Before Allen, Diggs, & Kelly era, there was 1st overall pick, Wall of Fame & HOFer OJ Simpson!

[jethro_tull]

On 8/17/2023 at 7:26 AM, Chandler#81 said:

He put Buffalo on the global sports front page. Despite the horrific crime he likely committed much later in life, he was absolutely MUST SEE tv! Here’s a great video compilation of his Buffalo Bill on field exploits.

 

 

Thanks!  This is one of the best highlights of OJ I have seen.  I don't remember him returning kicks.  

Man can he turn the corner and shoot the gaps like no other.  Best runner in NFL history.  

I screamed at my parents TV every time he got the ball.  

[Neo]

On 8/17/2023 at 9:28 AM, The Jokeman said:

His combination of size and speed would make him elite in any era of football. I also think A shame he had some bad coaches in his early career as his stats could have been much better. 

Imagine that … a generational talent we failed to build a team around …. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 8/18/2023 at 12:06 PM, hondo in seattle said:

Younger folks don't understand how preternaturally special OJ was as a player (ignoring for a moment how horrible he was as a human being).

 

While today we talk about franchise quarterbacks, in the old days most offenses were built around running backs.  RBs won more Heismans than QBs and were the #1 overall draft pick more often.  In those day, the best athletes became RBs.

 

Back then defenses were designed to stop RBs unlike the defenses of today that are schemed more for the pass.  So forget nickel and dime.  You needed more guys at the line of scrimmage to prevent the likes of Jim Brown and OJ from getting into the open field where they'd destroy you.  And LBs back then weren't small rangy guys with good coverage skills.  They were hulking, violent thumpers like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, and Jack Lambert who would hit you so hard that your internal organs would burst out your anus.  

 

And rules favored the defense back then.  For example, hash marks were spread further apart, making sweeps and other wide plays predictable.  And blockers couldn't use their hands like they can today.  Rules allowed for more brutal tackling back then, too (you could lead with your helmet, etc.).  

 

In his time - at the tail end of the golden era of RBs - OJ stood head-and-shoulders above his talented peers.  In 1973, OJ nearly doubled the rushing output of the next-best guy (2003 yards vs. 1144).  What RB, before or since, has ever been that dominant?  As a matter of fact, what QB has ever been that statistically dominant?  Certainly not Brady, the consensus GOAT - he was never close to OJ's level of superiority.  OJ's dominance was unmatched.  Bills opponents schemed, practiced, and planned with one thing in mind: slow OJ down.  They put Pro Bowl spies on him.  But OJ was an unstoppable Force of Nature.  

 

 

Awesome post. 

[alg]

Put OJ on today's Bills (along with Braxton) and he'd win the MVP even now. Receiving yards would be off the charts, and he'd run over modern LBs and DBs alike. Josh would be his closest competition.

 

How many years did we endure the endless fawning over Emmit Smith and Barry Sanders as the best of all time? Only Brown could make a case, and that ignores OJ's 3 lost seasons from bad coaching and injuries.

[In Summary]

Was I wrong to appreciate the OL blocking equally?  Also, OJ passes to Braxton at 4:47 on the video.

[PonyBoy]

Anyone else notice how crappy the fields were that he made these great cuts on? Amazing!

[Comebackkid]

handoff concepts where so much better then.  

[34-78-83]

Arguably the most talented and best Bill ever... It's between Bruce, Allen and OJ. I think it may end up Allen when all said and done, but its close!

 

 

[ControllerOfPlanetX]

There was a reason that Fergy only threw 5 passes a game…everyone knew who was getting the ball and he would still rack up 150 a game.