Todays football vs. 1980's

[DP#1FAN]

This could be a hard one. Could teams from the 80's play with the best from today?

[Guest ECBucFan]

Absolutly. Today has more speed size and skills, but is somewhat of a finesse game. In the 80's, in my opinion, it was more of a "pound it out" and "hammer them down" game. These basically offset.

[kicker]

You also have to take into consideration, teams from the 80's didnt see a "spread" type offense. This could cause problems with the defenses of that time.

[eastex]

80's teams scouted/watched video and game planned just like today. They would have prepared for the spread. Just remember, everything done today has been done before. There may be new twists but pretty much everything has been tried.

So yes, the 80's teams could definitely play today.

[kicker]

You cant just "adjust" to a spread offense with game film. IMO.

[Tiger90]

A lot of teams are still running the basic packages from the late 60s. I remember a "run n' shoot" being all the rage in the late 80s. Ask those Clements boys from Huntsville or the Detmers in South Texas about the 1980s passing games. Teams prepared and defeated those teams. On the flip side ask Newton if their playbook has really changed in the last 30 years.

The only difference I can see is the size and speed of today's kids. I remember in 1985 during the dominant Chicago Bears superbowl run, Ditka fining and berating William "Fridge" Perry for being over 295. We have high schoolers bigger than that.

[KFDM COOP]

Kids are certainly much bigger than years ago! I know i'm not the only one who has noticed this.

[DenisGScott]

One of my friends I work with a has a son who is a soph this year at WB, kid is 6-2/290 and he's not fat pretty agile and should get some playing time this year. Granted they're not all that size but yes overall kids have gotten bigger/stronger/faster than in years past. When I was in high school if you ran a 4.6 you were fast.... now 4.6 is nothing when you have kids who ran 4.2-4.4.

[Cat22]

I definitely think some teams from the 80's could compete with todays teams. I think kids today are bigger and faster, but those 80's guys I think could hang. In Orangefield, some of our better teams were in the 80's and there is no doubt that I think they could hang with our teams of recent years.

What do you WOS guys think? Do you think the 85,86,87 teams could compete with last years team? I do. That 87 team may have been the best team to ever come out of this area.

[DP#1FAN]

I agree Cat22. What about those early 80 Hebert Panther teams? Talk about team speed I felt like I was not even running. They could FFFFFFFFFFFFFFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kicker]

I agree Cat22. What about those early 80 Hebert Panther teams? Talk about team speed I felt like I was not even running. They could FFFFFFFFFFFFFFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

D'Ville still lives in the 80's

[DP#1FAN]

I wish I was back in the 80's and know what I know now.

[Critter]

I wish I was back in the 80's and know what I know now.

Don't we all DP......Don't we all 8)

[kicker]

Ah Yes, the 80's..........Big hair, Madonna, and Motley Crue

[Gasilla]

It's really hard to compare the 80's with today. Along with the fact that kids are naturally bigger and faster, you have other factors that really didn't play into it as much in the 80's like steroids. Don't kid yourself folks, this is a much bigger problem than people will want to admit. Steroid use is a big thing now with high school kids. Now this is not intended to point fingers at any team in particular, but it is an undeniable factor.

[Tiger90]

Ah Yes' date=' the 80's..........Big hair, Madonna, and Motley Crue [/quote']

Nothing wrong with Motley Crue. I seen them in March.

[kicker]

It's really hard to compare the 80's with today. Along with the fact that kids are naturally bigger and faster' date=' you have other factors that really didn't play into it as much in the 80's like steroids. Don't kid yourself folks, this is a much bigger problem than people will want to admit. Steroid use is a big thing now with high school kids. Now this is not intended to point fingers at any team in particular, but it is an undeniable factor.[/quote']

I could point some :wink:

[Guest Penny]

I don't understand the comment that the spread offense can't be adjusted to with game film. I have watched Nederland absolutely shutdown teams who ran the spread offense and it wasn't from going against their JV squad in practice. It was by developing a game plan through studying game film.

[kicker]

I don't understand the comment that the spread offense can't be adjusted to with game film. I have watched Nederland absolutely shutdown teams who ran the spread offense and it wasn't from going against their JV squad in practice. It was by developing a game plan through studying game film.

Yes you can adjust from gamefilm. But Ned had seen, and knew what the spread was. An 80's team, however, had never even heard or seen the spread. Thats what I mean.

[CRUSHCOACH]

I agree Cat22. What about those early 80 Hebert Panther teams? Talk about team speed I felt like I was not even running. They could FFFFFFFFFFFFFFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course it seemed like they were flying when we all ran a 40 in 5.0 FLAT !! ::a

[DP#1FAN]

John we weren't that fast !

[SFA85]

Yeah the kids are bigger, faster, stronger that us in some aspects but they're also, softer, more spoiled, and less driven than us. We played outside----whatever season it was, that's what we played. Most of these kids get sore thumbs from xbox......

I could coach a team from the 80's and wishbone/I formation a spead team to death......

[Gasilla]

I totally agree with your first paragraph and totally disagree with your second. Antiquated offenses will only hold you back.

I'm a golfer and I'm not going to buy a driver that was made in 1985 and try to compete in a long drive contest with it today. Advancements keep everything moving forward, I believe that includes offensive styles.

[vp93]

I agree an 80's team with the wishbone could compete against the spread offense of today. It would all depend on the defense. A good defense combined with a slow grind it out offense I would take any day. You can't score if you don't have the ball. You know the old saying 3 things can happen when you throw the ball and 2 are bad.

[SFA85]

You give me 83 Dangerfield, 85 Yates, or 88 Carter, and I'd beat Dodge, or anybody else playing now.....