Jamaal Charles Gets a Bill Simmons Shout-Out

by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Nov 5, 2010 1:35 PM CDT

Love him for his KD man-crush and hate him for his excessive dislike of Rick Barnes, The Sports Guy, Bill Simmons, has been on my personal Friday reading schedule for years.

And this Friday, Simmons gave a shout out to a guy who is quickly becoming Chris Johnson-lite: former Texas running back Jamaal Charles, whose sickening speed and ability to make himself difficult to tackle have made him an electric but undervalued commodity on the NFL scene this season.

Simmons:

By the way, if you created a differential for "how exciting a football player actually is on a scale of 1 to 100" and "how much buzz that player gets for being exciting on a scale of 1 to 100," Jamaal Charles would be an 84/9 for a differential of plus-75. I can't think of a more exciting football player who's gotten people less excited.

Well, Bill, Longhorn fans who have been paying attention to the NFL have noticed and the rest of country is going to start to take notice as well. Especially if Charles continues to have games like he did last week -- 22 carries for 177 yards against the Bills.

The former Longhorn speedster is averaging 6.5 yards per carry sharing the load with Thomas Jones. By comparison, only four other Top 30 backs in the NFL average even 5.0 yards a carry or more, the next-closest to Charles averaging nearly a yard less every run at 5.7 yards per carry. Yeah, that's no joke -- Charles averages nearly a yard more per carry than anyone else in the NFL with 64 or more attempts. Give him the ball, Todd Haley!

In other words, if you haven't been paying attention to Jamaal Charles, it's past time to start.

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I am proud to say that i saw this coming and drafted him as my number 2 RB and have started him all year long. he is the single biggest reason why the Chiefs are winning like they are.

by dukeoforange on Nov 5, 2010 2:11 PM CDT reply actions

While it's nice to see Jamaal doing well

it is a disconcerting symptom of the current college season that we look to former players for our excitement.

by bfaut86 on Nov 5, 2010 2:15 PM CDT reply actions

I think he's more fun to watch than Chris Johnson.

I think he’s more elusive. Johnson is just faster.

"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite

by Sunkist on Nov 5, 2010 2:17 PM CDT reply actions

He was this good last season - which makes it even more confusing...

Why is Haley rotating him with Jones? I guess there’s something to be said for keeping fresh legs, but at the beginning of the season there was still a question of whether Charles would be second string. Doesn’t make any sense!

by TXinDC on Nov 5, 2010 2:47 PM CDT reply actions

Umm...

“No. 3: Chris Johnson — Having an “off-year,” only he’s on pace for 1,400-plus rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s the only legitimately good offensive player on the 5-3 Titans and they’ve scored a league-leading 224 points. He doesn’t get credit for that?"

by Texas Wahoo on Nov 5, 2010 3:25 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah, I read that

Unfortunately, most members of the national media haven’t caught on that Vince is playing well. A lot of morons even had the audacity to say that the Moss acquisition was bad because Vince can’t throw deep, and so maybe Tennessee should turn to Kerry Collins. You can criticize VY on several things still, but one of them is NOT that he can’t throw a deep ball. That’s his best throw, and that is easily seen if you actually watch the games and study the statistics.

Also, another Longhorn on Tennessee, Ahmard Hall, is a darn good fullback.

That’s just more reason I ignore most of the blockheads on ESPN, SI, etc. They stick to presumptions and don’t watch games closely enough to challenge them. That said, I do find Simmons entertaining.

by TheElusiveShadow on Nov 5, 2010 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Bill Simmons is a buffoon, I don’t understand why anyone takes him seriously. Just because he talked up someone we all know is awesome (Jamaal) doesn’t change the fact that he’s an idiot.

by hodad on Nov 5, 2010 4:01 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Here Here

You're gonna strongly agree with some of what I say, and you'll strongly disagree with some of what I say. Either way, I don't give a d@#n. I'm just here to talk sports.

by Dirty Work on Nov 5, 2010 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

[citation needed]

If you're so sure of what it ain't, how about telling us what it am!

by circa1015 on Nov 5, 2010 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Something I pointed out on Arrowhead Pride:

Jamaal Charles is averaging more yards per attempt than a lot of starting NFL quarterbacks are…rushing for him, passing for them. This includes overrated prettyboy ~~John Tucker~~ Mark Sanchez.

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

by burntorangehorn on Nov 5, 2010 7:04 PM CDT reply actions