93 vs 2016 O-line

[JoeyBoy718]

All that matters is how we are now. We could be a little vulnerable on the edges. Tyron is banged up and Free is Free. Even Leary is banged up on the inside. It doesn't matter how great they are on paper if they can't show it on the field. We'll see Sunday.

 

[d_dub88]

Difficult question to answer.

Pass Blocking: About even. Free is terrible but the other 2016 guys are better.

Short Yardage Run Blocking: The early nineties OL was probably the best ever. They averaged over 320 pounds back when DLinemen were smaller on average than they are now. Erik Williams is the only OLineman that I've even seen basically take over a game the way some skill position player might take over a game. There was a game where they went the length of the field and I think every play was a run. They might have had 1 pass but I think it was all runs. EW would blow up his guy and then proceed to pummel a couple of other defenders who were often just ducking for cover.

Overall Run Blocking: Probably similar effectiveness but different styles. Power running with man blocking vs precision blocking with both man and zone.

Unfortunately Erik Williams (pre-wreck) and Larry Allen only played a few games together during LA's rookie year. EW was never the same after the car wreck.

Exception: In 2014 when Parnell replaced Free, the 2014 OL was the best in history.

The game where they went the length of the field on runs was the Super Bowl. I think Aikman had a five yd pass but everything else was Smith and the line. Greatness imposing their will.

 

[DandyDon52]

Difficult question to answer.

Pass Blocking: About even. Free is terrible but the other 2016 guys are better.

Short Yardage Run Blocking: The early nineties OL was probably the best ever. They averaged over 320 pounds back when DLinemen were smaller on average than they are now. Erik Williams is the only OLineman that I've even seen basically take over a game the way some skill position player might take over a game. There was a game where they went the length of the field and I think every play was a run. They might have had 1 pass but I think it was all runs. EW would blow up his guy and then proceed to pummel a couple of other defenders who were often just ducking for cover.

Overall Run Blocking: Probably similar effectiveness but different styles. Power running with man blocking vs precision blocking with both man and zone.

Unfortunately Erik Williams (pre-wreck) and Larry Allen only played a few games together during LA's rookie year. EW was never the same after the car wreck.

Exception: In 2014 when Parnell replaced Free, the 2014 OL was the best in history.

so why didnt JG keep Parnell and let free go?
I too think leary is better than Collins.

Does not matter which line is better, just that this one is as good, or close to as good as that 90's line.

That is like asking who is better emmit or EE ?
Aikman or Dak ??
Too early to tell, and since those others have the rings well.... these current guys need time to prove themselves.

 

[mrmojo]

The 93 team played some great defensive lines in the regular season and playoffs. Both are similar in how they are so physical they can wear out an opponent as the game goes on. Give 93 the nod until 2016 does something in the post season.

Funny thing about 93 is that Stepnoski was hurt and Gesek was the center in the SB with Cornish backing him up, and they didn't miss a beat.

 

[Virginia-Dave]

Yeah, Dak is the real QB I'm talking about. 2015 the line played well but didn't have a QB that could win a game. Those '90s lines beat up great defenses in the NFC East as well as teams like San Fran and Green Bay every year. When you are winning against a stacked schedule every year that's special.

It's a different era, the first place schedule means nothing. If your team has a stacked schedule, so does every team in your division. Outside of the pats there aren't any teams that dominate their division for years at a time anymore. This years first place teams are next years 3rd or 4th place teams. Just look at the NFC East, there hasn't been a back to back division winner since the eagles won it 4 straight seasons from 01-04. Other than that, there has been a different NFC East champ every season for the last 20 years. This year the only difference between the skins 1st place schedule and the Cowboys last place schedule was them playing the cardinals and panthers versus the Cowboys playing the niners and bucs. If the Cowboys had the 1st place schedule this season, I believe they would've had the exact same record that they have now. It's about beating the teams you have on the schedule, what those teams records were last year is meaningless.

 

[joseephuss]

The 93 team played some great defensive lines in the regular season and playoffs. Both are similar in how they are so physical they can wear out an opponent as the game goes on. Give 93 the nod until 2016 does something in the post season.

Funny thing about 93 is that Stepnoski was hurt and Gesek was the center in the SB with Cornish backing him up, and they didn't miss a beat.

Yep. Those 90s lines had a few different configurations.

 

[perrykemp]

Current group. They are making our rivals and the rest of the league change the way they build their teams if you haven't noticed.

I think it will truly change the league if they win it all.

Otherwise, they just end up looking like a team that over-committed their draft at one position group at the expense of balancing out talent on the roster across all the other position groups.

Win it all and they are the shining example on the hill.

 

[mrmojo]

Yep. Those 90s lines had a few different configurations.

The only linemen who consistently played in that 3 year SB run were Nate and Tui.

 

[BAT]

I was watching this segment on the NFL youtube channel about which o-line was more dominant the 93 o-line which consisted of Tunei, Gogan, Stepnoski, Newton, and Williams or the 2016 oline consisted of Smith, Leary, Frederick, Martin, and Free. Which offensive is better to you guys?

The one that won 3 rings. If current OL can win 4 rings, I reserve right to change my answer.

 

[Crown Royal]

so why didnt JG keep Parnell and let free go?
I too think leary is better than Collins.

Does not matter which line is better, just that this one is as good, or close to as good as that 90's line.

That is like asking who is better emmit or EE ?
Aikman or Dak ??
Too early to tell, and since those others have the rings well.... these current guys need time to prove themselves.

Because Parnell got double the contract for being about 30% better.

 

[BAT]

The only linemen who consistently played in that 3 year SB run were Nate and Tui.

And Erik Williams. Plus it was a 4 year run. Niners cheated us out of one.

 

[mrmojo]

And Erik Williams. Plus it was a 4 year run. Niners cheated us out of one.

True, but he was hurt in the 94 campaign when Larry took over for him.

 

[ringmaster]

I think I take Eric Williams over any ol we have today...Thats how good he was.

He was one of the best RTs I've ever seen had it not been for that car accident he was involved in that caused him to retire prematurely he would've definitely be in the HOF.

 

[BAT]

True, but he was hurt in the 94 campaign when Larry took over for him.

LA had the worst game of his career in '94 championship game against the 9ers. I kept yelling for Switzer to put in Ron Stone, Larry was manhandled so badly.

 

[joseephuss]

The only linemen who consistently played in that 3 year SB run were Nate and Tui.

I think Larry Allen would have replaced Tuinei in 1994 if Erik Williams didn't get injured in that car wreck.

 

[ringmaster]

Current group. They are making our rivals and the rest of the league change the way they build their teams if you haven't noticed.

I definitely do @HomeBiscuit a lot of these teams especially on the defensive side of the ball they have schemes to harass a QB so Dallas flipped the script with a spectacular running game with a dynamic stud in Zeke in the end teams will definitely copy what the Cowboys is doing with their offensive line.

 

[BAT]

The game where they went the length of the field on runs was the Super Bowl. I think Aikman had a five yd pass but everything else was Smith and the line. Greatness imposing their will.

Linehan and Garrett need to watch those old 90's postseason games to get them in the right mindset, run-run-run.

 

[joseephuss]

He was one of the best RTs I've ever seen had it not been for that car accident he was involved in that caused him to retire prematurely he would've definitely be in the HOF.

He played 7 more seasons after that car accident, which included an all-pro year in 1996. I do think the quality of his play dipped after the accident, but I don't think it really impacted the length of his career. He admitted he never really worked out until he had to rehab after that accident. Late in his career he didn't look that fit.

 

[joseephuss]

LA had the worst game of his career in '94 championship game against the 9ers. I kept yelling for Switzer to put in Ron Stone, Larry was manhandled so badly.

Allen was playing on a bad ankle in that game.

 

[ringmaster]

I'd like to see Collins at RT. I don't dismiss who Free is or what he brings to the team, he is what he is and he would be an upgrade on many teams. I just think Collins is younger and has better feet. Arm length may be an issue but that didn't hurt Larry Allen when he moved to tackle and it wasn't a big issue while Collins was at LSU.

Don't torch me for saying Collins can do what LA did. I know he ain't LA.

Watching Collins his rookie year last season pancake defenders was very Allen like so no I'm not going too hold that against you having said that Collins has a long way to go to get to Allen's level.