All Day Long: 5 Of The Best Goal Line Running Backs Of 2010

Fourth and goal, one yard line. The call comes in – they’re going for the win. Some fans cover their eyes, others loudly cheer knowing that moments like these define a season and separate the good teams from the great. The coach knows full well that if they get in, he’s a genius, a hero. But, if they fail to convert the short yardage situation into crucial points, he’s  a scapegoat for a media feeding frenzy.

Some coaches have an easier time making this decision because of the personnel that they possess in terms of running backs, fullbacks, and perhaps most importantly – offensive lines.

Let’s take a look at the top five running backs I’d want carrying the ball on the goal line.

5] LaDainian Tomlinson, New York Jets

A change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered for the future Hall of Fame running back, and with what many hail as the best offensive line in the league, it will only make his job easier. The only issue is that teams know the Jets aren’t completely confident in Mark ‘The Sanchize’ Sanchez’s abilities as a quarterback after an interception plagued rookie campaign.

4] Willis McGahee/LaRon McClain, Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore has the inside track to win the AFC North this year, and McGahee and McClain are two of the biggest reasons why; both of them can lower their shoulder and pick up the tough yards, while still displaying brilliant flashes of speed and agility.
[ad#TS 120X60 Left]They’ll be running behind the best offensive line in the AFC North, with the second best quarterback in the North throwing the ball and taking pressure off of them. Couple that with a bolstered passing attack and defenses aren’t going to know what to look out for, giving these two the advantage over the previous two on the list.

3] Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

Gore is simply put – tough as nails. Pending the performance of the two rookie lineman he’ll be running behind, he could shoot up this list in a hurry. The Niners are looking to return to their glory days of the 1980’s and seemingly have to go through Gore, among others, to get there.
Like Tomlinson, he has some issues at the QB position, which could see him facing some loaded fronts focused on stopping him and only him.

2] Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Everyone knows that Peterson is the workhorse in Minnesota, and with Brett Favre undecided on his return to the game, AP seemingly remains the one thing that’s unwaveringly constant for the Vikings. Peterson has the ability to not only burn defenses with his speed, but possesses the power to run them over with ease.

1] Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

With LenDale White no longer playing for the Titans, or any NFL team, they have a dilemma to address once Johnson is on the field for them – who’s getting the goal line carries?
The Titans have come out and said that Johnson will not be running as much as he did last year, to prolong his career and thus increase the Titans long term success.
But, with the 2,000 yard milestone eclipsed by the young back last year, one can only imagine that he’d like to add a touchdown record to that growing list of accomplishments and thus he will be the biggest lobbyist for the cause. And I don’t see Tennessee taking their best player off the field in crunch time.
The intriguing thing is that Johnson, more so than any of the others, brings a receiving threat to the table on the goal line. All of his short yardage touchdowns will not be rushing touchdowns, thus opening up the game and giving him more opportunities to get into the endzone.

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