ESPN picks the GOAT at every offensive position: Larry Allen selected at Guard

xwalker · Aug 6, 2022

MapleLeaf said:
Those are two fabulous names in the Guard category. For me it was Larry though. The violence at the point of attack was something we rarely witnessed.

It's what makes me so mad at Erik Williams. He and Larry were like twins in violent offensive line play. Erik should have been a multiple pro-bowler and HOFer.

I there was a list based on the best season by a player, Erik Williams would be a the top of all Olinemen.

I John Madden was still around and had been a voter the ESPN list, Erik Williams probably would have had an honorable mention.
- Madden said, more than once, Larry Allen is great but prior to the injury Erik Williams was the most dominant OL that I've seen in my lifetime.

stuckindc · Aug 6, 2022

sunalsorises said:
I tend to agree. Barry Sanders, for example was electrifying to watch but he was really only asked to run away from people. To be fair, he could run away from people better than anyone I've ever seen. Emmitt was asked to do it all. Both backs would have been great on the others' team but neither would have been as effective, I think.

Barry on the 90’s Cowboys, with those weapons. They may have gone undefeated. Barry had nothing in Detroit and was unstoppable.

stuckindc · Aug 6, 2022

Big_D said:
no doubt about it. The durability, the longevity, the heart and determination and his blocking ability on top of it. Crediting the “great” Oline is a huge disservice to a great RB who owns and earned every record.

He only owns the rushing title because Barry retired

MapleLeaf · Aug 6, 2022

xwalker said:
I there was a list based on the best season by a player, Erik Williams would be a the top of all Olinemen.

I John Madden was still around and had been a voter the ESPN list, Erik Williams probably would have had an honorable mention.
- Madden said, more than once, Larry Allen is great but prior to the injury Erik Williams was the most dominant OL that I've seen in my lifetime.

I watched some past media tape on Erik and Larry in a pregame warm up. You could tell those two guys were peas in a pod. They were hellbent on beating opponents into submission. If being beaten physically by Allen and Williams was studied during the NFL seasons they were playing together I'm certain the researchers would have found opponents suffering from PTSD symptoms in just thinking about going up against those two.

What they did to opposing lineman was a form of football sodomization.

Big_D · Aug 6, 2022

stuckindc said:
He only owns the rushing title because Barry retired

he had nearly 40 more TDS in his first 10 years. That’s not even counting what he did in the playoffs. He was a superior blocker and one of the most clutch football players ever in the toughest moments. It’s funny when fans put rushing yardage ahead of scoring actual points and in turn Winning! Barry was certainly great and fun to watch but you don’t seem to be taking into account an 11 playoff game differential and the toll on top of it and the longevity considering it.

sideon · Aug 6, 2022

Runwildboys said:
I don't think anyone would argue this.

As for the RBs, if you're judging on sheer talent, I wouldn't argue with their assessment. If you throw in durability, longevity, and blocking ability, I might.

No one comes close to Larry imo, Emmitt is a different story. I always had Emmitt above Barry simply because Barry was flashy but inconsistent, he could have an amazing 40yd run for a TD and then have a bone headed 10yd loss trying to look spectacular. Emmitt wasn't the fastest but he was hard to get a hold of in open space, and his longevity is something we will rarely see again.

Haimerej said:
Nobody ever talks about Jim Brown's line, either. He ran behind more Hall of Famers than Emmitt did.

Well when you look at Jim's highlights on YouTube you'll see why they don't talk about his OL, because Jim looked like a speeding wrecking ball running over everyone.

xwalker · Aug 6, 2022

MapleLeaf said:
I watched some past media tape on Erik and Larry in a pregame warm up. You could tell those two guys were peas in a pod. They were hellbent on beating opponents into submission. If being beaten physically by Allen and Williams was studied during the NFL seasons they were playing together I'm certain the researchers would have found opponents suffering from PTSD symptoms in just thinking about going up against those two.

What they did to opposing lineman was a form of football sodomization.

Nate tells stories about pre-game warm-ups about EW and LA.

Nate was telling the story of how the OLinemen would take some warm-up reps against each other.
- All of the OLinemen, including Nate had stopped doing those reps vs Erik Williams because they wanted to avoid being beaten up before the game.
- Once LA showed up, EW had somebody to practice against in the warm-ups...

Big_D · Aug 6, 2022

Runwildboys said:
I don't think anyone would argue this.

As for the RBs, if you're judging on sheer talent, I wouldn't argue with their assessment. If you throw in durability, longevity, and blocking ability, I might.

All those things are part of the equation.

Haimerej · Aug 6, 2022

sideon said:
Well when you look at Jim's highlights on YouTube you'll see why they don't talk about his OL, because Jim looked like a speeding wrecking ball running over everyone.

It's not taking away from Brown by pointing out he had multiple hall of famers blocking for him. Just pointing out how Emmitt is held to a different standard.

Runwildboys · Aug 6, 2022

Big_D said:
All those things are part of the equation.

I'm not sure they are. Pure running is the only thing at which Barry would edge out Emmitt. The rest is absolutely Emmitt over Barry.

Big_D · Aug 6, 2022

Runwildboys said:
I'm not sure they are. Pure running is the only thing at which Barry would edge out Emmitt. The rest is absolutely Emmitt over Barry.

On top of the durability, longevity and blocking, there's also scoring, a great stiff arm and lets not forget clutch. All part of the job of being a running back.. and Emmitt did them all extremely well. Best pure RB doesn't say anything without the intangibles. There's been many great players but it's those details and qualities that separate them.

Runwildboys · Aug 6, 2022

Big_D said:
On top of the durability, longevity and blocking, there's also scoring, a great stiff arm and lets not forget clutch. All part of the job of being a running back.. and Emmitt did them all extremely well. Best pure RB doesn't say anything without the intangibles. There's been many great players but it's those details and qualities that separate them.

Oh, I see. You were agreeing with me. I thought you were saying ESPN considered all those things as part of the equation.

stuckindc · Aug 6, 2022

Big_D said:
he had nearly 40 more TDS in his first 10 years. That’s not even counting what he did in the playoffs. He was a superior blocker and one of the most clutch football players ever in the toughest moments. It’s funny when fans put rushing yardage ahead of scoring actual points and in turn Winning! Barry was certainly great and fun to watch but you don’t seem to be taking into account an 11 playoff game differential and the toll on top of it and the longevity considering it.[/QUOTE. Put Barry on Emmitt’s teams with those weapons.

Big_D · Aug 6, 2022

LOL

We can swap teams with any player now? That's convenient. Doesn't that screw up the time space continuum?

That's how the cards were dealt.

I also remember the team "without" Emmitt. Even for a brief period. How'd that go? Fresh off a Super Bowl?

If you as a Cowboy fan can't see what Emmitt brought to the table.. you never will.

Awakened · Aug 6, 2022

xwalker said:
I there was a list based on the best season by a player, Erik Williams would be a the top of all Olinemen.

I John Madden was still around and had been a voter the ESPN list, Erik Williams probably would have had an honorable mention.
- Madden said, more than once, Larry Allen is great but prior to the injury Erik Williams was the most dominant OL that I've seen in my lifetime.

I was going to say this. Before that knee injury, Erik Williams was probably the greatest OL of all time.

cowboyec · Aug 6, 2022

stuckindc said:
He only owns the rushing title because Barry retired

bull.
he earned it.

cowboyec · Aug 6, 2022

my GOATS:
QB-ROGER STAUBACH
RB-EMMITT SMITH
WR-MICHAEL IRVIN
TE-BILLY JOE DUPREE
OT-RAY WRIGHT
OG-LARRY ALLEN
C-JOHN FITZGERALD

Runwildboys · Aug 6, 2022

cowboyec said:
my GOATS:
QB-ROGER STAUBACH
RB-EMMITT SMITH
WR-MICHAEL IRVIN
TE-BILLY JOE DUPREE
OT-RAY WRIGHT
OG-LARRY ALLEN
C-JOHN FITZGERALD

No Elvis?

cowboyec · Aug 6, 2022

Runwildboys said:
No Elvis?

i'm listening to his feb 19,1972 dinner show as i write this.
if he had played for us...i'd probably have splintered into a 1,000 pieces.
:lmao2:

CoachD · Aug 6, 2022

Allen and Hog Hannah are my guards!

ESPN picks the GOAT at every offensive position: Larry Allen selected at Guard

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