CFZ Dallas Cowboys All Time Position Rankings

[kskboys]

After murray and walker

Dorsett, Perkins, Calvin Hill, Duane Thomas.

 

[kskboys]

Judging these players from different decades is so difficult. But I think overall, the 1970s Cowboys offensive line is generally underrated. So was the defensive line.

But the only absolute I can think of is Bob Lily was the best defensive lineman the Cowboys ever had. Every other position there are arguments to be made for different guys, except maybe RB, but Lily in his prime in his era was one of the greatest ever. I would say the same thing about Butkus at LB on the Bears. In his prime he just played a different game. I know the argument for Nitschke. He was good too. So was Sam Huff. But no one played like Butkus before his knee injuries.

Emmitt was probably the best RB, although I am partial to Dorsett. Loved that guy but he was not a 3 down back really, and not the leader Emmitt was. The other RB I thought was great was Duane Thomas and if not for his loose screw he would have been much more revered by Cowboys fans.

He was a 3 down back. He was a beast of an inside runner and capable in the passing game.

 

[quickccc]

what are you talking about? Dat Nyguen made the pro bowl 3 times

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_All-Pro_Team

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/probowl.htm

I do stand corrected that he has never been on a all star team

Dat Nyguen was named 2nd team All Pro in 2003, ....but I have yet to find any findings in his supposed 3 pro bowls.

 

[RonnieT24]

Was Kevin Smith better than Terrence Newman ?

Before he tore his achilles he was.. Dude actually shut down prime Jerry Rice.. nuff said.. But that injury robbed him of his recovery speed and his confidence. He was never the same player afterwards.

 

[dfense]

I could think of a couple MLBers over an average Robert Jones. Dat Nguyen, Eugene the hit machine Lockhart, even Bradie James.

 

[McKDaddy]

On paper Hershel had a very unique blend or speed/power ... Unfortunately Hershel's power and Olympic speed did not translate him being the next Bo Jackson
- as Everson Walls once commented, Walker was somewhat " tippy-toed " running and stiff.

Did you watch Hershel? (serious question. don't know your age)

He was a bull in a china shop who could also dust your corner backs. His college & pro career (all leagues) are not only HOF worthy but legendary.

Was he a ballerina? No. Was he awesome? Yes.

 

[McKDaddy]

Walker might be #2 up there on RB talent.

Yeah, there is a reason he is a legend. Walker carried this downtrodden franchise while he wore the uniform.

 

[McKDaddy]

In their prime, Murray was the better back.

Murray was a very good player. Quite underrated. If Zeke stays healthy, who knows how their careers stack up but the reality is that Murray probably does deserve to be ranked higher.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

Here it is again - My very own, annually Dallas Cowboys ALL TIME Ranking List. (Top 5 per position)

Thoughts ? ....Accurate or Way off .? ... Who am I missing ?

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/lineups.htm

QUARTERBACKS:
1) Roger Staubach
2) Troy Aikman
3) Tony Romo
4) Dak Prescott
5) Danny white

RUNNING BACKS
1) Emmitt smith
2) Tony Dorsett
3) Zeke Elliott
4) Demarco Murray
5) Hershel walker

FULLBACKS
1) Daryl 'moose' Johnston
2) Don Perkins
3) Walt Garrison
4) Ron Springs
5) Robert Newhouse
.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1) Michael Irvin
2) Bob Hayes
3) Drew Pearson
4) Dez Bryant
5) Terrell Owens
.
TIGHT ENDS
1 Jason Witten
2) Jay Novacek
3) Billy joe Dupree
4) Doug Cosbie
5) Mike Ditka
.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1) Rayfield wright
2) Erik Williams
3) Tyron Smith
4) Pat Donovan
5) Mark Tuinei
.
OFFENSIVE GUARDS
1) Larry Allen
2) Zack martin
3) Nate Newton
4) John Niland
5) Herb Scott
.
CENTERS
1) Travis Fredrick
2) Mark Stepnoski
3) Ray Donaldson
4) Andre Gurode
5) John Fitzgerald
.
DEFENSIVE ENDS :
1) Charles Haley
2) Harvey martin
3) Ed Jones
4) Demarcus Lawrence
5) Jim Jeffcoat
.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES :
1) Bob Lilly
2) Randy white
3) Jay Ratliff
4) La Roi Glover
5) Leon Lett
.
MIDDLE LINEBACKERS:
1) Lee Roy Jordan
2) Sean Lee
3) Ken Norton jr.
4) Bob Breuing
5) Robert Jones
.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS:
1) Demarcus Ware
2) Micah Parson
3) Chuck Howley
4) Dexter Coakley
5) Thomas Henderson
.
CORNERBACKS
1) Deion Sanders
2) Mel Renfro
3) Everson walls
4) Trevon Diggs
5) Cornell Green
.
SAFETIES
1) Cliff Harris
2) Darren Woodson
3) Roy Williams
4) Brock Marion
5) Charlie waters
.
KICKERS
1) Dan Bailey
2) Rafael Septien
3) Chris Bonoi
4) Nick Folk
5) Richie Cunningham
.
PUNTERS
1) Matt McBriar
2) Toby Gowin
3) Chris Jones
4) John Jett
5) Mike Saxon
.
RETURNERS:
1) Bob Hayes
2) Deion Sanders
3) Mel Renfro
4) Reggie Swinton
5) Kevin Williams

HEAD COACHES
1) Tom Landry
2) Jimmie Johnson
3) Bill Parcells
4) Jason Garrett
5) Mike McCarthy

Danny was 10 times the QB Dak will ever be.
Oh by the way you forgot Don Meredith.....

 

[quickccc]

I could think of a couple MLBers over an average Robert Jones. Dat Nguyen, Eugene the hit machine Lockhart, even Bradie James.

Yet I cannot recall Bradie James ever on any Pro Bowl or All Pro listing ... At least Robert Jones does have a Pro Bowl nod to his resume. .

 

[quickccc]

Did you watch Hershel? (serious question. don't know your age)

He was a bull in a china shop who could also dust your corner backs. His college & pro career (all leagues) are not only HOF worthy but legendary.

Was he a ballerina? No. Was he awesome? Yes.

Hershel is still in my top 5 overall Cowboys RB list..

Of course Hershel is legendary when it comes to college ..(as are many RBs) ..but this is not about Hershel's college accolades... its about his own Cowboys career
and he' has his share of All pro and Pro Bowls, but as awesome' as you say he was, it's a reason why Jimmie and the Cowboys sought to trade him away
as the " Great Train Robbery " trade.

Despite the All purpose yardages, the All pro and pro bowl credentials, .the Olympic speed. it's a reason why Hershel is not a Hall of Famer.

 

[quickccc]

Danny was 10 times the QB Dak will ever be.
Oh by the way you forgot Don Meredith.....

Meredith would have been 6th,.. if I took it further.

 

[gtb1943]

Good list.

I have a few questions, but overall, it's a very good list. I wouldn't put Romo above Dak. They both have won the same amount of playoff games (2), but Dak has thrown for 3+ TDs in a playoff game while Romo never threw for more than 2. Plus, last season, Dak finally led the team to an away playoff victory (and breaking a 30 year drought), something Romo was not able to accomplish.

PS: Leaving Dat Nguyen out at LB doesn't make sense.

And then Dak crapped the bed vs SF so frankly that is BS. Personally I would put Don Meredith after Aikman

 

[gtb1943]

I see some recency bias in places with that list.

As Regards QBS:

ROGER
TROY
DON
TONY
DANNY

RBs
EMMITT
TONY
DUANE THOMAS
CALVIN HILL
DELMARCO MURRAY/ZEKE (TIE)

FBs
MOOSE
WALT GARRSION
DON PERKINS
ROBERT HEWHOUSE
RON SPRINGS

TEs

WITTEN
DITKA
NOVACEK
DUPREE
COSBIE

WRS
BULLET
IRVIN
PEARSON
TO
TONY HILL

TACKLES
RAYFIELD WRIGHT
ERIC WILLIAMS
TYRON SMITH
TUINIEI
DONOVAN

GUARDS
LA
MARTIN
NEWTON
NILAND
SCOTT

CENTERS
FREDRICK
STEPNOSKI
FITZGERALD
DONALDSON
GURODE



DE's
HARVEY MARTIN
CHARLES HALEY
TOO TALL
GEORGE ANDRIE
JIM JEFFCOAT

DTs
BOB LILLY
MANSTER
JETHRO PUGH
GLOVER
LETT

MLBs
Lee Roy Jordan
Ken Norton
Dat
Breunig
Lee

OLBS
De Ware
Howley
Hollywood
Parsons
Coakley

CBs
Deion
Mel Renfro
Walls
Adderly
Newman

Safeties
Cliff Harris
Woodson
Charlie Waters
Brock Marion
Roy Williams

Kickers and Punters I could care less

Coaches
Landry
Jimmy
BP
Chan Gailey
MM

 

[America's Cowboy]

And then Dak crapped the bed vs SF so frankly that is BS. Personally I would put Don Meredith after Aikman

Romo choked his whole career. Doesn't even belong in the top 5. Even Gil Brandt agreed, so frankly, your list is baloney.

 

[quickccc]

I see some recency bias in places with that list.


Coaches
Landry
Jimmy
BP
Chan Gailey
MM

Thanks for Sharing ...

Chan Gailey..? Interesting.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Hershel is still in my top 5 overall Cowboys RB list..

Of course Hershel is legendary when it comes to college ..(as are many RBs) ..but this is not about Hershel's college accolades... its about his own Cowboys career
and he' has his share of All pro and Pro Bowls, but as awesome' as you say he was, it's a reason why Jimmie and the Cowboys sought to trade him away
as the " Great Train Robbery " trade.

Despite the All purpose yardages, the All pro and pro bowl credentials, .the Olympic speed. it's a reason why Hershel is not a Hall of Famer.

They traded him because he was the only player we had that was worth anything. Walker had the misfortune to join the Cowboys when we were headed down to the cellar.

 

[dfense]

Yet I cannot recall Bradie James ever on any Pro Bowl or All Pro listing ... At least Robert Jones does have a Pro Bowl nod to his resume. .

It's close. Bradie may hit a bit harder

Bradie James 157 games 572 tackles 16 sacks 10 forced fumbles
Robert Jones 151 games 609 tackles 8 sacks 1 forced fumble

 

[dfense]

Romo choked his whole career. Doesn't even belong in the top 5. Even Gil Brandt agreed, so frankly, your list is baloney.

He didn't even say anything about Romo. Your fixation is eerie.

 

[quickccc]

Judging these players from different decades is so difficult. But I think overall, the 1970s Cowboys offensive line is generally underrated. So was the defensive line.

But the only absolute I can think of is Bob Lily was the best defensive lineman the Cowboys ever had. Every other position there are arguments to be made for different guys, except maybe RB, but Lily in his prime in his era was one of the greatest ever. I would say the same thing about Butkus at LB on the Bears. In his prime he just played a different game. I know the argument for Nitschke. He was good too. So was Sam Huff. But no one played like Butkus before his knee injuries.

Emmitt was probably the best RB, although I am partial to Dorsett. Loved that guy but he was not a 3 down back really, and not the leader Emmitt was. The other RB I thought was great was Duane Thomas and if not for his loose screw he would have been much more revered by Cowboys fans.

Per myself, since i've never seen the Butkus, Nitske, Huffs and even Lilly's actually play the game up front before my very eyes, ..i have only to go off hear-say, and You Tube and NFL film highlights and their respective reputations .

And these are only the guys aforementioned in your post. Ditto with the Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, Gale Sayers, Deacon Jones, etc, ) .and only limited resources

Those aforementioned guys were way before my time, and I myself by most accounts, like and prefer to compare and rank according to those players I've seen personally play the game
at some earlier points. .

Now oh thank the heavens for the advancement of YouTube whereas nowadays we can view back more highlight and " occasional " full reel game time,.. but that's still rare games, and not
a series of games and seasons, as we have available for the Emmitts, Zekes, Walkers, etc.