Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Originally posted by WRATHman44:
Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Originally posted by Dshearn:
My question is why the hell is Craig not on this list...he lined up at full back often.
This is a very good question! The answer is evidently that very few remember he was a great HB and FB and anything else he wanted to be. Rathman was wonderful...but Craig was special! Loved his receiving and his running. Rathman made some uncanny catches but he wasn't as fast or as hard on tacklers as Craig. Check out their yards from scrimmage! Craig 13,000+, Rathman 4700. Oh, but you say...how about rushing yards? Craig 8000, Rathman 2000. Craig had more receiving and rushing yards as a fullback and as a half back than Rathman had total.
Craig lined up at FB as a way to get the best 11 on the field. He was a very good football player, but he was a positional blocker as a FB, not a thumper. I like a FB who can rattle your teeth and knock you on your ass 40 times a game. Rathman's that guy.
OK...you go tackle Craig with your head in front of his knees! LOL! Rathman was wonderful but I'd rather tackle Tom than Roger any day of the week! Roger played FB until he was moved to RB so Rathman could start at FB. I don't mind being wrong once in a while but I don't really think this is one of those times.
1983 Craig FB, Tyler RB
1984 Craig FB, Tyler RB
1985 Craig FB, Tyler RB
1986 Craig FB, Cribbs RB
1987 Craig FB/RB, Cribbs RB, Rathman FB, Monroe RB, Cherry RB
1988 Craig RB, Rathman FB
1989 Craig RB, Rathman FB
1990 Craig RB, Rathman FB, Carter RB
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1989.htm
Craig was dangerous as a ballcarrier, but not really as a blocker. He positioned himself well in the hole, and he kept his feet moving, but Rathman would steam through the line and knock your d!ck off.
Hands down, Craig was the better running back, better threat receiving out of the backfield, and a pain in the azz to tackle. That said, If I'm an ILB/MLB plugging a hole against a lead block, I'd greatly prefer that that lead blocker be Craig instead of Rathman, and hat lead block is what aI look for in a FB, not rushing stats.