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Top 10 Defensive Players of all time

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by steelersrule6, May 23, 2023.

  1. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    I think they pretty much nailed it.
     
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  2. Steelersfan43

    Steelersfan43 Well-Known Member

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    Rod Woodson was better that Deion Sanders!
     
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  3. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Deon couldn’t tackle

    He doesn’t belong in the HOF let alone this list

    Lambert would not have been knocked on his ass by Ward
     
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  4. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Funny story about Butkus and Lambert

    At a HOF banquet party Butkus was standing by himself in one part of the room Lambert by himself in another

    Tom Landry was talking to a sports writer and said look at that middle line backers they don’t like anyone no one likes them they don’t even like each other
     
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  5. Jball

    Jball Well-Known Member

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    Don't know if I'd put Lambert in that list. I think Ham was better. I know it's blasphemy, but I think Ed Reed was better than Lott.
     
  6. Hanratty#5

    Hanratty#5 Well-Known Member

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    As an old school guy any top 10 ten defensive list has to have guys like Deacon Jones and Night Train Lane.
     
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  7. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    I believe He belongs in the HOF, but not higher on this list than Woodson. Also I believe it's hard to leave off My main Man ...Mel Blount.
     
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  8. Formerscribe

    Formerscribe Well-Known Member

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    Sanders absolutely belongs in the Hall of Fame, but among the top 10 defenders ever? No. Ahead of Mel Blount? Definitely no.
     
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  9. Formerscribe

    Formerscribe Well-Known Member

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    I agree with you regarding Ham over Lambert, but not Reed over Lott. Lott was every bit as good at safety, but he also had great seasons as a cornerback.
     
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  10. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    Deion was still the best cover CB in the history of the NFL.
     
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  11. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    Woodson was a better tackler, but he wasn't better in coverage than Sanders.
     
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  12. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    This.


    Those two are severe glaring omissions imo. Especially Night Train. Why he is continually disrespected is beyond me.
     
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  13. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    This is going to be severely controversial but does anyone find the omission of Aaron Donald unusual?! Again hear me out; four DPOYs to his credit and a Super Bowl Ring. I get he does not have the NFL MVP award a la Lawrence Taylor but leaving him off the list man... not too sure I agree about that.
     
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  14. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    For me, Ed Reed is the greatest Free Safety in NFL History. Dude was the complete package and a PITA to play against.
     
  15. JAD

    JAD Well-Known Member

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    for me, Blunt should be on the list, and yes Lambert and Butkus were the best linebackers
     
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  16. Hanratty#5

    Hanratty#5 Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, Mel Blount isn't on the list but Deion Sanders is the 4th best defensive player of all time? lol
     
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  17. Steelresolve

    Steelresolve Well-Known Member

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    Here is my list:

    1. Lawrence Taylor
    2. Reggie White
    3. Joe Greene
    4. Dick Butkus
    5. Ray Lewis
    6. Ronnie Lott
    7. Mel Blount
    8. Deion Sanders
    9. Bruce Smith
    10. Aaron Donald

    Those guys transformed the game at their position in the era they played in. I believe Woodson was a better all around player than Sanders but Sanders coverage ability transitioned the way the position was played at the time. Lambert and Woodson would be top twenty but did they transform the position relative to the other players on the list? I did not put Deacon Jones on the list because I just don’t know enough about him.
     
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  18. Hanratty#5

    Hanratty#5 Well-Known Member

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    Deacon Jones had 6 straight seasons with over 15 sacks. 3 of them with at least 21.5 sacks.
     
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  19. Vox Ferrum

    Vox Ferrum Well-Known Member

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    Can't argue with the list, or reasoning. I do like that you said transformed the game in its era. because of what AQL said, and the fact a one minute short popped up on my YT shortly after I read it I have to give Night Train Layne a 10 B. He played one year of JC football, went into the Army, then undrafted tried out for the Rams. Still 4th place alll time in Int's in an era the ball was not thrown near as much, 7x all pro, 3x 2nd team all pro. That is a monster career.
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2023
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  20. SteelersFan369

    SteelersFan369 Well-Known Member

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    I believe the Chiefs Derrick Thomas and the Chargers Junior Seau were two of the most dominant linebackers of the 1990s. Bears Brian Urlacher was also dominant. Just too many good players for me to fit all in a top 10 list.
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2023
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  21. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    Did someone go back , and re-watch all His games??? I thought they didn't count sack until the end of His career. I Legitimately want to know.
     
  22. Vox Ferrum

    Vox Ferrum Well-Known Member

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    I doubt the tape/film exists for all the games, it might somewhere but it was more of an after thought. There might have been reels of film for scouting and hightlight shows, but unless preserved that stuff degrades over time. That's why it's really difficult to put records in perspective. No actual records were kept, possible reports or notes from interested parties in an organization, but really no way to verify. I have no doubt he could have had that many, but proving it could be an issue. However proving Deacon had a 2nd career in ballet is possible.
     
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  23. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    Someone got Him good. LoL
     
  24. Hanratty#5

    Hanratty#5 Well-Known Member

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    Pro Football Weekly went back through old film and game logs and their findings were verified by Pro Football Reference.com. They did this for all of the pre-Superbowl players.
     
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  25. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Deon couldn’t tackle he doesn’t even belong in the HOF

    Lambert is one of the top ever
     
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