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Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:07 pm
by James
JeffreyMiller wrote:Mel Hein. Don't laugh.
Can't believe I forgot about Hein. Great choice...
Re: Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:11 pm
by 74_75_78_79_
Mike Haynes...Randy White...Howie Long...Chuck Bednarik...Sam Huff...Derrick Brooks?
Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:14 pm
by James
Ernie Stautner could be another.
Re: Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 2:02 pm
by JuggernautJ
JeffreyMiller wrote:Mel Hein. Don't laugh.
I'm not.
I considered putting him in my post about pre-50s players but didn't want to deal with the "Center" discussion.
Another name not yet mentioned (although decidedly post 50's) is Ted Hendricks.
Re: Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 3:40 pm
by JohnTurney
JuggernautJ wrote:JeffreyMiller wrote:Mel Hein. Don't laugh.
I'm not.
I considered putting him in my post about pre-50s players but didn't want to deal with the "Center" discussion.
Another name not yet mentioned (although decidedly post 50's) is Ted Hendricks.
You would have misspelled it, anyway. Just kidding---I make more typos than anyone. Just a combination of laziness, poor spelling and a bit of dyslexia.
Re: Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 5:47 pm
by Gary Najman
What, no one has mentioned Alan Page? He was to Pro Football Reference the top player of the 70s.
Re: Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 5:56 pm
by JohnTurney
Teo wrote:What, no one has mentioned Alan Page? He was to Pro Football Reference the top player of the 70s.
He is one of my 4 best-ever DTs
Greene, Page, Lilly, Olsen. Then there is a gap, IMO, then the others.
Page was best pass rusher of those 4. But, was not as good versus run as those other 3. But, he was a game-changer, a guy who wass in the mix often for DPOY or NFC DL of year, the national-type awards . .
I think a case could be made for each of those four to be the best ever DT. I would really depend on criteria and what type of player you prefer. Greene and Olsen were similar, and Lilly and Page were similar.
after those four, then a gap, you can get into the Randy Whites and Nomellini or Randles, etc.
Re: Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 6:04 pm
by slats7
JohnTurney wrote:Teo wrote:What, no one has mentioned Alan Page? He was to Pro Football Reference the top player of the 70s.
after those four, then a gap, you can get into the Randy Whites and Nomellini or Randles, etc.
Cortez Kennedy, Sapp, etc.
Re: Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 7:49 pm
by NWebster
slats7 wrote:JohnTurney wrote:Teo wrote:What, no one has mentioned Alan Page? He was to Pro Football Reference the top player of the 70s.
after those four, then a gap, you can get into the Randy Whites and Nomellini or Randles, etc.
Cortez Kennedy, Sapp, etc.
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little when I read Sapp, he's not close to top 10 all time.
Honestly the whole exercise is too hard. DE I'd have trouble between White, Marchetti and Jones - w hu over you leave off is a snub. DT, Greene, Olson, Lilly and Page - whover you leave off is a snub. OLB Concrete Charlie, Ham, Brooks, etc, etc, etc.
I know the Mt Rushmore thing drives some nuts, but b picking 10 all time is just terribly difficult. You literally have to leave a position off.
I think Hein is an excellent pre 50 choice. In his absolute peak I might take Len Ford over any DE.
Just MLB is so ooo difficult. George, Schmidt, Huff, Butkus, Lanier, Lambert, Singltary, Lewis, how do you choose - I'd probably go Schmidt, but not without losing some sleep.
Re: Top 10 Defensive Players of All Time
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 10:58 pm
by conace21
In no particular order:
Reggie White
Deacon Jones
Gino Marchetti
Merlin Olsen
Bob Lilly
Dick Butkus
Lawrence Taylor
Jack Ham
Night Train Lane
Ronnie Lott