Whose the Greatest Runningback of All-time?
Height/Weight: 5'8" 203 lbs.
College: Oklahoma State University
Drafted: 1st Round/3rd pick overall
in 1989 by the Lions
Team: Detroit Lions
Height/Weight: 5'10" 216lbs
College: University of Florida
Drafted: 1st Round/17th pick overal
in 1990 by the Cowboys
Team: Dallas Cowboys/Arizona Cardinals
If you ask me, it's very simple and for many reasons. Barry Sanders has been the greatest, most athletic runningback to have ever played the game up unto this point, and maybe of all time. Who knows what athletes the future may bring, but the bar that Barry has set is virtually untouchable.
Historically Speaking:
First of all, you have to look at the caliber of teams that both player were playing on throughout their careers. What kind of help did these two hall-a-fame runningbacks have. Let's started with Emmitt Smith and the Cowboys (1990-2002) In the Super Bowl Years of the Dallas Cowboys (1993-1994, 1996) they were lead by the biggest, most highest paid offensive line in the history of the NFL. These guys opened holes my grandma could have walkered through. The running game of the Cowboys had absolutely nothing to do with WHO was running the ball because there was no one to tackle the ball-carrier. These lineman were machines and dominated all opposing defensive linemen. On the other hand, the detroit lions were a mediocre to below average team with no stand outs on the offensive line.
Let's continue this comparison now by matching the more skilled positions of these two teams. The Dallas Cowboys had none other than the future Hall-a-Fame quarterback in Troy Aikman. Troy was then complimented with recievers by the names of Micheal Irvin and Alvin Harper, and with a tight end referred to as Jay Novachek. All three will someday be in the Hall-a-Fame. Then if that was not enough, Emmith has Darryl Johnston (the moose) playing fullback for him to help "block" (like there was anyone left to block after the lineman got finished plowing through) To give you an idea of how good this "squad" of guys were between the years of 1990-2002, when Emmitt Smith played for the Cowboys, the team made the play-offs 8 times all being from 1991 to 2000 only missing in 1999 (three time winning the superbowl). These six guys combined have been to the pro-bowl more times than every man on the whole Lions team from 1989 to 1998 (the years Barry Sanders played with them).
Once again only to be fair, let's compare this team with the "talent" Barry Sanders had to work with. Given the only player I would give any credit to on the Detroit Lions team was reciever Herman Moore. Other than Moore, Sanders had absolutely no assistance in opening holes or anyone to take the pressure off of him. No matter what down it was, the other team already knew who was going to get the ball. The only question left in there mind was could they catch him and actually bring him down. For the duration of Barry's career with the Lions, they went on to make the playoffs 5 times, only to get beat in the first round every time.
Hypothetically Speaking:
If Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith could switch places and play their entire carrer in the opposite city as they did, Emmitt Smith would be nothing more than a mediocre runningback. While on the otherhand, Barry Sanders with his talent, skill, and agility, combined with the Cowboys squad and blocking he would have practically been unstoppable.