to argue with scholars of an earlier era without support from other scholars of an earlier era.

This is displayed in "hundreds of instances" in the Talmud in which Amora'im are challenged by Tanna'itic sources with the term ?????? and the Amorai'm unable to "deflect the challenge". An Amora called Rav is challenged by Tannai'tic sources "and is vindicated by the statement, Rav tanna hu upalig"- "Rav is a Tanna and disagrees (in Eiruvin 50b, Kesubos 8a, and elsewhere). A similar case exists for Rav Chiya, a borderline Tanna in Bava Metzia