lambert or ham?

I was hanging out with some steelers fans and a guy was bashing Timmons. I personally like Timmons and think he is one of the best in the league. he is always in the right spot and makes tackles.
this guy said he was no lambert and that got us off on a whole new debate. first this guy wasn't even old enough to see a single snap lambert played. he is basing it on reputation alone I am sure. I didn't want to call him out on it cause he is intitled to his opinion.

so we decide to ask a few friends who maybe seen both to help us. he is not on the board but I told him about it. I personally think that ham was and is the best linebacker in steelers history. he didn't have lambert attitude and flash but again he was never in the wrong place and done everything he was ask.

let me also say I was a young pup when they played so older fans might be able to set me straight. I am just not gonna let a 20 something do it.lol

I also want to add that by the time he is done I think Timmons will be 3rd on that list.

any opinions are appreciated but this is not a debate on the best of all time. just between ham and lambert

 

Ham was always reliable but, because of his "mad dog" attitude, I'd give it to Lambert!

 

Wow. Good question. You can't go wrong with either and they complimented each other so well. But, I'd have to give the slight edge to Lambert. He set the tone on defense and was really the guy other teams dreaded playing the most. To look across the line and see Dracula snarling at you was pretty intimidating. I loved Ham as well and he was arguably the most intelligent linebacker to ever play the game. You could not outsmart the guy. With those two guys, the Steelers had the perfect combo at linebacker. Brains and brawn. Fury and finesse. They were the JackAttack!

 

I am so happy I was able to watch these guys play..and I refuse to choose...stop and think..these 2 guys, who were voted 2 of the 100 best players ( of all time ) played TOGETHER at the same time...We were spoiled.....

 

I'm going with Hambert

 

Jack Lambert said that Jack Ham was the best he ever seen at his position. That's a pretty dang good endorsement. Lambert is the "embodiment" though of a "Steeler" and that probably makes him seem even great than maybe he actually was. You really can't go wrong with either though. Lambert said on an NFL Films thing that I saw once that he saw Jack Ham put things on film that he didn't even think was humanly possible. Also your buddy is wrong about Timmons. He's a really solid player that's got a great work ethic and is well conditioned. He's really a pretty underrated player in my opinion.

 

I wouldn't think Timmons winds up third on the list though. I might give that to Harrison or Lloyd. Harrison is sort of a modern day Jack Lambert because he just wants to punish people. At least in his prime he was really feared. So was Lloyd. Although Timmons has longevity so you could be right. But I don't think that Timmons would have been as good as Harrison if Harrison would have enjoyed a longer prime. But maybe "as good" is the wrong way to put it and maybe I should say "as dominant". Harrison was almost unblockable in his prime. Dang I miss seeing him lay people out. I guess this is a little like what the old timers feel like about Ham and Lambert really.

 

I'm not so sure Andy Russell wouldn't be third on the list.

 

Oh yeah I forgot about Russell. He won a championship as well.

 

I put him 3rd now.

 

They were both great too hard of question, LLoyd
third, Harrison 4th Russel fifth.In all fairness to Andy he was along in the years when the Steelers became great. Still a helluva ball player.

 

I'm back and forth on Harrison and Lloyd.

 

Where would you guys put James Farrior?

Okay, here's my top 10 list:
1. Lambert
2. Ham
3. Harrison (The pick six in the Super Bowl gives him the edge over...
4. Russell
5. Lloyd
6. Farrior
7. Merriweather
8. Porter
9. Timmons
10. Green
Honorable mention:
Kirkland, Brown

 

Best FA signing in Steeler history.Right behind Russell.

 

Great list JacK Attack

 

I have been fortunate enough to have watched all of them play in person. In my opinion Lambert is at the top of the list with a significant gap to whoever you want to put in number 2. He could change a game, motivate a defense, intimidate the opponent and all of the other intangibles that made him great. He was second only to Joe Greene.

 

Same here, it appears that those of us that watched Lambert and Ham in person many times AGREE that Ham was good but Lambert was the best Steeler inside or outside linebacker ever. When was the last time anybody saw a linebacker make 9 or 10 tackles in a row. I know it was designed for him to make the tackles but that was still amazing to me.

 

Harrison has to get it because of the hardware is what I'd say. That makes a pretty good tiebreaker. Lloyd could still knock somebody's brains out though.

 

I like your list and respect your opinion. I loved Kirkland so I would have him on it. I like robin cole as well but probably wouldn't make it

 

Wow, you left off the leading sacker in team history:

Jason Gildon. I'd rank him ahead of the last two guys.

I saw all those guys play their whole careers- alll except Russell, whom I saw at the end. Kevin Greene was also great but only here for 3 seasons.

I'd pick Lambert simply because of the highly visible way he affected the game. However, if you go back and watch film of old Steelers games from the 1970s you realize just how great Ham was, in a more subtle way.

Lots of great linebackers over the years for this team, folks. Other honorable mentions for me are Loren Toews, Bryan Hinkle, and yes Lamarr Woodley.

 

Yeah when Woodley was healthy he was an absolute beast. I loved him.

 

Woah, you are correct, Jimmy. I inadvertently left Gildon off the list. I actually thought of him and thought I had included him but absolutely forgot. I'd probably throw him in there at number 10 and bump Greene down to honorable mention. I also like your honorable mentions as well. Toews was underrated and I also liked Hinkle. Hopefully in about 5 years we'll be trying to squeeze JJ and Shazier on the list.

 

Too fine of a line, I say 1a and 1b for Lambert and Ham, no way I can pick one over the other..... the true JackAttack