unbillievable Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 9 minutes ago, Jay_Fixit said: It’s actually not. It it is if you’re trying to win an argument though. Yet there are a lot of 4-3 defensive ends with similar sack numbers, but the closest 3-4 DE to Bruce is JJ Watt at 92; less than half. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 I've never heard anyone outside the Bills fan universe say that Bruce was better. Reggie just mauled people. He was a scary dude. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 For longevity, Bruce is better. He’s still alive. WINNING! 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bray Wyatt Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Deacon Jones 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jauronimo Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 2 minutes ago, skibum said: I've never heard anyone outside the Bills fan universe say that Bruce was better. Reggie just mauled people. He was a scary dude. I've never heard anyone outside of Bills fans (or former players) acknowledge that Bruce played in a far less advantageous scheme for generating sacks. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orlando Tim Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 i did not watch nearly enough Reggie to make an informed decision but Bruce was a dominant presence on a D line with lesser talent- Jeff Wright- and was able to cause much more damage on his own. As for leadership it was almost certainly Reggie since Bruce did not lead except by dping his job on field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, Jauronimo said: I've never heard anyone outside of Bills fans (or former players) acknowledge that Bruce played in a far less advantageous scheme for generating sacks. Very true! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bray Wyatt Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Deacon Jones - 173.5 sacks 191 games played - .91 sacks per game Reggie White - 198 sacks 232 games played - .85 sacks per game Bruce Smith - 200 sacks 279 games played - .72 sacks per game 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solomon Grundy Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Jay_Fixit said: It’s close, and although they had very different styles, I think Reggie has a slight edge. Bruce was definitely more explosive but Reggie was pure power and you needed a Hippo to block him. I don’t want to admit it, but I am for this thread. And just for reference, Reggie White had 198 sacks in 232 games. Bruce had 200 in 279. Being a human without question it’s whoever said human thinks it is. The one difference I've seen was that Reggie was more powerful than Bruce. Bruce used his speed whereas Reggie used power and speed to dominate his opponent Edited June 6, 2019 by the skycap 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoHuddleKelly12 Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 I wonder if those of you picking Reggie would’ve changed your vote had Hostetler fumbled the ball when Bruce got to him in SBXXV and inexplicably held on with one hand? Obviously more points than a safety there would’ve won the ballgame... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formerlyofCtown Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Bruce, not because Im a homer either. 3-4 is a lot harder to get sacks in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewCastleFanBills Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 I have to say Bruce. He is the reason why I became a Bills fan. He was just so fun to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formerlyofCtown Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 1 hour ago, MJS said: I do wonder what Bruce would have done as a DE in a 4-3. 230 career sacks and probably the single season record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Bills Blue Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Apples and oranges ... Both had 8 first team all-pro selections, and both had 2 DPOY selections. White had some of the flashier pass rushing seasons, but honestly its like 1A, 1B. They also played on different sides - Smith rushed against LTs and White rushed against RTs. One in a 3-4, another in a 4-3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Frog Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Bruce was the better pass rusher. Reggie was the better run stuffer. Reggie was the better overall DE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 20 minutes ago, Jauronimo said: I've never heard anyone outside of Bills fans (or former players) acknowledge that Bruce played in a far less advantageous scheme for generating sacks. Maybe because it's not true? Is there any real data to support that theory, or does everyone just assume that a scheme with 4 down lineman instead of 3 makes it easier for a DE to get sacks? I mean, it sounds logical, but is it actually true, and what's the proof? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jauronimo Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 1 minute ago, skibum said: Maybe because it's not true? Is there any real data to support that theory, or does everyone just assume that a scheme with 4 down lineman instead of 3 makes it easier for a DE to get sacks? I mean, it sounds logical, but is it actually true, and what's the proof? The spirit of NJ Sue lives on!! Do your own homework. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stank_Nasty Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 (edited) cant believe no one has brought up the fact that white lined up over the RT most of his career. its hard for me to pick one over the other but bruce lining up over the more premier position, LT, definitely is a notch he has on white. Edited June 6, 2019 by Stank_Nasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Bills Blue Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 9 minutes ago, skibum said: Maybe because it's not true? Is there any real data to support that theory, or does everyone just assume that a scheme with 4 down lineman instead of 3 makes it easier for a DE to get sacks? I mean, it sounds logical, but is it actually true, and what's the proof? I think lining up opposite RT's should be a factor too. Bruce lined up opposite Left tackles. Typically in a 3-4 he may line up between guard and tackle, and you're likely more subject to double teams as the 4th rusher can come from the other side. This is an era of pretty conventional line up football too. Teams ran a lot, had 21 personnel a lot etc. However, i do recall Bruce lining up with tackles more often than not so they may just have shaded the line to his side some, freeing up talley to make plays and allowing you to line up bennett closer to the line. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 So close. Bruce was the better athlete did the more incredible awe striking. Id say he was by far more capable of totally dominating a game. Reggie was better against the run, never took a play off and was a franchise leader. Id almost classify them as playing different positions so I don’t have to choose. (3-4 end vs 4-3 end...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts