DeMarcus Ware historically: Best post-LT 34 OLB?

Well, him and Thomas Davis.

People keep talking about JJ Watt, I'll take Waste any day. Great player.

Derrick Thomas was a stud an maybe a better rusher than Ware but much weaker in coverage and vs. the run.

I would have to say that Ware could be the best since LT. Nobody else is coming to mind.

numbers are crazy but boy did he decline quick. And it seemed whenever he played the giants he wasn't much of a factor.

is he disappears in big games. He reminds of a home run hitter who hits a meaningless home run with no one on base in a blow out.

probably top 10 D player since then as well.

Von Miller certainly has a chance to surpass Ware eventually though.

Although there was some overlap with LT.

Eli must have been very very very happy when Ware went to Denver..

.

I became a big fan of the Chiefs in the AFC because all I kept hearing was that Derrick Thomas was the next LT and so I bought his jersey. I also remember that there was a Sports Illustrated for Kids feature where he stood next to his car with the license plate "ISACQBS" which I thought was great at the time.

That said, I think it's either Ware or Thomas with a bright future for Von Miller and Khalil Mack.

In comment 12802043 Rjanyg said:

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Derrick Thomas was a stud an maybe a better rusher than Ware but much weaker in coverage and vs. the run. I would have to say that Ware could be the best since LT. Nobody else is coming to mind.

I think Ware is a more complete player than Thomas, he was much better at dropping back into coverage.

So for Thomas to get the edge, I think he'd need to be a clearly better pass rusher than Ware.

Thomas: 133 sacks -- 179 games (20.0 -- 14.5 -- 13.5 -- 3-best sack years)
Ware: 140 sacks -- 175 games (20.0 -- 19.5 -- 15.5 -- 3-best sack years)

DT was an amazing pass rusher. I might even call him the best pure finesse pass rusher ever. But I think Ware was stronger at the point and is clearly at the very least on the same tier as a pass rusher.

Never gets enough credit as well. I suspect because he played during the LT era.

thanks for pulling up those stats, but I'd be curious to see their sack percentages. I imagine that Ware had far more opportunities due to the shift to a passing league.

were pretty good.

In comment 12802266 PaulBlakeTSU said:

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thanks for pulling up those stats, but I'd be curious to see their sack percentages. I imagine that Ware had far more opportunities due to the shift to a passing league.

The sack rate in DT's time period was actually slightly higher than it is today. I assume it's because of the transition away from 7-step drops and to quicker/WCO oriented passing.

In comment 12802232 Bubba said:

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Andre Tippett Never gets enough credit as well. I suspect because he played during the LT era.

I've been looking at stuff about LT and other pass rushers recently, old articles and highlights etc. I think Andre Tippett is a guy who gets overlooked a ton. He was a powerhouse. Not as quick and nimble as LT but arguably stronger.

Rickey Jackson gets overlooked too.

Pat Swilling was on the same team as Ricky. Again a guy who sometimes gets overlooked. Swilling finished his career with 107.5 sacks. He was an NFL Defensive player of the year once I believe in 91 or 92.

...against David Diehl at left tackle over the years and tell me he's even in LT's league.

In comment 12802535 Racer said:

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...against David Diehl at left tackle over the years and tell me he's even in LT's league.

He had 14.5 sacks in 19 games against us. Is that supposed to be bad?

Like to see a comparison of LT and RT across the league from 1989 to 1999 and from Ware's tenure in the league.

Today's OL to me do not feature far too many elites or Hall of Fame caliber like you may see from that era.

LT
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everyone else