Eric Willians > Larry Allen?

[CaptainMorgan]

Both guys were obviously great lineman but they would have never got the recognition they did if not for John Madden's man crush on both of them. In fact Madden is the one that started this debate. Man I miss that guy in the booth.

 

[bsheeern]

Started a thread similar to this a while back.
Cowboys vs Cowboys
Manster vs La
Manster vs Erik
Hayes vs Primetime
Lilly vs LA
Etc.

 

[dropdeadfred5]

having had the honor of actually watching all our great players at the time of their peak (except for maybe Lilly since I was still pretty young)

LA was the most dominant player at his position in Dallas Cowboys History. He is also the best guard I have ever seen play. Better than Hannah and anyone else you can name.

Opposing players begged their teams to put them on the injury list the week before they played the Boys so that they would have an excuse when LA owned them.

No other player I have ever heard of was a legitimate pro bowl player at 4 of the 5 positions on the O line. So from that point of view he was also by far the most versatile. #2 goes to Cornell Green who was a legitimate Pro Bowl player at both CB and Safety.

Eric Williams was one of the best RT during his prime that I ever saw. But he was not anywhere near as dominant at his position that LA was.

 

[ErikWilliamsHeadSlap]

Larry Allen all day over this "Eric" guy.

Oh stop...before you get slapped

 

[starman22]

The collection of lineman we had in those days is incredible. I never paid much attention to line play before that era, but the announcers would talk about it and show replays of how they dominated that I really came to appreciate them.

Does anyone have a highlight reel of Larry Allen? When I search the web, all I get is him running down the Saints linebacker on the interception and his bench press.

 

[Phoenix]

Oh stop...before you get slapped

lol

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Larry Allen all day over this "Eric" guy.

Uhmm... yeh.

 

[xwalker]

Many people wil overlook EW because there were so many star players to focus on during his great (pre wreck) years while LA was one of the few bright spots during the fading/losing years.

Erik Willaims was as dominant as any player on those super bowl teams.

EW is the only OLineman that I've ever seen basically take over a game. It was a game against the fourty whiners where their DT came out with a broken leg. EW would pancake his guy and then go after other defenders to intimidate them. Emmitt ran behind EW for most of the yardage that day with a few passes thrown in for good measure.

 

[Carolina Cowboy]

Erik Williams could potentially have been close to Allen's level, but I just don't think he had the desire to be THAT great.

Larry was an all time talent with an all time work ethic.

And let's not forget Allen played 4 of the 5 positions on the line at an all pro level or close to it. No way E. Williams could have done that.

We have a winner. Add this to the strength / athleticism / speed argument for a man his size, you have your answer.

 

[khiladi]

Remember the film of Erik Williams blowing snot and sweat from his nose in slow motion on the sideline after abusing dudes all day... man, tim machine where art thou?

 

[ologan]

Who could say, but I do remember EWI being widely regarded as the best offensive lineman in the NFL prior to that accident after the team returned from Tempe in 1994. After the wreck on the DNT, that focus sort of shifted from Williams to the rookie, Larry Allen.

Didn't hurt that the Cows were the national game most weeks and Madden absolutely fell over himself when it came to either guy. With him in their corner, pretty much everyone else followed.

This is one I often wonder about, too.

Cows????? COWS?????? Speak with respect when you visit over here, young'un!!!

 

[xwalker]

FYI, it's Erik with a k.

 

[Screw The Hall]

Before the injury Big E was the most dominant offensive lineman I have ever seen. He didn't get a chance to show it for very long. But for those couple years just WOW.

 

[Bungarian]

Wasn't it in the playoffs were he smacked a guy and broke his arm? Then they put in the new rule.

 

[john van brocklin]

FYI, it's Erik with a k.

Thanks ! I liked the nickname Big E

 

[jobberone]

No. EW>>>>>>>LA when you measure 'meanness' though.

 

[sillycon]

For their ENTIRE career, definitely Larry Allen. During their peak? I would say it was close. Erik Williams was probably the only OT that didn't need help when going against Reggie White. You hear so many stories about Reggie White abusing whoever went up against him and requiring double teams to stop him. But there was Erik all by himself going up against the great Reggie White... and dominating!

 

[Manster68]

Kevin Smith's career as a CB got shortened by the achilles.. He was a TRULY dominant corner that people forget about and when he covered Jerry Rice, he frustrated Rice to no end.

It is good to know that I was NOT the only one who noticed that.

All of Jerry Rice's big plays during that time (92-94) all came against Larry Brown. For a 12th round draft pick, Larry Brown did all that he could.

And I will still go to my grave believing that before the accident Erik Williams was the best offensive lineman in history. It is just too bad we did not really get to see Big E and Larry Allen together fully healthy.

 

[tico]

Allen all day.. should of, could of, ......

 

[cowboys1981]

LA goes down as one of the most dominant Olineman of all time IMO.