Also as far as Adrian Peterson's stats versus the backup... Peterson is a great back and great backs can pick up .3 or .4 more per carry. I'll give him that.
Why his average is so big has to do with Oklahoma facing UAB, Washington, Oregon, Iowa St, and Middle Tennessee in their first few games. Peterson got the easy stat-padding matchups where the offensive line could dominate for the most part. The backup got the Big12 season.
Peterson's only tough matchup was Texas.
He ran 25 for 109 against Texas. Only averaged around 4 yards a carry which is what the backup did versus the Big12 schedule.
A RB is only as good as his offensive line. I've seen it happen over and over again where a "good" RB goes to a poor offensive line and folds. Or a "poor" RB goes to a nice offensive line and blossoms.
Look at Chester Taylor... career backup but goes to Minnesota who has focused on their line bigtime the last few years and all of a sudden he's leading the league? Or Willie Parker... who the hell was Willie Parker? Or how about the Broncos? You think they just have a knack for drafting late round RBs? No! It's because anyone can run behind their run schemes.
I'll listen if you have a counter argument but my mind is pretty made up on this one.