Thomas Jones = SW VA pride

**Biggin** · January 25th, 2007, 03:10 PM

didnt benson and roy williams both go to perriman?

**R0cketer** · January 25th, 2007, 03:32 PM

Well I would come to LPDs defense here...but since he apparently thinks there is some grand 'who you know' scheme of things going on here......

On second thought I will.

Great....Benson is #6 all time....first off that is wrong. Benson is #7 (caught you in a lie, did you use 'The Google' *LOL*)

Ron Dayne Wisconsin 1996-99 6397
Ricky Williams Texas 1995-98 6279
Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh 1973-76 6082
DeAngelo Williams Memphis 2002-05 6026
Charles White Southern Cal 1976-79 5598
Travis Prentice Miami-OH 1996-99 5596
Cendric Benson Texas 2001-04 5540

So being ranked #7 all time means what? You're really good, almost as good as Travis Prentice? Taking the six ahead of him, have any of them, outside of Dorsett, had much of a career, or been a long term, durable NFL back? Ricky might could have, but dude we'll never know *take a hit*.

As for touchdowns, he's right up there but let's look at his company.

Travis Prentice Miami-OH 1996-99 73
Ricky Williams Texas 1995-98 72
Anthony Thompson Indiana 1986-89 64
Cedric Benson Texas 2001-04 64
Ron Dayne Wisconsin 1996-99 63
Eric Crouch Nebraska 1998-01 59

Not bad but an additional stat
Prentice 44 games
Williams 46 games
Thompson 41 games
Benson 49 games
Dayne 43 games
Crouch 43 games

So scoring touchdowns in college apparently doesn't mean he's bound for NFL glory either. Not to mention it took him more games to get on the list

Benson was a college beast, no question about that. How many others have been and been busts/worthless/one year wonders etc? Quite a few. Then of course you have the guys who were average in college, go to the pros and turn into something special.

One thing that I found interesting, is this.

Top 30 rushing totals all time.

Benson averages 4.98 yards per carry. Lower totals
Prentice 4.92

DonTrell Moore from New Mexico (2002-05) 4.84 yards per carry (he shows as #13 all time)

Anthony Thompson from Indiana (1986-1989) 4.56 YPC (shows as #14 all time)

Trevor Cobb from Rice (1989-1992) 4.54 YPC (shows as #16 all time)

Steve Bartalo from Colorado State (1983-1986) 3.96 YPC (shows as #19 all time)

Ken Simonton from Orgeon State (1998-2001) 4.78 YPC (shows as #20 all time)

Darrell Thompson from Minnesota (1896-1989) 4.96 YPC (shows as #32 all time)

and

Lorenzo White from Michigan (1984-198) 4.55 YPC (shows as #33 all time)

So while he is #7 all time in yards, he has 24 guys ahead of with yards per carry who show up with a lot of career yards themselves.

Is Benson dureable? Well he was in college, but took a beating as well. Put up some great numbers, but also took more games than anybody to do so, and when you a big deeper, he really wasn't that super since YPC would appear to be an important number.

Just food for thought.

**1inStripes** · January 25th, 2007, 03:54 PM

I also think they have a pretty good back who had similar numbers in D1-AA in Adrian Peterson. He was a beast at GSU.

Honestly, Benson was great in college, but I do think his pro career will be similar to someone else who was overworked in college and was a bust of the Bears after 1 successful season: the A-train.

But, everything is hindsight folks. Thomas was not a proven commodity at that time. Not proven to be a 1200+ yard rusher per season that is. For the most part, leading up to Chicago, TJ had been a bust honestly.

**imported_ut1** · January 25th, 2007, 04:07 PM

The ONLY reason TJ had been a bust was the offenses and offensive lines he had been pared with. I mean, come on, anybody would have been "a bust" in Arizona! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

**imported_Counts** · January 25th, 2007, 04:26 PM

When Jones was drafted by Arazona I was depressed becouse I was 99% sure of what was comming.

IMHO the Bears will keep both backs next year then (I Think) TJ's contract is up and IMHOthe Bears will stay with the younger back unless Jones will stay for less than he could make elsewhere

**R0cketer** · January 25th, 2007, 04:33 PM

I agree and I'm not saying Benson will or will not be a bust. Not saying that Thomas didn't appear to be a bust early either. Just giving some facts since we always want them [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Truthfully, 2 backs is the best way to go anymore , just due to putting too much on one player, and them going down, totally disrupting the team.

I think Benson came in a bit full of himself, not that he would be the first player to do that, and actually helped Thomas by motivating him more than ever. Most things and press seem to imply that Benson has grown up quite a bit this year and he very possibly is ready to be the featured back now. That being said, how many teams have had the 'next guy who was just as good or better' only to find out that wasn't quite the case.

IMO, Thomas is the slightly more cerebral player out there right now. He's thinking, moves ahead, and is a better blocker (which with a young QB is a huge plus). Which game was it that he knocked down a ball that saved Chicago in, Seattle or something?

Benson was a great college performer, but if we look at gigantic college numbers, we see that one does not necessarily equate with the other. Maybe Benson will be the Dorsett and be considered a great NFL back at the end of his career but then again he may be another guy who was great in college, decent to good to fair to maybe great at times in the NFL, but just like we've seen on super-hyped high school kids coming to college, not everything ends up the way we could/would guarantee it.

**1inStripes** · January 25th, 2007, 04:52 PM

I agree Rock. I think both yours and megas points are valid.

**imported_mega** · January 25th, 2007, 06:31 PM

My bad on the 7th all time thing, the stats I got were pre Denagelo Williams.

Anyway, my posts werent a who was better post and they really had nothing to do with Benson's college stats, I was basically showing lpdftbl that the dude is durable. He could have said something like, hes slow, lacks vision, or intstincts but to say hes not durable is the furthest thing from the truth. His #1 atrribute was durability. Thats why Chicago drafted him in the first place.

A train sucked to begin with, he was never good, he ran behind a line that was great for 1 year before being desimated and disasembled the next and he was a 2nd round pick(a reach at that).

Like I said, I wasnt equating college numbers to the pros, I dont do the Timmy Chang thing, however it more than shows that the dude can carry the rock time and time again.

If you saw the play where he sprained his MCL, 90% of the players in the league tear multiple ligaments on that play.

Biggin, Roy played for Permian, Benson played for Midland Lee. They were the biggest rivals but Benson was considered one of the all time greatest Texas high school players ever from what Ive read.

**imported_mega** · January 25th, 2007, 06:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
mean, come on, anybody would have been "a bust" in Arizona!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well Edge did get nearly 1200 yards. It was a bust of a season for him and he did get alot of carries, but I never thought the guy would get close to 900 let alone 1200 the way things were there. Id have to say he did about as well as anyone in that situation.

January 25th, 2007, 11:17 PM

I'll just end this with this.

Thomas Jones more heart and determination than most who play the game.
Could of walked away after last years slap in the face from the Bears.

But look where he help them to get to.
I for one hope he gets that ring on Feb 4th.
He's more than earned it.
Battled all the crap from his days at Arizona, to Tampa to Chicago where he should be Benson's back up. Oh well.

You more than help get the Bears there TJ.
You've earned yours already.

Feb 4th this is one LPD homer who will be pulling for you.