comparing Arian Foster to Terrell Davis (1 Viewer)

[Righetti]

TD had four HOF caliber seasons which seemed hard to match and obviously Arian Foster has a ways to go before he gets into that rarified air but looking at his first few seasons there are a lot of comparisons betweem him and TD

they both came out of major college programs as running backs with success but either got drafted very late or did not get drafted at all

they both thrive in the Shanahan type zone-blocking scheme

they both have had other guys step into the same offense with some success..

they both have a nose for the endzone

they both average about 4.8 yards per carry

TD

5'11 206 pounds, Georgia

1995 237/1117/7 4.7YPC 49/367/1 7.5YPR (14 games)

1996 345/1538/13 4.5YPC 36/310/2 8.6YPR (16 games)

1997 369/1750/15 4.7YPC 42/287/0 6.8YPR (16 games)

1998 392/2008/21 5.1YPC 25/217/2 8.7YPR (16 games)

then he falls apart and never again plays more than 8 games , never goes over 800 total yards and never has more than 2 TD's

Foster

6'0" 232 pounds Tennessee

2009 54/257/3 4.8YPC 8/93/0 11.6YPR (3 games)

2010 327/1616/16 4.9YPC 66/604/2 9.2YPR (16 games)

2011 102/420/3 4.1YPC 21/305/1 14.5YPR (5 games)

on a per game basis we are looking at

TD 21.6/103/0.9 4.8YPC 2.5/19/0.1 7.8YPR

AF 17.5/85/ 0.8 4.7YPC 3.5/37/0.1 10.5YPR

both guys are averaging 122 total yards per game with just under a TD per game

now it should be noted that although Foster is credited with 6 games played in 2009, He only got carries in 4 of them...

in this case you would be looking at the following per-game numbers

AF 20/95/0.9 4.7YPC 4.0/42/0.1 10.5YPR

pretty close although Foster has only done it for 24 games while TD did it for 62 so he's still a ways off

edited to correct TD's draft status.. I had him going undrafted but was pointed out he was drafted in the 6th round

 

[Otis]

Foster in his size and running style reminds me a lot more of Larry Johnson in his prime. You just better hope Foster's prime lasts a little longer than LJ's did...

 

[Koya]

Foster has to overcome the fact that he makes it look so damn easily, effortless even. His size and speed combo and fluid cutbacks just eat up the turf below him. For a while, we have heard how its the system, how Tate would do just as well - or better - when given a chance.

Interesting discussion re: TD, but after last season and seeing glimpses this year now that he is beginning to roll, I dont see this as sacrilegious. Perhaps a bit premature, but if he stays healthy and if he has a good system to boot, this guy is going to put up serious numbers.

 

[thatguy]

Just to clarify 1 point, TD was drafted in the 6th round. Doesn't really change your argument, but figured it was worth pointing out.

 

[LargeMouthBass]

TD didn't just fall apart, it was due to an injury...

 

[Chase Stuart]

Davis had four big years, Foster had one big year and two great games. Seems a little early, no?

 

[Khy]

Foster really is the complete package, he probably has the best vision at his position. If the hole is available he never misses that it's there. Combine that with his burst and ability to make some of the most insane cuts I saw last year and make it look easy. That makes him one of the best backs in the league. Then you add in the fact of his scheme and the pure talent on his o line and that makes him into the likely candidate for the #1 RB in the league. He's just talent in a uniform.

 

[jackdubl]

Foster is a more fluid, slightly less powerful, better receiving version of Eddie George.

 

[Righetti]

Davis had four big years, Foster had one big year and two great games. Seems a little early, no?

of course it's early and i'm not saying that Foster can keep up the pace..just noting that TD was an incredible FF machine and that Foster in his limited games has put up very similar numbers..

 

[Righetti]

Foster really is the complete package, he probably has the best vision at his position. If the hole is available he never misses that it's there. Combine that with his burst and ability to make some of the most insane cuts I saw last year and make it look easy. That makes him one of the best backs in the league. Then you add in the fact of his scheme and the pure talent on his o line and that makes him into the likely candidate for the #1 RB in the league. He's just talent in a uniform.

I can't say I have any knowledge of him at Tennessee but it's shocking how a guy with his ability didn't get drafted at all...

 

[Righetti]

TD didn't just fall apart, it was due to an injury...

didn't state that well in my original post but absolutely meant it was the injuries which derailed him..my 'fall apart' really was meant as a way to say that he never put up really good NFL numbers again but didn't mean to imply that he just fell off the radar..

 

[Righetti]

Foster in his size and running style reminds me a lot more of Larry Johnson in his prime. You just better hope Foster's prime lasts a little longer than LJ's did...

LJ had 2.5 huge seasons so that might be a closer comparison in terms of time played.2004 when in the second half of the year after Priest went128/581/9 plus 22/278/22005336/1750/20 plus 33/343/12006416/1789/17 plus 41/410/2that averages out to20.7/98/1.1 and 2.3/25/0.1 per game during that spanfunny all three averaged 122 yards per game during these spans

 

[mr roboto]

YPR is the interesting statistical difference. Is that due to scheme, talent of the RB, different defensive philosophies in the last couple years?

Foster is a monster when receiving with a head of steam and a little space.

Will totally agree that Foster makes it look 'easy'. I think that is where the impression that he isn't as talented as his production suggests comes from.

 

[Sultans]

I think the zone blocking working in perfection in HOU make it a valid comparision. There are literally 4 yard holes to run through. Both are very good making the most of an optimal situation. In today's NFL it seems a stretch to think that Foster will get a larger enough portion of the load going forward to mimic the 4 year period of dominance Davis had. I can see Tate or another getting 40% of the work sooner than later. Situation makes the player elite.

 

[Foxhound]

I think the zone blocking working in perfection in HOU make it a valid comparision. There are literally 4 yard holes to run through. Both are very good making the most of an optimal situation. In today's NFL it seems a stretch to think that Foster will get a larger enough portion of the load going forward to mimic the 4 year period of dominance Davis had. I can see Tate or another getting 40% of the work sooner than later. Situation makes the player elite.

Bad situations hinder talent. Good situations allow talent to be displayed, but do not MAKE talent. Why is Foster such a better back in the red zone then Tate if they are both in the same situation? At this point Foster and Tate complement each other, they are not obstacles to one another. Just because you own Tate and not Foster, doesn't make him any less of an elite talent in the NFL.

 

[Sultans]

I think the zone blocking working in perfection in HOU make it a valid comparision. There are literally 4 yard holes to run through. Both are very good making the most of an optimal situation. In today's NFL it seems a stretch to think that Foster will get a larger enough portion of the load going forward to mimic the 4 year period of dominance Davis had. I can see Tate or another getting 40% of the work sooner than later. Situation makes the player elite.

Bad situations hinder talent. Good situations allow talent to be displayed, but do not MAKE talent. Why is Foster such a better back in the red zone then Tate if they are both in the same situation? At this point Foster and Tate complement each other, they are not obstacles to one another. Just because you own Tate and not Foster, doesn't make him any less of an elite talent in the NFL.

I own neither. If Jonathan Stewart and Foster swapped roles. Stewart would be the top RB in FF right now. Is Foster better than AP? Peterson has twice the talent. Situation trumps talent in this case. Enjoy the Foster situation while you can.

 

[Foxhound]

I think the zone blocking working in perfection in HOU make it a valid comparision. There are literally 4 yard holes to run through. Both are very good making the most of an optimal situation. In today's NFL it seems a stretch to think that Foster will get a larger enough portion of the load going forward to mimic the 4 year period of dominance Davis had. I can see Tate or another getting 40% of the work sooner than later. Situation makes the player elite.

Bad situations hinder talent. Good situations allow talent to be displayed, but do not MAKE talent. Why is Foster such a better back in the red zone then Tate if they are both in the same situation? At this point Foster and Tate complement each other, they are not obstacles to one another. Just because you own Tate and not Foster, doesn't make him any less of an elite talent in the NFL.

I own neither. If Jonathan Stewart and Foster swapped roles. Stewart would be the top RB in FF right now. Is Foster better than AP? Peterson has twice the talent. Situation trumps talent in this case. Enjoy the Foster situation while you can.

Last time I checked Carolina had a good O-Line and Stewart has been a good back in the chances he gets. He deserves the shot at being an every down back just as Foster has gotten, but Carolina uses a full RBBC with Newton taking away touches as well. I don't see how this is relevant in determining if Foster is an elite talent or not. This is an example of a bad situation hindering Stewart, and a good situation allowing Foster's talent to be displayed. Thanks for proving my point for me. And I would never compare ANYONE'S talent to AP. He's simply the best. But that doesn't mean Foster isn't an elite talent as well. The classic argument Foster haters bring up, automatic "Peterson blah blah." But remember the problems Peterson had early in his career too...

 

[cvnpoka]

Foster is a more fluid, slightly less powerful, better receiving version of Eddie George.

so like dickerson?

 

[Wilbur Wood]

Foster is a more fluid, slightly less powerful, better receiving version of Eddie George.

so like dickerson?

Much slower than Dickerson

 

[Ghost Rider]

Foster is similar to Davis in that both produced/are producing in the same system, one that other RBs have done well in, but they crushed/are crushing what those other RBs have done.

 

[moleculo]

To me, whay made TD such a mythical force is what he did in the playoffs, against some of the best D's in the league.

If foster can at least make it to a playoff game (and this looks to be the year), I think we can definately start making comparisons.

 

[EBF]

My grandma could crack 1k rushing yards in Houston.

Pretty much every back to play there under Kubiak has excelled. Dayne. Slaton. Foster. Tate. Doesn't really matter. Foster seems to be the best talent of the bunch, but I wouldn't put him on TD's level just yet.

 

[Warrior]

I could drive a truck through the holes Foster is getting. Ben Tate can do 98% of what Foster can do and that elite O-Line is the reason.

Ryan Torain would look like Jim Brown if he played in Houston.

 

[jamil]

I could drive a truck through the holes Foster is getting. Ben Tate can do 98% of what Foster can do and that elite O-Line is the reason.Ryan Torain would look like Jim Brown if he played in Houston.

I feel like this is just a regurgitated statement and you really haven't watched them play (book offense). Ben tate is the perfect example of being a product of kubiaks system... his vision is nowhere near Fosters. The cutbacks he makes are ridiculous. Tate doesn't see the same lanes that Foster does.

 

[Foxhound]

I could drive a truck through the holes Foster is getting. Ben Tate can do 98% of what Foster can do and that elite O-Line is the reason.Ryan Torain would look like Jim Brown if he played in Houston.

I feel like this is just a regurgitated statement and you really haven't watched them play (book offense). Ben tate is the perfect example of being a product of kubiaks system... his vision is nowhere near Fosters. The cutbacks he makes are ridiculous. Tate doesn't see the same lanes that Foster does.

All this and Tate is allergic to the endzone...

 

[mr roboto]

The 'it's all the line' crap is just not true. Try watching a game or two.

Yes, the o-line is great. But Foster is a top-10 talent. There is no question about that.

 

[rizzler]

The 'it's all the line' crap is just not true. Try watching a game or two.

Yes, the o-line is great. But Foster is a top-5 talent. There is no question about that.

Fixed.The o-line is great.

Foster is even better.

You don't lead the league in broken tackles as well as putting up those ridiculous numbers because you're an overrated/average back.

Be reasonable, folks.

 

[thatguy]

My grandma could crack 1k rushing yards in Houston.Pretty much every back to play there under Kubiak has excelled. Dayne. Slaton. Foster. Tate. Doesn't really matter. Foster seems to be the best talent of the bunch, but I wouldn't put him on TD's level just yet.

And pretty much every back who played under Shanny in Denver excelled too...

 

[Righetti]

My grandma could crack 1k rushing yards in Houston.Pretty much every back to play there under Kubiak has excelled. Dayne. Slaton. Foster. Tate. Doesn't really matter. Foster seems to be the best talent of the bunch, but I wouldn't put him on TD's level just yet.

And pretty much every back who played under Shanny in Denver excelled too...

exactly.. the reason we are comparing the two is because they played in the same system with two dynamic offensive lines perfectly equiped for this scheme

 

[Bri]

He reminds me more of Mike Anderson than TD.

TDs runs were more sweet while Mike's were more hard-nosed and...idk, just a thought here

 

[Bri]

OK beating someone wisely posting Olandis Gary as a reply...

If we do go on the system, credit Shanny's O which isn't it really that awesome OL coach he had that we're praising here?...anyhow if we go on the system and all, aren't we supposed to trade Foster after this year?

We're waiting for him to get hurt and have a short career aren't we? I mean the history of it seems pretty clear, no?

 

[Daywalker]

TD, Faulk, E. James and Priest. Geez what a different era. My attention hasn't wavered but I miss those days.

 

[wiscstlatlmia]

This needs to stop.... Arian Foster is not a top 5 talent at the position...end of story.

I saw someone say Ben Tate hasn't matched him... He's averaging 5 ypc....

Best vision at his position? really? Better than Peterson and McFadden?

Foster is a good back, yes. He is elite fantasy wise because hes in Houston. Put him in Jacksonville(MJD) Saint louis(SJax) and nobody would be talking about him being in the same ranks as Terrell Davis or having better attributes than McFadden or Peterson.

It is not a coincidence that every back Houston has had in recent years has been extremely successful.

 

[Daywalker]

This needs to stop.... Arian Foster is not a top 5 talent at the position...end of story. I saw someone say Ben Tate hasn't matched him... He's averaging 5 ypc....Best vision at his position? really? Better than Peterson and McFadden?Foster is a good back, yes. He is elite fantasy wise because hes in Houston. Put him in Jacksonville(MJD) Saint louis(SJax) and nobody would be talking about him being in the same ranks as Terrell Davis or having better attributes than McFadden or Peterson. It is not a coincidence that every back Houston has had in recent years has been extremely successful.

The same arguments could have been used against the very same player you hold in such high regard, T. Davis. No one is saying Foster is Davis' equal. Only because he hasn't done it as long as TD though. Yes, TD did it in the playoffs but the Texans are not the two-time champions that the Broncos were.

 

[massraider]

You have to mention the zone blocking scheme when discussing these two players. The Texans run it as well as anyone since the Broncos.

It probably made TD (and Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary) look better than they were. It probably makes Foster (and Tate) look better than they are. I say probably because who knows? Maybe TD and Foster would look just as good behind some other blocking scheme.

When run correctly, the ZBS looks as unstoppable to me as the Emmitt Smith Cowboys running game. I can remember being a kid, and seeing Broncos running plays where I absolutely knew where the ball was going, before the snap. Which means the defense did too. And TD would rip off an 8 yard run.

And I don't mean to knock either player, or sell them short. But if Foster does it for another 3 years, no reason not to compare him to TD.

 

[Foxhound]

This needs to stop.... Arian Foster is not a top 5 talent at the position...end of story. I saw someone say Ben Tate hasn't matched him... He's averaging 5 ypc....Best vision at his position? really? Better than Peterson and McFadden?Foster is a good back, yes. He is elite fantasy wise because hes in Houston. Put him in Jacksonville(MJD) Saint louis(SJax) and nobody would be talking about him being in the same ranks as Terrell Davis or having better attributes than McFadden or Peterson. It is not a coincidence that every back Houston has had in recent years has been extremely successful.

It's amazing how you have managed to trick yourself into believing that. He's a complete back. There aren't too many other RB in the league that can do everything he can. He's a top 5 RB on any team.

 

[golfguy]

these threads amuse me. if someone owns foster in fantasy land = he is top 5 back for sure. if someone doesn't own foster = he is sooooo overrated, and it's the o-line.

foster showed some serious skill while at tenn. his biggest issue was staying on the field. when he is out there, the guy has elite talent.

 

[dparker713]

This needs to stop.... Arian Foster is not a top 5 talent at the position...end of story. I saw someone say Ben Tate hasn't matched him... He's averaging 5 ypc....Best vision at his position? really? Better than Peterson and McFadden?Foster is a good back, yes. He is elite fantasy wise because hes in Houston. Put him in Jacksonville(MJD) Saint louis(SJax) and nobody would be talking about him being in the same ranks as Terrell Davis or having better attributes than McFadden or Peterson. It is not a coincidence that every back Houston has had in recent years has been extremely successful.

Peterson doesn't have particularly good vision. He misses plenty of holes. He's just so physically gifted, it just doesn't matter. Though best vision may be overrating Foster, it's certainly one of the areas he excels in. And given his total package, top 5 talent at his position seems perfectly defensible. Only player I think is definitively more talented is Peterson. Foster would be in my top 5 though, along with Rice, Steven Jackson and MJD.

 

[fantasizing]

My grandma could crack 1k rushing yards in Houston.Pretty much every back to play there under Kubiak has excelled. Dayne. Slaton. Foster. Tate. Doesn't really matter. Foster seems to be the best talent of the bunch, but I wouldn't put him on TD's level just yet.

Agree with this. The statistics bear this out. Defenses respect the passing game alot with A. Johnson and company that it just creates huge mismatchtes & holes at the line of scrimmage.I don't think Foster has nearly the same success on a team with a weak or mediocre passing game, like Oakland's or Minnesota's, for example.

 

[Shutout]

Really starting tO think people repeat more than they actually see.

Foster is a great back and people still can't get past the biases from last year.

His combination Of speed and size and vision is among the best in the league.

Someone mentioned McFadden as being superior but McFadden (the same guy everyone had all but written off before the season started last year) is fast. But he does not have the vision of foster. Peterson has the power and vision but not the decision making.

Shady McCoy might actually be the best comparable. That kid has it all too. But foster is clearly among the tops in the league and if he was playing in jet land or Cincy or Denver or one of the other non descriPt offenses foster would be a notable back regardless

 

[mr roboto]

Foster is top 10 in all phases. He isn't the fastest, nor the strongest, nor the most elusive.

His best attribute is his vision/decision making. Probably top 3. Everything else is top 5-10. Combined, it = top 5.

Print it guppies.

 

[wiscstlatlmia]

This needs to stop.... Arian Foster is not a top 5 talent at the position...end of story.

I saw someone say Ben Tate hasn't matched him... He's averaging 5 ypc....

Best vision at his position? really? Better than Peterson and McFadden?

Foster is a good back, yes. He is elite fantasy wise because hes in Houston. Put him in Jacksonville(MJD) Saint louis(SJax) and nobody would be talking about him being in the same ranks as Terrell Davis or having better attributes than McFadden or Peterson.

It is not a coincidence that every back Houston has had in recent years has been extremely successful.

Peterson doesn't have particularly good vision. He misses plenty of holes. He's just so physically gifted, it just doesn't matter. Though best vision may be overrating Foster, it's certainly one of the areas he excels in. And given his total package, top 5 talent at his position seems perfectly defensible. Only player I think is definitively more talented is Peterson. Foster would be in my top 5 though, along with Rice, Steven Jackson and MJD.

Ben Tate is officially 10th in the league in rushing yards.Ben Tate

623 yards on 109 carries = 5.7 YPC

Arian Foster

656 on 156 carries = 4.3 YPC

If Foster goes down Ben Tate would instantly become a top 5 Fantasy RB...you can put it on the board ...yes

 

[We Tigers]

This needs to stop.... Arian Foster is not a top 5 talent at the position...end of story.

I saw someone say Ben Tate hasn't matched him... He's averaging 5 ypc....

Best vision at his position? really? Better than Peterson and McFadden?

Foster is a good back, yes. He is elite fantasy wise because hes in Houston. Put him in Jacksonville(MJD) Saint louis(SJax) and nobody would be talking about him being in the same ranks as Terrell Davis or having better attributes than McFadden or Peterson.

It is not a coincidence that every back Houston has had in recent years has been extremely successful.

Peterson doesn't have particularly good vision. He misses plenty of holes. He's just so physically gifted, it just doesn't matter. Though best vision may be overrating Foster, it's certainly one of the areas he excels in. And given his total package, top 5 talent at his position seems perfectly defensible. Only player I think is definitively more talented is Peterson. Foster would be in my top 5 though, along with Rice, Steven Jackson and MJD.

Ben Tate is officially 10th in the league in rushing yards.Ben Tate

623 yards on 109 carries = 5.7 YPC

Arian Foster

656 on 156 carries = 4.3 YPC

If Foster goes down Ben Tate would instantly become a top 5 Fantasy RB...you can put it on the board ...yes

Then why wasn't he when Foster missed a few games earlier this year? Tate's very good, but he's not there yet.Foster's a great back. Houston makes him better, sure. If you really believe he'd be something like only the 8th best performing back in a different system, then oh heavens, no! That's still really good. McCoy's a fantastic back; do we downgrade him because having Vick as a running threat slow DE pursuits more often than on other teams? McFadden's a fantastic back; do we downgrade him because the Raiders often run a lot of single and 2-WR sets with a heavy focus on run blocking from their WRs? What RB wouldn't benefit from those situations? How about Matt Forte? Do we downgrade him because the Bears have no good WRs, making him the best receiver on the team?

You can play this game with almost any good player in the league. Houston isn't the only team that has a great running back and does everything they can to help him succeed.

 

[dparker713]

This needs to stop.... Arian Foster is not a top 5 talent at the position...end of story.

I saw someone say Ben Tate hasn't matched him... He's averaging 5 ypc....

Best vision at his position? really? Better than Peterson and McFadden?

Foster is a good back, yes. He is elite fantasy wise because hes in Houston. Put him in Jacksonville(MJD) Saint louis(SJax) and nobody would be talking about him being in the same ranks as Terrell Davis or having better attributes than McFadden or Peterson.

It is not a coincidence that every back Houston has had in recent years has been extremely successful.

Peterson doesn't have particularly good vision. He misses plenty of holes. He's just so physically gifted, it just doesn't matter. Though best vision may be overrating Foster, it's certainly one of the areas he excels in. And given his total package, top 5 talent at his position seems perfectly defensible. Only player I think is definitively more talented is Peterson. Foster would be in my top 5 though, along with Rice, Steven Jackson and MJD.

Ben Tate is officially 10th in the league in rushing yards.Ben Tate

623 yards on 109 carries = 5.7 YPC

Arian Foster

656 on 156 carries = 4.3 YPC

If Foster goes down Ben Tate would instantly become a top 5 Fantasy RB...you can put it on the board ...yes

And this proves what exactly?