Michael Irvin's Three Greatest WRs

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Drift Reality

Actually, I've just seen footage of Lynn Swann on old NFL films and read about how smooth a route-runner he was. Also, the four super bowls are big (although he played a pivotal role in only 2/4 I think)

Stats-wise, it's really tough to compare today's receivers to those of even twenty years ago. The vertical passing game didn't really start picking up until the early 80s due to the offensive sets of guys like Walsh and Coryell.

Furthermore, the Steelers really emphasized the run/defense mindset so it wasn't easy for Swann to get the electric stats that you saw out of guys like Rice.

Despite all that, I think there was just something really impressive about the way he played. Now that I think back on it though, I think it was a bad decision to place him in the top three. Maybe top 10 would have been more appropriate.

That being said, in some ways I think we really need to wait a while before we start putting guys like Reed, Harrison, or Brown into the category of greatest ever. I think it takes time for people to realize how a player fits into an era. Did the era define him; or did he define the era (such is the case for Jerry Rice).

Not to be a nit-picker, but Coryell and Walsh were polar opposites with their passing game philosophies. Coryell favored the vertical, downfield passing while Walsh was known for short passes, hitches, slants, what have you. That's the staple of the "West Coast" offense. Gibbs, Ernie Zampese, Norv Turner, and Mike Martz are all students of the "Air Coryell" offense.

Otherwise, your points are well taken.