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Best linebacking corps ever?

Moondawg : 7/15/2016 11:56 am
Just watched SB 21 against Denver. What a linebacking core

OLB: Taylor
ILB: Carson
ILB: Reasons
OLB: Banks

With Pepper Johnson coming in off the bench.

Banks was inhuman that game. Madden was awestruck at how good he was.

What historical linebacking corps stack up. And can any historians like truebluelarry give us some perspective on the older groups?
Saints and Bears  
Jimmy Googs : 7/15/2016 12:00 pm : link
had great ones too in the 80s.

Steelers in 70s were awesome too.
How bout sharper Lewis boulware?  
Tuckrule : 7/15/2016 12:10 pm : link
..
The 86' Bench had Pepper Johnson  
x meadowlander : 7/15/2016 12:10 pm : link
Andy Headen and Byron Hunt riding the bench.

I'd take those 3 over our current starters all day long.

Incredible.
Many were 4-3s, but aside from ours:  
Big Blue '56 : 7/15/2016 12:11 pm : link
Nitschke, Robinson, Caffey production-wise, were the best I've seen in a 4-3. Yes, a lot can be said for anyone flanking Butkus, Lambert, Hamm, Russell, Singletary, Marshall and Wilson,..Many more..I'm just biased with the Pack set of LBs

Steelers also  
Anakim : 7/15/2016 12:12 pm : link
Jack Lambert AND Jack Ham? Wow



Ravens in 2000 had a hell of a corps as we know. Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware and Jamie Sharper.
RE: Many were 4-3s, but aside from ours:  
Anakim : 7/15/2016 12:13 pm : link
In comment 13033833 Big Blue '56 said:
Quote:
Nitschke, Robinson, Caffey production-wise, were the best I've seen in a 4-3. Yes, a lot can be said for anyone flanking Butkus, Lambert, Hamm, Russell, Singletary, Marshall and Wilson,..Many more..I'm just biased with the Pack set of LBs


The early Chiefs as well. Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier
Chiefs trio of Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell, and Jim Lynch  
BlueLou : 7/15/2016 12:14 pm : link
was surely a top 5 crew.

I have linked a good list which has the Saints' 1st, Steelers' 2nd, Giants' 3rd, Chiefs' 4th, and Bears' 5th.

I don't think either the Saints' or Giants' units had the benefit of the DLs lining up in front of them that the Steelers, Chiefs, and Bears had.
10 greatest LB units ever - ( New Window )
2000 Ravens  
Rory : 7/15/2016 12:15 pm : link
Wild man Ray lewis , peter boulware , jamie sharper.

Everyone remembers Joe Mean Green,  
BlueLou : 7/15/2016 12:17 pm : link
but the Chief's Buck Buchanan might well have been better.
I honestly don't see how anyone can seriously rank...  
x meadowlander : 7/15/2016 12:18 pm : link
...above the 86 Giants.

LT/Banks. Period. OK, throw in a Pro-Bowl MLB and another excellent MLB for good measure.

Don't get me wrong - these are great, great LB corps being mentioned here.

But LT was the best of all-time and not by a little bit. And for stretches of 86', Banks was playing at a higher level than LT.

I don't care about numbers. I saw what I saw - saw all those great units, saw the dominant Lambert and Ham and Ray Lewis and all the rest discussed here. Nobody was the insane runaway train LT was.
Carlos Emmons, Kevin Lewis, Barrett Green  
Vin R : 7/15/2016 12:19 pm : link
/thread
Not the best ever  
UberAlias : 7/15/2016 12:21 pm : link
But the Dome Patrol was pretty good.
RE: Carlos Emmons, Kevin Lewis, Barrett Green  
Moondawg : 7/15/2016 12:24 pm : link
In comment 13033851 Vin R said:
Quote:
/thread


I'm going to kick you in the nuts if I see you.
I was thinking about this group the other day also.  
TC : 7/15/2016 12:32 pm : link
If they weren't the best, they were as good as any, because I can't think of any group more talented either individually, or collectively, or that were more effective.

But that was part of broader thoughts about how Giant's defenses of this era dominated, beat up offenses and set the tone. And it wasn't only the LB's, Marshall, Burt and George Martin were also terrific.

And what I was thinking was how things have changed for the Giants defense ever since. Maybe this year they'll start to get back some of that swagger. I like a lot of the moves they made, and feel there's reason to hope that the 2016 Giants D will be better that they have been.
RE: RE: Carlos Emmons, Kevin Lewis, Barrett Green  
Vin R : 7/15/2016 12:33 pm : link
In comment 13033861 Moondawg said:
Quote:
In comment 13033851 Vin R said:


Quote:


/thread



I'm going to kick you in the nuts if I see you.


Brought back some memories, aye?
I'd agree that all other choices are vying for 2nd place  
mfsd : 7/15/2016 12:39 pm : link
behind the 86 Giants

As for SB 21, that goal line stand late first half was just awesome. LT with a stuff, Banks with a stuff, Carson with a stuff, and Karlis misses the chip shot field goal.
Dome Patrol was the best ever IMO  
JerseyCityJoe : 7/15/2016 12:52 pm : link
Jesus those guys were incredible.
Kelly / Carson / Van Pelt  
Beer Man : 7/15/2016 1:04 pm : link
made a good unit as well. They were not the best, but they were very good.
corps  
I Love Clams Casino : 7/15/2016 1:14 pm : link
not core....2 completely different words
That Giants Defense  
x meadowlander : 7/15/2016 1:28 pm : link
Good enough to cut Mark Haynes and Brad Van Pelt loose, and STILL dominate.
RE: The 86' Bench had Pepper Johnson  
section125 : 7/15/2016 1:34 pm : link
In comment 13033831 x meadowlander said:
Quote:
Andy Headen and Byron Hunt riding the bench.

I'd take those 3 over our current starters all day long.

Incredible.


ding-ding-ding-ding. we have a winner. Headen and Hunt could fly at 240+
The Saints LBs  
section125 : 7/15/2016 1:36 pm : link
from the same 1986 era.
To think out backups would make the current starters  
LauderdaleMatty : 7/15/2016 1:42 pm : link
Cuts on the current roster. Reese doesn't have to think LB is the biggest priority but damn has he and his staff been just about the worst in the NFL at identifying draftable talent that seriously contributes
I'm partial, but I'll take the Giants  
Mike in Long Beach : 7/15/2016 1:45 pm : link
Two out of 3 HOFers, including possibly the best overall player of all time.

and Banks was no slouch himself as a two-time Pro Bowl.

It's gotta be us, IMO.
RE: To think out backups would make the current starters  
x meadowlander : 7/15/2016 1:54 pm : link
In comment 13033989 LauderdaleMatty said:
Quote:
Cuts on the current roster. Reese doesn't have to think LB is the biggest priority but damn has he and his staff been just about the worst in the NFL at identifying draftable talent that seriously contributes
Well, it's a matter of focus.

Really, Simms era Giants and Manning era Giants - polarized priorities in regards to personnel acquisition at WR and LB.

The Giants don't currently possess LT and Banks because they didn't draft LB's of that caliber from the spots those 2 were chosen at.

And Simms didn't have Beckham, Hakeem Nicks or Plax to throw to because Parcells didn't care that much about WR.
Add the bench strength to the 1986 starters...  
njm : 7/15/2016 1:55 pm : link
and you've got the best corps ever. Some may match up with the starters, but they didn't have the bench.
the Dome Patrol was great  
Greg from LI : 7/15/2016 1:57 pm : link
But I rank the Giants ahead of them every single time because of LT. Great as Rickey Jackson was, the gap between him and LT was pretty wide, wide enough to outweigh, say, Vaughn Johnson over Gary Reasons.
RE: the Dome Patrol was great  
LauderdaleMatty : 7/15/2016 2:17 pm : link
In comment 13034009 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
But I rank the Giants ahead of them every single time because of LT. Great as Rickey Jackson was, the gap between him and LT was pretty wide, wide enough to outweigh, say, Vaughn Johnson over Gary Reasons.


Carson and LT HOF. LT Best LB ever. Banks was a stud all pro level player most of his career. No one sane would take those Saints LBs over the Giants. One of the best ever sure. Better than 86. Nope
RE: corps  
Moondawg : 7/15/2016 2:24 pm : link
In comment 13033931 I Love Clams Casino said:
Quote:
not core....2 completely different words


I know. I made 3 mistakes by my count but it's too late.
Niners until a couple years ago  
cheddarplax : 7/15/2016 2:37 pm : link
the Willis, Bowman, Brooks combo was stacked
RE: Everyone remembers Joe Mean Green,  
Boy Cord : 7/15/2016 2:47 pm : link
In comment 13033847 BlueLou said:
Quote:
but the Chief's Buck Buchanan might well have been better.


Ah, yes. Joe Mean Green. I will never forget him. That name just rolls off of the tongue: Joe Mean Green.
If it doesn t have L T in it  
joeinpa : 7/15/2016 4:34 pm : link
It can t be the best LB UNIT ever
RE: Kelly / Carson / Van Pelt  
Spider 67 : 7/15/2016 4:54 pm : link
In comment 13033910 Beer Man said:
Quote:
made a good unit as well. They were not the best, but they were very good.
Throw in LT & you got my favorite set and arguably as good or better than with Banks & Reasons. The Crunch Bunch. Didn't have any kind of offense to keep them off the field except maybe one year with Carpenter.
Are the Giants  
XBRONX : 7/15/2016 5:13 pm : link
the only team in the NFL today who dont know who, at least one starter at LB is?
RE: Dome Patrol was the best ever IMO  
seanr : 7/15/2016 7:26 pm : link
In comment 13033897 JerseyCityJoe said:
Quote:
Jesus those guys were incredible.


Really?
not the best  
bc4life : 7/16/2016 3:01 pm : link
but Seattle had a pretty good crew years ago - Fred Young, Boz,
1986 Giiants #1 for 3-4 defense  
SGMen : 7/16/2016 4:39 pm : link
I mean, Taylor was the greatest ever. Banks was under-rated. Carson stopped the run better than any ILB. Reasons was superb. No holes plus depth galore.
Bills Suoer Bowl teams  
chopperhatch : 7/17/2016 2:41 am : link
Had some good players. Darryl Talley, Cornelius Bennett and Shane Conlan were pretty good. 90s Steelers had Levon Kirkland, Greg Lloyd, Jason Gildon and Kevin Greene for one year of I remember right. And Chad Brown was backing up Lloyd.

I thi,k that unit is one of the best ever. The Ravens LBs were helped by those two massive DRs in Siragusa and Adams.
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