2020 HOF Semi-Finalists announced

[buffaloboyinATL]

Torry Holt is becoming the new "Andre Reed".

[Saxum]

4 hours ago, Rico said:

Extremely easy to write the history of the gams without using any of those names. If anything, Tasker may be the most worthy.

 

Tasker changed the game.  They made rule changes on special teams just to counteract some of things Tasker did.    Teams made game plans to counter him including three players responsible for him.

Coaches like John Harbaugh who value innovation would love a player like that.

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

5 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

For me :

Atwater, Holt, James, Polamalu, Willis

[Saxum]

3 hours ago, Yobogoya! said:

None of those guys can say they were the best all-time at what they did. 

 

Tasker can. 

 

Special Teams is way under-represented in the Hall. When you have 40 running backs in, I feel like you can probably justify having more than two kickers or at least the best coverage specialist of all time. 

 

He was not just a coverage specialist. He was a kick returner too.

[Saxum]

1 hour ago, dave mcbride said:

I don't think so. Polamalu was great, and Simeon Rice (122 sacks) should have been the 2002 Super Bowl MVP for Tampa. Hutchinson and Faneca were dominant players. Carl Banks, Reggie Wayne, Isaac Bruce (over 15,000 receiving yards), Hines Ward ... those are some excellent players. 

Gore had an amazing 2006 season, and arguably would have won SB MVP if SF had pulled it out in 2012. That season, he averaged 106 yards over three playoff games.

The reason ST guys aren't in is because they play far fewer plays, most ST plays are givens (touchbacks and the like), and they weren't good enough to be regular starters. I love me some Tasker, but he's not even as good as Matthew Slater. Slater should go in before him. I mean, I suppose the HOF could have an ST annex - kind of the "special Olympics" of the HOF. 

 

In Tasker's case Jim Kelly advocated him being a WR and Levy disallowed it because he considered Tasker that important to special teams and special teams that important.  Marv Levy truly believed that special teams were 1/3 of teams.   Later in Steve's career he got reps as WR when Bills were short WRs and he showed he could play with the best.

 

Coach McD allows Lorenzo Alexander to do both and Levy unlikely would have allowed this at that point in Steve's career.  Can you imagine Zo on a team with Marv Levy as head coach? The special teams would be spectacular with Tasker, Pike and Lo! 

[MJS]

How is Atwater not in already? 8x pro bowler, 2x first team all pro. 1990's all decade team. He was great.

4 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

The good news for Tasker is I believe after this year he is a senior candidate, and with 20 going in this year,  he will go up the list for a senior candidate.  There is no doubt he is the best ST non kicker of all time, and with Vinaterri going in eventually and Guy in, the voters are starting to look at ST stars.

 

i hope he gets in someday, but don’t think it’s this year.

I think he will eventually. Hopefully before he's dead.

[ehfeuh57]

my top 5

 

Tasker (start of the Special Teams Wing)

Edge

Polamalu

Boseli

and 1 WR who has been waiting longest Bruce/Wayne

[HOUSE]

Chris Kelsay missed out again

 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2019 by HOUSE

[Saxum]

23 minutes ago, DrDare said:

my top 5

 

Tasker (start of the Special Teams Wing)

Edge

Polamalu

Boseli

and 1 WR who has been waiting longest Bruce/Wayne

 

Batman joke? Bruce Wayne.

[TigerJ]

8 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Is it me or is that a surprisingly weak class? No one with a WOW factor when thinking about their playing days. Solid players all around for sure.

 

I guess Polamalu would be the leader of the pack? Would love to see Tasker get in with this class too.

I agree.  This is the kind of year where Steve really has a shot.

[Nextmanup]

5 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

Steve Tasker changed the way the game is played.  Before he came along, ST was an afterthought.  He did it all, PR/KR, gunner, punt and FG blocker, Pro Bowl MVP, and then a short stint at WR near the end of his career.  Teams had to game plan for him.  Long past time for him to get in.

John Clayton has commented on this in the past with his S&B segments. 

 

He is on the voting committee and has said that he personally feels Tasker should be in.  I think he has more support than some might think, despite having never gotten in.

 

Would love to see it.  It seems like a lot of people would agree Tasker is perhaps the single best special teamer of all time.

On that basis, he belongs in. 

 

 

 

[Freddie's Dead]

6 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Tasker returned 15 kickoffs for the Bills in his career and never averaged 20 yards per return while here. He returned 32 punts for a 10.5 ypr average, and never returned a punt or a kickoff for a TD. Let's not exaggerate. He returned a few here and there, but he was hardly a game changer in those areas. 

 

10.5 PR average would put Tasker about 25th all-time if he had enough of them.  My point was that he did it all, was pretty damn good at it, and changed the game to bring an emphasis to special teams that never before existed.  He's "The Natural" of special teamers.  "There's only you and me, and we just disagree."

[Ethan in Cleveland]

This is a very mediocre class.  If Tasker has any shot, this is the year.

 

I think the only three that are HOF worthy are: Polamalu, Hutchinson, and Bosselli. The rest are all very good players but not even close to being best in the league at their positions.  I would not be shocked if Willis makes it.  

 

They can make a statement sending Tasker in that special teams matters.  I would not vote in Tasker but I understand why he could make it.  

 

The other two that are long overdue are Don Coryell and Tom Flores.

[Locomark]

If Tasker doesn’t make it in the next 2 years his name might get replaced by Mathew Slater in the future. Just saying.... 

[BruceVilanch]

I absolutely loved watching Steve Atwater play. I think Atwater, Polamalu and Boseli all should get in.

[Locomark]

Does anyone have Taskers tackle stats? It’s wasnt about returns with him. It was the constant special teams tackles and the punt blocks.

[GunnerBill]

12 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Is it me or is that a surprisingly weak class? No one with a WOW factor when thinking about their playing days. Solid players all around for sure.

 

I guess Polamalu would be the leader of the pack? Would love to see Tasker get in with this class too.

 

I thought that too. A lot of guys who have "been on the cusp" for a few years and not quite made it. Feel like Boselli, Faneca, Lynch and those greatest show on turf receivers have been on the list forever. 

 

Troy Polamalu is the one must on that list. 

[row_33]

8 hours ago, BruceVilanch said:

I absolutely loved watching Steve Atwater play. I think Atwater, Polamalu and Boseli all should get in.

 

a spot is held for a man from the o-line

 

and one for someone 90% of the fanbase never saw play

 

the rest?  meh.... 

[Bill from NYC]

On ‎11‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 2:19 PM, Kelly the Dog said:

Yep. Some really strong players in that class but not historic players. Tasker has a chance. I don't expect it but wouldn't be shocked. They need to start opening the gates for some of these ST guys. Not many of them, but if there are kickers and punters...

I think that Atwater was a freak KTD. The Denver defense was really all that and Elway got all of the publicity on that team but Atwater was big, fast, and vicious; just a complete great safety.

I really am shocked that he wasn't enshrined years ago.

[thebandit27]

Seems like Boselli, Faneca, Polamalu, and Willis would be near-locks