Considering the last two number one draft picks in the draft were both running backs, I thought it'd be interesting to start a thread chronicling their careers as they unfold.

I basically intend to provide a comparison of their stats week by week, and you can feel free to chime in with analysis.

Here is a little background information to get us started:
At this point, Burt "the polish express" Liszkiewicz has a solid rookie season under his belt, as he rushed for just under 1000 yards and 4 tds leading to Seattle to their first winning record and falling just short of the playoffs. He is off to a bit of a slow start so far this year with 28 carries for 107 yards and 1 td through his first two games. So far he has been relatively ineffective as a reciever tallying just 18 catches for 99 yards and 2 tds in his first 18 games.
Alan Spearman has been explosive in his first two games at Hartford averaging 5.41 yards per carry. He has rushed 29 times for 157 yards and 1 td. Additionally, he has caught 5 passes for 60 yards and a td. Contrary to the normal predicament of a #1 draft pick, Spearman has joined one of the best teams in the league, which should only help his production.

Week 2 comparison:
Rushing:
Liszkiewicz - 14 carries, 42 yards, 1 td
Spearman - 12 carries, 53 yards
Recieving:
Liszkiewicz - 1 catch, 17 yards
Spearman - 2 catches, 22 yards

Let's not forget special teams contributions. I remember the Polish Express as being a decent returner last year but I don't have numbers handy to compare them.

_________________
ROF Division Champions: 2039 - 2043, 2045, 2047, 2054, 2056 - 2060, 2063, 2066-2067
WFC Conference Champions: 2018, 2041, 2042, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062-2063
CFL Champions: 2018, 2041, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062

99 yard return for a TD this week.

_________________

[quotea8df2da="TurfToe"]Let's not forget special teams contributions. I remember the Polish Express as being a decent returner last year but I don't have numbers handy to compare them.[/quotea8df2da]

Good thinking. From now on I will add the return statistics.

Week 3 comparison:
[ba8df2da]Rushing:[/ba8df2da]
Liszkiewicz - 13 carries, 37 yards
Spearman - 14 carries, 30 yards, 2 tds
[ba8df2da]Recieving:[/ba8df2da]
Liszkiewicz - 0
Spearman - 1 catch, 5 yards
[ba8df2da]Returns:[/ba8df2da]
Liszkiewicz - 2 kr, 121 yards, 1 td
Spearman - 0

This sounds too much like a crime-fighting duo.

Spear-Man and Liskiewicz

Perhaps a tights-adorned superhero who disperses his foes with his Javelins of Justice . . . and his accountant.

_________________

Deep South Division Champions
2006, 2009-10, 2019, 2023-24, 2027, 2031-32, 2034-35, 2040, 2044, 2046-47, 2051-53, 2055-56, 2058-62
Eastern Conference Champions
2009, 2031, 2055
CFL Champions
2031, 2055
Hall of Fame
Joshua Mask, Douglas Hartman, Carl Bradford, Leland Wellins, Wally Wooden (#80), Brantley Gilmore (#9)

[quote616ca97="Raven Hawk"]This sounds too much like a crime-fighting duo.

Spear-Man and Liskiewicz

Perhaps a tights-adorned superhero who disperses his foes with his Javelins of Justice . . . and his accountant.[/quote616ca97]

That's funny. The accountant part puts it over the top.

Here's another interesting fact about the dynamic duo: Between the two of them they have exactly 1 100 yard rushing game. It was Spearman's first game as Hartford destroyed Boston. That means the polish accountant is 0 for 19 in that department.

Week 4 comparison:
[be53817b]Rushing:[/be53817b]
Liszkiewicz - 7 carries, 25 yards, 1 td
Spearman - 23 carries, 85 yards, 1 td
[be53817b]Recieving:[/be53817b]
Liszkiewicz - 1 catch, 23 yards
Spearman - 2 catches, 30 yards
[be53817b]Returns:[/be53817b]
Liszkiewicz - 4 kick returns, 117 yards
Spearman - 0

The first four games of their respective careers:
[bca7053a]Rushing:[/bca7053a]
Liszkiewicz - 70 carries, 261 yards, 0 tds, 2 fumb
Spearman - 66 carries, 272 yards, 4 tds, 0 fumb
[bca7053a]Recieving:[/bca7053a]
Liszkiewicz - 2 catches, 11 yards
Spearman - 8 catches, 95 yards, 1 td
[bca7053a]Returns:[/bca7053a]
Liszkiewicz - 10 kr, 214 yards
Spearman - 0

Current season to date comparison:
[bca7053a]Rushing:[/bca7053a]
Liszkiewicz - 48 carries, 169 yards, 2 tds, 1 fumb
Spearman - 66 carries, 272 yards, 4 tds, 0 fumb
[bca7053a]Recieving:[/bca7053a]
Liszkiewicz - 2 catches, 40 yards
Spearman - 8 catches, 95 yards, 1 td
[bca7053a]Returns:[/bca7053a]
Liszkiewicz - 11 kr, 338 yards, 1 td, 1 pr, 22 yards
Spearman - 0

Week 5 comparison:
[b458f2a5]Rushing:[/b458f2a5]
Liszkiewicz - 12 carries, 69 yards, 1 td
Spearman - bye week
[b458f2a5]Recieving:[/b458f2a5]
Liszkiewicz - 0
Spearman - bye week
[b458f2a5]Returns:[/b458f2a5]
Liszkiewicz - 2 kr, 30 yards
Spearman - bye week

The polish express had his best week running the ball so far this season at 5.7 yards per carry in a nice win over Tucson. Spearman had the week off.

When do you label them as busts?

_________________

[quote39aa488="MrBug708"]When do you label them as busts?[/quote39aa488]
Hopefully for Seattle and Hartford the only busts we'll be talking about with these two will be their statues in the CFL hall of fame. They aren't exactly getting a lot of touches so far this year, though.

How's about if we compare both of these guys to the player picked three spots after Liszkiewicz - Drew Holliday?

_________________

Ring of Fire Division Champions - 2009, 2011-2026, 2028-33
Western Conference Champions - 2011-2013, 2016, 2017, 2019-2022, 2024, 2025, 2028, 2033
CFL Champions - 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2025

I am adding Drew Holliday, the 4th pick in the 2006 draft, as well as Don Terrell, the 4th pick in the 2007 draft. So we have a bit of catching up to do. First, we'll compare the rookie season of the Polish Express to that of Drew Holliday.

[b8834d6d]Rushing:[/b8834d6d]
Liszkiewicz - 227 carries, 909 yards, 4 tds, 6 fmbs
Holliday - 332 carries, 1522 yards, 12 tds, 10 fmbs
[b8834d6d]Recieving:[/b8834d6d]
Liszkiewicz - 9 catches, 82 yards, 2 tds
Holliday - 21 catches, 221 yards 3 tds
[b8834d6d]Returns:[/b8834d6d]
Liszkiewicz - 2 kr, 30 yards
Holliday - 2 pr, 19 yards

Wow. That is an amazing rookie year for Holliday. He averaged 4.58 ypc, and his 1522 rushing yards were good for 2nd in the league. It was the third best rushing season in CFL history for a running back not named Arthur Brady. The polish express was decent, but didn't get a ton of touches (over 100 less carries than Holliday.)

Now let's look at the season to date:
[b8834d6d]Rushing:[/b8834d6d]
Liszkiewicz - 60 carries, 238 yards, 3 td, 1 fmb
Holliday - 107 carries, 515 yards, 4 td, 2 fmbs
Spearman - 66 carries, 272 yards, 4 tds, 0 fmbs
Terrell - 22 carries, 103 yards, 1 td, 1 fmb
[b8834d6d]Recieving:[/b8834d6d]
Liszkiewicz - 2 catches, 40 yards, 3 drops
Holliday - 9 catches, 51 yards
Spearman - 8 catches, 95 yards, 1 td
Terrell - 2 catches, 10 yards
[b8834d6d]Returns:[/b8834d6d]
Liszkiewicz - 13 kr, 368 yards, 1 td, 1 pr, 22 yards
Holliday - 0
Spearman - 0
Terrell - 0

Inexplicably, Terrell is sitting the bench behind a vastly inferior starting back. In fact, the guy starting in Long Beach is the 3rd best back on the squad. It is clear, however, that for right now Drew Holliday is the class of this group. He is averaging 4.81 ypc so far this season, and 4.64 for his career thus far.
I'll be back to update after Friday's games.

Week 6 comparison:
[bef014f7]Rushing:[/bef014f7]
Liszkiewicz - 12 carries, 69 yards, 0 tds, 1 fmb
Holliday - 24 carries, 50 yards, 1 td, 0 fmbs
Spearman - 27 carries, 156 yards, 0 tds, 1 fmb
Terrell - 6 carries, 27 yards, 0 tds, 0 fmbs
[bef014f7]Recieving:[/bef014f7]
Liszkiewicz - 0
Holliday - 0
Spearman - 4 catches, 43 yards, td
Terrell - 0
[bef014f7]Returns:[/bef014f7]
Liszkiewicz - 1 kr, 15 yards, 2 pr, 24 yards
Holliday - 0
Spearman - 0
Terrell - 0

Big week for Spearman: 199 yards of total offense, 5.7 yards per carry, 6.4 yards per touch. He also fumbled for the first time in his career. Tough week for Seattle as superstar QB Dever gets injured. Perhaps the polish express will get more carries in the coming weeks. Terrell is still sitting the bench behind a bum. Drew Holliday had his worst game of the year averaging 2 yards a carry in a loss to Anchorage.

[quote564ebef="timmynausea"]Drew Holliday had his worst game of the year averaging 2 yards a carry in a loss to Anchorage.[/quote564ebef]

Naturally. I jinxed him by even mentioning his name.

The Football Gods have judged my behavior unacceptable, and I have been punished.

_________________

Ring of Fire Division Champions - 2009, 2011-2026, 2028-33
Western Conference Champions - 2011-2013, 2016, 2017, 2019-2022, 2024, 2025, 2028, 2033
CFL Champions - 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2025

I was so worried about Hartford's passing game, I forogot to gameplan for Spearman. It showed

Week 7 comparison:
[b25d3d75]Rushing:[/b25d3d75]
Liszkiewicz - bye
Holliday - 16 carries, 58 yards, 0 td, 0 fmbs
Spearman - 19 carries, 63 yards, 0 tds, 1 fmb
Terrell - 5 carries, 10 yards, 0 tds, 0 fmbs
[b25d3d75]Recieving:[/b25d3d75]
Liszkiewicz - bye
Holliday - 1 catch, 2 yards
Spearman - 2 catches, 26 yards,
Terrell - 0
[b25d3d75]Returns:[/b25d3d75]
Liszkiewicz - bye
Holliday - 0
Spearman - 0
Terrell - 0

Not a good week for these guys. It's pretty bad news when the guy who had the best week is the guy who had a bye, but the other 3 all were mediocre in losing efforts. At least the polish express didn't lose. Spearman continues to inch closer to the all time single season rushing record in Hartford. He is currently 4th on the list with 491 yards thus far. Toby Radke set the benchmark in 2005 with 728.

Holliday's rushing numbers may be good, but man is his fumbilitis scary...

_________________

[quote84acfc0="wademoore"]Holliday's rushing numbers may be good, but man is his fumbilitis scary...[/quote84acfc0]

He had 10 last year in 353 touches, which is a bit high but I was willing to tolerate a few more fumbles from a rookie who was producing. This year he only has two fumbles in seven games, which I'm perfectly comfortable with.

_________________

Ring of Fire Division Champions - 2009, 2011-2026, 2028-33
Western Conference Champions - 2011-2013, 2016, 2017, 2019-2022, 2024, 2025, 2028, 2033
CFL Champions - 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2025

[quotee7086ae="Fonzie"][quotee7086ae="wademoore"]Holliday's rushing numbers may be good, but man is his fumbilitis scary...[/quotee7086ae]

He had 10 last year in 353 touches, which is a bit high but I was willing to tolerate a few more fumbles from a rookie who was producing. This year he only has two fumbles in seven games, which I'm perfectly comfortable with.[/quotee7086ae]

In related news, Fonzie reinserts his foot in his mouth less than 2 weeks after having it removed. The Icky Football Karma was seen exiting a plane in Phoenix and hailing a cab to Tucson (it's not cheap or easy to fly into Tucson). Fonzie's latest foot in mouth disease will surely cause Holliday to match or surpass his season total of fumbles this week.

This should make Klemu's must watch list. Fans will be given large cardboard F's to hang from the endzone seats. More to come...

_________________
ROF Division Champions: 2039 - 2043, 2045, 2047, 2054, 2056 - 2060, 2063, 2066-2067
WFC Conference Champions: 2018, 2041, 2042, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062-2063
CFL Champions: 2018, 2041, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062

[quotea8ecaf8="TurfToe"]In related news, Fonzie reinserts his foot in his mouth less than 2 weeks after having it removed. The Icky Football Karma was seen exiting a plane in Phoenix and hailing a cab to Tucson (it's not cheap or easy to fly into Tucson). Fonzie's latest foot in mouth disease will surely cause Holliday to match or surpass his season total of fumbles this week.

This should make Klemu's must watch list. Fans will be given large cardboard F's to hang from the endzone seats. More to come...[/quotea8ecaf8]

In the psychological literature we call that "failure to learn from prior experience," and it is usually symptomatic of a frontal lobe disorder.

Sounds about right.

_________________

Ring of Fire Division Champions - 2009, 2011-2026, 2028-33
Western Conference Champions - 2011-2013, 2016, 2017, 2019-2022, 2024, 2025, 2028, 2033
CFL Champions - 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2025

[quotecbf9009="Fonzie"][quotecbf9009="TurfToe"]In related news, Fonzie reinserts his foot in his mouth less than 2 weeks after having it removed. The Icky Football Karma was seen exiting a plane in Phoenix and hailing a cab to Tucson (it's not cheap or easy to fly into Tucson). Fonzie's latest foot in mouth disease will surely cause Holliday to match or surpass his season total of fumbles this week.

This should make Klemu's must watch list. Fans will be given large cardboard F's to hang from the endzone seats. More to come...[/quotecbf9009]

In the psychological literature we call that "failure to learn from prior experience," and it is usually symptomatic of a frontal lobe disorder.

Sounds about right. [/quotecbf9009]

I hear you can have those removed, you know, those pesky frontal lobes. I believe you can search the web for DIY Home Lobotomy Kit and find just what you need.

_________________
ROF Division Champions: 2039 - 2043, 2045, 2047, 2054, 2056 - 2060, 2063, 2066-2067
WFC Conference Champions: 2018, 2041, 2042, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062-2063
CFL Champions: 2018, 2041, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062

Week 8 comparison:
[b54dc7ca]Rushing:[/b54dc7ca]
Liszkiewicz - 7 carries, 25 yards, 0 tds, 0 fmbs
Holliday - 20 carries, 71 yards, 1 td, 0 fmbs
Spearman - 16 carries, 66 yards, 0 tds, 0 fmb
Terrell - 5 carries, 22 yards, 0 tds, 0 fmbs
[b54dc7ca]Recieving:[/b54dc7ca]
Liszkiewicz - 2 catches, 5 yards, 1 td
Holliday - 0
Spearman - 2 catches, 21 yards
Terrell - 0
[b54dc7ca]Returns:[/b54dc7ca]
Liszkiewicz - 1 pr, 0 yards, 3 kr, 53 yards
Holliday - 0
Spearman - 0
Terrell - 0

Another week of average performances. Liszkiewicz stands out as the worst, although he got no carries in a 40-38 shoot out that Seattle dropped in Las Vegas. Spearman is probably 2 or 3 weeks away from breaking the Hartford Attack single season rushing record. He has 171 to go. The bad news in Long Beach is that Don Terrell is still not starting. The good news is that 2006 1st Team RB Sherman New has stepped into the starting role. Also they beat Denver. Holliday was pretty mediocre in a win against Boise. A win is a win, though, and Tucson snapped a 3 game losing streak.

Season to date:
[b54dc7ca]Rushing:[/b54dc7ca]
Liszkiewicz - 79 carries, 324 yards, 3 tds, 2 fmbs
Holliday - 167 carries, 694 yards, 6 tds, 2 fmbs
Spearman - 128 carries, 557 yards, 4 tds, 2 fmbs
Terrell - 32 carries, 135 yards, 1 td, 1 fmb
[b54dc7ca]Recieving:[/b54dc7ca]
Liszkiewicz - 4 catches, 45 yards, 1 td, 3 drops
Holliday - 10 catch, 53 yards
Spearman - 16 catches, 185 yards, 1 td, 1 drop
Terrell - 2 catches, 10 yards
[b54dc7ca]Returns:[/b54dc7ca]
Liszkiewicz - 4 pr, 46 yards, 17 kr, 431 yards, 1 td
Holliday - 0
Spearman - 0
Terrell - 0

Week 8 comparison:
[b1441d96]Rushing:[/b1441d96]
Liszkiewicz - 1 carries, 7 yards, 0 tds, 0 fmbs
Holliday - 28 carries, 88 yards, 0 td, 0 fmbs
Spearman - 14 carries, 63 yards, 0 tds, 1 fmb
Terrell - 5 carries, 26 yards, 0 tds, 0 fmbs
[b1441d96]Recieving:[/b1441d96]
Liszkiewicz - 0
Holliday - 1 catch, 14 yards
Spearman - 2 catches, 12 yards
Terrell - 0
[b1441d96]Returns:[/b1441d96]
Liszkiewicz - 1 pr, 0 yards, 4 kr, 124 yards
Holliday - 0
Spearman - 0
Terrell - 0

At this point it seems that Alymar is giving Liszkiewicz less carries just to spite me and try to make this thread boring. The good news was that he averaged 7 yards a carry as his team was massacred by Anchorage. The bad news (along with the aforementioned massacre) was that he only got 1 carry.
In other news, Drew Holliday was mediocre in a loss to hated rival Las Vegas, and Spearman was solid in a close win over Albany. Terrell averaged over 5 per carry in limited work off the bench as Long Beach pulled themselves up to .500 with a win over Tulsa.

Spearman is now 108 yards away from taking over the single season rushing record in Hartford.