Settle an argument - Football Related

The Game Room
1

I maintain strongly that the differences in both size, strength and skill of athletes today as opposed to decades ago is immense.

So much so that as an example of this I stated to a group of friends that I am confident that the 2012-13 Alabama Crimson Tide (Or Oregon who should have had a chance to play the Tide) would - generally speaking:

  1. DESTROY the 1955 Cleveland Browns

  2. THROTTLE the 1966 Green Bay Packers

  3. And be very competitive with/able to beat the the mid 70s Steelers/Cowboys teams.

While that is of course a speculative statement that cannot be proven, I also maintain that odds makers today would favor the college team.

What do you think?

2

So you’re saying 'Bama is 'roided up?

3

By which set of rules would they play?

4

Let’s compare physical sizes between the two sets of teams’ players. From PFR, here’s the 1966 Green Bay roster. Their O-Line was: LT, Bob Skoronski, 6-3, 250; LG, Fuzzy Thurston, 6-1, 250; C, Bill Curry, 6-3, 235; RG,Jerry Kramer (nice guy, BTW.), 6-3, 245; RT (-ish) Forrest Gregg, 6-4, 250. Here’s the Tide’s roster. See some disparities? Further, I’m willing to wager that the O-line for 'Bama is probably as quick as GB’s skill players back in the day. The Tide’s skill players? Forget it.

“Nutrition” and fitness have certainly come a long way in 50 or so years, haven’t they?

5

Yes, Alabama would absolutely destroy both those teams.

6

I don’t think there is any doubt about it. The example I usually use is the undefeated 1972 Dolphins against the winless 2008 Lions. IMO if they played ten games, the Lions would win at least nine of them.

7

What could be the argument against that?

8

Well, currently the worst pro team would destroy the best college team. If you’re not too aware of the advancement in athletic ability over the past, hell even 15 years, then you might think that any pro team would beat an amateur team.

9

I would think the speed difference alone would do the trick. Add the size, and it’s no contest.

10

If you played your #1 matchup by 1955 rules Alabama’s offensive line would be flagged for holding on every single play from scrimmage. On the other hand, if you played by 2012 rules the ‘55 Browns’ secondary would constantly get penalized for defensive holding or pass interference.

This, of course, in the absence of an extensive retraining program to get both teams playing the same sport.

Also, the Alabama team would have a lot more players on their roster, so that wouldn’t be fair.