re: Why do Auburn fans think Bo Jackson was a better running back than Herschel

quote:

---

I mean the numbers don't lie right?

---

You're right.
Bo averaged 1.3 more ypc in college and 1.2 more ypc in the NFL than Herschel did.
In fact, Bo averaged more ypc in the NFL than Herschel did in college.

quote:

---

they are separated by almost 1000 yards and Herschel didn't play his senior season

---

Yet Herschel had 344 more carries than Bo. A season and a half worth of carries for most backs.

Actually the most carries Bo had in any season at Auburn was 278 in his Senior season.
So let's say Bo didn't miss most of his Junior season wuth injury and gets a modest 190 more carries (would still be 1 less carry than his Senior year), and still matches his career average of 6.6 ypc, then Bo finishes his career 5564 yards or 304 more yards than Herschel on 153 less carries.

And it could have been even worse for Herschel, because the few games that Bo did play in his Junior season he played injured and essentially hobbled. His ypc was by far the lowest of any season in his career at only 5.4 ypc. Funny enough that's still higher than Herschel's career average

quote:

---

 I mean honestly Nick Chubb is only 879 yards behind Bo Jackson? What's your argument there? Chubb splits carries and missed time due to injury

---

So did Bo.

As already mentioned, Bo missed almost his entire junior season. Shorter seasons back then too.

Bo split time with better RBs too. He shared the ball with 4 other NFL RBs in his career at AU (potentially a 5th if not for injury to one). And Bo did it from the wishbone, meaning there was another NFL back on the field at the same time as him, not just one coming off the bench to spell him.

-Brent Fullwood: Pro Bowler
-Lionel James: set then NFL records for most All-Purpose yards in a season and most receiving yards in a season for a RB
-Tommie Agee
-Tim Jessie

quote:

---

 I just don't get why you guys think he is the best running back ever? 

---

Apart from the stats I just hit you with. YPC being the best indicator of a RBs ability. There's this little thing called using your eyes. Herschel was an unprecedented workhorse, but Bo was far and away the more dynamic and skilled RB.

They went to the NFL and Hershcel was just an average RB, nothing special about him at all. Bo walked in halfway through the season in baseball shape, to come to his off-season hobby that he didn't care about which was football, and split time with a hall of famer and was STILL good enough to be considered one of the best RBs in NFL history. Imagine if football was Bo's passion and only focus. The sky was the limit for Bo. We saw the limit for Herschel and it was middle of the road.

Open your eyes, take off your red and black glasses, and watch some highlights. The answer here is obvious. A lot of RBs could have gotten up Herschel numbers with almost 1000 career carries (although I'll give Herschel credit, there aren't many who could stay healthy for 1000 carries in 3 seasons.) But there is still nobody that has had Bo's combination of skills (speed, power, and moves all at his size)

quote:

---

they are separated by almost 1000 yards and Herschel didn't play his senior season.

---

And still had about a season's worth of carries more than Bo.