Jamal Charles

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by Alex_de_Large, Sep 28, 2009.

  1. Alex_de_Large

    Alex_de_Large 1,000+ Posts

    I know the Chief's suck, but why do they keep giving carries to LJ? He stunk yesterday and Jamal had 6 ypc. He also had another nice run called back because of a hold that was after he had cleared the line.
     
  2. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

     
    • Like Like x 4
  3. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    Man, if Charles and Finley stick around for 2008...
     
    • Agree Agree x 6
    • Hot Hot x 2
  4. RainH2burntO

    RainH2burntO 2,500+ Posts

    Props to JF for reviving a decade-old thread in these low-news-flow times.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  5. El Sapo

    El Sapo Bevo's BFF

    What? Only an 11 year necro bump?
    I’m worried Joe is slipping...
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  6. Omniscient.one

    Omniscient.one 500+ Posts

    Not shabby for a third rounder. Remembering being shocked he went so late after his career on the 40 acres. I haven’t seen a better back minus Ricky in my lifetime at Texas (post-1977).
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. BurntOrangeLH

    BurntOrangeLH 2,500+ Posts

    Earl and Eric were probably the best two others. Gilbert, Bertelsen, and all of the Koys went to the NFL also. Holmes was even better in the NFL than here. Leaks, Whittaker, Selvin Young, Ogbonaya, others I am forgetting.
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  8. Omniscient.one

    Omniscient.one 500+ Posts

    Earl is undoubtedly at the top of my list. Pretty sure ‘77 was his last year. Post-Earl (P.E.) would’ve been clearer.
     
  9. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    I would probably add Hodges Mitchell to that list, he was a thousand yard rusher for his junior and senior year if I remember correctly. That knee injury in the Holiday bowl was probably worst knee injury I've ever seen. It ended his shot at the NFL.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  10. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    The best running backs no one remembers is Raymond Clayborn. DKR had him returning kicks and a few offensive carries when Earl was hurt. RayClay was tall, wirey and fast. He loved to run over people and would never step out of bounds to keep from being hit. I've always thought he would have been one helluva college RB. Also a quality human being.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  11. wadster

    wadster 5,000+ Posts

    Edwin Simmons could have been that next great back after Earl without the knee's failing him. What a shame.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  12. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Butch Hadnot was an outstanding back as well, but unfortunately not so great a student.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    Clayborn would come in when Leaks was injured, not Earl. I forget the story, but his switch to DB was definitely spurred on by the arrival of Earl, who arrived right when freshmen were finally allowed to play varsity.
     
  14. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    Irby.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  15. Run Pincher

    Run Pincher 2,500+ Posts

    Simmons and Hadnot both had Ricky/Earl kind of talent. Too bad they couldn't stay on the field.
     
  16. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    Pre-injury Roosevelt Leaks was greatness. Unfortunately they were not as good at knee surgery back then.

     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  17. Ajo Macho

    Ajo Macho 500+ Posts

    Surprised we got this far without Benson getting a mention.

    At their best, Jamaal Charles and D'Onta Foreman were as good as Benson's best, but not better. And Benson had a better career. Only Texas RB with four 1,000-yard seasons, and 2nd on Texas's all-time career yards (behind Ricky).
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  18. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    Benson was our rock for those 4 years. He had a bit of a sophomore slump due to the Big 3 and Simms, but he really came to life when GD switched to a zone system and VY took over. We never saw those "Ricky" style plays with a leading blocker literally ever again.

    His only "meh" games his senior year were against OU and Michigan in the Rose Bowl. He carried us the rest of the season, especially if VY had a poor passing game.
     
  19. Omniscient.one

    Omniscient.one 500+ Posts

    Benson often padded against mediocre competition similar to Ricky. And playing your worst games in the biggest games deserves a little more consideration. Charles had more rushing yards on ONE run against OU his freshman year than Benson had in his first two RR shootouts combined, and with 9 carries for 116 yards in the same game Charles was only 50 yards away from Benson’s career rushing total against OU.

    Let’s face it, Benson was slower, more indecisive (happy feet), and not only less evasive but had some of the worst juke moves I’ve ever seen at that level. Does anyone remember his shoulder shake move? I think if Benson came in as an unknown instead of being crowned the heir apparent to Ricky that he would’ve split carries at best for at least his first couple years.

    And the NFL stats speak for themselves. Charles holds the YPC record in the NFL, which I think is the most revealing stat, while Benson started off as a bust but in fairness went on to have a few good but not great seasons. On the other hand, Charles only had good or great seasons.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  20. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    Benson came in as the heir apparent because our depth in 2001 was Victor Ike, Ivan Williams, Brett Robin, and Sneezy Beltran. We haven't had a weaker crew at RB other than maybe 2008-09 when we never featured the backs.
     
  21. #2is#1

    #2is#1 1,000+ Posts

    That and most experts thought he was the top running back recruit in America.
     
  22. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    i put Benson ahead of Charles for college.

    1a Earl
    1b Ricky
    3 El Ced
    4 Jamal
    5 Leaks

    I'd put Metcalf before D'onta.

    Don't know the other older guys.
     
    • Disagree Disagree x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  23. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Chris Gilbert - freshmen couldn't play varsity, but he was the first SWC RB to gain 1000 yards three years in a row. Also those were 10 game seasons

    Jimmy Saxton - I got to see very little of his playing time, but always got the impression that he was DKR's favorite RB just by the way he talked about him. DKR said he was the only back he had ever seen that could be going full speed, stop on a dime, do a 180, and be full speed on first step.

    Steve Worster - belongs on the list for so many reasons, not the least of which he saved DKR's job. This is the guy the Wishbone was designed for and built around. Coming off three straight 6-4 season, Governor Shivers and Frank Erwin were all over Coach Royal's butt. An opening tie against Third Ward thanks to a dropped punt by Mike Simpson, then getting run out of Jones Stadium in the first half the next Saturday, caused the entry of Emory Bellard, James Street, and the wishbone featuring Woo. The next week started a thirty game winning streak, put Texas back on top of college football. Many, many greats on that team, but the running game was built around Worster, and teams schemed to stop him letting James, Ted, Jim, Billy run and run and run.

    :hookem2:
     
    • Like Like x 4
    • Winner Winner x 1
    Last edited: May 1, 2020
  24. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    I put Jamal in the top tier. Just below Earl and Ricky.

    Also, I think Jamaal was underutilized. His carries per game were low compared to many others. His speed was unmatched, and his moves were terrific; plus he could break tackles. And he was an excellent receiver out of the backfield, and definitely underused in this respect.
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  25. Statalyzer

    Statalyzer 10,000+ Posts

    If nothing else, Cedric deserves credit for his underrated final Rose Bowl run. He only gained a yard or two, but he dragged several defenders to get the ball to the left hash. And considering how narrowly that kick went through, that could have been the difference in the game had he been tackled a couple of yards back or in the middle of the field.
     
  26. kbrown

    kbrown 1,000+ Posts

     
  27. kbrown

    kbrown 1,000+ Posts

    Worster was a bad ***!! Nobody really knew how to stop the wishbone! He got the hell beat outta of him!! My favorite Texas player tied with Earl! One other back I’d throw in the fray was AJ Jones. Tough *** kid .....could run inside or outside! Injuries to his knees and shoulders curtailed him a bit..... he was tough
     
  28. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    Horns have have had a TON of great and good RB's. Hard to fairly rank them. Many variables.

    My Top 10, not necessarily in order:

    Earl (of course)
    Ricky
    Charles
    Worster
    Leaks
    Gilbert
    Benson
    Foreman
    Simmons
    Hadnot
     
  29. dukesteer

    dukesteer 5,000+ Posts

    SH, I like your assessment.

    Saxton was lightning in a bottle. That’s why SI featured him on a cover (which I still have) with the headline, Football’s Fanciest Runner.”

    Chris Gilbert was a breakaway waiting to happen on the next play. Had he not emerged at about the same time as OJ, he would probably have had a good shot at the Heisman.

    These are my top “4,” based on who I would want to see play tomorrow on the forty acres if I could choose.

    1a. Earl
    1b. Ricky
    3. Saxton
    4. Gilbert

    I think that Foreman is probably # 5 considering what he was able to do in a bad team.
     
  30. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    Simmons body type and running style reminded me of Eric Dickerson.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1

Share This Page