Best LB Of All-Time?

This should be an interesting debate. I can't figure out how to get a poll, so if someone wants to help me that'd be great. The choices are:

Lawrence Taylor
Jack Lambert
Mike Singletary
Ray Lewis
Derrick Thomas
twinky Butkus
Jack Ham

 

not really a debate......it's the true 'LT'....Lawrence Taylor

 

I'm going to go with the homer pick and say Derrick Thomas. If you look at all of the players you listed, they all had pretty good defenses around them at certain points in their careers. I believe DT did more damage on his own without the benefit of a championship D around him.

 

I thought LT straight away.

 

As soon as i saw the thread first guy that came to my mind was LT

 

Without a doubt...Lawrence Taylor.

 

Lawrence Taylor was a pure pass rusher. He lacked in other areas.

 

Lawerence Taylor was the most physically gifted linebacker there ever was and ever will be. So in my answer, Lawerence Taylor.

 

LT

Urlacher shouldn't be anywhere near that list.

 

Mike Singletary shouldn't be on this list either. He was the best at playing between the guards. However, a MLB is supposed to play between Tackles which he couldn't do and he had no chance at covering. He could play upfield and that was it. I assume you watched the NFL's greatest LB's and that is where you got this idea from.

Jack Ham is one of the greatest LB's of all time and he's not on this list. He may have been better than Lambert and overall, just as good as Taylor. Taylor was a better pure pass rusher than Ham, but Ham had all around talent in every facet of the game.

But as far as the list you have there goes, I would go with Taylor. Urlacher and Singletary don't even make the list...

 

Tommy Nobis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Any player chosen could be picked at and debated against and showed to a certain extent why he didn't deserve to be voted the best. It's all a matter of opinion. I always ask in these polls/questions what is the criteria? Was it the one who changed the game because the other team had to define a game plan around him? Was he a great sacker? A run stopper? An intimidator? A leader? All of the above? What's the criteria?

I'll give you my top 10.....

1) LT - Game planned totally around playing him
2) Jack Lambert - Run Stopper and intimidator/ team leader
3) twinky Butkus - Same attributes as Lambert
4) Ray Nitschke- Not even listed but teams were scared of him
5) Tommy Nobis- Most under-rated LB ever, did everything
6) Derrick Thomas- Cut short before his time....couldhave been the best.
7) Jack Ham- Did a little of everything and knew the game inside and out
8) Ray Lewis- The Best in his Era, Great hitter great range in his prime
9) Mike Singeltary- Great leader and great mind. Knew the game and played to utmost.
10) Sam Huff- Helped define the position.

As always it's an opinion but there are probably some others that I forgot or neglected. And I am sure there will be diagreements with this list.

 

Agreed. He gave defensive coordinators fits more than any of the other linebackers because of his versatility and lining up all over the place. Man I hated how dominant he was.

 

Nice list Dougerrrr! I really think Jack Ham should be higher, like you said, just my opinion, but you really had to see him play. He is extremely underrated because he played in the shadow of Lambert to an extent, but Ham was one of the greatest to play the game.

Nitschke was a bad ass, but so was Dave Robinson...another underrated LB that should be in the Hall of Fame.

 

If I had to rate them it would go like this:

1. Lawrence Taylor
2. Derrick Thomas
3. Ray Lewis
4. Jack Lambert
5. Mike Singletary
6. Jack Ham
7. twinky Butkus

 

How come Brian Bosworth's not on this list?:icon_eek:


Seriously though the best I have ever seen was L.T.......I hated the guy but man he scared the crap out of opposing offenses. Derrick Thomas was well on his way had his life not been cut short. I like Dougerrrs list alot.

 

Mike Mad Dog Curtis

 

The most feared LBs in that era, they redifine the position in the 60's. Of course Nitschke was the better one :icon_wink:

 

LT

 

Homer! :icon_rolleyes: Lewis is no where near Top 5. Taylor, Lambert, Ham, Nitschke, Butkus. In no order. Lewis may not even be Top 10.