Who was a better RB: LaDainian Tomlinson or Emmitt Smith

[Danger]

LT.

[BullsandBroncos]

LT easily 

[Matts4313]

1 hour ago, Ozzy said:

The fewer stacked boxes is also the case sure, but it was a different game that was changing compared to how they used to play and the passing game was a much bigger deal around the 2000's than it was back in the day in the early 90s. 

Right. And you dont need as good of an OL going against a 6 man box vs an 8.

[Matts4313]

I bet if you changed the question to:

"Which RBs career would you want on your team" the results would be different. Because there really is no question that getting that extra 1300 carries at basically the same YPC would sway a lot of people. Especially those league MVP years. 

LDTs star can be argued to been the brightest, but ES had a better career running. 

I would use LDT as a change of pace/slot WR in a second though. 

Edited April 10, 2022 by Matts4313

[Ozzy]

48 minutes ago, Matts4313 said:

Right. And you dont need as good of an OL going against a 6 man box vs an 8.

Very true, especially if one drops the safety down.  Prime example is that Packers team, look at that DL, that is freaking nuts and Gilbert Brown when healthy was a monster inside and Dotson opposite him with Reggie White and Vonnie Holiday.  Like all those dudes are 290+ across the board.  And they dropped down Butler as a safety, and Harris was a tank at ILB and very large as were the other two.

DE Reggie White
DT Gilbert Brown
DT Santana Dotson
DE Vonnie Holiday
OLB George Koonce
ILB Bernardo Harris
OLB Brian Williams

 

But did not matter and Randy Moss ripped them apart because the corners could not run.  But still back in the day defenses were absolutely different and made to stop the run.  

 

Even in 2001 the Ravens when they won the Super Bowl, that front was nuts also with crazy size in the middle and talent on the outside.  Adams and Siragusa inside was great and those OLBs like Boulware were basically another DE and Ray Lewis was made to stop the run.

 

DE Rob Burnett
DT Sam Adams
DT Tony Siragusa
DE Michael McCrary
OLB Peter Boulware
ILB Ray Lewis
OLB Jamie Sharper

 

The Ravens were the #1 run D last year 2021 but the front was nothing like it used to be and really they were #1 in run D because they had so many corners out and were awful against the pass, the worst in the NFL.  Used to be the best run D was the best D period because it was all about running the ball, ask the Broncos and Terrell Davis.  Since it has clearly changed and teams can win with just a rotation at RB of a bunch of late round guys, no real need for super stars but that is kind of coming back with some teams taking advantage of the smaller defenders that are more in for pass pro.

[HerbertGOAT]

Funny how the most credit Rivers gets is in an attempt to discredit LT. Emmitt played with Troy Aikman as well, no?

[Matts4313]

25 minutes ago, HerbertGOAT said:

Funny how the most credit Rivers gets is in an attempt to discredit LT. Emmitt played with Troy Aikman as well, no?

Yes, in the running era. LDT played with Rivers in the passing era. 

[HerbertGOAT]

16 minutes ago, Matts4313 said:

Yes, in the running era. LDT played with Rivers in the passing era. 

Their careers literally overlap. LT's prime took place in a league that was shifting towards passing, but still predominantly running. The 2010's was when the passing got ridiculous.

[Matts4313]

8 minutes ago, HerbertGOAT said:

Their careers literally overlap. LT's prime took place in a league that was shifting towards passing, but still predominantly running. The 2010's was when the passing got ridiculous.

Didnt the "Peyton Manning is a cry baby" rule happen in 2004? Which neutered DBs? That was step one in the new passing era. 

Edited April 10, 2022 by Matts4313

[El Ramster]

People think LT had this amazing talent around him 😂 IIRC specially being from Cali! The chargers were super as! They didn’t become loaded till after Brees left IIRC. 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

8 hours ago, Ozzy said:

Dielman was good but not sure he was that good and he would be one where his career improved greatly because Tomlinson was on his team having success running the ball.  Sure he helped in the run game but I would not call him a great all time guard.  Dielman, Hardwick and McNeil is nothing compared to Larry Allen, Mark Stepnoski, Nate Newton, Erik Williams and Mark Tuinei.

I would take every one of those Dallas OL over the Chargers ones.  Only one where it is close is maybe McNiel over Erik Williams but it is close the rest not sure it is that close and obviously is not even on the same planet in regards to Larry Allen.  One could argue he is the best run blocking guard in terms of drive blocking and power in NFL history.  

That doesn't really have anything to do with Dielman's ability to run block in it of itself. Just like Payton or Sanders didn't turn their guards into Pro Bowlers. 

Anyway, the main point with Tomlinson is that he didn't have scrubs for blockers, and they clearly helped to consistently allow him to showcase his talent as a runner. 

Edited April 10, 2022 by TecmoSuperJoe

[El Ramster]

LT also missed the prow bowl when he had a 100 catch season. Nuts. 

[Ozzy]

9 minutes ago, TecmoSuperJoe said:

That doesn't really have anything to do with Dielman's ability to run block in it of itself. Just like Payton or Sanders didn't turn their guards into Pro Bowlers. 

Anyway, the main point with Tomlinson is that he didn't have scrubs for blockers, and they clearly helped to consistently allow him to showcase his talent as a runner. 

I disagree, Sanders absolutely turned Glover and Lomas Brown into Pro bowlers, they were Pro bowlers because of Barry Sanders success.  If Barry was not on that team no way either would have been in the Pro bowl.  

[TecmoSuperJoe]

2 hours ago, Ozzy said:

I disagree, Sanders absolutely turned Glover and Lomas Brown into Pro bowlers, they were Pro bowlers because of Barry Sanders success.  If Barry was not on that team no way either would have been in the Pro bowl.  

I'm not talking about them receiving accolades though. Just their ability as players. That doesn't change no matter how good Barry is or isn't. Lomas opening holes for a player that was a lesser talent than Barry doesn't equate to Lomas being a worse blocker. 

[Ozzy]

2 minutes ago, TecmoSuperJoe said:

I'm not talking about them receiving accolades though. Just their ability as players. That doesn't change no matter how good Barry is or isn't. Lomas opening holes for a player that was a lesser talent than Barry doesn't equate to Lomas being a worse blocker. 

Sure but if said player does not go through the right hole, or said RB who is arguably the best of all time makes a crap blocked play into a 80 yard run, especially back then, it is not like OL had grades that the public could just get like they do now.  Usually if you ran the ball well and had a good back/offense the OL had a few guys in the Pro bowl if you won some games.  

Sure Lomas was good but no way he is a Pro bowler multiple times without Barry Sanders, same with Glover.  And no one would even know the names of those Chargers offensive lineman if Tomlinson was not having great seasons in San Diego.  Kind of like Jeff George and Randall Cunningham for short periods in their old age looked amazing because they had Randy Moss, Chris Carter and Jake Reed to throw to.  Randall made the Pro bowl in 1998 and that was because the players around him not so much him alone.  It is a team game and simply put great players can make good players look great as well.