MJD - better than all the rest?

In spite of the awful performance of the Jacksonville Jaguars this past Sunday, I’ve been wanting to do the following comparison for some time now and finally got around to doing it tonight. A little while back I heard a sports radio guy talk about Maurice Jones Drew and how he had interviewed MJD a few days before the draft. He asked MJD where he thought he would go in the draft to which MJD replied, “First.” The radio guy clarified by saying, “First round, right. But where?” So MJD clarified by saying, “No, not in the first round. First overall. I believe I’m the best player in the draft.” (Mind you I’m sure this is paraphrased)

So, I thought I would compare MJD’s first three seasons (he was eventually drafted 60^th overall, 28^th in the second round), to the running backs taken in the draft before MJD. They are as follows (and I did not include Laurence Maroney of the New England Patriots as he missed almost all of last season with an injury):

Reggie Bush (drafted #2 overall)

DeAngelo Williams (drafted #27)

Joseph Addai (drafted #30)

LenDale White (drafted #45)

These stats actually include stats through this past weekend.

Rush Attempts

Bush – 454

Williams – 597

Addai – 704

White – 597

MJD – 605

Yards Rushing

Bush – 1698

Williams – 2953

Addai – 2907

White – 2260

MJD – 2863

Rushing TD’s

Bush – 13

Williams – 25

Addai – 27

White – 23

MJD – 39

Receptions

Bush – 227

Williams – 89

Addai – 132

White – 41

MJD – 169

Receiving Yards

Bush – 1720

Williams – 712

Addai – 1048

White – 202

MJD – 1528

Receiving TD’s

Bush – 8

Williams – 4

Addai – 7

White – 0

MJD – 4

Fumbles/Fumbles Lost

Bush – 16/9

Williams – 4/3

Addai – 4/4

White – 6/6

MJD – 9/5

Total Yards/Touchdowns

Bush – 3418/21

Williams – 3665/29

Addai – 3955/34

White – 2462/23

MJD – 4391/43

Looks like MJD has 450 more total yards than the next nearest guy and 9 more touchdowns. Not bad at all MJD. Not bad at all.