FoxSports.com: 10/10/07 He Said, She Said-Emmitt vs Barry

[percyhoward]

I think it says a lot that people who argue for Barry HAVE to say "what if he had Emmitt's line." The only way they can argue for Barry is by using a hypothetical. in real life, everyone knows Emmitt was better.

Exactly. It's not even an argument.

And you can't say he had HOF linemen and then go into a room and not vote for any of them to get into the Hall of Fame. But as sure as we'll keeping hearing how great they were, none of those guys will ever get in.

 

[bootsy]

and Walter Payton was better than Barry or Emmitt.

I can't say Jim Brown because I never saw him but I would agree Walter is the ONLY back I would put ahead of Emmitt. He is my favorite player besides Emmitt.

 

[Thomas82]

Where are the 2 potential Hall of Famers?

Emmitt's OL: first rushing title (1991)
Tuinei
Gogan
Stepnoski
Newton
Williams

Emmitt's OL: second rushing title (1992)
Tuinei
Newton
Stepnoski
Gesek
Williams

Emmitt's OL: third rushing title (1993)
Tuinei
Newton
Stepnoski
Gogan
Williams

Don't forget, NONE of them made the Pro Bowl for the first rushing title, or the first 2 times Emmitt made the Pro Bowl.

 

[LeonDixson]

You know, it's amazing to me that we ever won a super bowl in the 90s.

I mean, you take Emmitt for example. The guy was a good runner but if he didn't have 5 HOF blockers in front of him he would have never done anything. Besides, he had a HOF QB and a HOF WR to keep the defense honest while Emmitt just unexpectedly snuck the ball out of the backfield and moseyed on down field with it. His numbers are only good because he played with Troy and Michael.

Then you take Troy. Here is a guy who was an okay QB, but not much more. Why he wouldn't have amounted to anything if he had not had a HOF WR going out there and outmuscling the defense for the ball. And it's pretty obvious that his mediocre stats is the result of the coaches taking the ball out of his hands and giving it to that HOF RB who couldn't be stopped. They knew they couldn't trust him to continue throwing the ball.

And this guy named Michael? Why you wouldn't even know his name if he hadn't had one of the most accurate HOF QB's in history throwing the ball to him and an unstoppable HOF RB causing the opposing defenses to stack nine men in the box and leave him with one-on-one coverage on every single play. Even the coaches realized he wasn't reliable. That's why they relied on Emmitt to close the game out for them in the second half. [/sarcasm off]

It really ticks me off that in every debate involving one of the triplets he is downgraded because of the argument that it was just his surrounding cast that made him look good. If they took the time to think about it like I facetiously did above they would realize their arguments are biased at best and stupid at worst.

Yes, our dynasty team was loaded with talent. That's because they were superstars in their own right! It doesn't mean they were being bailed out by each other, or only good , check that GREAT, because they also had a great teammate.

 

[jem88]

You know, it's amazing to me that we ever won a super bowl in the 90s.

I mean, you take Emmitt for example. The guy was a good runner but if he didn't have 5 HOF blockers in front of him he would have never done anything. Besides, he had a HOF QB and a HOF WR to keep the defense honest while Emmitt just unexpectedly snuck the ball out of the backfield and moseyed on down field with it. His numbers are only good because he played with Troy and Michael.

Then you take Troy. Here is a guy who was an okay QB, but not much more. Why he wouldn't have amounted to anything if he had not had a HOF WR going out there and outmuscling the defense for the ball. And it's pretty obvious that his mediocre stats is the result of the coaches taking the ball out of his hands and giving it to that HOF RB who couldn't be stopped. They knew they couldn't trust him to continue throwing the ball.

And this guy named Michael? Why you wouldn't even know his name if he hadn't had one of the most accurate HOF QB's in history throwing the ball to him and an unstoppable HOF RB causing the opposing defenses to stack nine men in the box and leave him with one-on-one coverage on every single play. Even the coaches realized he wasn't reliable. That's why they relied on Emmitt to close the game out for them in the second half. [/sarcasm off]

Spot on. You should have omitted the 'sarcasm off' though. It would have heightened the comedic effect.

 

[the kid 05]

and Walter Payton was better than Barry or Emmitt.

did you really just quote your self?

 

[Thomas82]

You know, it's amazing to me that we ever won a super bowl in the 90s.

I mean, you take Emmitt for example. The guy was a good runner but if he didn't have 5 HOF blockers in front of him he would have never done anything. Besides, he had a HOF QB and a HOF WR to keep the defense honest while Emmitt just unexpectedly snuck the ball out of the backfield and moseyed on down field with it. His numbers are only good because he played with Troy and Michael.

Then you take Troy. Here is a guy who was an okay QB, but not much more. Why he wouldn't have amounted to anything if he had not had a HOF WR going out there and outmuscling the defense for the ball. And it's pretty obvious that his mediocre stats is the result of the coaches taking the ball out of his hands and giving it to that HOF RB who couldn't be stopped. They knew they couldn't trust him to continue throwing the ball.

And this guy named Michael? Why you wouldn't even know his name if he hadn't had one of the most accurate HOF QB's in history throwing the ball to him and an unstoppable HOF RB causing the opposing defenses to stack nine men in the box and leave him with one-on-one coverage on every single play. Even the coaches realized he wasn't reliable. That's why they relied on Emmitt to close the game out for them in the second half. [/sarcasm off]

It really ticks me off that in every debate involving one of the triplets he is downgraded because of the argument that it was just his surrounding cast that made him look good. If they took the time to think about it like I facetiously did above they would realize their arguments are biased at best and stupid at worst.

Yes, our dynasty team was loaded with talent. That's because they were superstars in their own right! It doesn't mean they were being bailed out by each other, or only good , check that GREAT, because they also had a great teammate.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I think Barry was better.

People act like Barry was Reggie Bush with the "highlight reel" talk, when the truth is that he was on pace to destroy the all-time rushing title when he retired. You don't become the first NFL back to run for five consecutive 1,500 yard seasons or the third all time to rush for 2,000 yards by just dancing around. Do people really think Emmitt would have the record if Barry hadn't quit so young? Emmitt is barely 3,000 yards in front of Barry despite playing five more years.

I know, I know... I'll get my flame suit on now. But I'm definitely not saying that Emmitt wasn't incredible, because he obviously was.

 

[LeonDixson]

I think Barry was better.

People act like Barry was Reggie Bush with the "highlight reel" talk, when the truth is that he was on pace to destroy the all-time rushing title when he retired. Do people really think Emmitt would have the record if Barry hadn't quit so young? Emmitt is barely 3,000 yards in front of Barry despite playing five more years.

I know, I know... I'll get my flame suit on now. But I'm definitely not saying that Emmitt wasn't incredible, because he obviously was.

I'm not going to flame you because everyone has their own opinion. But the question was who was the best "ALL AROUND running back" Emmit blocked better, and scored more. Not to mention he came up big when the team really needed him, instead of fading away into the wallpaper.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Emmitt > Barry

any day of the week and twice on sundays =)

 

[ZB9]

Emmitt > Barry

any day of the week and twice on sundays =)

co sign

I dont give a crap about highlight reel sportcenter runs...I want a RUNNING BACK that will move the chains and do everything that his TEAM needs. After all, it is the ultimate team sport.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I always say that you can take Barry, and I'll take Emmitt and the Super Bowl....every single time.




YAKUZA

 

[Biggems]

just think if we had barry and the lions had Emmitt.....i wonder if this argument would still occur.

all things being equal.....team, OL, QB, WRs, TE....I am sure Barry would have put up stats that would have blown Emmitt away.

However, that is all speculation, because all things weren't equal. Dallas was by far the better team. Emmitt was the catalyst to that success. It is amazing how Dallas still won games without Troy or Mike, but when Emmitt was out or injured during games, the Cowboys seemed to lose. That tells me that Emmitt = Victory.

The Lions had a very good offense during the 90s....their defense sucked and that is why they couldn't win in the postseason. It didn't help that their coach was a complete tool. How do you take one of the top two RBs in the NFL and sit him on the sidelines on 3rd downs and goal line situations? If anything, he would have been the ultimate decoy. Teams would have had to stack the box, thus leaving Moore one on one for jump balls in the corner of the endzone. Hell, give it to Barry and let him work his magic. But nobody ever confused Fontes for a rocket scientist.

I will always concede Barry Sanders as being the best runner of the 90s. However, Emmitt will always be the best complete RB of the 90s IMO.

Fontes cheated Barry of his stats, glory, and a better chance at postseason success cause of his stupid strategy.

Landry cheated Dorsett by confining him to about 17 carries a game. I firmly feel TD could have run at least 20-22 times a game. With his game breaking ability, those extra 3-5 carries a game could have improved his stats immensely.

Eric Dickerson cheated himself by leaving the Rams....I believe if ED would have stayed with the Rams, we would be talking about multiple 2000 yd seasons.

Unfortunately, Sayers and Jackson were cheated by injuries. Both would have put up monster numbers in their careers if they had been able to stay healthy. Had Bo given up on baseball on focuses solely on football, and stayed healthy, I think he would have done so much damage to the record books, that he would be in Jerry Rice company.

So it is what it is.....circumstances happen. Coaches make their personnel decisions, players choose to move on, injuries happen, players abruptly retire......and in the end, when the dust settles....

EMMITT = #1 in Yds and TDs

 

[ZB9]

just think if we had barry and the lions had Emmitt.....i wonder if this argument would still occur.

all things being equal.....team, OL, QB, WRs, TE....I am sure Barry would have put up stats that would have blown Emmitt away.

I seriously doubt Sanders would have fit in Dallas's power run game

Sanders was drafted to the perfect team for his style...a run a shoot offense that spread the defense out. He is lucky that the Packers passed on him at #2

 

[dbair1967]

I think Barry was better.

People act like Barry was Reggie Bush with the "highlight reel" talk, when the truth is that he was on pace to destroy the all-time rushing title when he retired. You don't become the first NFL back to run for five consecutive 1,500 yard seasons or the third all time to rush for 2,000 yards by just dancing around. Do people really think Emmitt would have the record if Barry hadn't quit so young? Emmitt is barely 3,000 yards in front of Barry despite playing five more years.

I know, I know... I'll get my flame suit on now. But I'm definitely not saying that Emmitt wasn't incredible, because he obviously was.

Well one thing would clearly be different, we wouldnt have run the ball in short yardage situations as well so Aikman probably would have had ALOT more TD passes...Emmitt was eons a better goalline runner than Barry ever was, which is why he got took out so much by the Lions in those situations...Sanders would not have been as successful in Norv's offense as Emmitt was IMO

David

 

[Doomsday101]

Barry was the best pure runner I have seen Emmitt however was a better all around RB. While Barry was fun to watch I still go with the work horse Smith any day of the week.

 

[zrinkill]

Bary would not have benefited from our O-line anymore than he did with his.

Barry had Pro-bowl linemen ..... and he would not follow their blocks or hit the holes they created.

Barry's style of running involved him using his quickness to get into space and then use his incredible move set to cause chaos and spring him free.

Barry had unnatural awareness ..... but not good vision on where to hit the holes in the line like Emmitt Smith.

Thats why in the playoffs against the best defenses ..... Barry did nothing.

Thats why in the Pro Bowl games ... Barry did worse than he did behind the Lions lines.

Thats why Emmitt flourished in the playoffs and Probowl games.

 

[percyhoward]

Bary would not have benefited from our O-line anymore than he did with his.

Barry had Pro-bowl linemen ..... and he would not follow their blocks or hit the holes they created.

Very good point.

Also, if the OL was the reason for his success, how do they explain the fact that Emmitt had 45 100-yard games in high school? He was named the high school Player of the Century in the state of Florida, ahead of several players who are already in the Pro Hall of Fame.

How many HOFers did he have on his high school line?

 

[Doomsday101]

Very good point.

Also, if the OL was the reason for his success, how do they explain the fact that Emmitt had 45 100-yard games in high school? He was named the high school Player of the Century in the state of Florida, ahead of several players who are already in the Pro Hall of Fame.

How many HOFers did he have on his high school line?

I agree and why could no other RB on the Cowboys team behind the same OL get the job done? When Emmitt was out Dallas lost games and other backs were not able to produce much.

 

[L-O-Jete]

Smith ended his career with 175 touchdowns compared to Sanders’ 109.

Every time Barry Sanders touched the ball, he was a threat to score. That cannot be said of Emmitt Smith.

If Emmitt wasn't a threat how did he end up with all those TD's????