Is Bryant Young a future Hall of Famer ?

[Darkiller]

We recently had this discussion on the 49ers' official forum : while I think there is no question that Bryant Young is a great player, a tremendous inspirational leader on and off the field and without a doubt one of the great 49ers ever, I just don't see him being Hall of Fame material.

I wanted to ask you that question since you guys here are obviously less biased so it's interesting to see how you feel about that.

[stevew]

It's apparently that time of year again. (the HOF threads).

[Danny]

No chance in hell

[wade moore]

There's no way his stats come even CLOSE to matching up for HoF material, is there?

[albionmoonlight]

I could certainly be persuaded otherwise if I see a well-reasoned argument, but my gut instinct was never "that guy's a Hall of Famer." It was much more along the lines of "that guy's a heck of a defensive lineman."

[Eaglesfan27]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg1 vAlign=top><TH>Year</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>G</TH><TH>Total</TH><TH>Tckl</TH><TH>Ast</TH><TH>Sacks</TH><TH>Int</TH><TH>Yds</TH><TH>Avg</TH><TH>Lg</TH><TH>TD</TH><TH>Pass Def</TH></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>1994</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>42.0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR class=bg3><TD>1995</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>25.0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>1996</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>75</TD><TD>60.0</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>11.5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR class=bg3><TD>1997</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>39.0</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>1998</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>53</TD><TD>42.0</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>9.5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=bg3><TD>1999</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>40</TD><TD>36.0</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>2000</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>32.0</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>9.5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR class=bg3><TD>2001</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>37</TD><TD>31.0</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>3.5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>2002</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>28.0</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD></TR><TR class=bg3><TD>2003</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>29.0</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>3.5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>2004</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>46</TD><TD>36.0</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR class=bg3><TD>2005</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>36</TD><TD>32.0</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=bg4><TD>TOTAL</TD><TD></TD><TD>176</TD><TD>518</TD><TD>432.0</TD><TD>86</TD><TD>77.5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>25</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

He had a few very good years, but I don't see his stats being HOF worthy.

[Huckleberry]

We recently had this discussion on the 49ers' official forum : while I think there is no question that Bryant Young is a great player, a tremendous inspirational leader on and off the field and without a doubt one of the great 49ers ever, I just don't see him being Hall of Fame material.

I wanted to ask you that question since you guys here are obviously less biased so it's interesting to see how you feel about that.

I say no if only because his leg break on Monday Night Football nearly made me lose my dinner.

[Bee]

I would guess my left testicle has about the same chance of making the HOF as Bryant Young.

[Joe]

There's no way his stats come even CLOSE to matching up for HoF material, is there?

no

[Raiders Army]

Where's the trout option?

[Logan]

Huge Niner fan. Huge B. Young fan. Have his jersey and wear it proudly.

No.

[Daimyo]

My initital reaction was no way. I always thought of him as a very solid player, but not a great player. However, I wanted some point of comparison so I decided to compare him to Sapp who I would guess is a lock for the HOF. His stats actually compare better than I expected (although I'd still take Sapp). I still don't think he has a chance though... the football HOF is as much about reputation as stats and he just doesn't have it.

<table border=1><tr valign="top"><th>Player</th><th></th><th>G</th> <th>Total</th><th>Tckl</th><th>Ast</th><th>Sacks</th> <th>Int</th><th>Yds</th><th>Avg</th><th>Lg</th><th>TD</th> <th>Pass Def</th></tr><tr><td>Young</td><td></td><td>176</td><td>518</td><td>432.0</td><td>86</td><td>77.5</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0.0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>25</td> </tr><tr class="bg4">
<td>Sapp</td><td></td><td>166</td><td>472</td><td>365.0</td><td>107</td><td>84.5</td><td>4</td><td>8</td><td>2.0</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>22</td>
</tr></table>

[Logan]

However, I wanted some point of comparison so I decided to compare him to Sapp who I would guess is a lock for the HOF.

He is? :confused:

EDIT: Legitimately in disbelief...not trying to be a dick or anything.

[wade moore]

He is? :confused:

EDIT: Legitimately in disbelief...not trying to be a dick or anything.

This was my initial thought as well. I think Sapp had a few pretty solid years that were over-hyped because his size and personality made good TV.

[Joe]

the HOF is less about stats and more about hype. otherwise, Joe Namath wouldn't be there. Sapp has (had?) the hype. Young has neither.

[Eaglesfan27]

I don't think Sapp is a lock for the hall either.

Yes, he has the hype, but he really doesn't have the stats. Hype only carries one so far.

[Eaglesfan27]

Most of the "Modern Era DT's" played before there was as much stat tracking, but here are stats of a few who I could find stats on who are in the Hall:

Randy White - 1,104 tackles, 701 solo tackles and 111 sacks.

Alan Page - 173 sacks.

Dan Hampton on the other hand only had 57 sacks.

[Glengoyne]

No chance in hell

Nah he could buy a ticket. Or maybe Rice will have him comped when he goes in.

[Daimyo]

He is? :confused:

EDIT: Legitimately in disbelief...not trying to be a dick or anything.
DTs don't generate stats as much as DEs or LBs. If you don't pick Sapp, what DT makes it from his era?

[Swaggs]

I would be surprised to see Young even make it as a finalist. When I think of the best DTs of his era, I think of Cortez Kennedy, John Randle, and (yes) Warren Sapp. I would put Young in the next tier with La'Roi Glover. With that said, if he played on the 49ers ten years earlier, he would have a great shot.

[Jake Plummer]

I'm a huge fan of the Niners and Bryant Young. The guy's been the face of the franchise ever since they let T.O. go. With that said, I still don't think he's a Hall of Famer. 49ers Ring of Honor? Absolutely. But I'm not going to argue that he's one of the game's greats. He plays a low-profile position and never really got much attention outside of San Fran.

Speaking of the 49ers, I got to meet Ronnie Lott last week. Now *that* is a HOF'er.

[Raiders Army]

Speaking of the 49ers, I got to meet Ronnie Lott last week. Now *that* is a HOF'er.
I would guess that you would've met a lot of HOFers when you play the Raiders twice every year, Snake.

[JeeberD]

:o

Somehow I misread "Bryant Young" as "Kobe Bryant". Please ignore my YES vote...

[stevew]

Kobe Bryant Young MC

Bust a move~

[Logan]

Kobe Bryant Young MC

Bust a move~

Ken Norton Junior Bryant Young?

[AgustusM]

You cannot judge Defensive Lineman, especially DT on statistics.

I am not saying he is a sure HOF - he some great years, but has had injury problems. But good DT can dominate a game and barley show up on the stat sheet. Stats have no place in a discussion of DT worth.

[Joe]

You cannot judge Defensive Lineman, especially DT on statistics.

I am not saying he is a sure HOF - he some great years, but has had injury problems. But good DT can dominate a game and barley show up on the stat sheet. Stats have no place in a discussion of DT worth.

throw the stats out and hes still not close to the hof

[MrBigglesworth]

The Eagles play the Niners fairly often, and I never once thought, "Oh man, how are we going to stop Bryant Young?" So no.

[DaddyTorgo]

young was never the same without stubblefield. that's the core of the problem

[Jake Plummer]

I would guess that you would've met a lot of HOFers when you play the Raiders twice every year, Snake.

Yeah. Unfortunately for the Raiders, they were HOF-caliber players before they went to Oakland (i.e. Lott, Randy Moss, Warren Sapp).

[daedalus]

Not trying to provoke a fight, just curious (my mindset is similar to what has been said in this thread: great player, really liked him, not a HoFer), what would be a good . . . hrm . . . like, gauge for a defensive tackle making the Hall? As Daimyo and AgustusM said, it's hard to do numbers for them, as they just do not generate the same type of numbers as ends and linebackers.

As MrB said, teams don't really tend to go into games with the mindset of how to handle Young and adapting their gameplan for him (a la Lawrence Taylor or Reggie White). That is certainly a thought and falls into similar frame as what Swaggs said: Is he one of the best of his era? But how much of that is hype/reputation and do we end up falling into that trap (as the Hall is now reputed to be)?

[stevew]

The Eagles play the Niners fairly often, and I never once thought, "Oh man, how are we going to stop Bryant Young?" So no.

LoL