Neal Anderson's Place In History
by Adam T on Jun 16, 2008 11:22 AM CDT
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PrintAround here obviously Neal Anderson is well liked, but outside of Bears fans I'm not really sure how he is viewed. Being the guy who took over for Walter Payton, will always make your numbers look smaller than they actually are. Here is a small break down of how running backs have faired after taking over for a HOFer (official site).
Six running backs have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame beginning in 1993 with Walter Payton, and of their replacements, Neal Anderson has been the most productive by a wide margin. Anderson is the only member of that group to rush for at least 1,000 yards in three straight seasons immediately following the Hall of Famer’s departure from his primary team. The leading rushers in the year after Tony Dorsett (Cowboys), Marcus Allen (Raiders), Barry Sanders (Lions) and Thurman Thomas (Bills) left their teams mustered just 446, 591, 542 and 591 yards, respectively. The only squad other than the Bears that had a measure of success replacing a future Hall of Famer was the Los Angeles Rams, who unloaded Eric Dickerson and acquired Greg Bell as part of a three-team trade. Bell rushed for 1,212 and 1,137 yards in his first two full seasons with the Rams, but they grew weary of his demands to renegotiate his contract and traded him to the Raiders.
In his career Neal Anderson made 4 Pro Bowls, during his most productive period, 1988-1990, he had TD totals of 12, 11, 10 respectively and averaged 1153 yards per season (this of course when 1,000 yards meant something). He finished with career totals of 6166 yards and 51 TDs.
What is your take on Anderson?
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Good Times
I think if Neal Anderson could have stayed a bit more healthy he would have been widely considered one of the best multi-threat backs ever. I really loved watching Anderson play. He could do everything, run, catch, block. I think when you mention Chicago’s great running back tradition, you have to mention Anderson along with Payton and Sayers. I would actually put him ahead of Sayers. I know Sayers had two really explosive years, and almost as many TDs in one less year, but overall Neal Anderson was more productive over his 7 year Bear career.
I'm as Big a Bears fan as any...
...but you are coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs if you think Anderson, as good as he was, is anywhere close to Sayers or Payton.
Besides the obvious - Go Irish.
Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.
Call me crazy
I would probably change my tune if I watch some Sayers footage. I haven’t seen much of what he did, just numbers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSdeIS52-E4
You can and should look up more, but this is a good place to start. basically, he could cut in just about any direction without slowing down and had excellent vision.
Besides the obvious - Go Irish.
Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.
I was going to post something about Tecmo Super Bowl
but it looks like you beat me to it.
I liked Neal Anderson
Who am I to judge myself.
Not to mention
Brad Muster. Obviously not as good as the Nigerian Nightmare, but still, quite the punisher.
The first time I played a full season with the Raiders, Bo Jackson got hurt in the same game that ended his football career. I believe that was against the Bengals? I went ahead and finished the season switching Allen out as the primary back (after changing out a few plays of course) because of the comic value. Otherwise, I totally would have reset the game…
"And"-erson
He was a great back. Very productive, could give you a little bit of everything.. ...the long run, the steady 5 yarders, between the tackles, sweep… ...I really liked Anderson. However, I have to agree with s-tai: Sayers is comfortably above Neal. Still, he was a great and productive back and would have been regarded quite differently were it not for a hamstring injury.
As it is, only the Bears history could put an emphasis on the And in Neal’s name. And again, why nobody mentions Red Grange is beyond me. I know that football was completely different in that era but, to me, it is very much like George Mikan and the NBA.
Neal Anderson...
...is no doubt an unheralded name in Bears lore. We only had one guy take over for Payton, and he did a good job at that.
I’ll pull some Anderson clips and run onto youtube.
Besides the obvious - Go Irish.
Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.
ditto for the above comments
I loved Neal Anderson – he really could do it all, including putting the blitzing rushers flat on their asses when it was necessary. His one signature move that I’ll always remember is that if he ever got the corner on you…pffft, gone. I don’t remember another Bears back that had that kind of breakaway speed once he got to the outside.
Neal Anderson
What I remember was the perfect replacement at the time, but he could not stay healthy. I think Neal would have done great things for the Bears. The only problem, correct me if I’m wrong, a QB problem at the time too.
Shepp 3:16
Flank Right
I was at the game in 1990, when Neal Anderson caught a 50 yard pass in the end zone – dove and laid out for the score. He is very under-rated. Soft hands, great vision, a good blocker, and a team player. He basically played a full season with a bad hamstring and it shortened his career because of it. It was cold as all get out at that Detroit game, and a pretty boring game to boot. I remember vividly, Anderson behind Harbaugh in a single back set, and all of a sudden he ran out to the right flank. The next thing you know Harbaugh was winging it, and Anderson made the play and won the game for us! I met him in person at a bar off of Milwaukee Ave. in the 90s. He was a laid back, nice guy.
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