Herschel and Bo Would be Very Average Today

[WobbleGator]

Post 16 did make some good points but it was mostly centered around NFL comparisons. My discussion was more about how those 2 made names for themselves against very small defensive players in college as compared to today's defensive players, and would they have the same results if they played in college today.

Post 13? I never take anything that guy says seriously.

If you think defensive players got bigger now compared to back then, wouldn't it also make since that the Olinemen would have gotten bigger also? Which means the holes would still be there and Hershel and Bo, who have elite speed, would still blow by most of the defenders of today.

 

[Circle City Gator]

Walker didn't play against Georgia's defense. He played against other team's defenses. Florida's defense, in 1983, included:

DB Tony Lilly - 6'0", 199
DT Tim Newton - 6'0", 290
LB Fred McCallister - 6'1", 250
DT Greg Cleveland - 6'5", 295
LB Leon Pennington - 6'1", 225
LB Leon Miller - 6'1", 215
LB Alonzo Johnson, 6'3", 222
LB Mark Korff, 6'1", 230
DT Roy Harris, 6'2", 264
DB Randy Clark, 6'0", 195
LB Wilber Marshall, 6'1", 231

There are some pretty good ballplayers on that list, and they're not really smaller than college players at the same positions today.

LB Alex Anzalone 6'3", 234
DL Jay-Nard Bostwick 6'3", 283
DL Jonathan Bullard, 6'3" 277
DL Bryan Cox, Jr., 6'3", 261
DB Duke Dawson 5'10", 200
DB Vernon Hargreaves III, 5'11", 198

So, can we put this stupid sh#t to bed now?

 

[78]

Well, Tag, you got the discussion you wanted, but I'm not sure what if anything it proved. Attempting to do apples to apples on players from different eras is problematic, and esp when you're talking about the best players from a previous era. Walker and Jackson were each extraordinary -- freaks of nature, really -- in their physical talents. To suggest they would be average today ... I'm not even going to attempt to engage that.

 

[dubster1]

doubt it,,, both would be running over mutherfckers! these no tackling hit with no wrap would be speed bumps!

 

[Jand3k]

Both of them would still dominate in today's game.

Especially if you consider they'd be able to reap the benefit of today's medicine, medical, & training as well as today's o-linemen.

 

[GatorJ]

Here's data for you nerds to compare this information. Pour over at your leisure. This is based on the rookies entering the league every year. So the more seasoned players are probably a bit bigger.

Source:http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=493

	QB	QB HT	QBWT	QB BMI
2006	16	75.3	224	27.71
2005	15	75	221	27.56
2004	18	75.8	223	27.31
2003	7	75.3	232	28.76
2002	15	74.6	222	28.03
2001	11	73.8	219	28.21
2000	19	74.4	218	27.7
1999	14	74.2	220	28.05
1998	11	75.1	220	27.45
1997	13	74.8	219	27.49
1996	13	74.7	214	26.95
1995	13	74.7	221	27.82
1994	8	75	223	27.82
1993	9	74.4	214	27.1
1992	12	75.3	221	27.4
1991	11	75.7	221	27.09
1990	9	75.3	209	25.85
1989	12	74.4	216	27.46
1988	8	74.9	213	26.68
1987	55	74.2	205	26.09
1986	13	74.1	202	25.94
1985	13	75.1	208	25.98
1984	15	74.6	207	26.12
1983	15	74.9	207	26
1982	6	74.7	201	25.28
1981	8	74	203	26.08
1980	16	75.1	205	25.59
1979	12	74.3	203	25.77
1978	12	74.7	204	25.71
1977	17	75.1	205	25.58
1976	17	73.8	199	25.77
1975	9	74.4	202	25.65
1974	20	74.1	204	26.15
1973	7	74	201	25.86
1972	10	73.6	201	26.06
1971	8	74.5	210	26.58
1970	12	74.7	208	26.26
	RB	RB HT	RBWT	RB BMI
2006	34	70.9	218	30.38
2005	30	71.1	217	30.2
2004	38	71.2	221	30.7
2003	28	70.8	216	30.31
2002	32	70.5	217	30.65
2001	30	68.7	216	32.11
2000	30	70.8	218	30.6
1999	26	71.1	218	30.24
1998	31	71.6	225	30.84
1997	30	71.1	217	30.1
1996	39	71.3	222	30.77
1995	36	70.8	214	30.04
1994	33	70.8	214	30.03
1993	32	71.2	218	30.19
1992	24	71.2	218	30.19
1991	35	71.1	219	30.46
1990	32	71.1	212	29.47
1989	44	71.5	214	29.47
1988	28	71	206	28.74
1987	147	71.1	209	29.11
1986	45	71.2	211	29.31
1985	31	71.9	212	28.83
1984	48	71	207	28.95
1983	31	71.2	208	28.94
1982	41	71.3	209	28.83
1981	37	71.4	209	28.81
1980	35	71.8	210	28.62
1979	44	72.2	206	27.85
1978	36	71.7	206	28.17
1977	47	71.6	207	28.34
1976	44	72.1	207	28.01
1975	40	72.2	209	28.12
1974	49	72.2	207	27.95
1973	34	71.7	206	28.14
1972	32	72.7	208	27.71
1971	34	72.2	209	28.2
1970	34	72.7	210	27.94
	FB	FB HT	FBWT	FB BMI
2006	2	72	248	33.56
2005	5	73	256	33.8
2004	4	74	252	32.32
2003	13	72.4	246	33.04
2002	8	72.6	244	32.49
2001	9	72.1	244	32.94
2000	10	72.4	245	32.91
1999	12	73.1	247	32.5
1998	4	73	254	33.44
1997	3	72	249	33.81
1996	4	73	241	31.73
1995	6	72.3	240	32.27
1994	4	72.5	242	32.4
1993	5	72.2	238	32.07
1992	4	72.8	237	31.48
1991	2	71.5	226	31.01
1990	3	72.3	234	31.49
1989	0	-	-	-
1988	1	71	237	33.05
1987	2	71	225	31.31
1986	1	71	231	32.21
1985	1	74	230	29.53
1984	0	-	-	-
1983	2	75.5	237	29.23
1982	0	-	-	-
1981	0	-	-	-
1980	1	76	234	28.48
1979	1	74	227	29.14
1978	0	-	-	-
1977	1	75	226	28.24
1976	0	-	-	-
1975	0	-	-	-
1974	0	-	-	-
1973	0	-	-	-
1972	0	-	-	-
1971	0	-	-	-
1970	0	-	-	-
	WR	WR HT	WRWT	WR BMI
2006	48	72.7	201	26.76
2005	42	73	200	26.32
2004	42	72.9	201	26.61
2003	53	72.7	199	26.52
2002	47	72.4	198	26.5
2001	42	72.5	196	26.26
2000	43	72.8	200	26.58
1999	48	72.3	197	26.44
1998	33	72.5	194	25.97
1997	34	71.7	190	25.95
1996	43	71.8	190	25.97
1995	37	72.3	194	26.05
1994	37	71.8	191	26.07
1993	39	72.3	190	25.57
1992	33	71.5	187	25.77
1991	38	72.4	191	25.57
1990	38	71.1	188	26.08
1989	40	71	184	25.67
1988	29	71.3	185	25.59
1987	143	71.4	184	25.38
1986	45	71.3	181	25.06
1985	41	71.7	186	25.44
1984	31	72.3	191	25.61
1983	36	72.3	184	24.75
1982	32	72	184	24.88
1981	29	72.2	187	25.25
1980	28	71.5	188	25.92
1979	29	72.8	189	25.13
1978	44	72.3	185	24.83
1977	22	71.5	186	25.59
1976	42	71.8	183	25
1975	21	72.6	190	25.26
1974	32	72.3	187	25.09
1973	34	72.7	192	25.56
1972	23	73.1	191	25.16
1971	26	73.1	192	25.27
1970	27	72.9	192	25.35
	TE	TE HT	TEWT	TE BMI
2006	21	76.3	253	30.5
2005	19	76.3	255	30.77
2004	24	76.4	258	31.14
2003	22	76.6	260	31.1
2002	28	75.8	256	31.32
2001	23	75.4	256	31.67
2000	27	75.7	252	30.9
1999	26	76	257	31.25
1998	17	75.9	257	31.38
1997	21	76.5	257	30.82
1996	23	75.9	256	31.28
1995	25	75.6	255	31.31
1994	23	75.8	253	30.98
1993	22	75.8	254	31.16
1992	20	75.4	251	31.01
1991	13	75.6	247	30.35
1990	19	74.6	243	30.72
1989	15	75.9	249	30.44
1988	17	75.7	248	30.42
1987	79	75.6	240	29.5
1986	22	75.7	238	29.23
1985	15	75.6	237	29.17
1984	23	75.4	236	29.14
1983	25	75.4	236	29.17
1982	17	76	236	28.7
1981	17	76.3	235	28.39
1980	13	75.6	236	29.07
1979	17	75.8	231	28.3
1978	18	75.7	234	28.7
1977	14	75.9	230	28.03
1976	9	75.4	231	28.56
1975	13	75.6	230	28.22
1974	17	75.3	226	28
1973	13	74.9	230	28.82
1972	11	75.5	225	27.8
1971	6	75.2	226	28.14
1970	13	75	227	28.35
	T	T HT	TWT	T BMI
2006	30	77.8	314	36.5
2005	22	77.7	320	37.29
2004	27	77.2	318	37.48
2003	20	77.7	315	36.7
2002	25	77.2	316	37.19
2001	21	77.2	322	37.99
2000	17	77.4	322	37.78
1999	20	77.3	309	36.37
1998	19	77.7	311	36.23
1997	23	77.2	314	37.03
1996	16	78	322	37.18
1995	25	77.6	311	36.21
1994	14	77.4	310	36.38
1993	20	77.5	316	36.93
1992	18	77.5	304	35.56
1991	16	77.3	301	35.48
1990	11	78	295	34.08
1989	18	77.6	295	34.39
1988	14	77.5	294	34.42
1987	78	76.8	282	33.55
1986	23	77.3	288	33.82
1985	17	77.6	284	33.21
1984	17	77	281	33.28
1983	26	77.8	278	32.21
1982	18	77.1	275	32.54
1981	17	78.1	282	32.44
1980	19	77.2	274	32.27
1979	13	76.6	268	32.09
1978	21	76.8	267	31.85
1977	16	76.9	262	31.13
1976	18	76.7	263	31.48
1975	17	76.9	262	31.13
1974	20	76.6	258	30.98
1973	13	76.5	257	30.95
1972	12	76.3	258	31.11
1971	17	76.8	259	30.93
1970	10	76.9	260	30.92
	G	G HT	GWT	G BMI
2006	20	75.5	323	39.92
2005	18	75.9	316	38.55
2004	24	75.8	307	37.65
2003	21	75.9	314	38.36
2002	26	75.7	312	38.33
2001	18	75.9	316	38.48
2000	16	75.8	310	37.93
1999	20	76	316	38.46
1998	19	75.8	311	38.09
1997	21	75.6	312	38.38
1996	23	76.4	307	36.94
1995	22	75.9	300	36.55
1994	20	75.7	307	37.63
1993	22	76.3	308	37.19
1992	12	76	298	36.29
1991	16	75.6	294	36.15
1990	20	75.5	301	37.07
1989	15	76.6	289	34.61
1988	13	75.9	285	34.81
1987	94	75.3	277	34.26
1986	25	76	284	34.61
1985	17	75.8	277	33.87
1984	17	75.5	270	33.36
1983	9	75.9	272	33.2
1982	24	75.9	273	33.34
1981	16	76.1	269	32.63
1980	17	75.4	264	32.58
1979	17	75.7	261	32.06
1978	14	75	260	32.48
1977	16	75.5	258	31.77
1976	24	75.5	258	31.76
1975	14	75.3	256	31.76
1974	21	75.1	253	31.53
1973	12	75	253	31.58
1972	16	75	253	31.57
1971	13	75	250	31.23
1970	15	74.9	254	31.92
	C	C HT	CWT	C BMI
2006	10	75.2	299	37.13
2005	13	75.7	301	36.88
2004	10	76.1	291	35.31
2003	11	74.7	284	35.72
2002	13	75.4	298	36.91
2001	11	74.7	286	35.95
2000	12	74.4	285	36.2
1999	8	74.8	292	36.74
1998	16	75.7	298	36.56
1997	10	75.2	299	37.11
1996	11	75	292	36.44
1995	10	75	296	37.01
1994	8	74.9	280	35.06
1993	9	75.2	290	36.06
1992	7	75.1	285	35.54
1991	5	76.2	283	34.26
1990	5	75.2	293	36.45
1989	7	75.4	292	36.12
1988	7	75.9	279	34.1
1987	56	75.3	268	33.22
1986	11	75.4	278	34.47
1985	11	75.8	277	33.92
1984	10	75.7	264	32.33
1983	12	75.8	274	33.46
1982	8	75	263	32.88
1981	2	76	260	31.64
1980	14	75.1	258	32.17
1979	8	74.8	247	31.04
1978	11	75	255	31.88
1977	7	75.6	250	30.83
1976	11	74.6	252	31.82
1975	11	74.3	245	31.23
1974	9	75.4	247	30.53
1973	10	75.3	246	30.51
1972	7	75	252	31.53
1971	9	75.4	250	30.89
1970	10	74.8	245	30.77
	DE	DE HT	DEWT	DE BMI
2006	29	76	263	32.06
2005	30	75.7	275	33.79
2004	29	76	274	33.32
2003	27	75.3	275	34.07
2002	31	75.9	275	33.54
2001	32	76	278	33.83
2000	26	76	281	34.18
1999	30	75.9	276	33.73
1998	29	76.1	277	33.58
1997	23	76.2	281	34.06
1996	29	76	277	33.62
1995	23	76	274	33.35
1994	28	76.3	277	33.51
1993	28	76.4	277	33.33
1992	18	76.1	280	33.99
1991	18	76.1	272	33.11
1990	28	76.3	270	32.62
1989	27	76.6	272	32.56
1988	21	76	270	32.88
1987	98	76.1	264	32.02
1986	30	76.2	269	32.48
1985	20	76.2	268	32.44
1984	21	76.4	266	31.97
1983	21	76.3	265	32
1982	26	76.2	261	31.62
1981	23	76.4	258	31.05
1980	17	76.5	257	30.95
1979	22	76.7	252	30.13
1978	22	77	254	30.1
1977	14	76	253	30.78
1976	19	76.1	255	30.98
1975	13	76.4	243	29.32
1974	21	76.4	252	30.42
1973	11	76.7	253	30.18
1972	15	76.2	250	30.28
1971	28	76.1	249	30.23
1970	17	76.2	250	30.2
	DT	DT HT	DTWT	DT BMI
2006	26	74.8	306	38.52
2005	23	74.8	305	38.4
2004	34	75.2	303	37.67
2003	28	74.7	306	38.51
2002	22	75.4	301	37.18
2001	34	74.7	306	38.57
2000	20	75.1	302	37.66
1999	24	75	301	37.64
1998	15	74.9	300	37.62
1997	25	75.6	303	37.27
1996	25	75.5	302	37.25
1995	23	75.6	296	36.4
1994	17	75.1	294	36.74
1993	10	74.6	307	38.81
1992	20	75.8	296	36.26
1991	22	75.1	293	36.53
1990	10	75.1	293	36.5
1989	8	77	278	32.92
1988	7	75.3	275	34.13
1987	36	75	270	33.73
1986	6	76.2	268	32.52
1985	10	75.9	266	32.51
1984	3	74.7	261	32.95
1983	5	75.8	275	33.7
1982	1	75	277	34.62
1981	5	76.4	268	32.23
1980	7	75.7	263	32.2
1979	6	75.7	258	31.62
1978	12	75.8	256	31.24
1977	12	76.3	264	31.86
1976	15	76.1	256	31.13
1975	11	76.6	259	31.05
1974	18	76.1	254	30.88
1973	17	76.4	255	30.73
1972	18	76.1	254	30.84
1971	15	76.9	263	31.2
1970	22	75.7	256	31.45
	NT	NT HT	NTWT	NT BMI
2006	1	77	301	35.69
2005	0	-	-	-
2004	2	74.5	311	39.33
2003	0	-	-	-
2002	0	-	-	-
2001	2	75	308	38.43
2000	1	75	295	36.87
1999	1	72	310	42.04
1998	0	-	-	-
1997	1	76	280	34.08
1996	1	72	275	37.29
1995	2	74.5	308	38.95
1994	2	75	271	33.81
1993	3	74.3	282	35.92
1992	5	74.8	291	36.59
1991	6	74.8	297	37.26
1990	7	74	281	36.02
1989	7	74	281	36.04
1988	3	74	271	34.83
1987	41	74.7	272	34.28
1986	9	75.7	278	34.08
1985	7	76	276	33.56
1984	18	75.6	268	32.91
1983	12	75.3	271	33.6
1982	13	74.9	263	32.95
1981	12	75.1	260	32.47
1980	10	74.8	257	32.24
1979	12	75	258	32.3
1978	6	75.2	260	32.39
1977	4	75.3	256	31.81
1976	2	75.5	261	32.13
1975	4	73	254	33.51
1974	0	-	-	-
1973	2	75	249	31.06
1972	0	-	-	-
1971	0	-	-	-
1970	0	-	-	-
	LB	LB HT	LBWT	LB BMI
2006	46	73.6	237	30.72
2005	46	73.9	240	30.96
2004	58	73.9	237	30.45
2003	50	73.4	239	31.18
2002	49	73.8	239	30.94
2001	49	73.3	240	31.33
2000	52	73.5	240	31.24
1999	43	73.7	244	31.57
1998	45	73.7	240	31.06
1997	51	73.6	241	31.32
1996	44	73.7	238	30.83
1995	48	73.8	241	31.1
1994	38	74.1	241	30.92
1993	51	73.8	240	30.92
1992	36	73.8	240	30.91
1991	31	73.9	238	30.69
1990	43	74	239	30.64
1989	39	74.3	240	30.56
1988	42	74.1	236	30.28
1987	210	74	231	29.67
1986	48	74	235	30.18
1985	33	74.5	236	29.93
1984	57	74.3	230	29.29
1983	46	74.3	232	29.49
1982	44	74.3	229	29.18
1981	47	74.1	229	29.33
1980	46	74.2	228	29.1
1979	50	74.1	228	29.25
1978	42	74.2	227	28.95
1977	41	74.3	224	28.61
1976	46	74	226	28.98
1975	36	74.1	225	28.75
1974	40	74.2	227	29.04
1973	37	74.4	226	28.75
1972	34	74.1	226	28.92
1971	28	74.4	226	28.73
1970	39	74.3	227	28.94
	DB	DB HT	DBWT	DB BMI
2006	71	71.7	196	26.79
2005	82	71.6	197	27.03
2004	74	71.6	195	26.76
2003	64	71.6	199	27.22
2002	79	71.6	198	27.14
2001	70	71.4	198	27.29
2000	70	71.6	197	27.09
1999	61	71.2	197	27.3
1998	63	71.6	195	26.77
1997	70	71.3	196	27.1
1996	60	71.2	196	27.15
1995	61	71.4	197	27.14
1994	52	71.5	192	26.34
1993	58	71.7	195	26.64
1992	49	71.3	193	26.73
1991	49	71.2	191	26.54
1990	49	71	191	26.71
1989	60	71.6	193	26.4
1988	52	71.3	193	26.63
1987	231	71.7	191	26.1
1986	55	71.7	192	26.19
1985	58	71.7	190	25.95
1984	62	71.8	192	26.14
1983	54	71.8	191	26.01
1982	45	71.5	187	25.71
1981	54	71.9	191	25.93
1980	51	72.2	189	25.48
1979	48	71.7	188	25.7
1978	43	71.9	189	25.77
1977	43	71.9	188	25.61
1976	46	72.5	189	25.23
1975	37	72.2	190	25.65
1974	43	72.3	189	25.38
1973	35	72.6	190	25.33
1972	40	72.4	190	25.48
1971	47	72.4	190	25.46
1970	43	71.9	185	25.1
	P	P HT	PWT	P BMI
2006	4	73.3	222	29.05
2005	8	74.3	211	26.94
2004	7	73.6	205	26.61
2003	3	74.3	220	27.99
2002	8	74.1	215	27.46
2001	5	73	199	26.3
2000	5	74.2	212	27.12
1999	5	73.4	213	27.79
1998	5	73	216	28.55
1997	6	73.5	208	27.02
1996	3	72.7	196	26.14
1995	5	73.4	215	28.03
1994	4	74.3	206	26.2
1993	3	73.7	215	27.89
1992	2	73	198	26.05
1991	6	73.3	205	26.78
1990	4	73.5	215	27.91
1989	3	74.7	215	27.15
1988	3	74.7	212	26.69
1987	24	73.3	200	26.2
1986	6	71.3	184	25.35
1985	10	73.7	208	26.89
1984	5	73.8	202	26.07
1983	6	73.2	211	27.69
1982	7	73.4	191	24.88
1981	9	72.9	196	25.98
1980	3	71	186	25.99
1979	9	73.9	200	25.77
1978	6	72.8	194	25.67
1977	7	72.4	197	26.4
1976	4	73.5	201	26.09
1975	5	73.2	206	26.97
1974	9	71.9	188	25.51
1973	4	72.5	202	26.95
1972	2	75.5	205	25.28
1971	4	73	187	24.64
1970	4	74.8	205	25.79
	K	K HT	KWT	K BMI
2006	1	74	200	25.68
2005	9	72.3	197	26.47
2004	5	73.2	200	26.27
2003	4	73.3	203	26.63
2002	8	72.5	215	28.71
2001	7	71.4	197	27.12
2000	8	71.3	205	28.32
1999	8	71	193	26.97
1998	4	74	206	26.45
1997	5	71.8	200	27.25
1996	4	72.5	208	27.85
1995	6	72.7	197	26.23
1994	4	72	184	24.88
1993	4	71.5	193	26.54
1992	3	72	197	26.72
1991	5	72.2	191	25.76
1990	3	71.7	198	27.15
1989	4	71.8	189	25.84
1988	6	71.5	190	26.13
1987	31	70.8	185	26.01
1986	2	71	183	25.52
1985	8	69.9	189	27.27
1984	5	70.2	180	25.62
1983	6	70.3	175	24.89
1982	9	71.9	190	25.88
1981	6	70.2	171	24.39
1980	2	72	187	25.36
1979	6	69.8	180	25.92
1978	7	72.4	192	25.75
1977	7	71.9	187	25.48
1976	5	70.2	181	25.85
1975	5	70.8	185	25.92
1974	6	71.5	184	25.33
1973	5	71	200	27.95
1972	5	71.6	187	25.64
1971	8	71.9	198	27
1970	4	70.5	191	27.02

 

[ufgator812]

Here's data for you nerds to compare this information. Pour over at your leisure.

This really helps me clear my mind.

 

[Double Gator Dad]

Brian Bosworth was every bit of 240# and Bo made him look silly. Herschel was "know" Bo...

This is the answer. Hershel would not be a great back in todays college football. If you ever saw Bo play in person, you know he would be a star today just as he was then.
Yes players are bigger and faster today. Yes training and nutrition are better today. Exceptional talent will succeed regardless.

 

[GatorJ]

According to that data LBers about the same size today as they were in the 80s.

 

[GatorJ]

This really helps me clear my mind.

:D