Larry Allen vs. Rayfield and HOF/Ring of Honor?

[Established1971]

Comparing Rayfield Wright with Larry Allen is comparing apples to oranges. Not only did they play different positions on the offensive line, they played in different eras. Allen was named to 11 Pro Bowls, Wright named to 6 straight. Rayfield used his athleticism and size, while Larry used his bulk and brute strength. Both players were named to their respective All Decade Teams. Larry is definitely a shoe-in for the Hall Of Fame. On paper his stats surpass that of Rayfield. Rayfield is still my favorite though!!!

Larry Allen Wikipedia

Rayfield Wright Wikipedia

what stats? besides pro bowl

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I rank Larry Allen with John Hannah, Anthony Munoz, and Jim Parker as the best OLs to ever play the game. Center would be a toss up between Mike Webster, Jeff Van Note, and Jim Otto. Pick one and I would be happy with him.

How's that for an all-time O-Line?

LT-Munoz, LG-Hannah, C-Webster, RG-Allen, RT-Parker

As someone else said, if Erik Williams wouldn't have gotten hurt in that car crash he could have been the greatest RT of all-time and replaced Parker on my line.

As for Hannah vs Allen, Hannah could do some things that Allen couldn't and vice versa. Hannah was very strong and could dominate his opponent but he was also an excellent technician and would routinely block 2-3 guys on a play as he would move from one level to another. He was very quick and excelled at pulling and blocking in space throughout his career. His vision and ability to read made him the best in his time. A pulling Guard is like a RB when it comes to needing good vision and balance but instead of avoiding contact, he uses it to take guys out. Hannah was the best I ever saw at this.

Allen lost a lot of his mobility later in his career but early on he amazed the world running down a defender who had picked off a pass. No one in NFL history was a strong as Allen IMO. His strength is amazing and the power he displays is without equal. Watching DTs try to avoid him was funny at times, especially later in games when they just didn't want to take that shot to the chest anymore. You would see them stunting a lot, trying not to face him. Allen could get sloppy at times though and tended to rely too much on his strength and not enough on proper footwork and technique. But in his prime he was the best ever.

Munoz is simply the best OT to ever play the game and is without equal IMO. Even Big-E in his prime wasn't as good as Munoz was, he was stronger but nowhere near as good technically.

I would probably go something like this.

LT Anthony (Formerly known as Mike) Munoz - LG John Hannah - C Jim Otto - RG Jim Parker - RT Jackie Slater with Bruce Mathews backing up every position on the line.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I would probably go something like this.

LT Mike Munoz - LG John Hannah - C Jim Otto - RG Jim Parker - RT Jackie Slater with Bruce Mathews backing up every position on the line.

PSSST *whispering* It's Anthony Munoz

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

PSSST *whispering* It's Anthony Munoz

LOL...........

Yeah, Anthoney Munoz, that's who I mean.

:laugh2:

 

[Yeagermeister]

LOL...........

Yeah, Anthoney Munoz, that's who I mean.

:laugh2:

Mike is his son. He got hurt in college and never made an NFL team.

I was at Anthony's HOF induction and his son made him look small.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Mike is his son. He got hurt in college and never made an NFL team.

I was at Anthony's HOF induction and his son made him look small.

Yeah, Tennessee I think. I remembered once you tipped me off.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Yeah, Tennessee I think. I remembered once you tipped me off.

You wouldn't have heard anything good about Tennessee coming from me. I hate those bastids in orange britches.

 

[adamknite]

In my opinion Larry Allen is the best OG ever to play the game. Even better than the great John Hannah from the Patriots.

This may be a little late, but I completely agree with what Hos said here.

Larry Allen should be a first ballot lock for the HOF.

 

[Stautner]

O-linemen often go unnoticed and under appreciated, but Allen has enjoyed constant accolades from John Madden on live TV for many years, and that enhances his chances ........ not that it should have to, but that kind of media exposure at a low profile position is helpful.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

O-linemen often go unnoticed and under appreciated, but Allen has enjoyed constant accolades from John Madden on live TV for many years, and that enhances his chances ........ not that it should have to, but that kind of media exposure at a low profile position is helpful.

The guy in your Avatar was a pretty dang good one too. In the Hall as a DT but he was a pretty good little Guard as well.

 

[THUMPER]

O-linemen often go unnoticed and under appreciated, but Allen has enjoyed constant accolades from John Madden on live TV for many years, and that enhances his chances ........ not that it should have to, but that kind of media exposure at a low profile position is helpful.

That's exactly what has hurt guys like Jeff Van note who was one of the best ever to play the Center position but since he played for a lame team (Falcons) he was hardly ever seen by most of the country outside of the Atlanta area.

It is after all the "Hall of FAME", not the "Hall of Greatness" and fame is what it is all about since the voters are mediots.

Allen will be in on the first go around.

 

[percyhoward]

Are there any Cowboys in the Hall of Fame but not in the Cowboys Ring of Fame?

No, not any who spent most of their career in Dallas anyway.

 

[Sarge]

Larry = lock.

 

[CowboyJeff]

what stats? besides pro bowl

that's just it. Unless you count holding penalties, there's no stats. This is what kept Rayfield out of the HOF for so many years. Most of the voting writers are guys who never saw him play, and they had no stats to refer to. Luckily for Larry, most of the voting writers saw him play.