Shaun Alexander (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

2005 - 1,958 total yards, 28 TDs, 5.1 YPC (NFL MVP)

2006 - 944 total yards, 7 TDs, 3.6 YPC

2007 - 792 total yards, 5 TDs, 3.5 YPC

2008 - Only 11 carries with Washington

Can anyone remember another running back having such a precipitous decline in his career numbers? (Other than the RBs who suffered MAJOR injuries). From NFL MVP to falling off a cliff in the blink of an eye. The YPC stat is the most striking thing. Was it just a matter of shutting it down after getting paid after the 2005 season? Was it losing Steve Hutchinson, Robbie Tobeck and Mack Strong? A combination of factors?

He never seemed like the hardest working guy in the world to me. I'll give him a pass for the broken foot in 2006, but the fractured wrist in 2007 is no excuse given that he deemed himself healthy enough to play 13 games after the injury.

 

[Garts]

BIG contact plus losing Hutch/Strong were the keys IMO.

 

[Clash of the Titans]

i think we should chalk up the abrupt demise of shaun to the " 370 carry " rule.......after all he did hit that magic number in 2005

seriously....after watching shaun since his days at alabama....i think he was a solid player who really did nothing special....he played in a very good offense at seattle with one of the best offensive lines in football in a defensively weak division...i think a primary reason he bottomed out can mainly be attributed to drive and mental toughness as he got older.....shaun was just one of those players who didn't have that....and from what i understand he didn't work out that hard over the years in the offseason....he just looked out of shape after that 2005 season....probably because he got his big pay day....i hate to say this being a 'Bama fan...but he was really soft.....several times i watched him just basically lay down on plays or run out of bounds to avoid hits......a big part of the game of the football is mental.... and shaun just got progressively softer after that year....not to mention his offensive line weakened as well......those are your two biggest reasons...

on a more serious note...shaun is a really good guy who lives his life like a Christian off the field.....he's a nice example of being a role model for kids...

 

[Raider Nation]

on a more serious note...shaun is a really good guy who lives his life like a Christian off the field.....he's a nice example of being a role model for kids...

Indeed. And he'll never have to buy a drink or a meal for the rest of his life in the great state of Alabama. By all accounts from my Crimson Tide friends, he's a BAMA legend and has a popularity down there which few have achieved. Somewhere between Bear Bryant and Joe Willie.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

2005 - 1,958 total yards, 28 TDs, 5.1 YPC (NFL MVP)

2006 - 944 total yards, 7 TDs, 3.6 YPC

2007 - 792 total yards, 5 TDs, 3.5 YPC

2008 - Only 11 carries with Washington

Can anyone remember another running back having such a precipitous decline in his career numbers? (Other than the RBs who suffered MAJOR injuries). From NFL MVP to falling off a cliff in the blink of an eye. The YPC stat is the most striking thing. Was it just a matter of shutting it down after getting paid after the 2005 season? Was it losing Steve Hutchinson, Robbie Tobeck and Mack Strong? A combination of factors?

He never seemed like the hardest working guy in the world to me. I'll give him a pass for the broken foot in 2006, but the fractured wrist in 2007 is no excuse given that he deemed himself healthy enough to play 13 games after the injury.

Alexander was not a special player, he was just in a special situation. When that situation dissipated, so did Alexander's production.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Larry Johnson's fall from grace was pretty quick as well.

 

[perry147]

Larry Johnson's fall from grace was pretty quick as well.

Corey Dillon

 

[inzanitee]

Rudi Johnson comes to mind as well.

 

[Ripleys]

Emmit Smith...in Arizona

 

[thriftyrocker]

Emmit Smith...in Arizona

Emmitt had a decent year in Arizona before retiring. Not much worse than he was in Dallas before they kicked him out.A better example is Franco Harris in Seattle

 

[DaWidowMaker]

I enjoyed S.Alexander at Bama and had a good feeling about him being a solid player in the pros which he became....however I think his reputation for being soft has ruined his credibility as a football player. I have a theory that he's also being black balled out of the league due to his "suspicious" characteristics that he's displayed on the field and sidelines. I'm sure most of you think I'm out of my mind but why is it so tough to get on a football team as a 3rd string insurance policy for the veteran minimum?

 

[Holy Schneikes]

I enjoyed S.Alexander at Bama and had a good feeling about him being a solid player in the pros which he became....however I think his reputation for being soft has ruined his credibility as a football player. I have a theory that he's also being black balled out of the league due to his "suspicious" characteristics that he's displayed on the field and sidelines. I'm sure most of you think I'm out of my mind but why is it so tough to get on a football team as a 3rd string insurance policy for the veteran minimum?

The vet min for an older guys is fairly significant. That's why you see young guys (who are much cheaper) in positions/roles you are talking about. They also typically play special teams, which Alexander would not bring you. Plus, you have the chance of developing a young guy into a starter down the road. All in all it's a much better deal for the team to have the young guy.It's funny, the CBA has the vet min in place to "help" veteran players, but a lot of times it prevents them from getting jobs. There have been a lot of examples of this.

 

[DaWidowMaker]

I believe the vet minimum for Alexander would be in the neighborhood of 500K ish....For someone with Alexanders background that is a small drop in the bucket for one years work which he has stated he would play for. So something else is amiss if you ask me.

 

[Balance]

Barry Sanders. Poof he was gone...

 

[Sweet Love]

Some people added some others, but I'll also throw in Chris Warren, and maybe Eddie George (I remember he was injured, but I don't think it was major..could be wrong though). The reality is that this happens to a lot of RBs after they tote the rock almost exclusively for a 5 year window (especially the less shiftier backs). Guys like Martin, Smith and Tomlinson and Sanders were good at staying healthy, because although they ran hard, they had a knack for avoiding the big hit...SA, not as much. He did appear to run soft, but I am no expert. I would watch Michael Pittman run and thought that he was a beast, yet he never had the numbers to match.

SA had 5 years of 350 touches or more before the wheels started to fall off. That is nearly 2000 touches during that period. I am not saying he didn't just fall off the map (because he did...look at his draft classmate Jamal Lewis and what he has done AFTER some major injuries), but I also think people are shorting him his due credit. He had a very good line...so do most of the better backs that put up MVP-type seasons. He also had a wicked nose for the endzone and probably will be the most prolific RB (numbers-wise) not to make the Hall.

One last point I just noticed. He did not get a starting gig until he was 24 and that may have something to do with the fact that he dropped off like that...just a thought.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

I enjoyed S.Alexander at Bama and had a good feeling about him being a solid player in the pros which he became....however I think his reputation for being soft has ruined his credibility as a football player. I have a theory that he's also being black balled out of the league due to his "suspicious" characteristics that he's displayed on the field and sidelines. I'm sure most of you think I'm out of my mind but why is it so tough to get on a football team as a 3rd string insurance policy for the veteran minimum?

I think what you should understand is most coaches take those roster spots a lot more seriously than most message board posters.E-mail your question to Shanahan or Belichick.What would be interesting is if we could get all these black balled guys together on one team to play exhibition preseason games against the pro teams.QB - CulpepperRB - AlexanderAre there any receivers being black balled?Jerry Rice....?edit: If this takes off I think the NFL has their answer for that Old School NBA game.

 

[Jack Burton]

2005 - 1,958 total yards, 28 TDs, 5.1 YPC (NFL MVP)

2006 - 944 total yards, 7 TDs, 3.6 YPC

2007 - 792 total yards, 5 TDs, 3.5 YPC

2008 - Only 11 carries with Washington

Can anyone remember another running back having such a precipitous decline in his career numbers? (Other than the RBs who suffered MAJOR injuries). From NFL MVP to falling off a cliff in the blink of an eye. The YPC stat is the most striking thing. Was it just a matter of shutting it down after getting paid after the 2005 season? Was it losing Steve Hutchinson, Robbie Tobeck and Mack Strong? A combination of factors?

He never seemed like the hardest working guy in the world to me. I'll give him a pass for the broken foot in 2006, but the fractured wrist in 2007 is no excuse given that he deemed himself healthy enough to play 13 games after the injury.

A number years ago a Seattle sports talk show host was commenting on how an assistant coach with the Seahawks early in Shauns career spoke about how his talent would one day get him in trouble . The coach was basically implying that Shaun was such a natural talent at the RB position that he appeared to be giving less than full effort and still it was a cake walk for him. I dont think Shaun will ever get the due credit for a stellar career because of the perception that he was soft or that he coasted once he got paid. He was never the kind of back that would lower his shoulder and drive into the pile even early in career. He often looked to avoid contact and would rather run out of bounds rather than taking big hits but those traits were never a problem when he was a top back in the league. They were only an issue when he struggled to put up big numbers. His steep drop off was due to health issues and Oline issues plain and simple.

 

[FavreCo]

Here ya go. I remember this one.

Ricky Watters. He fell off a cliff.

2000: 16 278-1242-7

2001: 4 72- 318-1

 

[CalBear]

QB - CulpepperRB - AlexanderAre there any receivers being black balled?Jerry Rice....?edit: If this takes off I think the NFL has their answer for that Old School NBA game.

WR - David BostonWR - Matt JonesTE - Jerramy StevensK - Mike Vanderjagt

 

[Balco]

I enjoyed S.Alexander at Bama and had a good feeling about him being a solid player in the pros which he became....however I think his reputation for being soft has ruined his credibility as a football player. I have a theory that he's also being black balled out of the league due to his "suspicious" characteristics that he's displayed on the field and sidelines. I'm sure most of you think I'm out of my mind but why is it so tough to get on a football team as a 3rd string insurance policy for the veteran minimum?

Alexander was just not impressive the last couple of years to warrant that pay. Often times, a teams 3rd stringer is asked to play special teams as well, and I can't see Alexander jumping at the chance to be a gunner, or blocker. He is old, has not been remotely serviceable the last 2 years, and doesn't play specials. And he doesn't block or catch. Why would anyone want to sign him for the vets minimum? With that said, I have a soft spot in my heart for Shaun, he was huge for my dynasty team (I drafted him # 1 in my rookie draft, couldn't decide between him and Ron Dayne).

 

[Warhogs]

I am going on memory here and this is not a major name but I thought Leroy Hoard had a double digit TD total his last year with the Vikings and then went to the unemployment line. Eddie George did seem to fall off fast as well as Jerry Rice after his last decent season. Joey Galloway fell quickly too when he fell off. Barry Foster from a while ago but injuries may have been a part of that.

 

[Zoomanji]

QB - CulpepperRB - AlexanderAre there any receivers being black balled?Jerry Rice....?edit: If this takes off I think the NFL has their answer for that Old School NBA game.

WR - David BostonWR - Matt JonesTE - Jerramy StevensK - Mike Vanderjagt

Boston will be suspended (for a year I think if he comes back)Jones will be signedStevens is on TBVandy.....well he's an idiot kicker.

 

[Clash of the Titans]

on a more serious note...shaun is a really good guy who lives his life like a Christian off the field.....he's a nice example of being a role model for kids...

Indeed. And he'll never have to buy a drink or a meal for the rest of his life in the great state of Alabama. By all accounts from my Crimson Tide friends, he's a BAMA legend and has a popularity down there which few have achieved. Somewhere between Bear Bryant and Joe Willie.

actually i have heard shaun may be in the running for the color analyst position on the 'Bama football broadcasts this season.......to replace ( speak of the devil) your man kenny stabler.....the latest i heard i about stabler is he has moved from the gulf coast to the oakland area so he can be near his grandkids with the possibility of working in the raider orgainization...any truth to that????

 

[vnel8tn]

Curtis Martin came to mind as I read this thread...maybe my memory ain't what it...um...maybe my memory ain't.....um....where was I???

 

[comfortably numb]

Ahman Green had one of the better years for a RB. 1800 and 15 TD's

Did injuries do him in?

 

[Garts]

Whomever said Rudi Johnson was a cliff faller....boy was he ever.

He took a POUNDING in his 3-4 good years.

He couldn't make a guy miss to save his life.

 

[Enforcer]

Here ya go. I remember this one.

Ricky Watters. He fell off a cliff.

2000: 16 278-1242-7

2001: 4 72- 318-1

Does he really qualify?

Can anyone remember another running back having such a precipitous decline in his career numbers? (Other than the RBs who suffered MAJOR injuries).

Watters was injured in his final season with Seattle allowing Alexander to take over the starting job. However, at the send of the season Holmgren put Alexander on the bench in favor of Watters, and Watters performed well.