Sturm: NFL 100 - At No. 29, Emmitt Smith did what he did for longer and better than anyone

[Cotton]

well, Emmitt’s at #29. We’ll see which RBs they rank higher than him.

I’m guessing Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Jim Brown.

I would agree with only Barry being in that debate and even then I would take Emmitt 10 times out of 10.

 

[Genghis Khan]

well, Emmitt’s at #29. We’ll see which RBs they rank higher than him.

I’m guessing Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Jim Brown.

I feel the all time leading rusher should be higher to be honest, and certainly ahead of Sanders and probably Payton as well.

 

[data]

I would agree with only Barry being in that debate and even then I would take Emmitt 10 times out of 10.

What are the biggest ‘what if’s’ for the Cowboys...Obviously, what if Jimmuh and Jerruh could make it work.

Impossible without the Herschel trade, but assuming we still had the same Super Bowl surrounding cast, I wonder how Herschel would’ve done as our bell cow as a Triplet.

Would Herschel be a Hall of Famer with all the accolades and SB rings, MVPs? Kinda sucks that he’s just the punchline to a trivia question.

 

[Cotton]

What are the biggest ‘what if’s’ for the Cowboys...Obviously, what if Jimmuh and Jerruh could make it work.

Impossible without the Herschel trade, but assuming we still had the same Super Bowl surrounding cast, I wonder how Herschel would’ve done as our bell cow as a Triplet.

Would Herschel be a Hall of Famer with all the accolades and SB rings, MVPs? Kinda sucks that he’s just the punchline to a trivia question.

I think Herschel would have done well, but he wouldn’t have even been even sniff Emmitt’s jock with the exact same supporting cast.

 

[data]

I feel the all time leading rusher should be higher to be honest, and certainly ahead of Sanders and probably Payton as well.

If you use the career rushing rank, though, then you have to elevate Frank Gore on the all-time greatest list, too, don’t you?

I think it’s sufficient to just use Emmitt’s prime - the top 7 or so seasons - to compare with Payton, Sanders and the rest.

 

[data]

I think Herschel would have done well, but he wouldn’t have even been even sniff Emmitt’s jock with the exact same supporting cast.

Agreed. Just amazing that Herschel was able to put a 2,000 scrimmage yards on that dogshit 1988 team and 1,600 scrimmage seasons in 1987 and 1986.

That’s a footnote in Cowboys history that is rarely appreciated

 

[Cotton]

Agreed. Just amazing that Herschel was able to put a 2,000 scrimmage yards on that dogshit 1988 team and 1,600 scrimmage seasons in 1987 and 1986.

That’s a footnote in Cowboys history that is rarely appreciated

It’s appreciated by fans who paid attention.

 

[data]

I would agree with only Barry being in that debate and even then I would take Emmitt 10 times out of 10.

If Barry had been a Dallas Cowboy, what would’ve suffered that makes you choose Emmitt 10 out of 10?

I think Barry would’ve for sure rushed for more yards than Emmitt, but would we have scored as many TDs? Would Aikman have been sacked more without Emmitts pass blocking?

 

[Genghis Khan]

If you use the career rushing rank, though, then you have to elevate Frank Gore on the all-time greatest list, too, don’t you?

I think it’s sufficient to just use Emmitt’s prime - the top 7 or so seasons - to compare with Payton, Sanders and the rest.

No, you can just use your brain. It's not 100% about stats but getting the record is an entirely different accomplishment than getting 3rd or whatever.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I think Barry would’ve for sure rushed for more yards than Emmitt

Oooh, I don't think so at all. Emmitt was a straight ahead runner and rarely lost yardage.

Barry was a dancer and lost a bunch of yards.

You can't just extrapolate based on YPC. It's one of the poorest stats in the history of stats.

I think not only was Emmitt's run style much better suited for that offense and blocking scheme, his ability to carry a high number of carries year after year was likely much better than Sanders.

People forget now, but Sanders played in a run and shoot offense much of his career. It was a very spread out, one back offense that gave him a lot of space.

Things would have certainly looked different in Dallas.

 

[bbgun]

Emmitt was a straight ahead runner and rarely lost yardage.

It pained me when they pitched him the ball and expected him to turn the corner. Herschel couldn't do it either.

 

[boozeman]

I think Herschel would have done well, but he wouldn’t have even been even sniff Emmitt’s jock with the exact same supporting cast.

Walker was not an especially talented running back. He was an athletic marvel, no question.

Smith had the vision and quick feet that put Walker to shame.

 

[NoDak]

Oooh, I don't think so at all. Emmitt was a straight ahead runner and rarely lost yardage.

Barry was a dancer and lost a bunch of yards.

You can't just extrapolate based on YPC. It's one of the poorest stats in the history of stats.

I think not only was Emmitt's run style much better suited for that offense and blocking scheme, his ability to carry a high number of carries year after year was likely much better than Sanders.

People forget now, but Sanders played in a run and shoot offense much of his career. It was a very spread out, one back offense that gave him a lot of space.

Things would have certainly looked different in Dallas.

Yep. Both runners were in the right situation for their talents.

Maybe this is the Emmitt homer in me, but I do believe if they had changed situations, Emmitt would have fared better with Detroit's team than Barry would have with Dallas'. Emmitt had enough wiggle and burst to make it in the run and shoot, but I don't think Barry had the durability and muscle to do nearly as well with the Cowboys' grind it out running game.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Not taking away from Emmitt at all but I think Barry doesn't get enough credit. Barry didn't dance in college where he played in an extremely conventional pro style offense with a good OL. He did all that juking in the pros because he didn't have very good blocking too much of the time.

And Herschel was very straight line but so was Eric Dickerson, another all-time great. Herschel's real prime was wasted in the USFL where got tons of carries in 18 game seasons. He'd have done just fine behind this OL.

 

[ravidubey]

Great, great player with unique RB skills and fantastic all-around football player. Best pass-blocking back I've ever seen, right up there with Walter Payton.

Super elusive, rarely took a beating because he always set up and juked the first defender. A 3rd and 10 handoff to Smith wasn't a give up play, seen him make it time and again.

Ultra tough, could take any beating when it did come and still keep coming.

Champion who could and bring his best game in the biggest moments. So many talented players don't have it in them to bring their best game when it matters most. Emmitt was at his best in big division and conference games and of course the playoffs.

After that season-changing game against New York in 1993, John Madden came down from the booth to congratulate Smith. He'd never done that in his broadcasting career, but that's the kind of inspiring performance that was.

Inspired his teammates, can't underestimate that. OL wanted to keep their blocks so they could watch him run.

Oh yeah, and almost as an afterthought he was durable as fuck too.

 

[Simpleton]

Emmitt is the GOAT hands down, not just because of the pure stats but because they won 3 in 4 years, in arguably the most dominant 4 year stretch in NFL history, with an offense that completely revolved around him. Then what makes it a no argument for me is the fact that he consistently dominated en route to those SB wins in a manner we'll likely never see again over a multi-year stretch.

And here's the thing, this supposed superhuman OL that he ran behind was really just a bunch of JAG's for the most part. Guys like Newton, Tuinei and Gesek were complete JAG's and in their 30's by the time Emmitt got to Dallas. Erik Williams was a monster, yes, but Emmitt only played with him for 3 years before the car accident, Larry Allen is probably the GOAT OG but he didn't even get to Dallas until Emmitt already had 2 SB's under his belt. Stepnoski was gone by 1995 and was also mostly a JAG for the first few years of his career seemingly.

This myth of the Cowboys OL being this otherworldly dominant group is some weird amalgamation of Allen's dominance throughout the 2nd half of the 90's combined with how good Emmitt made guys who were more or less JAG's look with his vision. I honestly believe that it was more Emmitt making them look better than they were than the other way around.

Hell, I'd argue that Tyron Smith and Zack Martin are better than any OL we had during that era except Allen (who again wasn't even on the team in 92 and 93), you can probably throw Frederick in there too. Pre-injury Williams was up there with them but again, that player was out the window by 94.

They basically only had one truly dominant HOF-level OL on the team at any given time, Williams pre-injury in 92 and 93, and Allen starting in 94.

 

[Cotton]

If Barry had been a Dallas Cowboy, what would’ve suffered that makes you choose Emmitt 10 out of 10?

I think Barry would’ve for sure rushed for more yards than Emmitt, but would we have scored as many TDs? Would Aikman have been sacked more without Emmitts pass blocking?

I'll take 12 years over 9 years all day.

 

[data]

Barry was a dancer and lost a bunch of yards.

‘It was all Emmitt’s surrounding cast’ is overblown, I think Barry losing yardage maybe overblown as well.

I haven’t seen a play where Barry had a big hole and passed it up. Conversely, haven’t seen a play where Barry lost yardage but play didn’t start with a defender already breaking the LOS...could be, though, and I’d be happy to be shown plays of this.

 

[Cotton]

Great, great player with unique RB skills and fantastic all-around football player. Best pass-blocking back I've ever seen, right up there with Walter Payton.

Super elusive, rarely took a beating because he always set up and juked the first defender. A 3rd and 10 handoff to Smith wasn't a give up play, seen him make it time and again.

Ultra tough, could take any beating when it did come and still keep coming.

Champion who could and bring his best game in the biggest moments. So many talented players don't have it in them to bring their best game when it matters most. Emmitt was at his best in big division and conference games and of course the playoffs.

After that season-changing game against New York in 1993, John Madden came down from the booth to congratulate Smith. He'd never done that in his broadcasting career, but that's the kind of inspiring performance that was.

Inspired his teammates, can't underestimate that. OL wanted to keep their blocks so they could watch him run.

Oh yeah, and almost as an afterthought he was durable as fuck too.

Thank you for bolding the highlights. We probably would've missed those words.

 

[data]

Both runners were in the right situation for their talents.

Pro-Barry fans argue that Barry had 2,000 yards his first year with a FB in Bobby Ross’ traditional offense.