12-16-2015, 09:17 PM
Anthony was 6' 6", but only between 278-284 lbs during his playing days. Small by today's standards, that would have been a typical size for an NFL OT in that time period. But he was an anomaly because of the way he played.
His nickname was "the Big Cat". This was, on one hand, a reference to the team mascot. But it was primarily a reference to how Anthony moved. During the 70's, even the best NFL OT's were little more than slow moving trees (Ron Yary, George Kunz, Art Shell, Rayfield Wright, etc.). Anthony was different. While he was noted as being one of the greatest roadgrade blockers ever (sometimes levelling guys up to 15 or 20 times a game), he had a high degree of agility, quickness and flexibility. He was also known for his nimble footwork, and he could kickstep and set to match even the fastest rushers of the day.
This was important as the pass rushing changed in the 80's. A new breed of HoF linebackers like Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, etc. who were beginning to specialize in rushing the passer were coming on the scene. This opened up new opportunities for HoF defensive ends such as Bruce Smith, Reggie White, etc. It also changed the needs and requirements for QB protection. You couldn't put your RB out there to chipblock LT. It just didn't work.
Anthony was the first with the agility skills to meet these guys and be successful. It would take years to develop new players in that mold, but it has now become the standard. You can look at more recent players like Ogden or Walter Jones and claim that they are better than Anthony physically or skill wise. And you may have a point. But they did not change the position the way he did. And only Ogden and Jones have dominated opponents the way he did. All LT's are measured today off of the skills he originally brought to the table. That is why he gets the credit he gets. And the credit is not only from fans, but from the players he played against and the NFL community as a whole.
Also, for the record, Munoz started out defending Kenny Anderson, a right-handed QB. That is where he earned his name as a blindside protector. He blocked for Anderson from '80 to '86.
His nickname was "the Big Cat". This was, on one hand, a reference to the team mascot. But it was primarily a reference to how Anthony moved. During the 70's, even the best NFL OT's were little more than slow moving trees (Ron Yary, George Kunz, Art Shell, Rayfield Wright, etc.). Anthony was different. While he was noted as being one of the greatest roadgrade blockers ever (sometimes levelling guys up to 15 or 20 times a game), he had a high degree of agility, quickness and flexibility. He was also known for his nimble footwork, and he could kickstep and set to match even the fastest rushers of the day.
This was important as the pass rushing changed in the 80's. A new breed of HoF linebackers like Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, etc. who were beginning to specialize in rushing the passer were coming on the scene. This opened up new opportunities for HoF defensive ends such as Bruce Smith, Reggie White, etc. It also changed the needs and requirements for QB protection. You couldn't put your RB out there to chipblock LT. It just didn't work.
Anthony was the first with the agility skills to meet these guys and be successful. It would take years to develop new players in that mold, but it has now become the standard. You can look at more recent players like Ogden or Walter Jones and claim that they are better than Anthony physically or skill wise. And you may have a point. But they did not change the position the way he did. And only Ogden and Jones have dominated opponents the way he did. All LT's are measured today off of the skills he originally brought to the table. That is why he gets the credit he gets. And the credit is not only from fans, but from the players he played against and the NFL community as a whole.
Also, for the record, Munoz started out defending Kenny Anderson, a right-handed QB. That is where he earned his name as a blindside protector. He blocked for Anderson from '80 to '86.
![[Image: 416686247_404249095282684_84217049823664...e=659A7198]](https://scontent.fphx1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/416686247_404249095282684_8421704982366424390_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3635dc&_nc_ohc=p8hMrwwk1IoAX8mnFLJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fphx1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBXs4gKHr4knFejO874dfV3zzLd_bq4GiUqHxGWFlwbug&oe=659A7198)
