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December 05, 2008, 12:36:02 AM
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Jim Day
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« on: July 19, 2008, 04:55:45 AM »
The Great Debate: Jamal Lewis


Over an eight-year career, former first-round pick Jamal Lewis has carried the ball an impressive 2,120 times for 9,150 yards and a respectable average of 4.3 yards per carry. These totals work out to around 265 carries and 1,144 yards every year. If we exclude the entire 2001 season he missed due to injury, it's even more impressive: 303 carries for 1,307 yards each year he actually played. One reason these totals are so high is they include a historic 2003 season with the Baltimore Ravens where Lewis broke the single-game rushing record (at that time) by piling up 295 yards against the Cleveland Browns. He went on to finish the season as only the fifth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single year.

But NFL careers don't last forever, especially for Running Backs who take a lot of pounding. After being released by the Ravens in February 2007, Lewis signed with the division rival Cleveland Browns and many expected the inevitable decline in productivity by the aging back. But instead, Lewis ended the season as a top-five RB in rushing yards, with 298 carries for 1,304 yards, with another 200+ yard game against the Cincinnati Bengals. 2007 turned out to be Lewis' best season since that historic 2003 one.

Lewis has been a workhorse for a long time in the NFL and has seen a LOT of yards pass by in the rearview mirror. Now, after signing a three-year deal with the Browns in February of this year, Lewis is heading into his 9th season. He'll also be 29 when this season starts, nearly ancient for most NFL running backs.

So now, just as when he started in Cleveland last year, the fantasy football fans look towards the inevitable and again the question in many minds is; Does Lewis still have anything left in the tank?

Can Jamal Lewis be expected to be the same reliable back he surprisingly turned out to be last year? With a new deal locked up, will he still be hungry enough to endure another season-long grind? Can his aging body even withstand the wear and tear of yet another year?

Two of the Whiz's own tackle these questions and, not surprisingly, come up with differing opinions:


Article Link: The Great Debate: Jamal Lewis
« Last Edit: July 19, 2008, 06:26:38 AM by Taz » Logged
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« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2008, 06:05:17 PM »
I think Jamal Lewis has another year left in him but I'm afraid he'll be no where near last years level of play,
and I say this for a couple of reasons, age and the run defense schedule he's facing,

It's the Run Stopping N.F.C. East this year for Jamal, and of course the 2 games apiece with Pittsburgh and Baltimore
somehow don't exactly make me think he's going to have alot of fun this year.

Last Year was a great story and I think that's where it will remain, I don't think Jamal will break down in 08,
but this will be the year the process of breaking down starts.
Jamal Lewis may get you the 1,000 yards this year, but those yards are going to be brutal.

I predict J.Lewis will be lucky to finish with much more then a 1,000 yards this season,
and more then likely It's going to be those hard fought ugly yards,
You know the one's, 60 and 70 yard rushing days.

There's just To many strong Run Defense's back to back on the schedule this year.
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