Better RB Emmitt or Barry

[Gryphon]

from Lester's Legends's SportingBlog

OK, we've done the Peyton Manning-Tom Brady and the Steve Young-Troy Aikman debates. Now it's time to go the running back route. I know debates like this don't accomplish anything, and aren't proof of anything. They are just fun to do. It's fun to see what arguments people come up with. OK, on to the question at hand. Who is the better running back, Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders?

The Numbers
Barry Sanders
15,269 yards (3rd all-time) (1526.9 yards/season)
5.0 yards/carry
99 rushing TDs (8th all-time) (9.9 tds/season)
352 receptions
2921 receiving yards
10 receiving TDs
10 times in the top 5 in rushing yardage (4 rushing titles, 3 runner ups)
8 times in top 10 in rushing TDs (1st twice)
10 Pro Bowls
Rookie of the Year
NFL record 14 straight 100 yard games
2000 yard season
MVP

Emmitt Smith
18355 yards (1st all-time) (1223.7 yards/season)
4.2 yards/carry
164 rushing TDs (1st all-time) (10.9 tds/season)
515 receptions
3224 receiving yards
11 receiving TDs
7 times in the top 5 in rushing yardage (4 rushing titles)
10 times in the top 10 in rushing TDs (1st 3 times)
8 Pro Bowls
11 straight 1000 yard seasons
NFL record 25 rushing TD season (since broken again and again and again)
3 Super Bowl Rings
Super Bowl MVP

I'm sure Barry would trade his career with Emmitt if he could. Barrry never played on a complete team like Emmitt did. He never had a line as good, a quarterback as good, a defense as good, or a coach as good. Barry made some of he most impressive runs I've ever seen. Be it a 2 yard gain or a 80 yard TD dash, Barry was electrifying. Emmitt was incredible too. He had great vision and hit the hole hard. He had a scent for the endzone.

My pick is Barry Sanders. He's the best running back I've ever seen, although LT is closing the gap. If he had a better supporting cast, who knows how far out of reach the numbers would be. He probably wouldn't have walked away from the game so soon.

OK, I've made my pick. Your turn. Who's the better running back, Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders?

I don't know if I made it clear, but I think Emmitt Smith is an exceptional running back. I would easily put in top 4 of all time (along with Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, and Walter Payton). He was an excellent blocker and a leader. Although I dislike the Cowboys, I respect Emmitt immensely, and recognize that dynasty as one of the very best. I know Cowboys fans are very passionate so I don't want to give you the wrong impression.

 

[kTXe]

If you want to sell tickets and show up on SportsCenter, but lose games because half of your drives are killed with -6 yard runs and you have to pull your best RB in short yardage/goalline situations, go with Barry.

If you want to win championships with a RB that MAKES his o-line infinitely better (that's right, not the other way around), consistently grinds out the tough extra yardage, blocks superbly, and absolutely refuses to lose, you go with Emmitt.

 

[Royal Laegotti]

Emmitt, he was always clutch in the playoffs and other BIG games, I remember Barry had like 4 yards rushing in a playoff game against Green Bay. So give me Emmitt, and I am biased. He's the greatest ever.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think Emmitt was the best all around back. Running, blocking and catching the ball. I think Sanders is one of the best pure runners I have seen but when you look at the overall picture of what the RB job entails I think Emmitt is the better back

 

[Coakleys Dad]

I love emmitt but i think Barry was a better PURe runner. He never had a good o-line and he was always the focus of the defensive attack.

 

[Hostile]

My opinion on this is NEVER popular. There are literally dozens of RBs I'd take over Barry Sanders. I am thankful he was never on our team. I do not care for a RB who will not get you the "hard yard." Give me a warrior over the excitement he could generate with a big run any day. Take away his one big run per game and he was nothing special. In big games he was invisible. He left his team with 2nd and long plus 3rd and long too many times for my tastes.

He was great to watch, but as a football player I wouldn't want him anywhere near my team. Good guy, but a lousy teammate IMO. He walked away and lef this team high and dry. It was hilarious to me that as a team they had a better record after he left.

Then his nonsense about wanting to play in Miami and going into the Hall of Fame with a blank cap instead of a Lions cap. Those who love him can have him. I will never agree with you.

One last thing, the stuff about his sub par O-line is a joke. Lomas Brown was a fantastic LT and he had an excellent Center in Glover as well. Almost every year that Emmitt had 2 Pro Bowl guys in front of him Barry did too.

Emmitt all day, every day, especially on game days.

 

[WV Cowboy]

If you want to sell tickets and show up on SportsCenter, but lose games because half of your drives are killed with -6 yard runs and you have to pull your best RB in short yardage/goalline situations, go with Barry.

If you want to win championships with a RB that MAKES his o-line infinitely better (that's right, not the other way around), consistently grinds out the tough extra yardage, blocks superbly, and absolutely refuses to lose, you go with Emmitt.

:laugh2:

LOL !

End of discussion !!

What is your next question Gryphon ?

 

[YosemiteSam]

Barry was better period. No homism here. Barry lacked a team and yet he still out-performed Emmitt in every way except winning. Football is a team game and that explains why Barry didn't win. The Cowboys of the 90s are considered one of the best teams of all time. The term "best team" could never be mentioned in the same sentence with the Lions when Barry was on the team.

 

[zrinkill]

Barry was in a weak Defence division ..... Anytime Barry had to play NFC east opponents he folded like a wee girl ....

Look at what they did in the playoffs ...... Emmitt actually got better .... while Barry had low low yardage games .....

Emmitt over Barry anytime ..... and any expert that knows Football will tell ya the same thing.

 

[Muhast]

i never understood the "if barry had emmitts line"....

If they wanna say that... I can say things like "If quincy carter played for chi they would have won the superbowl"

you have no way of knowing how players careers would turn out on other teams.. I hate when people bring up that point, Barry ran the same way in college as he did in the pro's. It doesnt matter about the line b/c he had that running style where he'd either lose 6 yards or gain 10. Barry would have had less opportunity to shine in Dallas than he did in det. Emmitt got a large amount of carries AFTER we were winning b/c we had so much talent.

In Det everyone knew if they needed a play they'd look to Barry. Period. In Dallas we had so much talent Emmitt had to give up a lot of opportunities, and Emmitt has the records and thats really all that matters. Everything else is just opinion.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Barry was better period. No homism here. Barry lacked a team and yet he still out-performed Emmitt in every way except winning. Football is a team game and that explains why Barry didn't win. The Cowboys of the 90s are considered one of the best teams of all time. The term "best team" could never be mentioned in the same sentence with the Lions when Barry was on the team.

Barry was exciting, and fun to watch, ... but he was not the "football player" or the competitor that Emmitt was.

It just depends on which one of those you want on your team.

 

[Phrozen Phil]

If you want to sell tickets and show up on SportsCenter, but lose games because half of your drives are killed with -6 yard runs and you have to pull your best RB in short yardage/goalline situations, go with Barry.

If you want to win championships with a RB that MAKES his o-line infinitely better (that's right, not the other way around), consistently grinds out the tough extra yardage, blocks superbly, and absolutely refuses to lose, you go with Emmitt.

I wish I had a nickel for every time this question has come up. IMHO, I have to concur with the opinion above. The bottom line for me was winning. Emmitt, Troy, and Michael put their personal quests aside to win, which they did. Barry Sanders was fun to watch, but his teams were not winners. Emmitt persevered through lots of O-Line changes and still got yardage and touchdowns. If I want a COMPLETE RB, I'll take Emmitt.

 

[Doomsday101]

i never understood the "if barry had emmitts line"....

If they wanna say that... I can say things like "If quincy carter played for chi they would have won the superbowl"

you have no way of knowing how players careers would turn out on other teams.. I hate when people bring up that point, Barry ran the same way in college as he did in the pro's. It doesnt matter about the line b/c he had that running style where he'd either lose 6 yards or gain 10. Barry would have had less opportunity to shine in Dallas than he did in det. Emmitt got a large amount of carries AFTER we were winning b/c we had so much talent.

In Det everyone knew if they needed a play they'd look to Barry. Period. In Dallas we had so much talent Emmitt had to give up a lot of opportunities, and Emmitt has the records and thats really all that matters. Everything else is just opinion.

Funny thing is when Emmitt held out or was injured no other back was able to do anything behind that same line. I think Emmitt made the line better and I think Emmitt would have had great success where ever he would have gone. He was a great back at Florida and that did not change once he hit the NFL, the guy was a warrior

 

[YosemiteSam]

Barry was exciting, and fun to watch, ... but he was not the "football player" or the competitor that Emmitt was.

It just depends on which one of those you want on your team.

If I was drafting a RB and Emmitt and Barry were both choices, I would take Emmitt everytime because of his heart to play the game. Barry quitting in the middle of his career was enough for me to not pick him

 

[YosemiteSam]

Funny thing is when Emmitt held out or was injured no other back was able to do anything behind that same line. I think Emmitt made the line better and I think Emmitt would have had great success where ever he would have gone. He was a great back at Florida and that did not change once he hit the NFL, the guy was a warrior

There are a myriad of reason this can happen. First off, Emmitt was well liked and the offensive line could have done this on their own. Secondly, the offense would have been ran differently without Emmitt as you play to your strengths. Third as you noted, Lincon Coleman, Sherman Williams, Curvin Richards arn't quite the same player Emmitt Smith was.

 

[Doomsday101]

There are a myriad of reason this can happen. First off, Emmitt was well liked and the offensive line could have done this on their own. Secondly, the offense would have been ran differently without Emmitt as you play to your strengths. Third as you noted, Lincon Coleman, Sherman Williams, Curvin Richards arn't quite the same player Emmitt Smith was.

Another reason is because Emmitt Smith was a great RB. Smith helped the line out quite a bit and the line openly said this many times. Smith could offer a heck of a lot more to the Cowboys than Sander could to the Lions and when Emmitt was out this team did not win. I recall Jimmy Johnson throwing a fit after Dallas opened a season with 2 loses because Smith was holding out, once Smith returned this team went on to win the Super Bowl. Smith was a hugh part of why this team has 3 rings

 

[WV Cowboy]

Barry was better period. No homism here. Barry lacked a team and yet he still out-performed Emmitt in every way except winning. Football is a team game and that explains why Barry didn't win. The Cowboys of the 90s are considered one of the best teams of all time. The term "best team" could never be mentioned in the same sentence with the Lions when Barry was on the team.

If I was drafting a RB and Emmitt and Barry were both choices, I would take Emmitt everytime because of his heart to play the game. Barry quitting in the middle of his career was enough for me to not pick him

You lost me.

 

[zrinkill]

You lost me.

Its called Crawdadding

 

[visionary]

My opinion on this is NEVER popular. There are literally dozens of RBs I'd take over Barry Sanders. I am thankful he was never on our team. I do not care for a RB who will not get you the "hard yard." Give me a warrior over the excitement he could generate with a big run any day. Take away his one big run per game and he was nothing special. In big games he was invisible. He left his team with 2nd and long plus 3rd and long too many times for my tastes.

He was great to watch, but as a football player I wouldn't want him anywhere near my team. Good guy, but a lousy teammate IMO. He walked away and lef this team high and dry. It was hilarious to me that as a team they had a better record after he left.

Then his nonsense about wanting to play in Miami and going into the Hall of Fame with a blank cap instead of a Lions cap. Those who love him can have him. I will never agree with you.

One last thing, the stuff about his sub par O-line is a joke. Lomas Brown was a fantastic LT and he had an excellent Center in Glover as well. Almost every year that Emmitt had 2 Pro Bowl guys in front of him Barry did too.

Emmitt all day, every day, especially on game days.

you said it so i dont have to spend time re-typing the same thing.
thanx

 

[adamknite]

from Lester's Legends's SportingBlog

OK, we've done the Peyton Manning-Tom Brady and the Steve Young-Troy Aikman debates. Now it's time to go the running back route. I know debates like this don't accomplish anything, and aren't proof of anything. They are just fun to do. It's fun to see what arguments people come up with. OK, on to the question at hand. Who is the better running back, Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders?

The Numbers
Barry Sanders
15,269 yards (3rd all-time) (1526.9 yards/season)
5.0 yards/carry
99 rushing TDs (8th all-time) (9.9 tds/season)
352 receptions
2921 receiving yards
10 receiving TDs
10 times in the top 5 in rushing yardage (4 rushing titles, 3 runner ups)
8 times in top 10 in rushing TDs (1st twice)
10 Pro Bowls
Rookie of the Year
NFL record 14 straight 100 yard games
2000 yard season
MVP

Emmitt Smith
18355 yards (1st all-time) (1223.7 yards/season)
4.2 yards/carry
164 rushing TDs (1st all-time) (10.9 tds/season)
515 receptions
3224 receiving yards
11 receiving TDs
7 times in the top 5 in rushing yardage (4 rushing titles)
10 times in the top 10 in rushing TDs (1st 3 times)
8 Pro Bowls
11 straight 1000 yard seasons
NFL record 25 rushing TD season (since broken again and again and again)
3 Super Bowl Rings
Super Bowl MVP

I'm sure Barry would trade his career with Emmitt if he could. Barrry never played on a complete team like Emmitt did. He never had a line as good, a quarterback as good, a defense as good, or a coach as good. Barry made some of he most impressive runs I've ever seen. Be it a 2 yard gain or a 80 yard TD dash, Barry was electrifying. Emmitt was incredible too. He had great vision and hit the hole hard. He had a scent for the endzone.

My pick is Barry Sanders. He's the best running back I've ever seen, although LT is closing the gap. If he had a better supporting cast, who knows how far out of reach the numbers would be. He probably wouldn't have walked away from the game so soon.

OK, I've made my pick. Your turn. Who's the better running back, Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders?

I don't know if I made it clear, but I think Emmitt Smith is an exceptional running back. I would easily put in top 4 of all time (along with Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, and Walter Payton). He was an excellent blocker and a leader. Although I dislike the Cowboys, I respect Emmitt immensely, and recognize that dynasty as one of the very best. I know Cowboys fans are very passionate so I don't want to give you the wrong impression.

Give me Emmitt, he was the more complete back, and for a good portion of his career did must of his rushing in second halfs of games when the Cowboys had the lead and the other team knew the Boys were just going to pound Emmitt.