Age vs Wear & Tear. This writer gives D-Lo the thumbs up.

[top dawg]

Ryan Allen of Cat Crave makes an interesting point in regards to Deangelo Williams as compared to other backs his age. He has had considerably less wear and tear than some backs in the league---a few his age---and this should translate into plenty being left D-Lo's tank.

 

This year, Carolina Panthers’ running back DeAngelo Williams will be entering his ninth season at the age of 31.  Many look no farther than his age before assuming that he can’t be any more than a situational back.  That couldn’t be farther from the truth as it pertains to DeAngelo Williams specifically.  He is not your typical 31-year-old tailback and he still has plenty to offer as a starter and playmaker.

 

 

 

He even backs up his assertion with a chart.

 

 

DeAngelo Williams                                   31                                                  1,370

Frank Gore                                               31                                                  2,187

Steven Jackson                                        30                                                  2,553

Adrian Peterson                                        29                                                  2,033

Maurice Jones-Drew                                 28                                                  1,804

Matt Forte                                                  28                                                  1,551

Marshawn Lynch                                       28                                                  1,753

Ray Rice                                                    27                                                  1,430

 

 

I know that I hadn't even really thought about D-Will from this perspective, as the 30-year-old-RB brick wall has been looming in the recesses of my mind.  But...just maybe...D-will can flout that supposed belief by continuing to offer game-breaking plays. And, yes, I said "continuing" because Williams still had a few of those last year, most notably his 72 yard reception-and-run against the Jets (though there are others, some of them here). I don't think that anyone can deny that Williams still had that extra gear in 2013, and if his body is any indication, there is no reason to think that he is ready to go to the scrapyard. He will never get that huge payday again because of the stigma of age (and will have to take a pay cut), but perhaps he can still offer that continued big play capability, if not just constant production for a few more years.

 

I hope that the O-line helps him out.

[frash.exe]

They said the same thing about delhomme

[thefuzz]

It's not the carries, it's the quick twitch, the vision, and the speed in which the body heals.

 

RB's over 30 should be put out to pasture sooner rather than later.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

nice fluff piece.

[the_philosopher]

There's probably something to this, and I expect it played a large role in Hurney's contract decisions. But Williams also had a lot more college carries than the other rb's on that list. (I'm assuming this because he was featured there for 4 years, but I haven't looked up the others.)

[Donald LaFell]

He had a lot of wear and tear at memphis. He also has had his fair share of injuries. 

 

I think Williams can still be effective, but I don't buy the article at all. Williams is on the downside of his career. 

[top dawg]

It's not the carries, it's the quick twitch, the vision, and the speed in which the body heals.

 

RB's over 30 should be put out to pasture sooner rather than later.

 

It's easy to just say "it's not about the carries", but has that really been proven? D-Lo did not look like he was ready to be "put out to pasture" 6 months ago.  I can see arguing his cut-ability (pun not intended) due to finances and/or value, but he still flashed plenty of speed and showed great vision once he was able to clear the line. If he had had a better line, it is arguable that he is at least a top half RB in the league in 2013.

[caatfan]

Backs that had one or more 1000 yd. seasons at 30 or over, from a 2010 Bleacherreport article:

 

Jim Brown
Marcus Allen
Warrick Dunn
Franco Harris
Ricky Watters
Fred Taylor
Curtis Martin
Thomas Jones
Tiki Barber
John Riggins
Tony Dorsett
Emmitt Smith
Barry Sanders
Walter Payton
 

[TheRumGone]

if you just watch the games you can see he is not anywhere near the same, that show numbers never lie is full of poo.

[the_philosopher]

OK, I'm bored. So, here's a statistical comparison of these same players spanning NFL and college.

 

 

                                        AGE           PRO CARRIES         COLLEGE       TOTAL

DeAngelo Williams             31                    1,370                     969              2,339

Frank Gore                        31                    2,187                     348              2,535

Steven Jackson                  30                   2,553                      743             3,296

Adrian Peterson                 29                    2,033                     748              2,781

Maurice Jones-Drew          28                    1,804                     481              2,285

Matt Forte                          28                    1,551                     833              2,384

Marshawn Lynch                28                    1,753                     490              2,243

Ray Rice                             27                    1,430                     910             2,340

 

 

For what it's worth, I think Williams can be good this year (if the oline can block) just based on what I saw in some explosive plays last year.

[thefuzz]

It's easy to just say "it's not about the carries", but has that really been proven? D-Lo did not look like he was ready to be "put out to pasture" 6 months ago.  I can see arguing his cut-ability (pun not intended) due to finances and/or value, but he still flashed plenty of speed and showed great vision once he was able to clear the line. If he had had a better line, it is arguable that he is at least a top half RB in the league in 2013.

 

You can't prove it's about carries or about age.  However, it's not hard to see that RB's over 30 don't fare that well in the pros.

[Ricky Spanish]

Fred Jackson has been going strong for how many years because he was up in Canada and kept his legs relatively fresh. I do know D-Will carried a buttload at Memphis. 

 

Edit* the philosophizer made my point for me a few posts up. he got pie

[YoungPanthers89]

He ran his legs off at Memphis

[top dawg]

if you just watch the games you can see he is not anywhere near the same, that show numbers never lie is full of poo.

 

I think that saying that "he is not anywhere near the same" is just not taking the relative failure of the  O-line into account.