(Con’t from Reason #1 Numbers don’t lie)
Reason #2: He was a complete player
Another reason that Emmitt Smith was such a great back was that he was the total package. He excelled at doing the little things and consistently put his team in situations that gave them a better chance to succeed. He could run inside, outside, in the open field, and he was virtually automatic in short yardage situations. Barry Sanders, as great as he was, was often pulled in short yardage and goal line situations. While Lions fans blame this on poor coaching, I tend to attribute this to the likelihood that Barry Sanders was just not as effective at lowering his shoulder for those tough yards. Barry’s impressive 5.0 yard/carry career average is somewhat skewed as a result of coming off the field in those instances where defenses are stacking up against the run.
Emmitt Smith was also a better receiver than Barry Sanders was. If you compare their receiving numbers during the years they both played, the statistics are comparable. Emmitt caught more passes and had the best individual seasons while Barry Sanders has the edge in terms of yards and average per reception. The key statistic which sets them apart is catch percentage. Emmitt Smith caught over 81% of the passes thrown his way compared to only 69% for Barry Sanders. Sanders had some long TD catches that stand out but would drop passes more often than Smith. That equates to more situations that led to punts and loss of possession. Smith however, would more often make the catch, get the first down and keep the chains moving.
The ability to pass block is a crucial part of a running backs’ responsibilities but is not measurable on any stat sheet. Barry Sanders was considered a very good blocker especially for his size but Emmitt Smith was more highly regarded for his pass blocking abilities. In the 2002 ESPN Classic feature “Emmitt Smith Run with History,” Dallas Radio announcer Brad Sham compared him to the ultimate elite back who could block “Payton (Walter) was a stone killer as a blocker. I haven’t seen a back get that kind of rushing load, block like Payton, except Emmitt Smith.”[1] And when Smith did lower his shoulder to block, there are few who hit harder, as one former division rival LB Pepper Johnson recalls, “A small guy that didn’t play small. I remember him picking me up on a blitz and when he hit me, he was like, ‘Oh Pepper, I shocked you on that, didn’t I?’”[2]
Finally where I feel that Emmitt Smith has the upper hand on Barry Sanders is his situational awareness and intelligence. While Barry made some amazing runs he is also famous for being the all-time leader in negative yardage. Emmitt had some great runs too but he also understood the value of the short gain, of falling forward instead of going backwards, and the subtle juke that turned a loss into positive yards. Emmitt had the power to fight for extra yards but he also had the sense to go out of bounds when necessary or secure the football and go to the ground once he gained a first down. He was a master at finishing games and running down the clock. When the Dallas Cowboys had a lead and needed to burn up precious time on a long fourth quarter drive, there was no better weapon than Emmitt Smith.
When comparing Smith and Sanders I believe ESPN reporter Ed Werner sums it up best in the aforementioned “Emmitt Smith Run with History” when he said, “He never came off the field like Barry Sanders did. He was the best first and second down back, he was the best blitz pickup guy, he was the best receiver out of the backfield, the best goal line running back.” [3]
continued with Reason #3: He played big in big games
See Also….
[1] [1](Kent, Chris. “Hall of Fame Induction is Pinnacle for Cowboys’ Smith.” Sportsthenandnow.com. Buford Creek LLC, 5 Aug. 2010. Web. 27 Jul. 2017.)
Hall-of-Fame Induction is Pinnacle of Legendary Career for Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith
[2] (Wood, Skip. “No Return of the King: Emmitt Smith Retires.” USAToday.com. USA Today30. Gannett Co. Inc, 5 Aug. 2010. Web. 22 Jul. 2017.)
[3] (Kent. Web. 27 Jul. 2017)
*All statistical data collected and verified through Pro-Football-Reference.com