He stayed injury FREE longer than the other 2 or 3 Denver backs, who also posted 1200-1600 yd rushing season. It was Mike's zone blocking system, not his 4.6 40 or no moves, downhill running style. Actually, he was able to make one cut and get into the wholes. Oh, go look at Bobby Humphies and see the stats he put up in Mile's system before he got hurt after 2 or 3 seasons. Then, there was Clinton Portis, who put of freakish numbers in Mike's system, but he left because they didn't want to pay him after a 1600 yd season, when he was making around the minimum. Davis talent wise is no better than those other two, just happen to have Elway under center during his 7 year run, before injuries killed his career. I remember him playing and would fight with a friend that I never induct him in the hall of fame because it was all system. Put him in Detroit and he would have averaged 3 yds per carry. Sanderson would have had multiple 2000 yd seasons in that system. Faulk and Dickerson would have been beyond legend, if they were running through the wholes Mike's zone blocking system created. 1
NFL people have pretty good memories, not to vote him in. Not a great back, but one of the greatest systems in a 10-12 yr stretch Shanahan put together.
First thing-Bobby Humphrey never played under Mike Shannahan and he never got injured in Denver. He held out then got traded. The other Denver running backs after him have failed to reach his numbers not to mention havn't even sniffed a Super Bowl. Sure, he had Elway but John never won a Super Bowl until TD game along as well.
As for the system-yeah it's a great system. Arian Foster is playing in it right now and is considered a top 2 or 3 running back in the NFL. Drew Breese benefits from playing in a pass happy system and in a pass happy era, but he's not going to be denied entry into the HOF for it.
You mention Faulk? TD was everything Faulk was supposed to be during Davis's run. While Davis was getting SuperBowl rings Faulk was toiling in Indy and being viewed as a player not living to his full potential. It wasn't until Faulk got traded to the Rams that Marshall blew up. Why? Because of St. Louis's "system" the Greatest Show on Turf. Surely your not gonna downgrade Faulk for playing in a system that produced a HOF quarterback when 2 or 3 years before he was stocking shelves at a supermarket. Meanwhile, breaking offensive team records that existed for decades prior are you?
Sanders and Dickerson-they would have a HOF career playing in your system or anyone's system. That's why, in my view, they are 1 and 2 as all-time greats.