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Barry Sanders Highlights

Mr. Scot

By Mr. Scot,
in Carolina Panthers

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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Brought his name up in another thread, felt like watching some highlights...

If you were around to see Sanders play, this'll bring back some memories. If you weren't, then just sit back and enjoy some clips of arguably the best runningback in NFL history.

I mean, imagine being a defender trying to tackle this guy.

There is actually a Panthers element here, in that our own Christian McCaffrey broke Sanders college record for most all purpose yards in a season as a sophomore. Now mind you, great as CMC is, he has a long way to go to match what Barry Sanders was as a pro. Sanders was an absolute unquestioned Hall of Famer, and this despite playing for Detroit.

Heck, Sanders actually made Lions games watchable.

How big an achievement is that?

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Raskle Contributor

Raskle

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Still is, and in my opinion, always will be, the best running back in the history of the game. I loved watching Emmitt, I remember seeing clips of Jim Brown, and enjoyed the likes of Craig, Allen, T Thomas, and Campbell in my day. Not to mention Sweetness... that man was just full of grace.

 

However, that said, nobody produced like Sanders, or was so shifty, he could make anyone look a fool at any given time out on that field. You also have to factor in that for basically a decade, he ran consistently behind the largest block of swiss cheese known to modern football (they made Bell and Chandler look like all-pros) with almost Zero supporting cast members; such as a QB worth more than simple check-downs, any notable threat at the WR or TE position, etc. There is no way that anyone will be able to convince me that he isn't the best ever - so many handicaps against him that if he had the OL and weapons in Dallas at that time, he would have put up twice as many numbers as he did. Hands down no question in my mind.

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Raskle Contributor

Raskle

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1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

Commonly heard question in days gone by: How many yards would Barry Sanders have gained if he'd have had Emmitt Smith's offensive line?

You kidding me?? He would still be running to this day.

 

How much is infinity to the infinity times infinity-th power?

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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Just now, Raskle said:

You kidding me?? He would still be running to this day.

How much is infinity to the infinity times infinity-th power?

For years, my default answer for the "greatest running back" question has been Walter Payton, but of late I'm starting to shift toward Sanders. I absolutely couldn't think of a player who was more fun to watch than Barry, for sure.

I used to joke that they needed to turn off the sideline mics whenever he was running because waaaay too much foul language was being used on the field by the people chasing him.

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Raskle Contributor

Raskle

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The biggest thing folks have to remember as well, was that because DBs at the time could almost maul WRs coming out of their stance (see all the way up to and including Ricky Manning for a prime example), a LOT of defenses at the time sold out to stop the run, since the passing game was hit or miss in its efficiency. That's why you saw a lot of RBs still being taken in the 1st round of the draft, and the whole game was much more grind it out rather than air it out, like it is in today's pass-happy league.

 

In light of that, I'll reverse and tack on to your question Scot. How many yards would Sanders be able to rack up with the rules of today's league, with that same Dallas OL of the 90's? I'm thinking astronomical would be the starting line here, but I'm curious what others think.

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JARROD Contributor

JARROD

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Barry was the most fun to watch. I don’t think anyone who watches football would dispute that.

greatest ever people like to throw walter and brown,... but comparing who he ran for? No contest.

all Barry had to do is be a Cowboy or a 49er back in the day and there would be no discussion, just awe

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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27 minutes ago, Raskle said:

The biggest thing folks have to remember as well, was that because DBs at the time could almost maul WRs coming out of their stance (see all the way up to and including Ricky Manning for a prime example), a LOT of defenses at the time sold out to stop the run, since the passing game was hit or miss in its efficiency. That's why you saw a lot of RBs still being taken in the 1st round of the draft, and the whole game was much more grind it out rather than air it out, like it is in today's pass-happy league.

In light of that, I'll reverse and tack on to your question Scot. How many yards would Sanders be able to rack up with the rules of today's league, with that same Dallas OL of the 90's? I'm thinking astronomical would be the starting line here, but I'm curious what others think.

Well it helps put it in perspective to remember what a typical Lions offensive sequence looked like back then...

First Down: get stopped at the line of scrimmage 

Second Down: get caught in the backfield for a three yard loss 

Third Down: run 57 yards for a score

That Sanders gained as many yards as he did behind lines that looked like they belonged to a bad college team is a tribute to just how good he really was.

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