105.3 has upset me: Emmitt vs Barry

[PJTHEDOORS]

All-time leading rusher? Not a chance in Hades.

Said Emmitt would have been Emmitt, never said All time anything.

 

[Ranched]

I don't recall Sanders beating the Gnats nor any other team with one arm.

 

[Tabascocat]

That running style wasn't a style it was a necessity because his line got him hit in the backfield so often. Cart before horse, he would have had holes with a better line, including Dallas'.

Maybe, but I don't agree with the premise that Detroit's line was pure trash. For all we know, maybe with Emmitt behind them, they might be regarded as one of the best in the 90's. Sanders has stated that he doesn't like to run between the tackles.

This is all speculation of course but always fun to play what-ifs

 

[erod]

I don't recall Sanders beating the Gnats nor any other team with one arm.

I don't recall Emmitt beating the Lions with Barry.

 

[erod]

Maybe, but I don't agree with the premise that Detroit's line was pure trash. For all we know, maybe with Emmitt behind them, they might be regarded as one of the best in the 90's. Sanders has stated that he doesn't like to run between the tackles.

This is all speculation of course but always fun to play what-ifs

It's not just the lesser line. It was the vast disparity in quarterbacks.

 

[CATCH17]

Here is a game they had against each other.


Barry looks like Emmitt in a lot of ways but with less power.

Emmitt just had it all.



You look at any video of Emmitt and you see him get yards after contact like it's nothing. He takes some big shots and just keeps going.

Averages - These can be very misleading when comparing these players. Yes, Barry Sanders had a higher top speed than Emmitt and was a greater threat of taking it to pay dirt whenever he touched the ball (more on this below), but we must consider some unmentioned variables. Emmitt Smith was used much more frequently on the goal line and short yardage situations. This inevitably reduces his attainable rushing average and affects his career average; while conversely, Barry's average is inflated by his many long TDs. While I cannot substantiate the urban myth that Sanders had more negative runs than any other RB, he was usually a feast or famine runner and not someone who would grind out the game and help avoid 2nd and 3rd and longs.

 

[Plankton]

I don't recall Emmitt beating the Lions with Barry.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199211080det.htm

 

[Tabascocat]

It's not just the lesser line. It was the vast disparity in quarterbacks.

Agree, it was a lot of things.

 

[erod]

I hate this thread. I had to semi-attack my favorite pro athlete of all time.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Did Emmit have anyone drafted higher than the 3rd round on his OL? Did Emmit have castoffs from other teams on his OL? Are any of Emmits great wall on the HOF? They were great as a unit. They had great coaching. But lets not act like they were 5 blue chippers. Other guys ran behind this same OL when Emmit was out....and did not look like a HOFer. And Emmit also blocked and caught passes. Emmit also got a steady 4+ yards. Emmit was savage around the goaline and in short yardage. Barry was electric....but give me Emmit all day. And during Barrys prime...the Lions had the highest paid OL in the league.

Barry ran behind more pro bowlers than emmitt did too

 

[CATCH17]

Agree, it was a lot of things.

Why don't we make excuses like this for other WR's?

Why does this apply to Emmitt and not Jerry Rice?

 

[Tabascocat]

Why don't we make excuses like this for other WR's?

Why does this apply to Emmitt and not Jerry Rice?

No idea, but Jerry is the best in my book too.

 

[Nav22]

Barry was the master of negative runs. He routinely led the league in rush attempts for 0 or negative yardage. How's that for sustaining a long drive?

No wonder he never won anything.

 

[CATCH17]

No idea, but Jerry is the best in my book too.

I'll be honest.


Off the field stuff aside...


I'm taking Moss over Jerry and i'm even taking TO over Jerry.


Also, I think Adrian Peterson is a lot better than Emmitt or Barry or any other RB that's ever played.

Heck, i'll take Favre over Tom Brady because Favre is just better at everything except... Championships.

What defines greatness is championships... For some reason Jerry's titles count and Emmitts don't because of OL when they are the exact same player. Both guys had great supporting cast.



It's ok to be hypocritical for Jerry Rice is what I gather from all of this.

 

[Tabascocat]

I'll be honest.


Off the field stuff aside...


I'm taking Moss over Jerry and i'm even taking TO over Jerry.


Also, I think Adrian Peterson is a lot better than Emmitt or Barry or any other RB that's ever played.

What defines greatness is championships... For some reason Jerry's titles count and Emmitts don't because of OL when they are the exact same player. Both guys had great supporting cast.

I would take TO over Moss but not Rice. AP is a stud but he doesn't define greatness according to your standards

As for RB's, I would take a 14 year career of Bo Jackson over any of them. If he stayed healthy, there would have been no one better IMO.

 

[windward]

I don't recall Emmitt beating the Lions with Barry.

1992.

 

[DFWJC]

Barry was the master of negative runs. He routinely led the league in rush attempts for 0 or negative yardage. How's that for sustaining a long drive?

No wonder he never won anything.

I know he sometimes took a loss when he could have gotten that 1/2 yard. Not sure that kills a drive though.
I'd actually like to see evidence of that.
It's been repeated so often, and most now say it's a myth perpetuated over time.
The guy averaged 5 ypc for 10 years...which is preposterously absurd.

 

[DFWJC]

I would take TO over Moss but not Rice. AP is a stud but he doesn't define greatness according to your standards

As for RB's, I would take a 14 year career of Bo Jackson over any of them. If he stayed healthy, there would have been no one better IMO.

If people would just pull up Rice's stats they'd see how otherworldly they were.
He had 50% more yards than the 2nd ranked WR.
It'd be like Emmitt having an additional 6-7,000 yards from what he had.

 

[diefree666]

as regards running then Barry had a slight edge - made slight by all his negative runs.
In every other way Emmitt was the better overall running back.
and as one also mentioned there is no way Barry plays with a separated shoulder like Emmitt did. to me that series of games sealed the deal as regards how great Emmitt was.

And fr those screaming about the O lines during his career there the Detroit O line had more players in the Pro Bowl then the Dallas line had.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I'll be honest.


Off the field stuff aside...


I'm taking Moss over Jerry and i'm even taking TO over Jerry.


Also, I think Adrian Peterson is a lot better than Emmitt or Barry or any other RB that's ever played.

Heck, i'll take Favre over Tom Brady because Favre is just better at everything except... Championships.

What defines greatness is championships... For some reason Jerry's titles count and Emmitts don't because of OL when they are the exact same player. Both guys had great supporting cast.



It's ok to be hypocritical for Jerry Rice is what I gather from all of this.

I would not take Favre over Brady. I would not take Favre over Troy. Favre put up stupid stats but he also threw critical INTs in important situations. He forced it because he could not see the wisdom in playing to live another day.

that's just my opinion.