Todd Gurley gets paid

[MadCardDisease]

How old was he and for how long did he maintain that heightened level of play?

After leaving the Cardinals at age 25 he had a pretty solid career for 7 more seasons:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneTh00.htm

 

[MadCardDisease]

Okay, but this is a conversation about whether a lighter workload extends the productive part of a back's career meaningfully. Thomas Jones averaged 3.8 YPC after his 30th birthday season, but really fell off a cliff at 31.

I just checked and the year (2008) he turned 30 he averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Then at 31 he averaged 4.2 yards per carry.

In the final two years when he signed with Kansas City at age 32 and 33 he averaged 3.5 yards per carry. So he hit the cliff at age 32.

Ironically when he hit the cliff at age 32 and averaged 3.5 yards per carry those final two years. That is what he averaged his first three years with the Cardinals.

 

[Solar7]

The Rams are going to crash and burn with these contracts in short order. They're going to need to win now.

 

[GatorAZ]

Warrick Dunn was only okay to begin with. He averaged 3.8 YPC after his 30th birthday season.
Barry Sanders retired after turning 30.
Adrian Peterson averaged 3.1 YPC after his age 30 season.
Walter Payton and Doresett retired 30 years ago.

Tiki Barber is a good example. He was good for 1 season after his 30th birthday, and then retired. So did Curtis Martin.

So, Tiki Barber and Thomas Jones are clearly the outliers in this conversation.

I said 30 or older...

Yards from scrimmage at age 30 season:

Dunn - 1636
Sanders - 1780
Barber - 2390 (2127 the next year)
Peterson - 1707
Dorsett - 1648 (more the next year)
Watters - 1597 (more the next year)
Martin - 1570 (more the next year)

 

[AZ Native]

I said 30 or older...

Yards from scrimmage at age 30 season:

Dunn - 1636
Sanders - 1780
Barber - 2390 (2127 the next year)
Peterson - 1707
Dorsett - 1648 (more the next year)
Watters - 1597 (more the next year)
Martin - 1570 (more the next year)

Things are different now. That was the past not the present. It’s like comparing pitch counts from the past to today’s game.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The Rams are going to crash and burn with these contracts in short order. They're going to need to win now.

Uh I’m pretty sure that’s what they’re attempting to do.

 

[Solar7]

Uh I’m pretty sure that’s what they’re attempting to do.

Where'd I say they weren't?

But I think they've got a VERY short window with the way the team is put together, and I think it will scuttle them in a year or two.

 

[GatorAZ]

Things are different now. That was the past not the present. It’s like comparing pitch counts from the past to today’s game.

Not buying.

 

[AZ Native]

Not buying.

Why not? Very similar.

 

[GatorAZ]

Why not? Very similar.

Just not sure what the era argument is. That RB’s take more of a beating now than 20 years ago?

 

[AZ Native]

Just not sure what the era argument is. That RB’s take more of a beating now than 20 years ago?

Exactly, that is why they do not last as long. The defense is faster, stronger and hits harder than ever before. Dorset last played 30 years ago. A different errand.

 

[GatorAZ]

Exactly, that is why they do not last as long. The defense is faster, stronger and hits harder than ever before.

The game is safer now than it used to be. Players would get destroyed back in the day. Cheap shots were part of the game and players would play through injuries/concussion. If you get your bell rung they take your helmet now. Hitting in practice has almost eliminated completely. The advancements in health/physical recovery is high as ever.

Bottom line every guy is different. Some guys decline before 30, at 30 or after 30 depending on a multitude of factors.

 

[AZ Native]

The game is much safer now than it used to be. Players would get destroyed back in the day. Cheap shots were part of the game and players would play through injuries/concussion. If you get your bell rung they take your helmet now. Hitting in practice has almost eliminated completely. The advancements in health/physical recovery is high as ever.

Bottom line every guy is different. Some guys decline before 30, at 30 or after 30 depending on multiple factors.

Not today. 30 is the benchmark. Over 30 RBs are retired to the pasture. The world of RB’s has changed. I enjoy your posts but the life of the RB’s has drastically changed from 20-30 years ago.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Not today. 30 is the benchmark. Over 30 RBs are retired to the pasture. The world of RB’s has changed. I enjoy your posts but the life of the RB’s has drastically changed from 20-30 years ago.

Hmm what rbs in the past 5 years have excelled at 30+?

 

[GatorAZ]

Hmm what rbs in the past 5 years have excelled at 30+?

Going one each year...

2013 - Fred Jackson (32 years old)
4.3 YPC, 1277 scrimmage, 10 TD’s

2014 - Frank Gore (31 years old)
4.1 YPC, 1269 scrimmage, 9 TD’s

2015 - Adrian Peterson (30 years old)
4.5 YPC, 1707 scrimmage, 11 TD’s

2016 - LeGarrette Blount (30 years old)
3.9 YPC, 1199 scrimmage, 18 TD’s

2016 - DeAngelo Williams (32 years old)
4.5 YPC, 1274 scrimmage, 11 TD’s

More in the last 10 years:

09’ - Thomas Jones (31 years old)
4.2 YPC, 1460 scrimmage, 14 TD’s

09’ - Ricky Williams (32 years old)
4.7 YPC, 1385 scrimmage, 13 TD’s

11’ - Willis McGahee (30 years old)
4.8 YPC, 1200 scrimmage, 5 TD’s

 

[Rams1Fan]

Where'd I say they weren't?

But I think they've got a VERY short window with the way the team is put together, and I think it will scuttle them in a year or two.

My first post here. And I and not coming to talk smack. I just wonder why you say the rams window is very short. Considering the following

Rams have 2nd youngest team in NFL
In 2019 and 2020 Rams will have tons of cap space despite Cooks and Gurleys contracts. 60 Mill for 2019 and 130 mil for 2020.
Rams five core players are all 27 or under

Donald 27
Gurley 23
Cooks 24
Goff 23
Peters 25

Seems like the window is a good 5 years.

Compare that to Cards.

28th in age
Core players, Jones, Peterson, DJ, Fitz , Rosen are older except for Rosen

Peterson 28
Jones 28
DJ 26
Fitz 34
Rosen 21

Cardinals have good cap space in 2019 and 2020 but less than Rams.

 

[kerouac9]

My first post here. And I and not coming to talk smack. I just wonder why you say the rams window is very short. Considering the following

Rams have 2nd youngest team in NFL
In 2019 and 2020 Rams will have tons of cap space despite Cooks and Gurleys contracts. 60 Mill for 2019 and 130 mil for 2020.
Rams five core players are all 27 or under

Donald 27
Gurley 23
Cooks 24
Goff 23
Peters 25

Seems like the window is a good 5 years.

Compare that to Cards.

28th in age
Core players, Jones, Peterson, DJ, Fitz , Rosen are older except for Rosen

Peterson 28
Jones 28
DJ 26
Fitz 34
Rosen 21

Cardinals have good cap space in 2019 and 2020 but less than Rams.

I guess it depends on how you're going to have an offensive line. The Cards are in the middle of a tremendous rebuild. Christian Kirk and Hassaan Reddick need to work out if they're going to be more than the New York Jets of the NFC West.

If D.J. Humprhies (24) can be healthy and good and Justin Pugh (27) can be healthy, that core starts to look a little better. Budda Baker is 22 and he looked good last year.

I also think the Cards got much younger this offseason. Last year they were the oldest, and that didn't really count David Johnson because we replaced him with a bunch of old dudes who sucked.

 

[sunsfan88]

That’s the most guaranteed money ever for a RB.

That stupid Kirk Cousins contract is now changing the game for all these players. Pretty soon, the NFL will be like the NBA with the amount of (fully or nearly fully) guaranteed deals being thrown around.

 

[sunsfan88]

Going one each year...

2013 - Fred Jackson (32 years old)
4.3 YPC, 1277 scrimmage, 10 TD’s

2014 - Frank Gore (31 years old)
4.1 YPC, 1269 scrimmage, 9 TD’s

2015 - Adrian Peterson (30 years old)
4.5 YPC, 1707 scrimmage, 11 TD’s

2016 - LeGarrette Blount (30 years old)
3.9 YPC, 1199 scrimmage, 18 TD’s

2016 - DeAngelo Williams (32 years old)
4.5 YPC, 1274 scrimmage, 11 TD’s

More in the last 10 years:

09’ - Thomas Jones (31 years old)
4.2 YPC, 1460 scrimmage, 14 TD’s

09’ - Ricky Williams (32 years old)
4.7 YPC, 1385 scrimmage, 13 TD’s

11’ - Willis McGahee (30 years old)
4.8 YPC, 1200 scrimmage, 5 TD’s

LaDanian Tomlinson in the 2010 season as well.

 

[sunsfan88]

Rams are trying to take advantage of Goff being on a cheap contract. Same thing Seattle did during Wilson’s rookie contract.

 

[sunsfan88]

I hope Melvin Gordon isn’t looking at this and thinking he will/should get anywhere close to the guaranteed money that Gurley got.

 

[Rams1Fan]

I guess it depends on how you're going to have an offensive line. The Cards are in the middle of a tremendous rebuild. Christian Kirk and Hassaan Reddick need to work out if they're going to be more than the New York Jets of the NFC West.

If D.J. Humprhies (24) can be healthy and good and Justin Pugh (27) can be healthy, that core starts to look a little better. Budda Baker is 22 and he looked good last year.

I also think the Cards got much younger this offseason. Last year they were the oldest, and that didn't really count David Johnson because we replaced him with a bunch of old dudes who sucked.

Yes that is the Rams achilles heel. Whitaker and Sullivan will probably retire at years end and Havenstein, Saffold and Brown are at the end of their contracts. I think they will try to keep Havenstein and depend on depth,

 

[kerouac9]

Yes that is the Rams achilles heel. Whitaker and Sullivan will probably retire at years end and Havenstein, Saffold and Brown are at the end of their contracts. I think they will try to keep Havenstein and depend on depth,

The Rams were the second-oldest offensive line in the NFL last year — did they add anything besides a 3rd round pick to help? We can tell you from first-hand experience that it doesn't much matter how many great offensive skill-position players you have if you lose 2 starting OL.

 

[Rams1Fan]

The Rams were the second-oldest offensive line in the NFL last year — did they add anything besides a 3rd round pick to help? We can tell you from first-hand experience that it doesn't much matter how many great offensive skill-position players you have if you lose 2 starting OL.

A center in the 4th and a tackle in the 6th.

I fully expect them to use a no. 1 in next years draft for a lineman,.

 

[Phrazbit]

I don't see how "less wear and tear" is in Johnson's favor when it's been injuries that have kept him off the field.