C'mon ease up guys. I have had my differences with sports historian over the years as well but he is a knowledgeable guy with interesting information. He might not buy into the CF concept all the way but he's not hostile. It's good to have a few different viewpoints. We need something to argue about to keep it interesting anyway.
not hostile, just passive aggressive and stubborn, so i see why you like him
. Im all for keeping things interesting but have an argument to back it up besides saying "I was there" or "the footage you have doesn't do it justice" as if memory from 40 years ago plus constant watching of NFL Network and other programs during that time span which can change your perception whether you realize it or not can do it justice. Nor is it interesting when someone who acts like draws and traps are the same as toss, sweeps, and other plays designed to get players in space even off tackle. Yes they are designed to get a chunk of yardage, but their main intent is to gain exactly that, a chunk of yardage, they aren't designed to gain huge chunks, chain moving plays in theory. Plays designed to go outside the tackle allow for more improvisation because there is often more open field than anything between the tackles.
Its one thing to look strong and a more of a bruising runner on those sweeps knocking over dbs (which a backup db put in last minute against the Browns said he was afraid of Jim Brown at first saying he didn't want to be the first one to tackle him and then saying once he did he realized it wasn't that bad) vs going more up the middle against linebackers like Sam Huff who said when Taylor hits you it stings.
Case in point, looking at Gerhart's footage from college, it was hard to evaluate exactly how well he would do in the pros, I knew he had a role and saw flashes, lots of stuff in bw the tackles, he was criticized for not having lots of big plays etc (which probably gave scouts/teams serious doubts like how his game would translate), same thing happening to Gaffney now saying he only had like 9 or 10 20+ yard plays last season, but then Gerhart comes into the NFL, runs more of a variety of running plays and has a ton of 20+ runs when he has barely touched the ball. He looks so much better than he did in college as far as skillset, you get to see more of the full package, more than just the occasional play. But, I can't blame Stanford, it has worked for them, and they keep winning games, and Green Bay won games, and lots of championships, and Taylor got to show flashes of his elite skillset (just like Gerhart got to show flashes of his in college), just as not as much as Brown (who also had way more carries to showcase his skillset), whose team didn't win as much, less championships. All 3 guys excelled in the system for what they were asked to do and Ill take winning over flash any day. Of course there are chances to showcase flash on these types of plays every once in a while, the notorious Riggins Superbowl run was designed to get a yard or two. Just not as much compared to running the full package. And yes Taylor got to run stuff to the outside like the famous sweep, just not as much as people would have you believe. Reading up on him and watching what I have, he was used more for the inside stuff. Hornug ran more sweeps and to the outside, and it worked because there were wrinkles where it would look like he was running to the outside and he could throw a pass which he was better at than Taylor.
Personally, I think White backs are better at running in between the tackles for a power type running offense, but somewhere along the line, the thinking became that is all they can do even though they show they can excel on other plays when given the chance, its just become caste think to see a White rb and think downhill runner, good at following blocks, won't dance around looking for something that isn't there, will hit the hole and get the most out of it, basically straight ahead guys, but poor ole Danny Woodhead is losing out, because he isn't that type of back. He can still average 4 ypc doing this but waste of his ability, he isn't going to break tackles and constantly get through trash at the line. At least Gerhart has gotten more of a variety, and I get to thinking, is this the line of thinking that has held White backs away from being featured guys? because there is no longer a two back system with the old split back set, one guy runs a variety, of course some rbbc rotate their guys.
Im not sure what exactly he is knowledgeable on except being old and having watched a ton of football (apparently all the games before Sunday ticket) his entire life if he can't understand concepts such as basic run plays. Im curious as to what cf concepts he buys into.
as far as Lynch, he is going to be in. He made it to the final 15 finalists over Steve Atwater, just didn't make the final cut this year, and it was his first eligible year.
Vrabel SHOULD make it in, he was versatile and could do everything and excelled at everything, unfortunately that makes his numbers not pop in any one area, but they are great all around, however his versatility may hurt him in the long run. However, this was the case for Brooks, that he was great at multiple things that are asked of linebackers, with rushing the passer being the weakest, but he wasn't asked to with the Tampa 2 and the dline they had. Vrabel excelled at the run, coverage and rushing the passer, which is rare to find all 3 in a player. Not to mention the versatility of lining up as a tight end and not only catching tds but blocking as well. I mean thats one of the arguments against Kevin Greene, is that he was too one dimensional, as in great in only getting to the qb, but his stats aren't far off from Rickey Jackson, both were just more defensive ends who lined up at linebacker, Greene may have less takles, but 32 more sacks, and lets not forget how pitiful the Saints teams were, often the offense would be running the ball to run out clock because of winning so more chance at getting tackles because obvious running plays, and Jackson played on the Dome Patrol who are supposed to be one of the top units. But for arguments sake lets keep him out because he was "one dimensional", where does this leave someone like Vrabel who excelled at all 3 areas? You left out a key stat, 40 pass deflections, and before Watt, pass deflections mainly came from being in coverage. Vrabel couldn't rush the passer, play the run and be in coverage on the same play so I don't see how his stats should be looked down upon by the voters. Keep in mind most of that was done in 8 years, his first 4 years wasted with the Steelers barely seeing the field and over the hill his last two with Kansas.
Guys like Kerney and Schobel, people will be like "who?"when it comes to voting. There names only come up when people are trying to compare a White DE to a past one and are either joking or trying to be different with the comparison. Jared Allen is the main 4-3 end who has a shot and its going to be a while before he is eligible.
Aaron Smith really should make it in, he really was a crucial part of many Steeler defenses, I just don't think voters will see it like that, but who knows. Brooking and Thomas should be a lock. When is Urlacher eligible?
as far as racial apprenticeships, one reason I have expected is so these White guys can't put up hall of fame numbers, someone like Jordy should have had at least 4 or 5 1k seasons by now. Many dwfs think he just came into the league a few years ago. What will they say with Welker,? he made up for the lost time with multiple 100+ catch seasons, up to 120 sometimes catching up pretty quickly. And his first 3 years, although not used as much as a wideout, has the 2nd most all purpose yards for a player's first 3 years behind Gale Sayers.
