Jamaal Charles is best K.C. back ever?

[Stinger]

Adam Teicher seem to think so....

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- This is probably overdue but I got to thinking about it after Jamaal Charles went over 1,000 rushing yards for the season in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. That's four straight seasons for Charles with over 1,000 yards and though that's certainly not the only criteria, it's time to call Charles the best runner to ever play for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Charles is third all time on the Chiefs' rushing yardage list. He is roughly 500 yards from catching Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, the two backs ahead of him. With a big finish, Charles could conceivably catch both players this season. If not, he will pass them in 2014.

Charles is well shy of both players in rushing touchdowns, but Holmes and Johnson at times played for Chiefs teams that were offensive machines. Charles' teams in Kansas City haven't been built that way and it's unfair to penalize him for that. Charles isn't the pass receiver that Holmes was. There was no sight for Chiefs fans like Holmes running with a screen pass behind the great blockers he played with (unless it was Holmes running the sweep behind the great blockers he played with). But strictly as a runner, I'll take Charles.

Two factors go into that decision. First is longetivity. Johnson essentially had two great seasons for the Chiefs, Holmes three. Charles is now at four and we're still counting.

The other is Charles' career per-carry rushing average. Charles has picked up slightly more than 5.5 yards every time he's rushed the ball for the Chiefs in his career and that's frequently against opposing defenses that were often lying in wait for him because the Chiefs gave them little else to worry about.

Holmes rushed for 4.59 yards per carry, Johnson 4.37. That's a significant dfference in Charles' favor.

Holmes and Johnson deserve to be part of the discussion. But with apologies to those guys and some other great Chiefs backs like Marcus Allen, Christian Okoye and Ed Podolak it's time (and probably past time) to hail the new king.

http://espn.go.com/blog/kansas-city-...t-kc-back-ever

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I see a lot of talk about offensive lines, but I have a question for people.

Priest was great and he had a great offensive line. But in part I view that as a perfect marriage. Priest was great at patiently awaiting blocks and working with blockers. He wasn't a speed merchant, but he was great at maneuvering in traffic. That worked great with his line, because they were going to win all of their battles and they were good at maneuvering in space.

If we look at Larry Johnson, he was a different kind of runner. He had speed if he got in the open field, but he didn't necessarily work with his blockers. He just blasted. His ideal offensive line was big guys who could get a push, more so than guys working in space. That's why, for example, Tony Richardson wasn't a good fit as his fullback. Priest would wait for Tony to clear the zone, whereas Larry wouldn't (and didn't need to so much).

Jamaal is good at working with blockers, but I think his real strength is identifying a hole, getting to it quickly, and then accelerating to Mach 1. In a weird way, he's actually closer to Larry Johnson's style than to Priest's, though he's a bit of a hybrid of the two. I'm not so sure that our amazing 2003ish offensive line would have boosted Jamaal that much, because I don't see him picking around behind the line waiting for them to take out their man.

I think he would have gotten a bigger boost than Larry did, though, and I'm not saying there wouldn't be a boost. Jamaal running that left sweep behind Roaf would have been a work of art. I just think that that line isn't necessarily what suits him best, whereas they were a perfect fit for Priest's running style.

Priest doesn't have better vision beyond his blocks than Jamaal does, imo.

that is what makes smaller RB's like these players good, is the ability to know where defensive players are going to be beyond those OL blocks.

the diff we would see if Jamaal were the guy back then, is Jamaal would simply have more long TD's than Priest because he's just as tough a runner, but has the top gears to pull ahead and reel off those long runs.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I see a lot of talk about offensive lines, but I have a question for people.

Priest was great and he had a great offensive line. But in part I view that as a perfect marriage. Priest was great at patiently awaiting blocks and working with blockers. He wasn't a speed merchant, but he was great at maneuvering in traffic. That worked great with his line, because they were going to win all of their battles and they were good at maneuvering in space.

If we look at Larry Johnson, he was a different kind of runner. He had speed if he got in the open field, but he didn't necessarily work with his blockers. He just blasted. His ideal offensive line was big guys who could get a push, more so than guys working in space. That's why, for example, Tony Richardson wasn't a good fit as his fullback. Priest would wait for Tony to clear the zone, whereas Larry wouldn't (and didn't need to so much).

Jamaal is good at working with blockers, but I think his real strength is identifying a hole, getting to it quickly, and then accelerating to Mach 1. In a weird way, he's actually closer to Larry Johnson's style than to Priest's, though he's a bit of a hybrid of the two. I'm not so sure that our amazing 2003ish offensive line would have boosted Jamaal that much, because I don't see him picking around behind the line waiting for them to take out their man.

I think he would have gotten a bigger boost than Larry did, though, and I'm not saying there wouldn't be a boost. Jamaal running that left sweep behind Roaf would have been a work of art. I just think that that line isn't necessarily what suits him best, whereas they were a perfect fit for Priest's running style.

I tend to agree with this assessment. Priest was just amazing with his patience and vision. Jamaal has more speed and can hit the holes even faster than Priest did.

In the end though, Priest couldn't stay healthy. That is the biggest difference between the two.

[rocknrolla]

Who cares how he spells it. The man speaks truth. No T-Rich, JC just gets it done!

[GloryDayz]

While Nacho was really good at his trade, it's just unfair to compare him to the others who didn't have THAT O-line. I think Larry Johnson and Charles are both pound-for-pound better than Nacho. JC, they had to make sure LJ didn't get those last touches in his last year to make sure he didn't pass Nacho. So the record books will always show Nacho with more yards, but the same book will show who he got those few more yards behind.

Oh, and T-Rich WAS a huge part of Nacho's success... He was blessed to say the least..

It's all good because Nacho and Larry are in our past and Charles is our present, so let's just hope he keep piling up the KC records for us...

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

While Nacho was really good at his trade, it's just unfair to compare him to the others who didn't have THAT O-line. I think Larry Johnson and Charles are both pound-for-pound better than Nacho. JC, they had to make sure LJ didn't get those last touches in his last year to make sure he didn't pass Nacho. So the record books will always show Nacho with more yards, but the same book will show who he got those few more yards behind.

Oh, and T-Rich WAS a huge part of Nacho's success... He was blessed to say the least..

It's all good because Nacho and Larry are in our past and Charles is our present, so let's just hope he keep piling up the KC records for us...

It won't matter how close Larry was to breaking Priest's record. Jamaal Charles will be head and shoulders above them all soon.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

It won't matter how close Larry was to breaking Priest's record. Jamaal Charles will be head and shoulders above them all soon.

This I like....

[Chieftain58]

Maybe, Priest was pretty awesome

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Chieftain58

Maybe, Priest was pretty awesome

Lord knows he led us all those post-season wins...

Wait..............

[lewdog]

RED JESUS!!!

[Simplicity]

Guys... Jamaal has ONLY 1 A...!!!!!1 DERP

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Lord knows he led us all those post-season wins...

Wait..............

I realize there is a very good possibility it changes this year but, at this point one could make the same point about JC.

[MOhillbilly]

Jamaal and I don't think it's even close.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

I realize there is a very good possibility it changes this year but, at this point one could make the same point about JC.

I'm praying he changes that... If our D-line can get healthy and the secondary play a lot more consistantly (and the DC learn how to disguise a ****ing blitz a lot better), after these past few weeks I think JC can do his part on O and inspire others on O to be better.

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

I'd take Priest Holmes in his prime over Charles in his prime all day.


But I'd take Marcus Allen in his prime most of all.

This crow is delicious.

[Rain Man]

I guess rumors are swirling about a potential offseason trade of Adrian Peterson. Would we consider bringing him in to back up Charles?