Are today's running backs less powerful?

[Fired-Up]

I was watching an old Green Bay vs Chicago game and then I saw Walter Payton. The guy would literally run over people. It's not that he was running through arm tackles. He engaged the tackler and sized up defenders and ran over them. OJ Simpson could sort of do this. Eric Dickerson could do it a little, but it was mostly Walter Payton and Earl Campbell.

When you look today the only 2 dominant power backs are Peterson and Lynch. But they don't actually physically engage defenders today. Peterson never does it. Lynch rarely does it. When I think of power in today's NFL I just think of guys you can't reroute. Like Peterson will throw a stiff arm and he just can't be rerouted. He doesn't go shoulder to shoulder and just mash them over like Payton and Campbell.

[MinnesotaFtw]

LOL PETERSON NEVER DOES IT. LOL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhwfUGWbieU

[Fired-Up]

LOL PETERSON NEVER DOES IT. LOL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhwfUGWbieU

Dude he does it about maybe once a game. Earl Campbell was running over guys every time he was in the open field.

[MinnesotaFtw]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqs24InfI7g

[MinnesotaFtw]

You said Peterson never does it. Guys are a lot stronger now a days too. Peterson almost always levels people. Especially earlier in his career, he wouldn't go down.

[INMETSITRUST]

Hahahaha Wow just wow! OP I don't think you have thought this through at all or watched many football games from any era. Any ways where is Jim Brown?

[MinnesotaFtw]

Or Jerome Bettis?

[SFrush90]

Trent Richardson looks to be a physical back in the future.

Also I'd assume you may not see backs being as physical because they realize their career window is small so they want to maximize it as much as they can.

[GGGGG-Men]

Michael Turner says no.

[bwallstreet]

Desmond Bishop, Morgan Burnett, A.J. Hawk and the Packers D do not agree

[NormSizedMidget]

It's more about defenders getting bigger stronger faster

[bwallstreet]

Look at Earl Campbells career, completely a shame except for 2-3 seasons.

Look into the health problems Earl has had related to his short career and how he has just stopped having to use a wheelchair.

Is that who we should be trying to play like?

[Fired-Up]

Look at Earl Campbells career, completely a shame except for 2-3 seasons.

Look into the health problems Earl has had related to his short career and how he has just stopped having to use a wheelchair.

Is that who we should be trying to play like?

Yeah, but it looked cool.

[kubernetes]

It's more about defenders getting bigger stronger faster

This. Also, in the past the RB position always attracted the best athletes.

[c_reinert]

I was watching an old Green Bay vs Chicago game and then I saw Walter Payton. The guy would literally run over people. It's not that he was running through arm tackles. He engaged the tackler and sized up defenders and ran over them. OJ Simpson could sort of do this. Eric Dickerson could do it a little, but it was mostly Walter Payton and Earl Campbell.

When you look today the only 2 dominant power backs are Peterson and Lynch. But they don't actually physically engage defenders today. Peterson never does it. Lynch rarely does it. When I think of power in today's NFL I just think of guys you can't reroute. Like Peterson will throw a stiff arm and he just can't be rerouted. He doesn't go shoulder to shoulder and just mash them over like Payton and Campbell.

That doesnt mean todays backs are less powerful necessarily. It means they have a different running style.

Also OJ Simpson was by no means a power runner lol