Throwback Thursday: Barry "Bananas" Foster

**T.Ferguson** · 03-31-2022, 10:24 AM

He was so fun to watch, definitely one of my favorite Steeler RB's ever even though his career was cut short due to injuries, I wonder if the astroturf had something to do with that.

**flippy** · 03-31-2022, 10:26 AM

Foster is the definition of running til the wheels come off. He had 1 epic season and then fell apart after that.

I forgot about the KO that he treated like it was punt that would be downed and gave up an easy TD. That's gotta be one of the all time most embarrassing plays in Steelers history.

Hi career reminds us how hard it is to have a long career as a RB.

**Jooser** · 03-31-2022, 10:40 AM

One of my favorite plays was against the Bills when he took the screen to the house. I also loved watching highlights on Sports Center when Berman would call him Barry "Bananas" Foster.....classic....

**SteelerOfDeVille** · 03-31-2022, 11:24 AM

Best pure runner the franchise has ever seen, IMO

**feltdizz** · 03-31-2022, 11:32 AM

Noll’s player??

Retired at 26? Damn.. I know he had a short career with us but never realized his career was that short.

**whisper** · 03-31-2022, 11:32 AM

One if the most underrated players in team history, period.

**WindyCitySteel** · 03-31-2022, 11:42 AM

Originally posted by SteelerOfDeVille

Best pure runner the franchise has ever seen, IMO

Yikes, really? He basically followed his lead blocker and bowled over tacklers. I'd rate Bell much better.

**feltdizz** · 03-31-2022, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by WindyCitySteel

Yikes, really? He basically followed his lead blocker and bowled over tacklers. I'd rate Bell much better.

yeah.. I mean, it was a great season and Foster’s production was unexpected but Bettis and Bell were better “pure” runners.

Not even sure what a pure runner is tho..lol.

**feltdizz** · 03-31-2022, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by flippy

Foster is the definition of running til the wheels come off. He had 1 epic season and then fell apart after that.

I forgot about the KO that he treated like it was punt that would be downed and gave up an easy TD. That's gotta be one of the all time most embarrassing plays in Steelers history.

Hi career reminds us how hard it is to have a long career as a RB.

Its hard for anyone to have a long career in the NFL. The average is still 3 years and change. I think its just wild to go from 1700 yards to retired so quickly.

But science and recovery has changed dramatically in the last 30 years. Some of the injuries that used to kill careers can be fixed in 6 months these days.

**whisper** · 03-31-2022, 12:16 PM

Originally posted by feltdizz

Noll’s player??

Retired at 26? Damn.. I know he had a short career with us but never realized his career was that short.

He had two camps since he left Pgh, one in Cinci and one in SF, IIRC. He said he just couldn't "tough it out" anymore and it was just too hard to do. This coming from the player Noll called "The toughest player I have ever seen." Think about that.

**SteelerOfDeVille** · 03-31-2022, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by feltdizz

Not even sure what a pure runner is tho..lol.

His vision, speed, power combination. I'm excluding hands, ability to pick up blitz, etc... simply including his RUNNING skills.

Some were faster (Parker). Some may have been more powerful (Bettis). Foster actually had speed to take it to the house, which Bettis did not have. Bell's the best all-around (especially considering his input to the pass game) but as a RB, he wasn't as good as Foster. Najee so far has impressed from an all-around perspective.

But, Foster's skillset paired with his ability to make use of it... Sure, he followed his blocks and went through holes - all backs don't even do that correctly. He saw the hole, he hit the hole. His ability to read a block and cut off it is better than any other back we've had, IMO. And he was a big back with wiggle, which is a rare find - most big backs only have "run you over" in their bag of tricks.

If he's healthy, I take him over Bettis and i love the Bus. Now I'd take Bell, but this is mostly because of the versatility he had as a receiver.

**feltdizz** · 03-31-2022, 01:16 PM

Originally posted by whisper

He had two camps since he left Pgh, one in Cinci and one in SF, IIRC. He said he just couldn't "tough it out" anymore and it was just too hard to do. This coming from the player Noll called "The toughest player I have ever seen." Think about that.

I wonder what his injuries were that made it too hard to tough it out.

Also could be one of those players who didn�t love the game as much as they thought.

A quick search shows that he made a ton of mistakes early on but Noll told the coaches to back off when they were going in on him. Once we put the power run game together it all clicked.. but just for one season.

That failed 4th down pass play vs the Chargers was his last NFL play.

He failed a physical with Carolina then tried to come back with the Bungals but said he felt like a 60 year old RB.

**feltdizz** · 03-31-2022, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by SteelerOfDeVille

His vision, speed, power combination. I'm excluding hands, ability to pick up blitz, etc... simply including his RUNNING skills.

Some were faster (Parker). Some may have been more powerful (Bettis). Foster actually had speed to take it to the house, which Bettis did not have. Bell's the best all-around (especially considering his input to the pass game) but as a RB, he wasn't as good as Foster. Najee so far has impressed from an all-around perspective.

But, Foster's skillset paired with his ability to make use of it... Sure, he followed his blocks and went through holes - all backs don't even do that correctly. He saw the hole, he hit the hole. His ability to read a block and cut off it is better than any other back we've had, IMO. And he was a big back with wiggle, which is a rare find - most big backs only have "run you over" in their bag of tricks.

If he's healthy, I take him over Bettis and i love the Bus. Now I'd take Bell, but this is mostly because of the versatility he had as a receiver.

hmm.. I would have to take Bettis simply for the ability to do both.

Maybe if Barry had a few more seasons under his belt but he flashed and then poof, he was gone.

**flippy** · 03-31-2022, 01:32 PM

Originally posted by SteelerOfDeVille

His vision, speed, power combination. I'm excluding hands, ability to pick up blitz, etc... simply including his RUNNING skills.

Some were faster (Parker). Some may have been more powerful (Bettis). Foster actually had speed to take it to the house, which Bettis did not have. Bell's the best all-around (especially considering his input to the pass game) but as a RB, he wasn't as good as Foster. Najee so far has impressed from an all-around perspective.

But, Foster's skillset paired with his ability to make use of it... Sure, he followed his blocks and went through holes - all backs don't even do that correctly. He saw the hole, he hit the hole. His ability to read a block and cut off it is better than any other back we've had, IMO. And he was a big back with wiggle, which is a rare find - most big backs only have "run you over" in their bag of tricks.

If he's healthy, I take him over Bettis and i love the Bus. Now I'd take Bell, but this is mostly because of the versatility he had as a receiver.

I'd take Najee over all of them. He's had the toughest road with a really inept offense and we haven't gotten to see what he can really do.

And don't forget about Big Willie Parker. He had as good a career YPC as anyone at 4.3 YPA. I think Bell, Conner, Foster, and Parker were the ones to hit that mark while in Pittsburgh. But Parker might deserve a bit of a nod cause of his SuperBowl TD run that could have been the difference in that game. Not sure any other Steeler back takes that 70 yarder to the house

Throwback Thursday: Barry "Bananas" Foster

Throwback Thursday: Barry "Bananas" Foster

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