NFL

[Nittany Ned]

The thing about Barkley v. Conner:

Barkley's situation: NYG suck, horrible offensive line, QB who is seemingly done, whining diva WR's - Saquon is the anti everything with that offense. Still putting up impressive numbers in spite of all this, and is a very level-headed and great kid. He was even calming down OBJ last night. That's pathetic for OBJ - I can't believe they really threw all that money at that guy.

Conner's: The Steelers "have all this talent" - should be SB contenders, Ben, despite his faults, is still very capable of putting up big games. AB, Juju look elite. And the team had arguably the best "do it all" back in the league - but he's an ass and isn't playing with the hold out. So you got a big contingency that will get behind Conner and want him to successfully succeed Bell - but then, the fault is, he will always be compared to Bell. So a bad game happens? "We need Bell. Teams plan for him." A bad pass play where Conner misses a block? "Bell is the best blocking back in the league. Wouldn't happen with him in." etc. Is it fair, warranted? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I understand the way the KC/Baltimore games started he couldn't get it rolling. But can't keep making excuses. I want to say we'll see as the season goes on if he's consistent - problem is, Bell will be back after Cincy, so the jury may still be out on him going into next year.

I still do like both. Obviously though Barkley is my guy, and you're foolish if you would take Conner over him.

[skullman80]

Good lord NN. You continue to make posts that are somehow even worse than your previous ones. It's amazing.

[willeyeam]

you could have skipped all the rambling and left your first and last lines. You'd still be wrong, but you could have saved everyone some time

[Lemon Berry Lobster]

go back to posting as shad, you are more fun that way

[count2infinity]

Wait... there are actually people that believe as it stands right now, Conner is a superior RB to Barkley? That can't be true... can't be. Quit trolling, Ulf.

[mikey]

Yeah, they aren't remotely close. That can't be right.

[Lemon Berry Lobster]

Barkley is only good because he breaks off big runs.

[slappybrown]

[count2infinity]

Some men just want to watch the world burn...

[Troy Loney]

Edge goes to Conner because of his recovery from cancer.

[Lemon Berry Lobster]

Edge goes to Conner because of his recovery from cancer.

Takes a slight hit for whatever that hair style is called.

[Dickie Dunn]

Edge goes to Conner because of his recovery from cancer.

Takes a slight hit for whatever that hair style is called.

**** fabulous, that's what its called.

[willeyeam]

It appears the official stance of 5AF mods is negative opinions of Penn St players is trolling. Shame

[mikey]

Thinking that Jimmy Conner is nearly as talented as Saquon Barkley is absolutely trolling.

[slappybrown]

Thinking that Jimmy Conner is nearly as talented as Saquon Barkley is absolutely trolling.

You also said that Conner didn't belong in the league. Was that trolling? Or was it just you not knowing what in the "dang hell" youre talking about? Many people are saying its the latter, but I remain open-minded on the topic.

[Troy Loney]

I mostly thought Conner looked effective when he got playing time last year, but I wrote him off when a shoulder to shoulder hit knocked him out for the season. I didn't think he could handle the contact from the RB position at this level.

But as far as this year, i only watched the first half of the chiefs game, so I have no clue what I'm talking about.

[Lemon Berry Lobster]

Conner is a pahr, dahn hill runner. Barkley is a flashy jokester that gets lucky. Conner >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Barkley.

[NTP66]

LBL’s joking, but he really is a downhill runner. Once he squares up, he does a good job going through defenders. Seems to be a great character guy, which this team desperately needs, too.

[Lemon Berry Lobster]

I know nothing about Barkley other than he went to PSU and now plays for the Giants. But I have been impressed with Conner, glad we have him on the team.

[mikey]

Thinking that Jimmy Conner is nearly as talented as Saquon Barkley is absolutely trolling.

You also said that Conner didn't belong in the league. Was that trolling? Or was it just you not knowing what in the "dang hell" youre talking about? Many people are saying its the latter, but I remain open-minded on the topic.

Yeah, he's still not selling me on anything...

He does have two strong games against Cleveland and Atlanta ("vaunted") in an offense that has two weapons (at least) that are more interesting for defenses to deal with than him (Jesse James and one of Juju or James Washington I guess)...

In 19 career games, he's rushed for 30 yards three times. That puts him on an elite list of 101 other players who have done that...since 2017...

I'm open to the idea of him being around the league, fine, but he's not an interesting player and doesn't look particularly skilled...maybe I'll end up being wrong...and maybe he'll end up with 3 touches per game after the league's best RB gets back in the saddle...

I've seen more than a few running backs roll through Indianapolis these last handful of years that look just as dumpy as James Conner, so forgive me if I'm not impressed that he doesn't distinguish himself from the cavalcade of losers I've had to watch since Edgerrin James left...

[Dickie Dunn]

The Steelers are getting Gurley?

I know that looking at total career production for a guy who spent his first NFL season as a backup is a fair and balanced way to further reinforce one's incorrect point, but in reality Conner averaged 4.5 yards per touch last year, is at 5.5 this year, and is averaging out to 5.3 in his very short career. Even in his "terrible" games in weeks two through four, he averaged 5 yards per touch against KC, 4.75 against TB, and a not good 3.67 against Baltimore.

Bell was at 4.8 last year, set his best mark in his second (and best) season at 5.9, and is at 5.2 for his career. Hell, people love to overlook that despite his considerable prowess that began in his second season, Bell averaged 3.5 yards per carry and 4.4 yards per touch in his rookie year.

Conner probably isn't going to be a hall of famer, but in reality neither is Bell. Conner is good and more than capable and mikey has bad football takes.

[Beveridge]

Pitt does have more players in the pro football hall of fame than points scored vs Penn State this year. Penn State does not.

Conner is best. H2P

[mikey]

Not trusted by coaching staff in tight spots...

Red Zone play is a fair measure of valuable players in my opinion...tighter space, best on best talent, more on the line...

These 3 seasons (2016, 2017, 2018)

Most touches+targets in the RZ league-wide:
Gurley 157
Gordon 139
Bell 120
Freeman 116
Blount 114
Hyde 107
Zeke 102
McCoy 100

WRs:
D.Adams 56
J.Nelson 49
M.Thomas 47
A.Brown 45
T.Montgomery 43
D.Thomas 42
M.Crabtree 41
M.Evans 40

##

Bell gets 4.5 touches per game in the RZ.
Conner as a starter gets just 3.

Team turns to skilled players to make plays in tight, despite high YPC average for Conner...

JuJu has more targets in the RZ than Conner has touches.

JuJu at 15 targets is second in the entire NFL in RZ targets (Kamara 16). Antonio Brown 10th in the entire league with 9 RZ targets.

Further example...Jesse James - 1 target. Nonsense player, not used.

Conner gets some touches, because all RBs do, of course. But the team has upped targets to others to compensate for the loss of Bell...do not have a player who can adequately replace him.

[MR25]

How many RZ opportunities does each team have, in comparison to how many touches a player gets? I think context matters here.

[willeyeam]

Oh Mikey, thinking anyone is being serious in this thread