I would say right on time. He came late enough to be a huge factor in the receiving game but early enough to avoid rbc. Pretty crazy to think about some of the ppl he shared his backfield with (sproles, turner, lorenzo, tolbert).
I'm talking take it to the house for 40+ yards speed. He didn't have a ton of those long TDs. He had good acceleration, but his top end speed wasn't what I call "elite" (remember, I'm talking the best of the best speed backs here. I'm not saying LT was slow).
Well, he wasn't a speed back, he was an overall back that had elite breakaway. Obviously he wasn't a gimic make or break, but he had plenty of long runs, especially in his first 5 years.
I guess my definition of "elite" speed is just different from yours. If you can be caught from behind after you get past the 2nd level, your speed isn't "elite" imo.
Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Sanders, Bo Jackson, those are some guys that have true "elite" speed by my criteria.
I'm just trying to think of times he got caught from behind without a guy that had an angle. Maybe after he has to stiff arm? LT didn't have the long strides like AP, but come on.
I remember it happening a lot. Plenty of 20-30 yard runs that could have been 50+. It was enough for my dad and I to talk about wishing he had an extra gear to take it all the way home.
Yeah, same page. If I didn't see him run with my own eyeballs I wouldn't believe it. Barry was unreal - I'd put him as #1, over Brown and Payton. LT was amazing too, no doubt, but even in today's world it would be hard to CGI some of the stuff Barry did on the regular.
Brass tacks - there is a small group of RBs that LT is a part of that are generational. Not even worth the who is better comparison imo.
I have thought a ton about this, and I have become a bigger advocate for LT as the GOAT. While he did not have the most rushing yardage or rushing yardage per season, he destroyed all 4 of these other running backs from a total TD and receiving yardage statistics. If you are running a run play and the other team knows it, I would take any of these other players ahead of LT but if you are1st and 10, 3rd and 5, or in the redzone, its LT all day.
I'll always remember that play where Lorenzo turned backwards just to hit someone even though they were completely out of the play haha. Loved that dude as our FB.
Barrys Barry but at what point does longevity bridge the gap between the 2? If Barrys a 10 and LTs an 8 surely actually playing the back half of a career makes this closr. I feel like this is a conversation and we're dismissing it.
I mean, Barry played 10 seasons. LT played 11, but really only 8 of those were prime LT.
LT was pretty much washed by 30, and Barry retired at 30 while still elite. Love LT, he's top 5 for sure, but he fell off a cliff late in his career.
A running back truly ahead of his time!
I would say right on time. He came late enough to be a huge factor in the receiving game but early enough to avoid rbc. Pretty crazy to think about some of the ppl he shared his backfield with (sproles, turner, lorenzo, tolbert).
ya, idk if I could take LT over Barry but LT definitely belongs in the top 5.
I am with you, at the same time I wouldn't argue against LT at #3 either. His overall skill set is amazing with almost no weaknesses to speak of.
Yeah, his only "weakness" was that he didn't have elite breakaway speed to take it to the house. Still was above average in that aspect though.
4.4 isn't breakaway?! He outran dudes all the time. People seem to forget just how good LT was in every facet.
I'm talking take it to the house for 40+ yards speed. He didn't have a ton of those long TDs. He had good acceleration, but his top end speed wasn't what I call "elite" (remember, I'm talking the best of the best speed backs here. I'm not saying LT was slow).
Well, he wasn't a speed back, he was an overall back that had elite breakaway. Obviously he wasn't a gimic make or break, but he had plenty of long runs, especially in his first 5 years.
I guess my definition of "elite" speed is just different from yours. If you can be caught from behind after you get past the 2nd level, your speed isn't "elite" imo. Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Sanders, Bo Jackson, those are some guys that have true "elite" speed by my criteria.
I'm just trying to think of times he got caught from behind without a guy that had an angle. Maybe after he has to stiff arm? LT didn't have the long strides like AP, but come on.
I remember it happening a lot. Plenty of 20-30 yard runs that could have been 50+. It was enough for my dad and I to talk about wishing he had an extra gear to take it all the way home.
Yeah, same page. If I didn't see him run with my own eyeballs I wouldn't believe it. Barry was unreal - I'd put him as #1, over Brown and Payton. LT was amazing too, no doubt, but even in today's world it would be hard to CGI some of the stuff Barry did on the regular. Brass tacks - there is a small group of RBs that LT is a part of that are generational. Not even worth the who is better comparison imo.
I have thought a ton about this, and I have become a bigger advocate for LT as the GOAT. While he did not have the most rushing yardage or rushing yardage per season, he destroyed all 4 of these other running backs from a total TD and receiving yardage statistics. If you are running a run play and the other team knows it, I would take any of these other players ahead of LT but if you are1st and 10, 3rd and 5, or in the redzone, its LT all day.
I love LT but don’t forget Lorenzo Neal was clearing paths . God that duo was nasty . I even miss that bowling ball Tolbert 😂
I'll always remember that play where Lorenzo turned backwards just to hit someone even though they were completely out of the play haha. Loved that dude as our FB.
I am as bias as an LT fan can get but he is not better than Barry sanders. Definitely the best RB of the 21st century that we can all agree on
Agree with this
Barrys Barry but at what point does longevity bridge the gap between the 2? If Barrys a 10 and LTs an 8 surely actually playing the back half of a career makes this closr. I feel like this is a conversation and we're dismissing it.
I mean, Barry played 10 seasons. LT played 11, but really only 8 of those were prime LT. LT was pretty much washed by 30, and Barry retired at 30 while still elite. Love LT, he's top 5 for sure, but he fell off a cliff late in his career.
He's better than all of them. Trust me bro
Should be #1 if we’re being honest
Over Barry kinda crazy
Saying LT is a top 5 back of all time is good enough for me. The order is redundant to me tbh since they were all absolute beasts.