We knew Randall Cobb was having a pretty nice season for the Green Bay Packers. We didn’t know he has a shot to break the NFL’s single-season all-purpose yardage record.
Cobb is 456 yards away from breaking the mark of 2,696 set by New Orleans’ Darren Sproles just last year.
The first question, obviously, is how likely is that to happen?
Through 14 games, Cobb has the following per game averages: 63.7 receiving yards, 9.4 rushing yards, 68.8 kickoff return yards and 18 punt return yards. That’s a total of 159.9 yards per game.
If he maintains that pace in the final two games, Cobb won’t eclipse the record.
In fact, even if we look at more recent numbers, Cobb’s chances look slim.
Since the bye, Cobb has averaged 78.4 receiving yards per game. If he maintains that average over the final two games, he’ll need 300 yards somewhere else.
Cobb is averaging 25.4 yards per kickoff return this season. Based on that average, he’d need to receive and return 12 kicks over the next two weeks to achieve the record.
That seems unlikely the way the Packers defense is playing.
If, on the other hand, Cobb puts up two more 100-yard receiving games (like he has the past two weeks), he’d still have to return 10.
Obviously, we’re leaving out punt return and rushing yardage, but those aren’t where the majority of Cobb’s yards come. In fact, he’s only averaging nine yards per punt return and he’s only had one rush in the past three weeks.
What it’s likely going to take to break the record is a return for a touchdown. That is, assuming the Packers have something to play for in week 17 and even put Cobb on the field.
Cobb vs. Sproles
Where did these guys get their yards?
| Yardage | Cobb | Sproles |
| Kick Returns | 964 | 1,089 |
| Punt Returns | 253 | 294 |
| Receiving | 892 | 710 |
| Rushing | 132 | 603 |
| Total | 2,241 | 2,696 |
Obviously, Sproles has the advantage of getting a large chunk of his total in the running game.
The previous record holder more closely mirrors Cobb.
Derrick Mason, then with Tennessee, set the previous record with 2,690 yards in 2000. He had 895 receiving, 1,132 on kickoff returns and a league-leading 662 on punt returns. Oh, and 1 yard rushing.
New Orleans receiver Michael Lewis held the record before Mason. He led the league in both kickoff and punt return yardage, but had only 200 receiving.
Packers History
Cobb will set a record this season.
He should blow by Ahman Green‘s team record of 2,250 all-purpose yards on Sunday.
What’s telling is this: Green set that record in 2003 without returning a kick of any kind. It’s made up of 1,883 rushing yards and 367 receiving yards.
Yeah, Ahman Green had a outstanding year from scrimmage, but it’s obvious the Packers have never had an all-purpose yardage threat like Cobb.
He is a dynamic player and one that defenses have to account for all over the field. Thanks to Cobb, we’ve continued some drives that would have been stopped if he didn’t make a big play.
Go Pack Go!
I don’t follow enough college ball. So when the Pack took Cobb, a lot of national analysts joked that it was almost gonna be infair to the rest of the league to have the Pack add Cobb. They also mentioned what a steal Cobb was as a second rounder.
I think they were correct.
But here is what looks to be the best part…he seems to be the kinda guy you hope for in a Packer uniform. Recently he was on one of the local tv packer shows. When asked what he wanted for Xmas….his answer…’A Crock Pot’!
Yeah, a CROCK POT! Crock Pot! Doubt T.O. Or Chad Johnson types ever had a Crock Pot on their xmas list!
Cobb was a god to us at UK. He just did it all. I’m glad he’s found a place in the NFL.