Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Saban wrote: Deacon Dan Towler and Paul Tank Younger were two big, strong running backs for the Los Angeles Rams and were both pretty good.

Ah, that is a good pairing from the 1950's!
Both are in the Hall of (the) Very Good and I've read a bit about them.
Of course, we're all familiar with the Rams offense of that era...

Anyone else from the "early days?"

Saban wrote:Dan Towler - Tank Younger. During the 50's, Dan Towler had some great years starting in 1951 and led the NFL in rushing in 1952. Dan started to slip a little bit in 1954, so Younger started getting more playing time at fullback and Tank had a succession of great years.

Funny thing, Towler and Younger were about the same age. Younger was a good linebacker and played at that position while Towler was the starting fullback during the early 50's, but Younger took over when Towler started slipping due to injuries or something.

Deacon Dan Towler and Paul Tank Younger were two big, strong running backs for the Los Angeles Rams and were both pretty good.

In goal-line and short-yardage situatiations, the Rams often went to the straight T-formation with their so-called "Bull Elephant" backfield of Younger, Towler, and Dick Hoerner. Younger was 6-3,225 pounds; Towler was 6-2 and 225, and Hoerner was 6-4 and 220.

JuggernautJ wrote:

Saban wrote: Deacon Dan Towler and Paul Tank Younger were two big, strong running backs for the Los Angeles Rams and were both pretty good.

Ah, that is a good pairing from the 1950's!
Both are in the Hall of (the) Very Good and I've read a bit about them.
Of course, we're all familiar with the Rams offense of that era...

Anyone else from the "early days?"

I always think of them operating together in the Bull Elephant backfield.

Barry Foster...Bam Morris...Jerome Bettis

JuggernautJ wrote:

Saban wrote: Deacon Dan Towler and Paul Tank Younger were two big, strong running backs for the Los Angeles Rams and were both pretty good.

Ah, that is a good pairing from the 1950's!
Both are in the Hall of (the) Very Good and I've read a bit about them.
Of course, we're all familiar with the Rams offense of that era...

Anyone else from the "early days?"

In the 1982 film History of Pro Football, Art Donovan tells a story. He apparently had a feud with Deacon Dan. After a running play, Art and another defender (not sure if it was Yanks, Texans or Colts) were beating on Towler. The ref grabbed Donovan and said "If you do that again, it's going to cost you $100 and I'll throw you out of the game." While this was going on, Younger came in for Towler, and Donovan didn't notice. Next play, Younger gets the ball, gets tackled, and Donovan, disregarding the ref's warning, is doing something to Tank's nose when he hears a cry "Hey, let me go! This ain't the Deac, it's the Tank!"

Peyton Hillis didn't play (six starts) that much and averaged five yards a carry when he did.

It's too bad that he got hurt when he did (catching a pass in Week 14 against the Chiefs, which was Denver's last win that year before their collapse). If they had a healthy Hillis for the rest of the year, they probably make the playoffs, and Shanny isn't fired, which changes everything for Denver football from the last ten years.

The Broncos had quite a sequence of running backs from 1998 through 2006:
1998--Terrell Davis, 2008 yds, 5.1 YPC
1999--Olandis Gary, 1159 yds, 4.2 YPC
2000--Mike Anderson, 1487 yds, 5.0 YPC
In 2001, Davis, Gary, and Anderson all had an assortment of injuries, but they combined for 1607 yards and a 4.0 YPC
2002--Clinton Portis, 1508 yds, 5.5 YPC
2003--Portis, 1591 yds, 5.5 YPC
2004--Reuben Droughans, 1240 yds, 4.5 YPC
2005--Anderson, 1014 yds, 4.2 YPC
2006--Tatum Bell, 1024 yds, 4.5 YPC

Of course, Alex Gibbs might deserve more credit for that than any of the running backs, which is why I was doubtful about Terrell Davis as a candidate for the HOF.

rhickok1109 wrote: Of course, Alex Gibbs might deserve more credit for that than any of the running backs...

My thoughts, exactly.
Not to belittle or demean any of the players mentioned (or many others in similar situations) but when you see success like that independent of who the running back is you have to wonder if it isn't the line or the system (or a combination thereof) which is more responsible than the guy carrying the ball.

I was thinking of the Broncos too - I'm glad someone else mentioned it because I didn't recall the exact years. An earlier example is the Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions - its not what the OP asked for, but it is good continuity of having a run of one or more successful (top 5 with others in top 10) runners - 9 season run if you are willing to include '30 and '31 which are unofficial:

'30: Chuck Bennett (1), Father Lumpkin (3), Glasgow (4)
'31: Glenn Presnell (2), Dutch Clark (3)
'32: Clark (4)
'33: Presnell (4), Ace Gutowsky (10)
'34: Clark (3), Ernie Caddel (5), Gutowsky (7) (7 500+ yard rushers in all, 3 on the Lions)
'35: Caddel (2), Clark (4)
'36: Gutowsky (2), Clark (3), Ernie Caddel (6)
'37: Clark (4), Caddel (9)
'38 Bill Shepherd (3), Gutowsky (5)

Was it the system, the line, the backs? Clark is in the HoF, Presnell and Ox Emerson HoVG. I've voted Christiansen and Gutowsky HoVG as well.

Whale about the Atlanta Falcons from 1979-1986? With William Andrews (4 seasons) and Gerald Riggs (3 seasons).