The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

For those too young to have seen Larry Brown, here is almost 4 minutes of Brown. Yes, that Number 9 is the real Sonny; 31 is FB Charlie ("Get Out of My Way") Harraway, who blocked for Brown but who caught passes and was a pretty fair runner...especially with Larry Brown blocking for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HxHyHkhdXo

Good times! Larry was really good.

welch wrote:For those too young to have seen Larry Brown, here is almost 4 minutes of Brown. Yes, that Number 9 is the real Sonny; 31 is FB Charlie ("Get Out of My Way") Harraway, who blocked for Brown but who caught passes and was a pretty fair runner...especially with Larry Brown blocking for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HxHyHkhdXo

They did a great job of blocking for each other.

who was Larry Brown? He was number 43 (I didn't even look at the video) and I wore his jersey as a kid.

I have his football card.

In my considered opinion, Larry Brown was the best running back ever to play for the Redskins. He was smaller than Riggins, but he hit harder. Jim Brown, the all-time greatest, said that Larry Brown was the only runner who could do things that Jim could not: accelerate faster, catch passes, block harder. Our Larry Brown also ran after catching a pass: a 10 yard flip to Brown might become a 90 yard TD. He did that against the Jets in '72. Belongs in the Hall of Fame, but old George Allen ran Larry Brown's knees to pieces. Post sportswriters used to describe the Allen offense as "Larry Brown left, Larry Brown right, Kilmer thows a pass to Charley Taylor or Larry Brown."

Sonny frightened Crazy George because Sonny called his own plays and used everyone: throw to Brown, throw to Jerry Smith or Roy Jefferson or Charlie Harraway, long or short, Brown pop through the line or, when the defebse expected Brown to run then Brown leading Harraway around the end. Redskins had a mediocre OL in those days, but Larry Brown was through the line before the defense stood up. Almost like ballet to watch Sonny, Larry, Smith, Charley work together. Ball snapped, CB blitzes, and Sonny snaps a pass to Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, or Jefferson, then says "Thanks for the ten yards". On a blitz, Brown and Harraway would cut the rusher in half and whichever WR had been left un-marked knew to run ten yards and turn. Sonny would stand and throw without looking. All those guys just knew.

That's why the great artist, NC43, picked "43".

welch wrote:In my considered opinion, Larry Brown was the best running back ever to play for the Redskins. He was smaller than Riggins, but he hit harder. Jim Brown, the all-time greatest, said that Larry Brown was the only runner who could do things that Jim could not: accelerate faster, catch passes, block harder. Our Larry Brown also ran after catching a pass: a 10 yard flip to Brown might become a 90 yard TD. He did that against the Jets in '72. Belongs in the Hall of Fame, but old George Allen ran Larry Brown's knees to pieces. Post sportswriters used to describe the Allen offense as "Larry Brown left, Larry Brown right, Kilmer thows a pass to Charley Taylor or Larry Brown."

Sonny frightened Crazy George because Sonny called his own plays and used everyone: throw to Brown, throw to Jerry Smith or Roy Jefferson or Charlie Harraway, long or short, Brown pop through the line or, when the defebse expected Brown to run then Brown leading Harraway around the end. Redskins had a mediocre OL in those days, but Larry Brown was through the line before the defense stood up. Almost like ballet to watch Sonny, Larry, Smith, Charley work together. Ball snapped, CB blitzes, and Sonny snaps a pass to Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, or Jefferson, then says "Thanks for the ten yards". On a blitz, Brown and Harraway would cut the rusher in half and whichever WR had been left un-marked knew to run ten yards and turn. Sonny would stand and throw without looking. All those guys just knew.

That's why the great artist, NC43, picked "43".

Oh, Welch... that blocking facet of Brown's game was under appreciated, but probably as important as anything else he did... He could pass protect so well that he could still teach Clinton Portis a thing or two... Larry Brown was a devastating pass blocker... and consistently found the free rusher. No one was EVER better. When necessary, he was also a devastating lead blocker for Charlie Harraway.. Larry Brown was the most complete running back ever. It's a travesty that he's not in the HOF.

Oh, Welch... that blocking facet of Brown's game was under appreciated, but probably as important as anything else he did... He could pass protect so well that he could still teach Clinton Portis a thing or two... Larry Brown was a devastating pass blocker... and consistently found the free rusher. No one was EVER better. When necessary, he was also a devastating lead blocker for Charlie Harraway.. Larry Brown was the most complete running back ever. It's a travesty that he's not in the HOF.

Legend has it that Vince Lombardi drafted Brown as a blocking back...that's what Brown had done in college. During tryouts Lombardi noticed that Brown was starting a beat after the snap. Had Brown's hearing check and discovered that Brown was partially deaf. Had something like a hearing aid installed in Larry Brown's helmet, and then Brown got the quickest start ever seen. He was already an experienced blocker and pass receiver...became the best running back of his time. Better than OJ Simpson, who was elegant, but would not block and didn't care about catching passes. Simpson wanted to rush for 100 yards, and then lost interest in the game.

Watch the video sample: Larry Brown never lost interest in winning.

Without him, as a Post reporter wrote in the late '70s, the Hall is missing someone.

welch wrote:In my considered opinion, Larry Brown was the best running back ever to play for the Redskins. He was smaller than Riggins, but he hit harder. Jim Brown, the all-time greatest, said that Larry Brown was the only runner who could do things that Jim could not: accelerate faster, catch passes, block harder. Our Larry Brown also ran after catching a pass: a 10 yard flip to Brown might become a 90 yard TD. He did that against the Jets in '72. Belongs in the Hall of Fame, but old George Allen ran Larry Brown's knees to pieces. Post sportswriters used to describe the Allen offense as "Larry Brown left, Larry Brown right, Kilmer thows a pass to Charley Taylor or Larry Brown."

Sonny frightened Crazy George because Sonny called his own plays and used everyone: throw to Brown, throw to Jerry Smith or Roy Jefferson or Charlie Harraway, long or short, Brown pop through the line or, when the defebse expected Brown to run then Brown leading Harraway around the end. Redskins had a mediocre OL in those days, but Larry Brown was through the line before the defense stood up. Almost like ballet to watch Sonny, Larry, Smith, Charley work together. Ball snapped, CB blitzes, and Sonny snaps a pass to Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, or Jefferson, then says "Thanks for the ten yards". On a blitz, Brown and Harraway would cut the rusher in half and whichever WR had been left un-marked knew to run ten yards and turn. Sonny would stand and throw without looking. All those guys just knew.

That's why the great artist, NC43, picked "43".

As much as I love Larry Brown (have his card), I will respectfully disagree and say John Riggins was the GOAT running back for the Washington Redskins.

To say Larry Brown hit harder is a stretch and a point I will not concede. I will use slightly different language and claim Riggins was at least as (if not clearly more powerful than) powerful as Brown. I will also say Riggins was definitively faster (4.6 40, 9.8 100 vs. 4.7 and 9.9). Riggins was a terrific blocker as well but was not asked to do it much - especially post George Allen. Riggins also was quite good a catching and running, but again, he was hardly asked to do it.

welch wrote:In my considered opinion, Larry Brown was the best running back ever to play for the Redskins. He was smaller than Riggins, but he hit harder. Jim Brown, the all-time greatest, said that Larry Brown was the only runner who could do things that Jim could not: accelerate faster, catch passes, block harder. Our Larry Brown also ran after catching a pass: a 10 yard flip to Brown might become a 90 yard TD. He did that against the Jets in '72. Belongs in the Hall of Fame, but old George Allen ran Larry Brown's knees to pieces. Post sportswriters used to describe the Allen offense as "Larry Brown left, Larry Brown right, Kilmer thows a pass to Charley Taylor or Larry Brown."

Sonny frightened Crazy George because Sonny called his own plays and used everyone: throw to Brown, throw to Jerry Smith or Roy Jefferson or Charlie Harraway, long or short, Brown pop through the line or, when the defebse expected Brown to run then Brown leading Harraway around the end. Redskins had a mediocre OL in those days, but Larry Brown was through the line before the defense stood up. Almost like ballet to watch Sonny, Larry, Smith, Charley work together. Ball snapped, CB blitzes, and Sonny snaps a pass to Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, or Jefferson, then says "Thanks for the ten yards". On a blitz, Brown and Harraway would cut the rusher in half and whichever WR had been left un-marked knew to run ten yards and turn. Sonny would stand and throw without looking. All those guys just knew.

That's why the great artist, NC43, picked "43".

I'm pretty sure that was a screen pass. he ran 90+ after the catch.

welch wrote:

Oh, Welch... that blocking facet of Brown's game was under appreciated, but probably as important as anything else he did... He could pass protect so well that he could still teach Clinton Portis a thing or two... Larry Brown was a devastating pass blocker... and consistently found the free rusher. No one was EVER better. When necessary, he was also a devastating lead blocker for Charlie Harraway.. Larry Brown was the most complete running back ever. It's a travesty that he's not in the HOF.

Legend has it that Vince Lombardi drafted Brown as a blocking back...that's what Brown had done in college. During tryouts Lombardi noticed that Brown was starting a beat after the snap. Had Brown's hearing check and discovered that Brown was partially deaf. Had something like a hearing aid installed in Larry Brown's helmet, and then Brown got the quickest start ever seen. He was already an experienced blocker and pass receiver...became the best running back of his time. Better than OJ Simpson, who was elegant, but would not block and didn't care about catching passes. Simpson wanted to rush for 100 yards, and then lost interest in the game.

Watch the video sample: Larry Brown never lost interest in winning.

Without him, as a Post reporter wrote in the late '70s, the Hall is missing someone.

That's more than a legend.

yupchagee wrote:

welch wrote:

Oh, Welch... that blocking facet of Brown's game was under appreciated, but probably as important as anything else he did... He could pass protect so well that he could still teach Clinton Portis a thing or two... Larry Brown was a devastating pass blocker... and consistently found the free rusher. No one was EVER better. When necessary, he was also a devastating lead blocker for Charlie Harraway.. Larry Brown was the most complete running back ever. It's a travesty that he's not in the HOF.

Legend has it that Vince Lombardi drafted Brown as a blocking back...that's what Brown had done in college. During tryouts Lombardi noticed that Brown was starting a beat after the snap. Had Brown's hearing check and discovered that Brown was partially deaf. Had something like a hearing aid installed in Larry Brown's helmet, and then Brown got the quickest start ever seen. He was already an experienced blocker and pass receiver...became the best running back of his time. Better than OJ Simpson, who was elegant, but would not block and didn't care about catching passes. Simpson wanted to rush for 100 yards, and then lost interest in the game.

Watch the video sample: Larry Brown never lost interest in winning.

Without him, as a Post reporter wrote in the late '70s, the Hall is missing someone.

That's more than a legend.

Yup... established fact. Lombardi was simply possessed of an incredibly acute mind, aware of every detail... and it was clear to him that Brown wasn't responding to the snap count... but to the snap...

DarthMonk wrote:As much as I love Larry Brown (have his card), I will respectfully disagree and say John Riggins was the GOAT running back for the Washington Redskins.

Best record/stats?
Best RB technique?
Favourite?

My favourite RB was: Earnest Byner.

I associate his name with the best Skins teams of all time.

But Larry is one of my favourites. Vince Lombardi saw great potential in him as early as 1969

I am biased so will recuse myself from this discussion.

NC43Hog wrote:I am biased so will recuse myself from this discussion.

Why? You can't be a fan of Joe Don Looney and keep an objective mind about Larry Brown?