Torch Has Passed - NFL News

Torch Has Passed
By Chris Cluff
Posted: 4:00 am PDT 2006-09-10

Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin and Priest Holmes were among the NFL's most dominant running backs over the past decade, each leaving a legacy of spectacular seasons, league records and fallen defenders.

But conventional wisdom did what so many of those defenders could not do: It caught up to the 30-something rushers. Injuries have sidelined the trio, seemingly ending the career of each, and handed the ball off to a bevy of younger backs.

From 1999 to 2001, Faulk - and therefore St. Louis - was everyone's best bet. He was the most fantastic player in the league, averaging more than 2,200 yards from scrimmage and totaling 59 touchdowns. When injuries slowed him, Holmes took over as the NFL's top yardage machine, averaging better than 2,100 yards from scrimmage from 2001 to 2003 and scoring a league-record 27 touchdowns in that final year.

Martin, meanwhile, had made himself the league's most consistent runner. He eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in his first 10 seasons, culminating in his league-leading total of 1,697 yards in 2004. Martin is the fourth-leading rusher in league history - the benchmark for rising stars like Larry Johnson, Steven Jackson and LaMont Jordan.

Johnson, Jackson and Jordan have replaced the old fellows in the hierarchy of ace backs currently led by Shaun Alexander, LaDainian Tomlinson and Tiki Barber. They are joined by youngsters like Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown, Reggie Bush, DeAngelo Williams and Laurence Maroney, who are the future of the league's running games. Bettors will have to consider these backs, particularly on the over-unders.

Of course, Johnson is the one everyone is watching as this season begins. He brings a nine-game streak of 100-yard rushing performances into Kansas City's season opener against Cincinnati. Only Barry Sanders (14) and Marcus Allen (11) have put together longer streaks, and only Walter Payton, Deuce McAllister and Fred Taylor have run off streaks as long. But none of those luminaries has averaged more than the 150 yards per game Johnson did in his nine-game run last season after he had replaced Holmes.

Johnson might have a little trouble maintaining that pace because the Chiefs' two tackles retired and Johnson will be the main target of opposing defenses. But he's still the one to watch.

In St. Louis, the eye will be on Jackson, who replaces Faulk as the offensive focus. Jackson rushed for 1,046 yards in 15 starts last season, and he will get even more carries with Faulk gone and new coach Scott Linehan stressing the ground game.

Jordan - Martin's former backup in New York -- rushed for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns in his first year in Oakland. But he averaged just 3.8 yards per carry behind a discombobulated line. Coach Art Shell, a Hall of Fame lineman, has readjusted that line and will make good use of Jordan behind it.

"From my understanding, with Art running the ball (a lot), if there's one thing that I'm going to need, I'm going to have to be strong in that cardio division," Jordan told reporters.

In Florida, second-year backs Williams and Brown have become the main ballcarriers for the Buccaneers and Dolphins. And rookies Bush (New Orleans), Williams (Carolina) and Maroney (New England) figure to be very involved in their teams' running games almost from the start.

Bucs quarterback Chris Simms was talking about his teammate Williams, but he could have been referring to any of the aforementioned players when he told reporters, "He has a chance to be whoever he wants to be. He can be one of the best two or three running backs in the NFL for the next 10 seasons."

With three of the best over the last 10 seasons suddenly finished, there are plenty of youngsters ready to assume their spots atop the NFL's rushing hierarchy.

The handoff has been made.

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