Young people and Today's NFL (This is not a Dak Thread)

Arkyvarminter

Arkyvarminter

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I was talking about the NFL with some young, mainly Cowboys fans, and they really think players today are far superior to those of the 60s, and 70's. Even some had questions about some 80's players like Tony Hill or Dupree. They were very knowledgeable about the players today though and across the league. I know that players today are much faster and athletic but when they say Rice isn't even close to Moss I disagree. I think that it is debatable but to say it isn't close is false. They have Never heard of Tony Hill and Dorsett would be average at best in today's game. This coming from Cowboys fans. I don't think it was because they didn't see the players of yesteryear, I think its because they just haven't done their research and are listening to each other.

I don't hang around young people much but my boys, who are 22 and 29, have buddies around me and I talk with them because most are NFL fans. I know that those like me that started watching Dallas in 76 have a great admiration for players like Pearson, White and Staubach where they really don't. If I had to pick one Dallas QB to build a team around it would be Staubach but it is close.

In the earlier years it could be brutal on the field and QB's weren't protected. Alot of activity after the play and during. It seems to me you HAD to be really tough back then but I'm not discounting todays players like they did the old guys...I don't know how you compare them to be honest....
 
Arkyvarminter said:
I was talking about the NFL with some young, mainly Cowboys fans, and they really think players today are far superior to those of the 60s, and 70's. Even some had questions about some 80's players like Tony Hill or Dupree. They were very knowledgeable about the players today though and across the league. I know that players today are much faster and athletic but when they say Rice isn't even close to Moss I disagree. I think that it is debatable but to say it isn't close is false. They have Never heard of Tony Hill and Dorsett would be average at best in today's game. This coming from Cowboys fans. I don't think it was because they didn't see the players of yesteryear, I think its because they just haven't done their research and are listening to each other.

I don't hang around young people much but my boys, who are 22 and 29, have buddies around me and I talk with them because most are NFL fans. I know that those like me that started watching Dallas in 76 have a great admiration for players like Pearson, White and Staubach where they really don't. If I had to pick one Dallas QB to build a team around it would be Staubach but it is close.

In the earlier years it could be brutal on the field and QB's weren't protected. Alot of activity after the play and during. It seems to me you HAD to be really tough back then but I'm not discounting todays players like they did the old guys...I don't know how you compare them to be honest....
Click to expand...

In terms of pure talent. Players today don’t have any advantage IMO.

However, the advantage of modern medicine to help recover from injuries, advancements in training techniques and modern understanding of nutrition and modern supplements. The players today do have a physical advantage.

Of course players in earlier decades had juice and coke to run on. lol so that helped.
 
Really tough to compare generations. It’s a completely different game than it was 40 years ago. The style of play is different, the rules are different. The way guys train is different.

Most players from the past probably would be average in the modern era if that….just go look at your average OL size back in the 80s. It wasn’t uncommon to see a 6’2” 260lbs LG. That guy wouldn’t even get a look today.
 
If the players today are in so much better physical shape then how come injuries are more frequent?

Keep in mind that there have been extensive rule changes since the 70's for the express purpose of preventing injuries.

DT Jetrhro Pugh started for 12 consecutive seasons, missed 12 games and some of them were the last game of the season when they had already clinched top seed.

LB Lee Roy Jordan, 11 consecutive seasons, didn't miss a single game.

LB Chuck Howley, 11 seasons, missed 7 games.

LB Dave Edwards, 13 seasons, missed one game.

HOFer DT Bob Lilly......13 seasons, didn't miss a single game....not one.

DE George Andrie, ten seasons, missed one game.

These guys were six of the front seven of the Cowboys starting defense that won their first Super Bowl in 1971.

Do you know who their backups were? I don't. Depth was irrelevant but they were there.

Dave Edward's backup was D.D. Lewis. He started two games in his first three seasons. Then after Edwards retired, Lewis started for 9 seasons, missed two games.

These guys didn't have "programs" to keep them in the top physical shape, yet their durability cannot be matched by today's NFL player.

There has been rule changes but the game hasn't really changed that much. It is still football. What the teams of the 70's lacked in physical perfection, they made up for in mental toughness.
 
Players today are not bigger, faster, or stronger than the early 90s, and they are massively less disciplined and knowledgeable about what they're doing.

Go watch a YouTube video of a '93 Cowboys game. It was a brutally physical game then, but the offenses were crisp. Receivers got destroyed when they caught the ball, and quarterbacks took an absolute beating.
 
erod said:
Players today are not bigger, faster, or stronger than the early 90s, and they are massively less disciplined and knowledgeable about what they're doing.

Go watch a YouTube video of a '93 Cowboys game. It was a brutally physical game then, but the offenses were crisp. Receivers got destroyed when they caught the ball, and quarterbacks took an absolute beating.
Click to expand...
I remember the NFC Title games against SF....it was a slugfest that I know many teams today would struggle with. It was different then.. I also remember a game I attended at Texas Stadium against SF. Before the game i was near one end zone and the players from both teams were down there pushing and shoving..it was great..
 
plasticman said:
If the players today are in so much better physical shape then how come injuries are more frequent?

Keep in mind that there have been extensive rule changes since the 70's for the express purpose of preventing injuries.

DT Jetrhro Pugh started for 12 consecutive seasons, missed 12 games and some of them were the last game of the season when they had already clinched top seed.

LB Lee Roy Jordan, 11 consecutive seasons, didn't miss a single game.

LB Chuck Howley, 11 seasons, missed 7 games.

LB Dave Edwards, 13 seasons, missed one game.

HOFer DT Bob Lilly......13 seasons, didn't miss a single game....not one.

DE George Andrie, ten seasons, missed one game.

These guys were six of the front seven of the Cowboys starting defense that won their first Super Bowl in 1971.

Do you know who their backups were? I don't. Depth was irrelevant but they were there.

Dave Edward's backup was D.D. Lewis. He started two games in his first three seasons. Then after Edwards retired, Lewis started for 9 seasons, missed two games.

These guys didn't have "programs" to keep them in the top physical shape, yet their durability cannot be matched by today's NFL player.

There has been rule changes but the game hasn't really changed that much. It is still football. What the teams of the 70's lacked in physical perfection, they made up for in mental toughness.
Click to expand...

Think it’s something to do with playing surfaces? I’m sorry I don’t buy the “turf is as safe as grass” thing they try to sell.

I get why teams use turf. But it’s not as safe as grass for the players IMO.
 
Arkyvarminter said:
I was talking about the NFL with some young, mainly Cowboys fans, and they really think players today are far superior to those of the 60s, and 70's. Even some had questions about some 80's players like Tony Hill or Dupree. They were very knowledgeable about the players today though and across the league. I know that players today are much faster and athletic but when they say Rice isn't even close to Moss I disagree. I think that it is debatable but to say it isn't close is false. They have Never heard of Tony Hill and Dorsett would be average at best in today's game. This coming from Cowboys fans. I don't think it was because they didn't see the players of yesteryear, I think its because they just haven't done their research and are listening to each other.

I don't hang around young people much but my boys, who are 22 and 29, have buddies around me and I talk with them because most are NFL fans. I know that those like me that started watching Dallas in 76 have a great admiration for players like Pearson, White and Staubach where they really don't. If I had to pick one Dallas QB to build a team around it would be Staubach but it is close.

In the earlier years it could be brutal on the field and QB's weren't protected. Alot of activity after the play and during. It seems to me you HAD to be really tough back then but I'm not discounting todays players like they did the old guys...I don't know how you compare them to be honest....
Click to expand...
They also were a lot small and a lot slower back then.
 
erod said:
Players today are not bigger, faster, or stronger than the early 90s, and they are massively less disciplined and knowledgeable about what they're doing.

Go watch a YouTube video of a '93 Cowboys game. It was a brutally physical game then, but the offenses were crisp. Receivers got destroyed when they caught the ball, and quarterbacks took an absolute beating.
Click to expand...
Yeah, 90s players were a lot like today size wise and in general. Game was a lot more physical though.
 
Arkyvarminter said:
I was talking about the NFL with some young, mainly Cowboys fans, and they really think players today are far superior to those of the 60s, and 70's. Even some had questions about some 80's players like Tony Hill or Dupree. They were very knowledgeable about the players today though and across the league. I know that players today are much faster and athletic but when they say Rice isn't even close to Moss I disagree. I think that it is debatable but to say it isn't close is false. They have Never heard of Tony Hill and Dorsett would be average at best in today's game. This coming from Cowboys fans. I don't think it was because they didn't see the players of yesteryear, I think its because they just haven't done their research and are listening to each other.

I don't hang around young people much but my boys, who are 22 and 29, have buddies around me and I talk with them because most are NFL fans. I know that those like me that started watching Dallas in 76 have a great admiration for players like Pearson, White and Staubach where they really don't. If I had to pick one Dallas QB to build a team around it would be Staubach but it is close.

In the earlier years it could be brutal on the field and QB's weren't protected. Alot of activity after the play and during. It seems to me you HAD to be really tough back then but I'm not discounting todays players like they did the old guys...I don't know how you compare them to be honest....
Click to expand...
Chill out, Grandpaw.

You miss the generation of players who would smoke cigarettes at halftime?

Those players were tough -- but they failed to monetize their worth -- that sort of means they were stupid as well. So many lived and died in desolation because they played a game that broke them physically and mentally but didn't provide much support after they left the league.

How many of those players died by suicide or other stuff that was akin to suicide?

Get a grip, man.
 
I think a big part of the reason the earlier player were great is because they were part of the same team for most of their careers. They had more pride in winning, and were more willing to give everything on the field.

You think any of today's players would amputate the end of a finger, just to get back in the game?
 
Comparing athletes of 50 years ago with the athletes of today is no contest. The athletes of today win, no contest because they have the advantage of modern sports science. However, football is a deferent sport today than it was 50 years ago. Rules were different, players are protected better today. Training is year-round these days. Players of today would not survive the game of 50 years ago.
 
A lot of today's players would not be able to play football in past eras as they would not be able for the physical contact.

This goes for all levels of the sport. I remember taking up football as a teenager in the late 80s and you got battered black and blue in practise. Only c.25% of players trying out for the first time would stick with it. Many a good athlete couldnt deal with the contact.

My son is a similar age and started football last year. Training has way way less contact and most new recruits can handle it.
 
erod said:
The league is so sloppy and fundamentally flawed today. The players hardly know the rules or the history, and they don't care that much about winning or losing. It's sad to watch at times.
Click to expand...
Totally agree sir
 
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