http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-gerhartstereotype042010 Gerhart ran for 178 yards and 3 TDs against USC last season Today an article came out discussing how Toby Gerhart is fielding questions about his race in his interviews. Mark my words here, he is going to come in the NFL HIGHLY motivated. I know this kid and he is not going to back down from anyone and he will use all of this as motivation to produce. I completely expect him to wow the league as a rookie. "“I’m just a running back who tries to do what he can to win games and score touchdowns, but people have their opinions, and it’s kind of frustrating,” Gerhart said earlier this month between bites of pizza. “People say, ‘He’s slow,’ or ‘He’s not going to be able to break tackles at the next level.’ In college I went up against players like [USC’s] Brian Cushing(notes) and Clay Matthews(notes) – guys who ended up making the Pro Bowl [as NFL rookies] – and I ran through their tackles. It’s too bad people look at you all weird because of a stereotype.” "When NFL scouts look at Gerhart, they see a 6-foot, 231-pound power back who ran for 1,871 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, getting edged out by Alabama’s Mark Ingram in the closest Heisman vote in history. When they look at Gerhart’s numbers from the NFL scouting combine, they see that he ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash and registered a 38-inch vertical leap, both impressive numbers for a player his size. Yet they also see a white guy trying to make it in the league as a feature back, something that has become increasingly rare in this era." Race shouldn’t be an issue, of course, but Gerhart can’t help but believe that it has colored the opinions of at least some potential employers. “One team I interviewed with asked me about being a white running back,” Gerhart says. “They asked if it made me feel entitled, or like I felt I was a poster child for white running backs. I said, ‘No, I’m just out there playing ball. I don’t think about that.’ I didn’t really know what to say.” One longtime NFL scout insisted that Gerhart’s skin color will likely prevent the Pac-10’s offensive player of the year from being drafted in Thursday’s first round. “That’s by far my favorite victory,” Gerhart says of the USC game. “We were up big at the end and hitting ‘em in the mouth – we ran 15 of the last 18 plays from the exact same formation, where we’d motion the tight end one way or the other and I’d run to that side. At one point one of their linebackers yelled, ‘If you guys run ‘Power’ one more time I’m walking off the field.’ It was classic.” Oh, and here’s some background information of which NFL teams might want to take note: Pete Carroll, USC’s coach at the time, had tried to recruit Gerhart out of high school – as a fullback. In other words, underestimate him at your own peril, and brace yourself for maximum impact.
It's understandable. When Larry Bird came into the NBA, he must've gotten a thousand questions on race. To his credit, he always difused the situation (even said black players were better). I like Gerhart, but I'm not sure he'll have the same impact in the NFL as he did in the Pac 10.
I'll bet he ends up in NE when it's all said and done. And, I think he'll be good at the pro level. Hope I'm wrong about my first prediction, but right about the second one.
Mostly But seriously, history is not on his side. I think he could be solid for someone though. Mike Alstott-esque.
Some time ago I was torn apart for suggesting race plays a part when evaluating players. How many times on this board has Brian Hartline been compared to Brandon Stokely or Ed McCaffery when he bears much more in common with other black receivers? Why do draftnicks and media pundits come up with terms like "high motor" when talking about white defensive players? Why do the same talking heads infer that white receivers only succeed in the NFL because they're "smart". These labels, comparisons and evaluations are insulting to both white and black athletes. Not pointing the finger at anyone on this board. I've caught myself making these unfair evaluations at times. I'm betting we all have. Hopefully that can change. BTW, I'm not going to even touch the issue of whether black athletes are genetically more gifted than white athletes. This may or may not be the case. But obviously there are exceptions and white players should be evaluated as players, not as a race. Same with black players.
I think if you can play football you will be successful. Whether you're white, black, spanish or mixed. The question isn't whether he can succeed because he is white, it's can he succeed with his measurables and talent.
Like you I do have my doubts about him. He's a big bruiser, but he's pretty slow footed. I think, if not Alstott then maybe a Lousaka Polite. Now we're PC, right?
Many pro scouts and draft analysts are doubting Tim Tebow's ability to be a NFL QB because he's white. Its true!
You're missing the point. He was supposed to be an afterthought because of Randy Moss. Besides, it's not like the league is teeming with white WRs bro.
PC is my middle name Hey, I'm the whitest white boy there is. We know our limitations. I wish Toby the best though.
That's the thing though, Alstott ran around a 4.7 40. Toby ran a 4.5, Gerhart is a far superior athlete. Yet, the comparison is a FB? The only reason is that they are both white.
Slow footed? 6.94 3 cone and a 4.25 20yard shuttle at the combine. He isn't a scat back, but saying he is slow footed, and comparing him to FBs is wrong.
Him being white is the main reason. But not the only reason. I wouldn't compare Brian Hartline to Larry Csonka. But your point is a valid one.
Gerhart ran a 4.53 at the combine. I don't call that "slow footed". That's faster than most every linebacker out there. Is it blazing speed? Nope, but Jerry Rice ran a 4.7. My biggest fear is that he ends up on the Pats as well.
That would place him as one of the 8-10 best power RB's of all time. Toby Gerhart is the closest thing to Larry Csonka that I have seen since the Csonk played. He is going to be a top producing Rookie in ANY role. Dude can catch and he is niftier than he gets credit for. If he gets behind a power scheme like we run he's going to have 1,400 yards or better.
Bro, he is not slow. He's faster than the Csonka and look what he did in the open field. Gerhart isn't just about running people over. He makes people miss by using dips and fakes and he has good cuts to avoid big contact when he wants to make folks miss. But he absolutely can run over any DB and most LB's. Anything can happen, but knowing the kid I'm betting he becomes a source of many NFL highlights in the next 5-6 years. He punishes people and you have to be very strong willed and have a disregard for your own body to tackle him. Put that behind Jake Long and company and we have an RB producing huge numbers, especially with Ricky and company spelling him.
The only rookie I see in this class that may out-produce Gerhart next season is Mathews, because I rate them both high in that way. Spiller is a fast RB and extremely talented, but not an every down RB like Mathews and Gerhart. Best has an injury history longer than he is tall. He's good but goes down too much. Gerhart in the right scheme will lead this class in rushing no problem.
I'm black and I don't like that scouts are looking at Gerhart because he isn't black. It shouldn't matter what race you are. If you could play then that is all there is to it. It should be equal not separate due to race.
one of my close friends is black and his name is actually Steve Mcnair. I tell him he is more athletic than me because all black people are born with an extra tendon. I then ask him why he bothered to come by the house without grape coolaid. I then get whity bashing jokes from him. We do this about once a week. I think its about time we all find a way to drop the hatred. I can understand that black RBs have been the ticket for quite some time now.
Gerhart is probably one of my favorite players in this draft. Is it me, or does he look like Zach Thomas playing RB? Each year I fall in love with one player in the draft and follow him once he hits the NFL for a period of time. I hope hope hope, the pats don't snag him, I may cry.
Dude, you are soooo not black! Seriously, though, I am surprised in this day and age how race continues to trump common sense. I am with you, D, if someone can play, who cares his color?
It does make me wonder at times, though. It seems to me that certain races are looked on more favorably at certain positions then others. At running back, I almost never see a white running back ranked as high as Gerhart is now, let alone as a potential first rounder. I would bring up the other side of the QB.... but would that be off topic?
