Rank The ILBs

In no particular order:

• L Kirkland
• L Timmons
• J Farrior
• J Lambert
• J Ham
• R Shazier
• E Holmes

I ask this because the role of the inside linebacker has changed dramatically. Other than Shazier I don't think any of the other Steeler greats could play in the modern game.




An ILB has to be able to cover or he isn't going to be on the field much. Look at how their role has changed with defensive scheme:

 

Lambert
Ham
Russell
kirkland
shazier
timmons
holmes
farrior

 

I would snuggle Farrior above Kirkland

 

i could see him above shazier but below kirkland.

 

And adding Russell

 

The team put Farrior in the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor

So we know their opinion

 

The rule changes over the years would not have favored the Steelers D. Their hands would have been tied up a lot if the 70's NFL had the rules of today's NFL. Beside that, with the way the almighty dollar has taken over sports the Steelers would have broke up after 1974- 75.

 

The best is yet to come. Maybe Peyton Wilson.

 

Peyton Wilson was by far the best linebacker in college football his last year there. His injury history scared teams away until the Steelers took a flyer on him at pick 98 overall. If Wilson stays healthy he would be a gigantic steal getting him that late. The icing on the cake is that we drafted him with the pick we got from the Eagles for Kenny Pickett.

 

Ham and Lambert could play in today's NFL. Lambert would simply need to add 10 more lbs as 225lbs would not cut it in todays NFL. Ham is fine. Timmons, Farrior and even Shazier could as well.

 

Outside of the rule change from 1977 (the Mel Blount Rule), I do not see any major rules changes since then that could detriment either Ham or Lambert. For that matter, both Ham and Lambert did just fine after the rules changes. Both are often in discussion as the greatest Cover LBs of all time. Joe Schimdt, Randy Gradishar and Derrick Brooks all also would fall into this category.



Overall, players like Ham and Lambert who are reputed to be among the best ever at their position will be able to play in any era; regardless of rules changes. Mel Blount, if anything, is an excellent example of a player who overcame a rule change that was intended to nullify his very existence. Mel made more Pro Bowls and had more All Pros after the rules changes; further emphasizing the point of how the greatest of players will always adapt.

 

The safety rules would been a challenge for this defense!

 

Fair point.

I was talking about the coverage based rules specifically.


That said, great defenses do adapt.

 

Not sure how many 4.3/4.4 40 guys Lambert and Ham played against. The speed of the game has changed a lot.

PFR ranks them as follows (AV):

1. Ham
2. Lambert
3. Farrior
4. Russell (thanks for the add)
5. Kirkland
6. Holmes
7. Timmons
8. Shazier (a victim of a short career)

Ham, Lambert, and Farrior fairly close. Then a big drop to Russell.

 

honorable mention:

toews
cole
hinkle
little
nickerson

 

Farrior could cover well, especially in a zone.

 

Fred Warner, Bobby Wagner and even RoQuan Smith don't go that fast either. Pretty sure both Ham and Lambert ran in the 4.5s themselves. Both did just fine; both being among the best ever coverage Linebackers.

 

I would put ham over lambert. Lambert was kind of the face of the defense and a household name, but imo ham was the better football player

 

According to AI lambert was 4.7

 

You can't trust those speeds back then anyway.
People were cheating the system. I believe it was USC got caught with a less than 40 , 40. LoL

 

none compare to

LT
BR
AL

al over looked by this steeler org

SHAME

 

Ham could've played in any defense.... he was the prototype when it came to any lbers in pass coverage...

Timmons, in his prime could easily assimilate

Kirkland could cover some rb's and more than a few te's despite his size

Farrior would transition rather seamlessly

Holmes would be a designated run stuffer on short yardage and goal line only

 

Not to me, Lambert may have been the best middle linebacker to ever played when you consider his pass defense and tackling ability. In one game seen him make 9 tackles in a row. Ham was also great bet he was an outside linebacker.