He's still great, just in a different system where he doesn't compile stats. That's half of Ray Lewis' greatness. For years their defense was designed to funnel everything to him, and allow him to make the play. Keep the blockers off of him, allow him to run, and make plays. He looked like a freak. They lost Goose, he was seeing more linemen, his play declined (imagine that) people said he was done. No, he was getting blocked by linemen instead of RB's. That's a lot of the goal of most NFL defenses, keep the linemen off of the LB"s, and allow them to make the plays. The goal of the offense it to get the linemen to the LB's, and keep them from making plays. Of course, it's much more complex than that, but blocking/not blocking LB's is a huge part of the game.
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Who is the NFL's Defensive player who (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Captain Spaulding
- Start date
redman
Footballguy
He's still good, but injuries have slowed him down IMHO.
Agreed. If we want to talk about under-the-radar, I'd go so far as to call Casey Hampton possibly the best defender on the Steelers. Of course, "under-the-radar" is traditionally synonymous with "3-4 nose tackle".
redman
Footballguy
Obviously I'm a 'Skins homer, but I'll defend this nomination. BTW, I'm not asserting that he's "the best player", a title which is extremely tough to award across different positions, schemes, teams, etc. First of all, he moves and runs like a CB and hits like a LB, and he does all of that at 6'3" and 230 lbs. There's no safety in football that covers ground from the middle of the field to the sideline on routes downfield like he does, and when he gets there he hits like a train. He also can deliver devastating hits coming upfield on run plays, or on quick hitches or crossing patterns. The ball seems to get separated from the ball carrier a lot when he hits. He's also a sure tackler - I can't at the moment remember a broken tackle involving him. His pass coverage skills are very good for a FS, and in fact if he played CB he'd be one of the better CB's in the game. People correctly point out that a downside to Taylor is the penalties he commits, and generally label him a thug. They'll also talk about him biting too readily on play action. This is all true. But these are essential attributes to him. Like it or not, he has to play mean or he's just not himself, and I think we'll all agree that he's the kind of player and persona that opposing players clearly account for when they take the field. The only time I've ever seen T.O. get up gimpy and wincing was when Taylor came in and hit him after a catch in 2004. He's also got WR's clearly not wanting to get hit when they're operating near him. When you're talking about Taylor, you're talking about the whole package, good and bad. For this conversation, though, I can tell you that the good by far outweighs the bad.No Sean Taylor love?
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Captain Spaulding
Footballguy
Here's another sick defensive player everyone is forgetting about (including myself earlier)...Dwight Freeney. His incredible defensive play last season has to put him on the current list.
Still think the Lions take Mike Williams over Ware and Merriman :X
Wadsworth
Footballguy
On turf, he's amazing. But he's average at best playing on grass. What about Mario Williams?
Sean Taylor? You mean this
?
