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Is Brian Urlacher a HOFer? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Chase Stuart
- Start date
and a great idea!
johnnyboy8102
Footballguy
Correct me if I have miscounted but it looks like the totals are:
Yes- 4
No- 21
Yes- 4
No- 21
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johnnyboy8102
Footballguy
Does anyone else want to comment on this? I find it interesting that it is so one sided.
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Stillers Jr.
Footballguy
johnnyboy8102
Footballguy
So the updated tally is:
Yes-5
No-23
Yes-5
No-23
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Put me down for yes. (Put me down for Richard Dent getting in too)
The overrated tag was slapped on him early... but to me the guy is almost underrated.
The Bears are terrible when Urlacher is out... the difference is night and day. I've watched every game of the guys career and sure he can get moved off the spot, and sure he has some trouble shedding bigger FBs, but his impact on the game overall is drastic. In 2004 the Bears were 5-4 with Brian Urlacher and 0-7 without him, and I think that's indicative of his value.
I certainly haven't seen a better MLB in coverage than Brian Urlacher.... maybe if the Bears had stuck with two heavy set DTs and let Urlacher roam around the line of scrimmage more rather than playing the cover 2 and dropping him back so much people would have a greater appreciation for him.
The overrated tag was slapped on him early... but to me the guy is almost underrated.
The Bears are terrible when Urlacher is out... the difference is night and day. I've watched every game of the guys career and sure he can get moved off the spot, and sure he has some trouble shedding bigger FBs, but his impact on the game overall is drastic. In 2004 the Bears were 5-4 with Brian Urlacher and 0-7 without him, and I think that's indicative of his value.
I certainly haven't seen a better MLB in coverage than Brian Urlacher.... maybe if the Bears had stuck with two heavy set DTs and let Urlacher roam around the line of scrimmage more rather than playing the cover 2 and dropping him back so much people would have a greater appreciation for him.
Walter34
Footballguy
As a Bears fan, I would say no. He needs 2 or 3 more all pro years and possibly a ring to get in the mix. He had a great start to his career over the first 5 or 6 years, but has declined with injuries and sub par years since.
Ray Lewis will likely be a 1st ballot HOFer. When you think of Ray it is long term high level pro bowl play, great leadership and a few signature moments like leading the ravens to the title in 2000 or some long playoff runs where he was the key driver. We dont have that yet with Urlacher.
While he is the cornerstone of the Bears D, he is no singletary or Butkus yet.
Ray Lewis will likely be a 1st ballot HOFer. When you think of Ray it is long term high level pro bowl play, great leadership and a few signature moments like leading the ravens to the title in 2000 or some long playoff runs where he was the key driver. We dont have that yet with Urlacher.
While he is the cornerstone of the Bears D, he is no singletary or Butkus yet.
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johnnyboy8102
Footballguy
Updated Totals
Yes-6
No-25
Interesting thing to add:
*Sean Lahman's book, The Pro Football Historical Abstract, ranked the top 50 linebackers of all time. All though the order of the rankings are up for debate, he did use statistical data in determining the rankings and Urlacher was not ranked among the top 50. The list was compiled after the 2007 season. Since that season, Urlacher had an awful 2008 (-4.7 Overall according to Pro football focus including a -11.7 against the run) and played just one game in 2009. So he has hardly helped his resume.
Yes-6
No-25
Interesting thing to add:
*Sean Lahman's book, The Pro Football Historical Abstract, ranked the top 50 linebackers of all time. All though the order of the rankings are up for debate, he did use statistical data in determining the rankings and Urlacher was not ranked among the top 50. The list was compiled after the 2007 season. Since that season, Urlacher had an awful 2008 (-4.7 Overall according to Pro football focus including a -11.7 against the run) and played just one game in 2009. So he has hardly helped his resume.
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Statcruncher
Footballguy
johnnyboy8102
Footballguy
This seems to have been well debated and it seems like the overwhelming opinion is no.
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Hipple Long Ware & Peete
Footballguy
yes.
ETA shocked at the votes so far. This guy has been the most dominant LB (shared with Lewis) for the better part of a decade. he's in. Plus, the mostly white voting pool of sports writers has had a man crush on him for a while. I would be shocked if he didn't get in, and wouldn't even be surprised at a first ballot nod.
ETA shocked at the votes so far. This guy has been the most dominant LB (shared with Lewis) for the better part of a decade. he's in. Plus, the mostly white voting pool of sports writers has had a man crush on him for a while. I would be shocked if he didn't get in, and wouldn't even be surprised at a first ballot nod.
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Hipple Long Ware & Peete
Footballguy
Zach Thomas is ahead of him? MOP put the miami pipe down.And fwiw Seau and Lewis will easily be HOF's and most likely 1st ballot HOF's.But Zach freaking thomas? Good player, yes. HOF Not a chance.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
My gut reaction to this question was, "Of course not." But then again I had forgotten he was a 4-time All Pro, that shocked me. To my mind, Urlacher has for most of his career been considered an overrated player, even frequently being at or near the top of those types of lists when magazines like the Sporting News would ask other players anonymously.
But as Chase points out, history has a way of forgetting when hardware was the result of hype or not. So I can't see Urlacher getting a serious look anytime soon upon his eligibility, but I could see a case building for him.
I know it's an unpopular viewpoint, but I've always maintained that Derrick Thomas was overhyped and he got in. I see them similarly in that a lot of layman view both as "impact" defensive stars, whereas a lot of diehards thought they were quite good at times, but rarely dominant all around players.
But as Chase points out, history has a way of forgetting when hardware was the result of hype or not. So I can't see Urlacher getting a serious look anytime soon upon his eligibility, but I could see a case building for him.
I know it's an unpopular viewpoint, but I've always maintained that Derrick Thomas was overhyped and he got in. I see them similarly in that a lot of layman view both as "impact" defensive stars, whereas a lot of diehards thought they were quite good at times, but rarely dominant all around players.
Tau837
Footballguy
Zach Thomas has 5 1st team All Pro selections to Urlacher's 4 and 7 Pro Bowls to Urlacher's 6. They are not perfect metrics, but you can't just dismiss them.
Tau837
Footballguy
at first ballot nod. He's much more likely to go the Harry Carson route if he gets in at all.
whitem0nkey
Footballguy
I say no if he retired today.
the timing of the question will skew more no's since he is coming of his 2 worst years, last year did not play and his 2008 years was probably his worst.
will he be in some day? possibly.
I think he can still play his way into the HOF. he is close to it and I want to see how he does the rest of his career.
the timing of the question will skew more no's since he is coming of his 2 worst years, last year did not play and his 2008 years was probably his worst.
will he be in some day? possibly.
I think he can still play his way into the HOF. he is close to it and I want to see how he does the rest of his career.
johnnyboy8102
Footballguy
Yes- 8
No- 25
And lets avoid a Lewis/Urlacher debate in this thread because Lewis blows him out of the water. It isn't worth getting into and is a waste of time.
No- 25
And lets avoid a Lewis/Urlacher debate in this thread because Lewis blows him out of the water. It isn't worth getting into and is a waste of time.
Uh oh, you just made Derrick Brooks very angry.Urlacher is clearly, clearly behind Lewis, Brooks, and Seau. By the time he retires and sits out for 5 years, I imagine he'll also be clearly behind Demarcus Ware (4 pro bowls and 3 first team AP All Pros in his first 5 seasons- that's a better start than Urlacher himself had) and Patrick Willis (3 pro bowls and 2 first team AP All Pros in 3 seasons, which matches Urlacher's fast start). Say what you want about Zach Thomas, but he's got the hardware to put himself on Urlacher's level, too. I think Al Wilson, Julian Peterson, and Shawn Merriman were all as dominant as Urlacher, although obviously injuries wrecked any chance they might have had at the Hall. Outside of his first three seasons, Urlacher's not a guy who really stood above the pack of very, very good LBs in the league at the time.Is Urlacher deserving of the Hall of Fame? Not as things currently stand.Will he get in? Possibly, although I think that there's a backlog of more deserving players so it'll take a while.
jackdubl
Footballguy
Derrick Thomas had those glamour stats, though.
johnnyboy8102
Footballguy
Great points about players above Urlacher. I would also like to point out other retired players who should get in ahead of Urlacher:*Chris Hanburger*Maxie Baughan *Chuck Howley*Randy Gradishar *Larry Grantham Throw in the recently retired players (Zach Thomas, Derrick Brooks, Seau) and players such as Ware and Willis with impressive resumes and the LB picture looks very crowded. How about guys like Kevin Greene, Hardy Nickerson, Bill Bergy, Joe Fortunato, Andy Russell, and Karl Mecklenburg?
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johnnyboy8102
Footballguy
By what metric, stat, accomplishment, etc could anyone possibly think Urlacher has shared being the most dominant with Ray Lewis in the 2000s decade?
Accolades, personal statistics, team accomplishments, awards, and longevity all CLEARLY favor Lewis.
Also, look at this list of Linebackers who have stated that they idolized Lewis or have reached out to him for advice:
*Lofa Tatupu
*DeMeco Ryans
*Patrick Willis
*Kirk Morrison
*Jon Beason
*Jon Vilma
*Shawne Merriman
*Lance Briggs (Urlacher's own teammate)
How exactly has Urlacher shared anything with Lewis?
Accolades, personal statistics, team accomplishments, awards, and longevity all CLEARLY favor Lewis.
Also, look at this list of Linebackers who have stated that they idolized Lewis or have reached out to him for advice:
*Lofa Tatupu
*DeMeco Ryans
*Patrick Willis
*Kirk Morrison
*Jon Beason
*Jon Vilma
*Shawne Merriman
*Lance Briggs (Urlacher's own teammate)
How exactly has Urlacher shared anything with Lewis?
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You only mentioned Randy Gradishar twice.
Mecklenburg is actually an interesting comparison for Urlacher, stat-wise. Both have 6 pro bowls, and Meck has 3 1APs to Urlacher's 4 (plus one 2AP to Urlacher's 0). Urlacher has the DPoY and DRoY. Meck has double the sacks, double the forced fumbles, and 300 more tackles. Urlacher has 114 AV to Meck's 112. Mecklenburg has 3 SB appearances to Urlacher's 1. I'd say that their resumes are very, very comparable... and nobody really thinks that Mecklenburg is a Hall of Famer. I definitely think that the way history regards Mecklenburg does reflect negatively on Urlacher's chances.
johnnyboy8102
Footballguy
Whoops! My anger of the lack of support for Gradishar must have got to me!You only mentioned Randy Gradishar twice.Mecklenburg is actually an interesting comparison for Urlacher, stat-wise. Both have 6 pro bowls, and Meck has 3 1APs to Urlacher's 4 (plus one 2AP to Urlacher's 0). Urlacher has the DPoY and DRoY. Meck has double the sacks, double the forced fumbles, and 300 more tackles. Urlacher has 114 AV to Meck's 112. Mecklenburg has 3 SB appearances to Urlacher's 1. I'd say that their resumes are very, very comparable... and nobody really thinks that Mecklenburg is a Hall of Famer. I definitely think that the way history regards Mecklenburg does reflect negatively on Urlacher's chances.
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Must have. He deserved 3 mentions at the very least.
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