Who was the better RB? Roy Helu or Brandon Jackson?

Who was the better running back?

  • Roy Helu

    Votes: 16 28.1%

  • Brandon Jackson

    Votes: 41 71.9%
  • Total voters
    57
newearthhusker said:
3 year total for Brandon Jackson = 1431 rushing yards (4.9 ypc) and 313 receiving yards

3 year total(not including SR. year) for Marlon Lucky = 1910 rushing yards (4.9 ypc) and 1091 receiving yards

3 year total for Roy Helu JR = 2159 rushing yards (5.5 ypc) and 455 receiving yards

What does this all mean? Who knows but if you base opinions on solely the stats alone B-Jax is way behind.
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These are good stats, but you left out how many games played and how many total carries. B-Jax played only sparingly in his first two full actual playing years. Helu has been seeing significant PT ever since 2008. B-Jax really only got a lot of touches in one year.

Again, not saying finding those stats changes much. I'm just pointing out that B-Jax played significantly less than Helu.

 
Callahan regime is the problem in this equation. Mostly because B-Jax should have been the feature back and had way more carries at least his Junior year. He was hot that season and was made to sit the bench for no reason other than the actual callahan recruits needed to get their carries to keep them from transferring and whatnot.

 
Number of games played and carries in the respective 3 year spans:

Jackson – 33 & 291

Lucky – 38 & 393

Helu JR – 33 & 387

Even if you take their 2 most productive seasons since all three of them have basically one season that was a “waste” the stats lean in Helu Jr’s favor.

Jackson – 24 games with 273 carries for 1379 yards @ 5.0 YPC

Lucky – 26 games with 346 carries for 1747 yards @ 5.0 YPC

Helu JR – 26 games with 342 carries for 1942 yards @ 5.7 YPC

If you want to throw in receiving stats for their two best years

Jackson – 33 catches for 313 yards

Lucky – 107 catches for 1088 yards

Helu JR – 44 catches for 415 yards

 
people seem to like jackson even though his stats werent any better than luckys. Hulus are far and above either of the other two as well...

 
husker B-rent said:
people seem to like jackson even though his stats werent any better than luckys. Hulus are far and above either of the other two as well...
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I think one thing this boils down to his B-Jax's overall athletic build. I think a lot of people liked his overall running style better. When I compare the two, B-Jax had power for the tough running and speed/elusiveness to get away from defenders. Helu, despite the size increase, still has never looked great in tough running situations and I haven't seen the elusiveness from Helu that I saw from B-Jax.

Plus, B-Jax gets my vote because of his run for a touchdown against Texas. Helu has never done anything like that against top tier competition, good o-line or not (I won't accept 2008 Oklahoma game as an argument, because that game was well out of hand early on). Even in 2008, when the o-line was significantly better than 2009, Helu didn't do anything that gawdy. Sure, he had big rushing games against 2009 VaTech and 2009 Oklahoma, but he didn't have a single touchdown.

For me, if I had to take one of them into battle it would be B-Jax. That may be different then your opinion, and that's fine, because it's just an opinion. I like what I saw in potential for B-Jax, and you like the stats that swing in Helu's favor. Each to his own. If Helu can put up as many yards this season as he did last season but finish those big time runs with touchdowns AND tough it through any smaller injuries, then he will get my vote.

 
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Enhance89 said:
husker B-rent said:
people seem to like jackson even though his stats werent any better than luckys. Hulus are far and above either of the other two as well...
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I think one thing this boils down to his B-Jax's overall athletic build. I think a lot of people liked his overall running style better. When I compare the two, B-Jax had power for the tough running and speed/elusiveness to get away from defenders. Helu, despite the size increase, still has never looked great in tough running situations and I haven't seen the elusiveness from Helu that I saw from B-Jax.

Plus, B-Jax gets my vote because of his run for a touchdown against Texas. Helu has never done anything like that against top tier competition, good o-line or not (I won't accept 2008 Oklahoma game as an argument, because that game was well out of hand early on). Even in 2008, when the o-line was significantly better than 2009, Helu didn't do anything that gawdy. Sure, he had big rushing games against 2009 VaTech and 2009 Oklahoma, but he didn't have a single touchdown.

For me, if I had to take one of them into battle it would be B-Jax. That may be different then your opinion, and that's fine, because it's just an opinion. I like what I saw in potential for B-Jax, and you like the stats that swing in Helu's favor. Each to his own. If Helu can put up as many yards this season as he did last season but finish those big time runs with touchdowns AND tough it through any smaller injuries, then he will get my vote.
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Bingo. For me it comes down to the fact that BJax was just as fast and shifty as Helu . . . but BJax had power and toughness that Helu lacks. To each their own. I think everyone has their opinion and isn't going to be swayed by some message board argument.

If I were forced to pick one to play on my team I'd pick BJax and not look back.

 
I agree with most of the opinions in this thread. I also like how we get another entire year with Helu running the show. I look forward to digging this thread up (or starting a new one) come January 2011.

 
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SkerChicago said:
I agree with most of the opinions in this thread. I also like how we get another entire year with Helu running the show. I look forward to digging this thread up (or starting a new one) come January 2011.
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Me too. I hope Helu makes me totally forget about BJax. :thumbs

 
Sorry Landlord, I checked the Cotton Bowl stats:

Lucky did not tear it up...25 carries for 88yds

and BJax did not get his fair share: 7 for 38

lucky also caught 6 passes...

Plus I remember thinking BJax would get in there and break off some tough runs and then immediatley get taken out. Never got into a rhthym.

And IIRC, he even said in interviews after the game something like, 'i don't know why I wasn't given an opportunity in that game.' and he said it with real frustration.

Face it, BJax was a big tough runner who broke plays long. Made something out of nothing. Lucky was good, not great...Helu just needs to really prove it and take 100% charge of his ability and stay healthy.

 
carlfense said:
husker B-rent said:
just because a back looks the part it doesnt make him great....
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I don't know if "great" belongs in the discussion. The poll was who was (or is) better.

I don't think I'd place either back in the "great" discussion.
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Absolutely. B-Jax will go down as a good not great back, and Helu still has a year left. But, even then, Helu would still have to do some amazing things to be put in the great category (and by great, I mean guys like Ahman Green, LP, and Calvin Jones).

 
I am I said:
Sorry Landlord, I checked the Cotton Bowl stats:

Lucky did not tear it up...25 carries for 88yds

and BJax did not get his fair share: 7 for 38

lucky also caught 6 passes...

Plus I remember thinking BJax would get in there and break off some tough runs and then immediatley get taken out. Never got into a rhthym.

And IIRC, he even said in interviews after the game something like, 'i don't know why I wasn't given an opportunity in that game.' and he said it with real frustration.

Face it, BJax was a big tough runner who broke plays long. Made something out of nothing. Lucky was good, not great...Helu just needs to really prove it and take 100% charge of his ability and stay healthy.
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Jackson was still coming off of some kind of an injury (I think it was a broken hand but I can't remember). As far as Lucky, I was remembering mostly the first quarter, in which he played really, really well.

 
Landlord of Memorial Stadium said:
I am I said:
Sorry Landlord, I checked the Cotton Bowl stats:

Lucky did not tear it up...25 carries for 88yds

and BJax did not get his fair share: 7 for 38

lucky also caught 6 passes...
Click to expand...

Jackson was still coming off of some kind of an injury (I think it was a broken hand but I can't remember). As far as Lucky, I was remembering mostly the first quarter, in which he played really, really well.
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In the Cotton Bowl NU had 230 total yards as a team and Lucky had 155 of those. It would appear he was the only one on offense that did anything that would resemble “tearing it up”. <_<

I’m pretty sure you are right about Jackson having a broken hand or recovering from that. Didn’t he have a brace on it during that game? :dunno

 
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