Here is a list of modern (1950-present) backs who had a 4.0 ypc or higher with a minimum 200 attempts at age 31 or higher. A lot more than I thought. I researched this because Frank Gore is 31 next season and the big discussion whether he should be given a pay cut or waived because of his age.
YEAR PLAYER AGE YPC
1962 JOHN HENRY JOHNSON
(33)
4.5
1964 JOHN HENRY JOHNSON
(35)
4.5
1981 FRANCO HARRIS
(31)
4.1
1984 WALTER PAYTON
(31)
4.4
1985 WALTER PAYTON
(32)
4.8
1986 WALTER PAYTON
(33)
4.2
1985 TONY DORSETT
(31)
4.3
1995 MARCUS ALLEN
(35)
4.3
1996 MARCUS ALLEN
(36)
4.0
2000 EMMIT SMITH
(31)
4.1
2000 RICKY WATTERS
(31)
4.5
2004 CURTIS MARTIN
(31)
4.6
2006 TIKI BARBER
(31)
5.1
2006 WARRICK DUNN
(31)
4.0
2007 FRED TAYLOR
(31)
5.4
2009 RICKY WILLIAMS
(32)
4.7
2009 THOMAS JONES
(31)
4.2
[ Edited by BobS on Mar 7, 2014 at 7:19 PM ]
The above videos are auto-populated by an affiliate.
Originally posted by BobS:
Every time I see O.J. Simpson in a 49er uniform I think of back to back 2-14 seasons, most of you are fortunate you were too young to experience that.
We did experience that in 2004.
it was worse back then,, we never had the option of getting better via the draft
Originally posted by BobS:
Every time I see O.J. Simpson in a 49er uniform I think of back to back 2-14 seasons, most of you are fortunate you were too young to experience that.
We did experience that in 2004.
it was worse back then,, we never had the option of getting better via the draft
Originally posted by BobS:
Every time I see O.J. Simpson in a 49er uniform I think of back to back 2-14 seasons, most of you are fortunate you were too young to experience that.
Originally posted by BobS:
Every time I see O.J. Simpson in a 49er uniform I think of back to back 2-14 seasons, most of you are fortunate you were too young to experience that.
We did experience that in 2004.
it was worse back then,, we never had the option of getting better via the draft
The less than 45 crowd probably don't know we traded 5 high draft picks over two seasons for a broken down future murderer with bad knees.
What does the list look like if you include past the age of 30? I thought that list was pretty small as well. I think Gore sort of defied age this season. Maybe he can do it for another year.
The one thing Gore has going for him is his vision and patience -- those things don't degrade with age (insert senile grandpa joke here). Speed and power may go, but patience and finding holes does not. That lends itself for Gore being effective for as long as possible. That said, he's clearly nearing the end of the line.
