In your opinion, is Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, right now, one of the five best middle linebackers in the National Football League? I say yes. Lewis, Patrick Willis, and DeMeco Ryans are the top three in my opinion, respectively, followed by Jon Beason and London Fletcher, respectively. What do you think?
I think London fletcher is even less of a top 5 ilb than Lewis..... you could go either way with Lewis 1. Willis 2. Ryans 3. Beason 4-5 is between Vilma, Harris, Lewis
Willis, Ryans, Beason, Harris, Ruud are all better than Lewis at this point imo. He's still good for that team though...
top 5 all time yes, top 5 current no **********Automerged Doublepost********** excluding dansby and mayo is just wrong
Nah, not at this stage of his career. But he brings leadership and a mentality of the game that helps make those around him better football players.
I can't think of any reason to say he isn't - he's just off a pro bowl season and with Cody & Ngata in front of him next season there's no reason to believe he won't have another big year. And then there are the intangibles...
He might be.....a top five 3-4 ILB! He doesn't even compare to some of the 4-3 guys though. 3-4 ILBs are asked to do a lot less than other linebackers which makes them look better than they actually are. Some of them (Harris, Willis, Mayo) could play MLB, but not Ray. He lacks the speed, agility and explosiveness at this stage of his career. So no, he is not a top 5 MLB. He might be a top 5 3-4 ILB though. (I don't think he is - Willis, Harris, Mayo, Dansby are all better)
When Suggs lines up as a DE - which is often - Ray is a 4-3 MLB, With Johnson and Ellerbe/Gooden/Ayanbadejo on the outside. Personally, I don't think it really matters. Every team, whether they are primarily a 3-4 or a 4-3, has several different formations. Putting positions aside, just watching them play and seeing the plays they make, I think he definitely is top-five. Obviously everyone's entitled to their opinion, but if you watch him play I think it's obvious. Fans only account for 1/3 of the votes.
Yeah and a guys name accounts for the other 2/3. **********Automerged Doublepost********** And no, he's not top-5. He's not far out, but he's not the HOF caliber player he has been in the past.
It was sarcasm. And no, he isn't. Too old, not as good as he once was. Not to say he's bad now, just there are others that are obviously better.
I say until he stops producing, then he has to be in the top 5. Go look at the tape, only willis was better against the run for any ILB period and that's at 35. honestly, it depends on the system, but in a 3-4 only Willis is better right now. I can't believe that I actually agree with RF52 on something.
david harris is a phenom against the run. farrior was once a top 5 34 MLB too....he and lewis both have lost several steps