up who got a few carries.
He actually sucked as a back-up
He had a 28 carries for 136 yards the year before he became the starter. The next season he had 23 attempts for 156 yards in his first game. But the next few games he sucked.
Horrible example.
Griffin made his career by having one great game the year before, plus shanahan just loves trying different running backs out.
Bad example
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
I meant to say he had 28 carries for 136 yards in one game. And that's how he caught Shanahans eye.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
He did have a great year last year. But one of the main reasons was his offensive line. He didn't have the 1800 yard 30 plus touchdown season he had the year before even though his team was virtually the same.
LT was not as dominant last year. But If you read my article I never said LT isn't still a great back. I just think Sproles is younger and can also be a great back. You noticed I said they should split carries.
Answer this question. Do you think Michael Turner would have the same stats as LT last year. The answer should be yes.
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
I think 28 carries for 136 yards counts as exploding onto the scence.
Darren Sproles is not Michael Turner. That is a bad example. Turner is 5-10, 244 lbs, so he can handle more of a load then sproles. Plus Turner is just better than sproles. That's why Sproles was thrid string. Turner and sproles and two completly different players and just because Turner could produce like LT doesn't mean Sproles could.
I'm telling you if teams we're game planning for sproles he wouldn't be as near as productive. They don't care about Sproles because of that future hall of famer, LT.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
We weren't talking about sproles just now. Everybody keeps changing the subject. You were talking about me saying that LT wasn't that great last year. That's why I brought up Turner. It had nothing to do with Sproles.
And About griffin. You said in another comment "There is a big difference between being the backup who gets a few carries and the starter who everyone on the defense knows about and gets 25 carries."
Because Griffin did do well with the large amount of carries.
The reason Griffin wasn't as succesfull is because in the twogames he got a lot of carries and played well he played against two horrible rushing defenses in Kansas City and Indianapolis.
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David Wunderlich 9 months ago
He was a beast at K-State, rushing for over 1900 yards his senior season back in the times when there actually was defense played in the Big 12.
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Andy Michaels 9 months ago
To start with I really like your article and appreciate a different point of view. LT is one of the greatest running backs in NFL history and argubably the best of the 2000s. We must also keep in mind that he ran behind dominant offensive lines and was utilized under a Norv Turner/Cam Cameron offensive scheme which centers on the running back position. This isn't to discredit any of his performances but rather to say that he was in the right place at the right time.
As it stands right now LT is clearly on the downswing of his career. Last year's stats were right up there with previous seasons but the torn MCL which kept him out of the Pats playoff game is the beginning of his demise. He didn't require surgery but was limited in camps, preseason and now has what could be another serious issue with his toe. It's all about who is HEALTHY because Tomlinson is definitely hurting right now.
As for Sproles, his performance today was electrifying. With a chance to start for the Chargers he could be an elite back in the NFL. Yes, more of the playcalls for him will be screen passes and runs to the outside but the guy can clearly run between the tackles as well. Small running backs (for the sake of argument small can be used to describe a height and weight combo unlike traditional bruising backs that carried the ball 300 times a year) are being utlized in much more creative ways. Westbrook, MJD, Bush and some of the newer names like Chris Johnson, Ray Rice and Sproles have big play ability but aren't expected to line up in the backfield and smash into a defensive line on every play.
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Andy Michaels 9 months ago
Also if the title of the article is asking if Sproles could be better than LT THIS year, than the answer is he definitely could be. He is healthier and hasn't had the workload of 300+carries, 50+receptions over the last 7 years. If the title is stating whether Sproles will a better overall back careerwise than I would have to say absolutely not. Its hard to compare to the best back of this decade.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Andy, you are exactly correct in everything you said. And yes the point of this article is that he could be better this year, not career wise.
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Jimmy Grappone 9 months ago
No way is Sproles a better player than LT. He wouldn't have started over Tiki (recent back most comparable to LT and successor to Marshall Faulk as best all-around back for a year or 2) in NY a couple years ago and he wouldn't start over Michael Turner in Atlanta. Granted he's as shifty and quick as any player in the league, but pound for pound and toe to toe (no pun intended), LT is a much better all-around back. LT runs, he blocks, he catches...he does it all.
I'm a Broncos fan and I'd rather face LT than DS any day.
ps - Barry Sanders is the best pure runner of all time. Gale Sayers is up there, too.
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Jimmy Grappone 9 months ago
On the current Chargers roster, Darren Sproles is B.J. Armstrong to LT's MJ. The guy goes by his initials - that's the American football equivalent of the Brazilian all-world soccer players going by a single name. Ain't nobody hollerin' "DS!" at Qualcomm unless they're talkin about those salty nuts they sell at the concession stand. Wait, which ones? Yep, that's right.
To continue the Chargers/Bulls metaphor, Gates is obviously Pippen, Chris Chambers is Toni Kukoc and I guess Rivers is Horace Grant. If only Dennis Rodman (Shawne Merriman) were healthy, the Chargers might have a shot!
Championships: Bulls 6, Chargers 0
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Steven Resnick 9 months ago
Sproles would never be a featured back in the NFL. It doesn't matter about his strength. What matters is his size. What makes him effectice on kickoffs and when he spells LT is that he's so short he just hides behind the offensive line. What is the worry for Sproles is that if he takes one big hit, he's done for. He's nowhere near the talent and the caliber of LT. He's found his niche backing up LT.
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daniel cox 9 months ago
ari, appreciate the article. it spawned a lot of discussion, and isn't that the point?
i think saying sproles is better than lt is a stretch, but i think you said that more to catch eyes.
i think for the sake of comparing the two, the punt/kick returns for sproles should be removed from the equation. sproles is an elite returner, lt doesn't perform that job at all.
sproles is small, as you mention and i don't he'd be durable enough to be a feature back in the nfl. and when teams gameplan for him as the feature back, i think we'd see a slightly different story, which is one of the main arguments behind the elite-ness of lt. he IS gameplanned against every sunday, and he stll performs.
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
Ari,
What happened when Griffen became the go to guy? He sucked. He had some good games as the BACKUP but when portis left he sucked because defenses zoned in on him. Same with sproles.
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
"Michael, your the one being a hypocrite now. Your the one who brought up his height. But now I cna't bring up his strength. Don't bring up his height next time. Let's only focus on his field production!!"
First off, I'm reffering to Sproles size which is 5-6, 181 lbs. Last time I checked a players size is a significant factor in the game of football. There is a reason there aren't very many small people in the NFL, and it's because physically their bodies couldn't handle it.
You mentioned his bench press ability which has little to do with how good a player is. There are people out there who are 150 lbs who can bench just as well if not more than Sproles. But that doesn't make them good football players. It's not so much how strong you are, it's how big you are.
Nice try though.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
"LT is a much better all-around back. LT runs, he blocks, he catches...he does it all."
Sproles is a great reciever, arguably better than LT. check out his highlights also if you can't think he can't think he can block.
Any time Sproles has gotten a good amount of carries he has dominated.
There's only one way to find out if he can be a feature back.
We probably one find that our, but one day we will.
I guarantee you this guy proves all of you wrong
He has been under-estimated because of his size his entire career since high school.
Well His size didn't seem to matter on sunday.
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Austin Penny 9 months ago
I don't think it's LT that makes these guys that much better, San Diego just happened to come across three gems in the backfield.
If Darren Sproles had gone to a team in need of a starting running back when he was drafted, we'd be talking about him every Sunday just like we do the premier leagues in the back because that's where he'd be.
The kid was a beast coming out of Kansas State and he just so happened to get drafted to sit behind LaDanian Tomlinson.
Sproles will be the next Michael Turner; a guy who comes from behind LT to start somewhere else.
Good thought-provoking article Ari.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
No Michael that's what happens when you play a good running defense like the Buccaneers and have a average offensive line. Unlike the Chargers who have a great one.
230 yards against the lions the week before is no small task. The majority of running backs will not get 230 yards against the Lions this year if any.
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
LT is a proven hall of fame back.
Michael Turner is not a proven starting back.
That's the facts.
Have you watched the NFL the past couple of years? The Lions are a joke.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
So LT is only good because he has a great offensive line and the Sproles will be better then him because of the highlights and stats you've seen of him thus far? But every highlight you've seen Sproles reel off has been behind that same offensive line. And Michael Turner was only good in San Diego because of his offensive line and now he has an average offensive line and plays a good run defense so he's going to struggle?
It sounds to me like the only point you're trying to make is that the offensive line makes the running back, and that no running back can succeed without a good offensive line.
So what about in 2003 when the Chargers went 4-12 and LT had over 1,600 yards and 13 TDs while running behind the likes of Phil Bogle and Courtney Van Buren, both of whom haven't started for another NFL team SINCE that season. That offensive line was garbage and that team was garbage. But LT still got his. Why? Because he's the best damn running back in the NFL. I'd be interested to see how Sproles would do behind that.
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RedSox Maniac 9 months ago
You have to take into account, that Sproles had made very good moves against a defense that wasn't set for him to have a short pass in the open field. All the linebackers were spread out waiting for a 10-yard pass and he made them pay by tearing up the secondary and linebackers one-by-one.
Not beating up on Sproles, but they ( the coordinators ) will take a look at the film and find the weaknesses of the lines used for Sproles' play-making abilities. It is why LT is better consistently; he can produce yards on multiple types of plays, and those plays shield the defense from what the offense would be doing on the running game. Sproles' size in itself is an impediment for plays such off-tackle and gap runs.
Not knocking him; his talent will show when he plays well against teams that will actually prepare for his presence on the field. Just like Cassell of the Patriots, they're going to start exploiting any weaknesses they see on the video and scouting reports, and from there, it is the ability to adjust and utilize talents to score, that will make or break them.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
I agree 100-percent with you.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Hey Collin!!!!!!!!! You are putting words in my mouth. I didn't say he is only good because of his offensive line. but you have to take that into account. You put LT on the Chiefs, he won't do anything just like larry johson. Lt two years ago was reciculus but last year he wasn't as dominant.
THis article doesn't say LT isn't a great back, it just says so is sproles and he should get as many carries as LT. By the way if you've seen him run through the tackles, he is very good at. Don't tell me that the team wasn't prepared for that long run and catch by sproles. He caught a simple pass but was so fast he split those two defenders. No way LT would have taken it the distance.
And no I never said Michael Turner was only good in SDiego, but I guarantee you Turner would have had more yards last year if he was the starter than he is going to have this year starting for the falcons.
Have you even read anything I've said?!?
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Michael, how much you want to bet, that no one else this year runs for 230 on the Lions this year. How many 200 yard games do you think there are in a season for all running backs. Not many.
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
You're boring me.
AD had two by himself last year.
Let me know when Turner has 200 yards and a 10.0 ypc against a good defense.
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
He didn't put words in your mouth. You very clearly implied that he's good because of his offensive line. You need to wake up
This whole article is based off on one game in which he only had SEVEN carries. You provide no facts other than ONE game. This is a joke. The man hasn't even had 60 career carries and you sitting here saying an undrafted, undersized player is better than LT. Give me a break, this article is a joke.
Next week when a backup has a good game write an article on how good he would be as the starter too.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
He is good because of his offensive line. But he also is a really talented back.
Priest holmes was good because of his offensive line. But he was also a really talented back.
Did you read my other article?
The only reason I didn't give other facts was because it's in my other article.
Read that and then come talk to me!!!!!!!!!
Did you see the highlights of his 100 yard last year and his 100 yard game in the preseason this year.
It's not jsut about this game like I said in my article
You're obviously blind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AD had two last year, well that's a lot. hahahahaha
that's a small amount your proving my point
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Michael Inglis 9 months ago
Are we really resorting to preseason stats? This article joke status continues.
60 carries, say it with me 60 carries. Come on you can do it. That's all sproles has and you say he's better than LT.
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Getting over 1oo yards on around 13 carries against mainly starters isn't a joke, even if it's apreseason game.
I seriously doubt you even clicked highlights at the bottom of my article.
Also getting 122 rushing yard and two touchdowns on 25 attempts last year in an NFL game is no joke either.
It's not my fault the man hasn't gotten enough carries. But I've seen him do things that I haven't seen any one do before.
This is my last comment.
You could doubt him all you want, but it the end people like you are just going to motivate him to be great.
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Collin Whitchurch 9 months ago
You're claiming to know that Sproles will be a dominant back because of a few select games (preseason, regular season, whatever), but these coaches and scouts who make personnel decisions are seeing the same thing you are and they still believe that Sproles isn't good enough to warrant more carries. Do you really believe that you're smarter than these guys that you see talent in Sproles that they don't?
Plenty of guys who aren't very talented have had wonderful games when given small opportunities, but when they are given the full-time job they flop. I think that the coaching staff of the San Diego Chargers has a pretty good idea of what they have in Sproles (they've been seeing him play for FOUR YEARS), and they're seeing him FAR MORE then you have. Yet, they still have him as a backup, and he was even third-string last year. These guys aren't idiots. They wouldn't just bury Sproles behind LT if there wasn't a very good reason.
Sure, you can use the likes of Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, or Marques Colston to try to come back against my argument, but the point is, that's VERY, VERY RARE in the NFL. Sure, there's a chance that Sproles is an out-of-nowhere superstar like those guys, but the chances are VERY, VERY MINIMAL.
You've seen a few games and some highlights of Sproles' 60 CAREER CARRIES and are ready to anoint him as the next great back in the NFL. The Chargers' coaching staff has seen Sproles' 60 CAREER CARRIES, as well as EVERY SINGLE TIME HE'S TOUCHED THE BALL IN PRACTICE, PRESEASON, OTA'S, AND THE REGULAR SEASON, and clearly don't think he's good enough to get as many carries as LT. Who has more credibility? These coaches, or Ari?
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Ari Horing 9 months ago
Well all the experts on TV seem to be talking about how good he is, and all of the fantasy football experts are saying he is a must add on every web site.
It's not all about whose good enough. It doesn't work that way.
Kerry Collins has a much better chance of succeeding with the Titans this year but VInce Young still started the season after his aweful year last year. Luckily for them he got hurt.
The NFL is about who are superstars, whose getting paid, and how high they were drafted.
So many backups who were expected to be nothing became great backs or good one depending on your opinion.
Priest Holmes, Brian Westbrooke, Marion Barber, Ryan Grant, Terrel Davis, Willie Parker, Michael Turner, Frank Gore., Earnest Graham, Stephen Davis, and thats just some of them.
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Raider Red 9 months ago
Collin, you're full of shit on the talent argument. Sproles is on the same level as Reggie Bush and Barry Sanders when it comes to lateral movement. He makes people look silly ALL THE TIME. Go search him on YouTube and look at what he did to some NFL-caliber Oklahoma defenders. He frickin' embarrassed them. If it was just purely about talent, I can guarantee you those "scouts" you're talking so much about are blown away by him. But then they see his height. That is the ONLY reason he's not getting a chance to prove himself. You want to know about another small player who didn't get much of a chance his first few years in the league? Wes Welker. And then the Patriots gave him a chance to be a starting WR for them and he's one of the best in the league now.
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Raider Red 9 months ago
And don't get me wrong. LT is massively talented. He has great speed, quickness, and plenty of size. But I firmly believe Sproles is more talented than Michael Turner. Size discrimination is the one thing holding him back. If it was just a question of speed and skills, Sproles is one of the best in the league. He's a far better blocker than the likes of Reggie Bush for instance. Bush is so caught up in his own hype he's never actually developed any kind of strength to be an effective blocker. Sproles has always been a very humble guy because he's ALWAYS been told, even in high school, that he wasn't any good because of his size. He's been proving people wrong his whole life through hard work and God-given talent that is practically unmatched even at the highest level (his lateral movement is ridiculous...stunning ability to stop and start).
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Andy Michaels 9 months ago
When given the opportunity in big games this guy shines. See the Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma as well as the regular season and playoff games vs. the Colts last year.
Sure he is going to be bottled up behind the line a lot, so did the best undersized running back ever - Barry Sanders. He is also going to hit the home run a lot as well. LT will be gimpy for most of the season so it only makes sense that Sproles starts.
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