How High Can DeAngelo and J-Stew Climb Among the Most Productive Pairs of NFL RB Teammates Ever?
by MichaelProcton on Dec 30, 2009 11:41 AM EST
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In DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, we all know we have a pair of the best backs in the league. However, they could cement their '09 performance as one of the more dominant single-season compilations by any pair the NFL has ever seen. Below, you'll find the current standings.
EDIT: This list has been updated through the end of the 2009 Regular Season.
(key- *=two backs with 500+ yards, **=two backs with 750+yards, ***=two backs with 1000+ yards.
1. 1975-O.J. Simpson/Jim Braxton (BUF)-2640**
2. 1973-Simpson/Braxton (BUF)-2497
3. 1984-Eric Dickerson/Dwayne Crutchfield (LA)-2442
4. 1963-Jim Brown/Ernie Green (CLE)-2389*
5. 2008-Williams/Stewart (CAR)-2351**
6. 2003-Jamal Lewis/Chester Taylor (BAL)-2342
7. 2006-LaDanian Tomlinson/Darren Sproles (SD)-2317*
8. 1977-Walter Payton/Roland Harper (CHI)-2309
9. 2003-Ahman Green/Najeh Davenport (GB)-2303
10. 1980-Earl Campbell/Rob Carpenter (HOU)-2293
11. 1986-Dickerson/Barry Redden (LA)-2288
12. 2009-Chris Johnson/Vince Young (TEN)-228
13. 1981-Tony Dorsett/Ron Springs (DAL)-2271*
14. 2009-Williams/Stewart (CAR)-2250***
15. 1997-Barry Sanders/Ron Rivers (DET)-2219
16. 2005-Larry Johnson/Priest Holmes (KC)-2201
17. 2008-Michael Turner/Jerious Norwood (ATL)-2188
18. 1983-Dickerson/Redden (LA)-2180
19. 2006-Warrick Dunn/Michael Vick (ATL)-2179***+* (The third-place rusher on this team, Jerious Norwood, also had 633 rushing yards)
20. 2004-Curtis Martin/LaMont Jordan (NYJ)-2176
21. 1998-Terrell Davis/Derek Loville (DEN)-2169
22. 2005-Shaun Alexander/Maurice Morris (SEA)-2168
23. 1976-Franco Harris/Rocky Bleier (PIT)-2164***
24. 2008-Adrian Peterson/Chester Taylor (MIN)-2159
25. 1997-Jerome Bettis/Kordell Stewart (PIT)-2141
Also, the other 1000+ yard duos, who don't make this top 25:
1972-Larry Csonka/Mercury Morris (MIA)-2117
2008-Brandon Jacobs/Derrick Ward (NYG)-2114
1985-Earnest Byer/Kevin Mack (CLE)-2106
Pretty impressive to note how few of these super "duos" had the backup even hit the 500-yard mark. Among the top 50 single-season rushers, I actually saw more than a few teams that didn't even have a single other player crack 100 yards. That goes to say something about the durability of those lead backs, but having the depth is never something to take for granted (even if I think the Panthers should definitely consider any good trade offers they get for either of their backs before one of them is priced out of Charlotte.) So how high do you think they can climb? Do you think Williams will have any chance of playing this week in a totally meaningless game? Can they catch and pass the Titans duo with Chris Johnson gunning for the single-season rushing record? As noted elsewhere, they'll become the top 1000+ yard duo with just 57 yards between them, and with 125 yards, they can get to 2250 and at least 14th on the list (depending on Johnson and Young.)
P.S.: Apologies in advance if I missed any duos. Let me know if you find one, and I'll update the list.
EDIT: P.P.S.: It's interesting to me that in a league many claim is "dominated by passing," 12 of these top 25 entries--which date as far back as 1963--have happened in the last six NFL seasons, five in the last two seasons alone.
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Nice info!
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Dec 30, 2009 12:25 PM EST reply actions
Great post -- very informative
It’s worth noting that Jim Brown/Ernie Green (#4 on your list) did it when the season was only 14 games. At that average, had they played 16, their total would have been #1, at 2730 total.
I may be the only reader here who actually saw Brown play — he was a man among boys.
Great post MP
I would love to see Stewart have another 200 yard game and put Double Trouble into 7th!
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
Great post..
And you sometimes wonder why we get upset over your nit picking… Because we know you’re more than capable of proving something with your own posts.
Instead of scanning this post and looking for the slightest inconsistency, I’m much more inclined to say great job and appreciate the effort you put forth in researching those numbers to inform us fellow Panther fans of just where we stand.
I’m going to Rec this being I think it’s important Panther fans know how much stake lies in our game against the Saints, outside of the rather disappointing season. We aren’t going to the SB but we are putting our names in history elsewhere.
Helpful reminder for James at seasons end: 2nd Rnd CSR Fan Draft Pick.
Tell you what -- I'll Rec it, too
However, the related thread “Double Trouble could make history” needs another one, too.
Let’s hope for our boys to make some history, but more importantly, to get through the game injury-free. Here’s to next year! Go Panthers!
Indeed it does.
I’ve rec’d it but it has sadly fallen off of the blog list now.. Hopefully someone will read this and decide to also go rec it.. I know a lot of times the thought slips the mind when caught up in the midst of comments lol.
Helpful reminder for James at seasons end: 2nd Rnd CSR Fan Draft Pick.
meaningless?
In the overall scheme of things, it is meaningless. but i wonder about some individuals. maybe d-will has been invited to read CSR by Chris Harris, and sees the calls for making Stew #1, and maybe even trading him. If he plays, I think he goes berzerk all over the Saints. He is very competitive. And in every RB combo, the guy who gets more carries always says they’ll do what’s best for the team as long as we win. But when that #1 spot is threatened, well, we’ll see what happens. Also, Moore knows he hasn’t secured a Romo/Cassell contract yet. He needs a whole season to do that. But he knows he needs another good game just to ensure 2010 starts with an open QB competition. Lastly, Fox has been informed he’s not getting fired. I think in a show of good faith, he wants this win badly. For the rest of the guys, like Jarrett, who knows, maybe they won’t show up. Either way, we have 2 first round RBs and they’re ready to make it happen. I really hope D-will plays and breaks Stew’s 1-week old record.
Oh yeah!
I want D-Will to get that record bad, show why he’s 1a on the depth chart.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Dec 31, 2009 2:36 AM EST up reply actions
Really?
I honestly feel like Stewart earned that record. Williams has had a ton of chances and yet hasn’t broken 200 yards. It’s nothing against him (being I think he’s one of the greatest backs in the NFL) but Stewart managed to do something very few have against any half decent defense. The Williams Wall was supposed to be top of the line and Stewart destroyed it when Williams went down.. Then he started against what was supposed to be a very stout run D and completely shamed them.
Helpful reminder for James at seasons end: 2nd Rnd CSR Fan Draft Pick.
If Williams isn't screwed out of some carries early in the year
maybe he gets the record? I do think that Williams is the better back, and that record isn’t a reflection of that. People talk about Stew’s ability to take over a game, well Williams has the same ability. Stewart just was the last one to do it.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Jan 1, 2010 5:08 AM EST up reply actions
Stewart, 28 attempts against the Giants, 206 yards. Those are the most carries of his career and the most yards, while posting a 7.4 ypc average.
Williams, 30 attempts against the Bucs, 152 yards. Most carries of his career, averaging 5.1ypc.
I’m not trying to make a point with the above but offering comparison. In my mind, it should have been much easier to run on the Bucs than the Giants. Had the roles been reversed against Tampa, Stewart was on pace for 195 yards. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely believe Williams has it in him but it’s not like he hasn’t had the chance, he just hasn’t done it yet. So it’s a bit disappointing to see fans discredit Stewart’s accomplishments just because Williams hasn’t yet done it, when I’m sure Williams was probably as excited for him as anyone was. Now Williams has a reason to go out their and play hard next season, to break that record. Then Stewart can try and break it again, and it goes on and on, getting us very positive results.
While Williams may have been ‘screwed’, Stewart has only had two games in his career as the starter. He continually gets the lesser carries, as we know. If both backs received equal carries every game, there’s no telling who would own the record right now. I bet both would have performances above the 200 mark.
Helpful reminder for James at seasons end: 2nd Rnd CSR Fan Draft Pick.
Good point, I'll just sit back and enjoy both without worrying like I should.
I’m a big Williams fan, so all this trade talk has hurt. ; )
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Jan 2, 2010 5:46 AM EST up reply actions
dogging j-stew
d-will is one of my favorite players, and i think he’s better than j-stew. but i’m not dogging j-stew’s performance at all. i mean, really, how many backs this year have gone for 200 yards, or even in the last five yards? one performance does not mean a back is great, but you can’t take away from the great performance. i say that because jerome harrison ran for 286 in one game, but he’d never beat out d-will or stew in carolina. i think we do have 2 of the best backs in the league, and, when healthy, two of the best tackles, and the best wr and the best de. 2010 is our year to win it all, and i think the panthers really need to find a way to keep both for at least the next five years. that’s when d-will turns 30.
by usana_gaines on Jan 3, 2010 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
Looks as though ya'll are looking for something to justify your season.
Good luck today………………..Ya’ll should pull this one out playing against the equivilant of a high school team. BUT I ask………What if we win??Hows that gonna make you feel ?
garbage
this comment is actually insulting to the saints. i mean, are you saying that no starters are gonna play? i think if we abuse the starters on your o-line, you’ll have an excuse. if we abuse your starters on the d-line, you’ll have another excuse. i’ve never heard of a pre-emptive excuse on someone else’s blog.
by usana_gaines on Jan 3, 2010 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
Brunell ha been around a long time
What if he gets hot when you least suspect it. I call that shock and awe !!!
With a total of 2250..
That puts us at 13th now, right? Two spots in the top 15, awesome.
Helpful reminder for James at seasons end: 2nd Rnd CSR Fan Draft Pick.
"and with 125 yards, they can get to 2250 and at least 14th on the list."
LOL. Yeah me!
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
Good call
Don’t let it get to your head. ; )
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Jan 4, 2010 3:06 AM EST up reply actions
I think Double Trouble gets one more crack at it this season.
That statement operates under the assumption that John Fox is our coach next year. If he decides to take an offer elsewhere, I think the new coach comes in and tries to get some nice high draft picks for either of the two.
If it’s Bill Cowher… I think DeAngelo gets shipped. Because after the way he spoke about him on Sunday, he may have offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to him.
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