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Posted 10/27/2003 (Awesome writeup)
Hello
What a wonderful debate.
 I believe that Billy Sims was the
better running back.
Although Barry set all the records
in college and in the pro's, it was
Billy Sims who was clearly the
better collegiate runner! He was
flat out (by all fans and football
experts) the best PLAYER in the
country, not just the best running
back. Billy was the first pick in
the NFL draft, was rookie of the
Year, and was the Pro Bowl MVP his
rookie season. In his first game of
his NFL career he scored 3
touchdowns, crushed the Rams and
after that the entire NFL defensive
coordinators were set to deal
with him and his totality. It was
widely regarded that he was
arguably the best PLAYER in the NFL
his first 4 seasons. Earl Campbell
rushed for more yards but his
shortcomings as a receiver and
blocker really made Billy the player
all general managers wanted while
Joe Montana was not the sole reason
for the 49ers title in 81.
Furthermore, Billy was a better
runner near the goal line! Never
would he be substituted for inside
the 5 yd line. Barry, meanwhile,
was criticized heavily for "running
sideways" or "backwards" to try to
get the needed yardage and was
spelled for his entire career around
the goal line. He was too little and
eratic.
 Oh yes, Barry had the better moves,
but Billy was the strongest and most
explosive back in college football
history. He easily would have
rushed for Barry's collegiate
numbers had he not been in the
wishbone sharing carries with 3
other stars. This is illustrated
when he rushed for 200 yds three
games in a row (a feat never before
achieved at that time) during his 78
season. In those games his dominance
was needed and he carried the load
of his entire team like all great
players do. His 24 carry 247 yd
performance against the number 2
ranked Huskers in 79 is still the
finest performance I've seen by a
running back in college history,
only rivaled by Charles Whites 247
Rose Bowl performance against Ohio
St. and Simpsons' 67 performance
against UCLA. These performances
were against the best of oppositions
and Sims' teams won the games. Each
time Barry suited up against the
national powers, his team was routed
and his numbers came against the 2nd
string defenders. Barry could never
"carry" the team on his shoulders
because he didn't have that
strength, that
dominance needed and he didn't have
the running between the tackles
discipline that Billy mastered along
with a select few such as, Jim
Brown, OJ Simpson, and Eric
Dickerson.
Barry was more in the mold of
Dorsett, Sayers, and Jon Arnett.
Great but not having the qualities
that make your TEAM better. Billy
made his teams better..not just the
ground game. As great as Barry's
numbers were...he NEVER controled
entire games with ball control
carries, first down carries, time
consuming possessions. It was always
hit or miss with Barry...80 yds or -
4 yds.
Barry will always be remembered as
probably the greatest running back
in pro and college football history
because of his numbers, his
longevity and his incredible
highlight reel. But to those of us
who were fortunate to see both of
them in their prime, we know that
Billy Sims was the back who you
wanted as the first player on your
team if you were to start a
franchise (very much like Unitas,
Montana, Simpson & even Michael
Jordan) to win a NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP or a SUPER BOWL!
Finally, lets ask ourselves a
question...If you were a coach and
you had both Billy & Barry fighting
in practice over the starting
running back spot...who would win
the job?
Well, Billy is bigger, faster,
stronger, better pass catcher, the
best blocking tailback in history!
(check out ANY of his Oklahoma
games) he could carry the ball more,
and he was a goal line/first down
colossus. Barry was definitely
quicker but always got caught during
his longer runs because he wasn't
fast ..but, had better
moves...MAYBE!!!
Yes sir, Billy would be wearing
number 20 for the Lions..Barry would
have to settle for # 21.
all respects and thanks
Jay in CA.
Winner of Fox's Sports Genius
championship;
Former Univ. of Nebraska basketball
player;
Mentor: Norm Nixon (Los Angeles
Lakers/Clippers)
post your take today!
Barry Sanders
The man that would have 20,000yds
excerpt
from
nflthrowbacks.com
21,000 yards!
15,269 in 10 years. Averaged 5 yards
per carry. 2,053 yards in 1 season
(97) Amazing that Barry did all of
this without really wanted to play
football... Ok, here's our take. Based
on the Detroit Lions offense since
Barry's departure in 1998, we make the
assumption that the Lions would have
continued to make Barry the feature in
their offense. Basically Barry would
have put up his typical 1,500 yds a
year... up to the current 2002 season.
Emmitt Smith broke Walter Payton's
rushing record around mid-season of
2002. Our take is that had
 Barry
kept playing and all things had
remained equal and he ran for just his
average yards.. The rushing record
Emmitt would have had to broke would
have been:
21,269
total rushing yards. Barry rushed for
over 1,100 yards every year he played.
Crazy |
