Pre Draft Data Dump Running Backs

[The Gipper]

Some say that the Browns should even consider taking Ezekiel Elliot with the #2 pick. I doubt that is going to happen. But, lets say they would consider trading down to #4 or 5...and getting him there. Vastly remote......but lets look at the RBs since 1970 who have been taken with the Top 5 picks of the draft:

1201213Trent RichardsonRB22CLE201220140031746376142032171139122AlabamaCollege Stats

2200814Darren McFaddenRB21OAK20082015004399973127753362825120975ArkansasCollege Stats

3200612Reggie BushRB21NOR2006201500860121961274549335470350818USCCollege Stats

4200512Ronnie BrownRB23MIA200520140154113274128153913824619662AuburnCollege Stats

5200514Cedric BensonRB22CHI2005201200534967116006017321208331TexasCollege Stats

6200515Cadillac WilliamsRB23TAM20052011004268158105540382114810024AuburnCollege Stats

7200115LaDainian TomlinsonRB22SDG200120113510128170155317413684145624477217TCUCollege

8200015Jamal LewisRB21BAL20002009119711311262542106075822118794TennesseeCollege Stats

9199914Edgerrin JamesRB21IND1999200914811414813530281224680433336411Miami (FL)College Stats

10199915Ricky WilliamsRB22NOR1999201111576147832431100096634226068TexasCollege Stats

11199815Curtis EnisRB22CHI1998200000110361845614974594282Penn St.College Stats

12199511Ki-Jana CarterRB21CIN19962004000125914319114420664691Penn St.College Stats

13199412Marshall Faulk HOFRB21IND199420053711133176156283612279100767687536San Diego St.College Stats

14199313Garrison HearstRB22PHO1993200402771126105183179663022920659GeorgiaCollege Stats

15199012Blair ThomasRB22NYJ1990199500320643653322367715132Penn St.College Stats

16198913Barry Sanders HOFRB21DET198919986101012015315130621526999352292110Oklahoma St.College Stats

17198713Alonzo HighsmithRB22HOU1987199200212654228311957424283Miami (FL)College Stats

18198714Brent FullwoodRB23GNB19871990012134630433170218443701AuburnCollege Stats

19198611Bo JacksonRB23TAM19871990013223823515278216403522AuburnCollege Stats

20198312Eric Dickerson HOFRB23RAM198319935610911461362996132599028121376SMUCollege Stats

21198313Curt WarnerRB22SEA198319900366010094169868445619314677Penn St.College Stats

22198111George RogersRB22NOR198119871264692781692717654553680South CarolinaCollege Stats

23198113Freeman McNeilRB22NYJ1981199213878144971798807438295296112UCLACollege Stats

24198011Billy SimsRB24DET19801984035586058113151064218620725OklahomaCollege Stats

25198015Curtis DickeyRB23BAL1980198600538856193740193213415778Texas A&MCollege Stats

26197811Earl Campbell HOFRB23HOU197819853576811510221879407741218060TexasCollege Stats

27197815Terry MillerRB22BUF1978198100216483239115838353820Oklahoma St.College Stats

28197711Ricky BellRB22TAM19771982004246450822306316978423USCCollege Stats

29197712Tony Dorsett HOFRB23DAL19771988141110817315229361273977398355413PittsburghCollege

30197613Chuck MuncieRB23NOR197619840377211092156167027126323233CaliforniaCollege Stats

31197614Joe WashingtonRB22SDG1977198501457119531195483912395341318OklahomaCollege Stats

32197514Walter Payton HOFRB21CHI197519875913128190184383816726110492453815Jackson St.

33197412Bo MatthewsRB22SDG197419810031310139424156611754880ColoradoCollege Stats

The ones in Red I think were pretty much busts. The ones in Green were borderline.

[gftChris]

Gip, if you're feeling like you have the time, I'd be interested to see a breakdown of the players elected to the pro-bowl, by position, and what round the were drafted in (if at all). Say, over the last ten years, 60-70 pro-bowl quarterbacks (lots of repeats probably), and how many were in the top 5 picks, top 20, top 50, whatever.

If not, don't worry, I *may* get around to it myself.

[The Gipper]

Note the devaluation in the RB position: In the last 10 years only two RBs have been taken Top 5.....one a complete bust, the other borderline. Compare the 70s/80s....where a Top 5 RB was taken nearly every year.

Oh, and don't draft a Penn St. RB high. It spells disaster.

However, the "Bust rate" for RBs overall since 1970 is less than at most other positions. Less than a third of RBs busted........where we saw 50% figures for like QBs and DEs.

The "turn of the century" saw some good ones: James/LDT/Lewis/Williams (ultimately a good RB despite a rough start)

But since then....very, very spotty.

[The Gipper]

@gftchris said:

Gip, if you're feeling like you have the time, I'd be interested to see a breakdown of the players elected to the pro-bowl, by position, and what round the were drafted in (if at all). Say, over the last ten years, 60-70 pro-bowl quarterbacks (lots of repeats probably), and how many were in the top 5 picks, top 20, top 50, whatever.

If not, don't worry, I *may* get around to it myself.

Well, I may get around to that......but I did do something with the RBs. Since 1970 here are the number of Pro Bowl RBs drafted in each round:

1st: 69

2d: 34

3rd: 15

4th: 13

5th: 12

6th: 10

7th: 5

8th: 2

9th: 3

10th: 2 (including Ernest Byner)

For what that's worth.

[The Gipper]

@gftchris said:

Gip, if you're feeling like you have the time, I'd be interested to see a breakdown of the players elected to the pro-bowl, by position, and what round the were drafted in (if at all). Say, over the last ten years, 60-70 pro-bowl quarterbacks (lots of repeats probably), and how many were in the top 5 picks, top 20, top 50, whatever.

If not, don't worry, I *may* get around to it myself.

I will start a new thread on this.