Jan 20, 2013; Foxboro, MA, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (30) runs against the New England Patriots during the third quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
So Ray Lewis says that Bernard Pierce reminds him of Jamaal Lewis. I kind of agree.
Pierce is an exceptional pure runner. So much so that I am shocked he fell as far as he did because I think he might be the best runner from last years draft(Doug Martin is a better all around back right now though and Richardson probably has a higher ceiling). If a team that really needed a running back(Cleveland, Tampa, New York(either one), Green Bay, New England etc.) had drafted him and used him as an every down back as opposed to a rotational guy, I think Pierce would have pushed 1400 yards and double digit TDs. He is that talented.
Lewis said that Pierce was a guy they could ride to a championship. I tend to agree. Ray Rice is the Ravens feature back. No doubt about it. Rice is the most versatile back in the league. He might be the most versatile offensive player of any position. He is an excellent runner, a better receiver and one of the better blocking backs in the league. There isnt a glaring weakness in his game. All that under consideration, Pierce is a better runner. Period.
Understand what I man by that though. There is a big difference between being a better runner and being a better runningback. there is a big difference between being a better runner and being a better player. Pierce is not a better running-back than Rice, he is not a better player. Pierce is the guy you give the ball to on first down to get good position. Rice is the guy you know is going to be relentless pushing for the first down on fourth and 3.
Pierce really does remind me of Jamaal Lewis though. He is an extremely decisive and powerful runner. at times it just feels like defenses have absolutely no answer for him. He just runs with authority like Lewis did back in the day. Under Caldwell the Ravens have been utilizing Pierce more than ever, and Pierce has been awesome. He has been a major part of the Ravens run to the superbowl, just like Lewis back in the day.