on most plays, the play by play announcer on TV would actually call out (more than half of the time) where LT was lining up. LT on the right.. or LT on the left.
Has there been any other defensive player who has received that much attention like that.
I wasn't fortunate enough to watch the LT era and I don't know much about football before his time. It's clear from the video that he was a rocket made out of muscle and fueled by a mix of passion, intensity, testosterone, and cocaine.
Please help me understand LT, my older fellow NYG fans.
1. What was the most common defensive scheme prior to LT? He has often been cited as changing the NFL game. Apparently LB's just lined up and reacted prior to LT?
2. What was the ideal outside LB prior to LT?
3. Did LT single-handedly dominate and innovate, or did quality coaching and changing the defensive scheme also significantly assist him? In other words, did the game change with and for him, or did he change the game and just make the coaches look good?
4. What other qualities did he have besides rushing the passer as a LB? Was he also good at stopping the run? Did LB'ers cover TE's and RB's in pass coverage back then, and if so, did he do that well too?
5. Did he help define the mold of a pass-rushing DE, or was that type of player already established and he just happened to be so effective from the edge as a LB?
6. Did LT ever attempt and/or excel in rushing through OL gaps? Did they call LB run blitz's?
Any other insights would be awesome. I'm trying to understand the legend, and I don't doubt it at all, I just want to help celebrate it. Thank you!
would go out there and play hurt the way LT did. As I recall he played a few games wearing a sling to keep his shoulder in place. He was excellent against the run as well as in coverage but he was so dominant rushing the QB that's what he was asked to do. He had that thanksgiving interception against Detroit which he ran in for a pick 6 against Detroit. YOu are right Summerall and Madden would tell you where he lined up in the beginning he would try to be blocked by TEs and RBs and when that didn't work they would put a OL on him. He was one of a kind.
His passion, will, and play sums it all up.. The GOAT. link - ( New Window )
That's a great tape. The common wisdom is that LT was the best ever on D and Jim Brown on O, but if I had one pick to start a team for the ages it would be LT. We're lucky to have been Giants fans during that time.
when someone says LT no one outside of San Diego thinks Â
I wasn't fortunate enough to watch the LT era and I don't know much about football before his time. It's clear from the video that he was a rocket made out of muscle and fueled by a mix of passion, intensity, testosterone, and cocaine.
Please help me understand LT, my older fellow NYG fans.
1. What was the most common defensive scheme prior to LT? He has often been cited as changing the NFL game. Apparently LB's just lined up and reacted prior to LT?
2. What was the ideal outside LB prior to LT?
3. Did LT single-handedly dominate and innovate, or did quality coaching and changing the defensive scheme also significantly assist him? In other words, did the game change with and for him, or did he change the game and just make the coaches look good?
4. What other qualities did he have besides rushing the passer as a LB? Was he also good at stopping the run? Did LB'ers cover TE's and RB's in pass coverage back then, and if so, did he do that well too?
5. Did he help define the mold of a pass-rushing DE, or was that type of player already established and he just happened to be so effective from the edge as a LB?
6. Did LT ever attempt and/or excel in rushing through OL gaps? Did they call LB run blitz's?
Any other insights would be awesome. I'm trying to understand the legend, and I don't doubt it at all, I just want to help celebrate it. Thank you!
I'm not going to answer point by point but what you need to know is
1. He changed the game because there was never another player with his combination of speed and power (and probably ferocity too). He just couldn't be blocked by any single person so coached had to design blocking schemes to adjust to him (keeping a TE close to the line to either stay in or at the very least chip him. Sam with RBs).
2. Watch some of the clips on youtube. He was so dominant that QBs were scared to death and it effected their play.
3. He was excellent against the run. Find the clip of him on youtube running down George Rogers from literally the other side of the field and tackling him for a loss. Astounding athleticism.
4. He was rarely used on the inside because that would negate one of his best assets, speed.
5. There are plenty of fantastic defensive players since he but he was simply playing at a whole other level. Amazing.
"Not sure why they call Jerry Rice the GOAT - why because he was on Offense? . Rice wasn't even the greatest player of his era. I can't help imagining what Lawrence Taylor would have done if he came to the stadium sober ... or not hung over 20 - 30% of the time?"
You can see it in the highlight vids - particularly his first few seasons, he was simply much faster and stronger than any individual he went up against. Teams literally were forced to gameplan around him - rarely ever seen against a defensive player.
1. What was the most common defensive scheme prior to LT? He has often been cited as changing the NFL game. Apparently LB's just lined up and reacted prior to LT?
==> Straight-up 4-3 defenses were the most common. There were variants, like Dallas' flex, but for the most part, defenders played their defined role. Giant coaching was brilliant in letting LT roam from the WLB spot. Teams didn't have an answer for him, didn't know what he was going to do on any given play, and even when it was obvious he was coming, they'd double-team, roll away - to no avail.
2. What was the ideal outside LB prior to LT?
===> BRAD VAN PELT. :D
3. Did LT single-handedly dominate and innovate, or did quality coaching and changing the defensive scheme also significantly assist him? In other words, did the game change with and for him, or did he change the game and just make the coaches look good?
===> Both. If they forced him to play a traditional LB role, rarely blitzing - or a DE role, where he couldn't roam, it would have constrained him. It was far more about the player than the scheme though.
4. What other qualities did he have besides rushing the passer as a LB? Was he also good at stopping the run? Did LB'ers cover TE's and RB's in pass coverage back then, and if so, did he do that well too?
===> He was the best linebacker I ever saw in every category. He could chase down the leagues fastest backs, was great in coverage, was ALWAYS causing turnovers, always around the ball. He was a fucking nightmare.
during a game - kind of disappear for a few plays, even an entire drive or two. It seemed that whenever we needed a big play though he was right there, making it happen.
Then there was most of the time - he was just disrupting every offensive play. The thing is that there really weren't any blockers who could neutralize him. He was fast, often seeming to move at another speed compared to the offensive guys around him and even compared to the other Giants defenders. But he mostly didn't try to beat OT's with speed - he would explode into them, rock them back on their heels, have his way with them either inside or outside.
Seriously, when he was on he was not something that could be controlled. Reminds me of trying to get a wild cat into a travel case, almost all the time the wild cat gets away from you and runs off where ever. Even if you get lucky and keep him contained you're not going to win any style points - and you'll be hurting.
I'm convinced that while he was strong (and he wasn't the strongest) and he was fast (he wasn't the fastest) that he was the most determined and that OL to that point had no experience trying to contain someone like him. Even if another player of his caliber could be found, I don't think he'd be able to have the same impact. OT's are much, much better athletes today than they used to be, but more importantly they've developed strategies and counter-moves so they are prepared to fight the wild cat.
during a game - kind of disappear for a few plays, even an entire drive or two. It seemed that whenever we needed a big play though he was right there, making it happen.
Then there was most of the time - he was just disrupting every offensive play. The thing is that there really weren't any blockers who could neutralize him. He was fast, often seeming to move at another speed compared to the offensive guys around him and even compared to the other Giants defenders. But he mostly didn't try to beat OT's with speed - he would explode into them, rock them back on their heels, have his way with them either inside or outside.
Seriously, when he was on he was not something that could be controlled. Reminds me of trying to get a wild cat into a travel case, almost all the time the wild cat gets away from you and runs off where ever. Even if you get lucky and keep him contained you're not going to win any style points - and you'll be hurting.
I'm convinced that while he was strong (and he wasn't the strongest) and he was fast (he wasn't the fastest) that he was the most determined and that OL to that point had no experience trying to contain someone like him. Even if another player of his caliber could be found, I don't think he'd be able to have the same impact. OT's are much, much better athletes today than they used to be, but more importantly they've developed strategies and counter-moves so they are prepared to fight the wild cat.
He was also the smartest, something he rarely get credit for. He knew the D inside and out, new the opponent backwards and forwards.
LT played at the perfect time for him because if you try to count the number of plays he makes in that video and how many would be penalties in today's NFL, it would be a lot.
LT played at the perfect time for him because if you try to count the number of plays he makes in that video and how many would be penalties in today's NFL, it would be a lot.
He would do just fine today, the only problem would be how much money teams would be willing to pay him given his extra curricular activities.
That's what you thought when you saw this rookie linebacker make plays all over the field in 1981. It was like, you never saw a guy make play after play after play in a game, like he did from that position....
I wasn't fortunate enough to watch the LT era and I don't know much about football before his time. It's clear from the video that he was a rocket made out of muscle and fueled by a mix of passion, intensity, testosterone, and cocaine.
Please help me understand LT, my older fellow NYG fans.
1. What was the most common defensive scheme prior to LT? He has often been cited as changing the NFL game. Apparently LB's just lined up and reacted prior to LT?
2. What was the ideal outside LB prior to LT?
3. Did LT single-handedly dominate and innovate, or did quality coaching and changing the defensive scheme also significantly assist him? In other words, did the game change with and for him, or did he change the game and just make the coaches look good?
4. What other qualities did he have besides rushing the passer as a LB? Was he also good at stopping the run? Did LB'ers cover TE's and RB's in pass coverage back then, and if so, did he do that well too?
5. Did he help define the mold of a pass-rushing DE, or was that type of player already established and he just happened to be so effective from the edge as a LB?
6. Did LT ever attempt and/or excel in rushing through OL gaps? Did they call LB run blitz's?
Any other insights would be awesome. I'm trying to understand the legend, and I don't doubt it at all, I just want to help celebrate it. Thank you!
I'm not going to answer point by point but what you need to know is
1. He changed the game because there was never another player with his combination of speed and power (and probably ferocity too). He just couldn't be blocked by any single person so coached had to design blocking schemes to adjust to him (keeping a TE close to the line to either stay in or at the very least chip him. Sam with RBs).
2. Watch some of the clips on youtube. He was so dominant that QBs were scared to death and it effected their play.
3. He was excellent against the run. Find the clip of him on youtube running down George Rogers from literally the other side of the field and tackling him for a loss. Astounding athleticism.
4. He was rarely used on the inside because that would negate one of his best assets, speed.
5. There are plenty of fantastic defensive players since he but he was simply playing at a whole other level. Amazing.
but there was one play where the QB came up to the line and was looking for LT... he couldn't find him, then panicked and called a time out. He then found out that LT was on the sideline that play..
That was the kind of affect he had on players. I have never seen a player as good as him since. There is always the "next LT' but it never materializes.
Week in and week out he disrupted opposing offenses. I really think he should be number 1 on the NFL all time greatest list.
LT played at the perfect time for him because if you try to count the number of plays he makes in that video and how many would be penalties in today's NFL, it would be a lot.
They called a penalty on him one time early in his career and I think it was during a pre-season game.
Taylor asked the ref what did he do? The ref replied saying something like this ...
"I don't know but, that was to dominate and violent for it to be legal"
Does anyone else remember that story?
Every weekend during the 80's (in season), I used to watch 2 particular players. And, every time I thought I just watched the bar (for greatness/excellence) being set - every week both of those guys would move it up again.
LT - ( New Window )
Here it is.
LT vs. Buddy Ryan - ( New Window )
link - ( New Window )
Then I can dig it!
His speed and power at that time was in a class by itself
How did this taint get rights to the name: "LT"
Has there been any other defensive player who has received that much attention like that.
How did this taint get rights to the name: "LT"
Ugh I used to hate this. If you can’t come up w your own nickname then you aren’t a great of all time.
There is only one LT
Very odd. Different eras.
I wasn't fortunate enough to watch the LT era and I don't know much about football before his time. It's clear from the video that he was a rocket made out of muscle and fueled by a mix of passion, intensity, testosterone, and cocaine.
Please help me understand LT, my older fellow NYG fans.
1. What was the most common defensive scheme prior to LT? He has often been cited as changing the NFL game. Apparently LB's just lined up and reacted prior to LT?
2. What was the ideal outside LB prior to LT?
3. Did LT single-handedly dominate and innovate, or did quality coaching and changing the defensive scheme also significantly assist him? In other words, did the game change with and for him, or did he change the game and just make the coaches look good?
4. What other qualities did he have besides rushing the passer as a LB? Was he also good at stopping the run? Did LB'ers cover TE's and RB's in pass coverage back then, and if so, did he do that well too?
5. Did he help define the mold of a pass-rushing DE, or was that type of player already established and he just happened to be so effective from the edge as a LB?
6. Did LT ever attempt and/or excel in rushing through OL gaps? Did they call LB run blitz's?
Any other insights would be awesome. I'm trying to understand the legend, and I don't doubt it at all, I just want to help celebrate it. Thank you!
That's a great tape. The common wisdom is that LT was the best ever on D and Jim Brown on O, but if I had one pick to start a team for the ages it would be LT. We're lucky to have been Giants fans during that time.
I wasn't fortunate enough to watch the LT era and I don't know much about football before his time. It's clear from the video that he was a rocket made out of muscle and fueled by a mix of passion, intensity, testosterone, and cocaine.
Please help me understand LT, my older fellow NYG fans.
1. What was the most common defensive scheme prior to LT? He has often been cited as changing the NFL game. Apparently LB's just lined up and reacted prior to LT?
2. What was the ideal outside LB prior to LT?
3. Did LT single-handedly dominate and innovate, or did quality coaching and changing the defensive scheme also significantly assist him? In other words, did the game change with and for him, or did he change the game and just make the coaches look good?
4. What other qualities did he have besides rushing the passer as a LB? Was he also good at stopping the run? Did LB'ers cover TE's and RB's in pass coverage back then, and if so, did he do that well too?
5. Did he help define the mold of a pass-rushing DE, or was that type of player already established and he just happened to be so effective from the edge as a LB?
6. Did LT ever attempt and/or excel in rushing through OL gaps? Did they call LB run blitz's?
Any other insights would be awesome. I'm trying to understand the legend, and I don't doubt it at all, I just want to help celebrate it. Thank you!
I'm not going to answer point by point but what you need to know is
1. He changed the game because there was never another player with his combination of speed and power (and probably ferocity too). He just couldn't be blocked by any single person so coached had to design blocking schemes to adjust to him (keeping a TE close to the line to either stay in or at the very least chip him. Sam with RBs).
2. Watch some of the clips on youtube. He was so dominant that QBs were scared to death and it effected their play.
3. He was excellent against the run. Find the clip of him on youtube running down George Rogers from literally the other side of the field and tackling him for a loss. Astounding athleticism.
4. He was rarely used on the inside because that would negate one of his best assets, speed.
5. There are plenty of fantastic defensive players since he but he was simply playing at a whole other level. Amazing.
"Not sure why they call Jerry Rice the GOAT - why because he was on Offense? . Rice wasn't even the greatest player of his era. I can't help imagining what Lawrence Taylor would have done if he came to the stadium sober ... or not hung over 20 - 30% of the time?"
And agree with it 100%
Nothing I says.
[quote] NEVER see another L.T. [/quote
We WILL NEVER see another LT,one of a kind! He changed the way OCs prepped for a game-and it still didn't matter! #GOAT
1. What was the most common defensive scheme prior to LT? He has often been cited as changing the NFL game. Apparently LB's just lined up and reacted prior to LT?
==> Straight-up 4-3 defenses were the most common. There were variants, like Dallas' flex, but for the most part, defenders played their defined role. Giant coaching was brilliant in letting LT roam from the WLB spot. Teams didn't have an answer for him, didn't know what he was going to do on any given play, and even when it was obvious he was coming, they'd double-team, roll away - to no avail.
2. What was the ideal outside LB prior to LT?
===> BRAD VAN PELT. :D
3. Did LT single-handedly dominate and innovate, or did quality coaching and changing the defensive scheme also significantly assist him? In other words, did the game change with and for him, or did he change the game and just make the coaches look good?
===> Both. If they forced him to play a traditional LB role, rarely blitzing - or a DE role, where he couldn't roam, it would have constrained him. It was far more about the player than the scheme though.
4. What other qualities did he have besides rushing the passer as a LB? Was he also good at stopping the run? Did LB'ers cover TE's and RB's in pass coverage back then, and if so, did he do that well too?
===> He was the best linebacker I ever saw in every category. He could chase down the leagues fastest backs, was great in coverage, was ALWAYS causing turnovers, always around the ball. He was a fucking nightmare.
Then there was most of the time - he was just disrupting every offensive play. The thing is that there really weren't any blockers who could neutralize him. He was fast, often seeming to move at another speed compared to the offensive guys around him and even compared to the other Giants defenders. But he mostly didn't try to beat OT's with speed - he would explode into them, rock them back on their heels, have his way with them either inside or outside.
Seriously, when he was on he was not something that could be controlled. Reminds me of trying to get a wild cat into a travel case, almost all the time the wild cat gets away from you and runs off where ever. Even if you get lucky and keep him contained you're not going to win any style points - and you'll be hurting.
I'm convinced that while he was strong (and he wasn't the strongest) and he was fast (he wasn't the fastest) that he was the most determined and that OL to that point had no experience trying to contain someone like him. Even if another player of his caliber could be found, I don't think he'd be able to have the same impact. OT's are much, much better athletes today than they used to be, but more importantly they've developed strategies and counter-moves so they are prepared to fight the wild cat.
Then there was most of the time - he was just disrupting every offensive play. The thing is that there really weren't any blockers who could neutralize him. He was fast, often seeming to move at another speed compared to the offensive guys around him and even compared to the other Giants defenders. But he mostly didn't try to beat OT's with speed - he would explode into them, rock them back on their heels, have his way with them either inside or outside.
Seriously, when he was on he was not something that could be controlled. Reminds me of trying to get a wild cat into a travel case, almost all the time the wild cat gets away from you and runs off where ever. Even if you get lucky and keep him contained you're not going to win any style points - and you'll be hurting.
I'm convinced that while he was strong (and he wasn't the strongest) and he was fast (he wasn't the fastest) that he was the most determined and that OL to that point had no experience trying to contain someone like him. Even if another player of his caliber could be found, I don't think he'd be able to have the same impact. OT's are much, much better athletes today than they used to be, but more importantly they've developed strategies and counter-moves so they are prepared to fight the wild cat.
He was also the smartest, something he rarely get credit for. He knew the D inside and out, new the opponent backwards and forwards.
and a super real treat to have memories of running in to him from time to time at different Bergen county watering holes back in the day...
LT played at the perfect time for him because if you try to count the number of plays he makes in that video and how many would be penalties in today's NFL, it would be a lot.
Quote:
never gets old. LT - ( New Window )
LT played at the perfect time for him because if you try to count the number of plays he makes in that video and how many would be penalties in today's NFL, it would be a lot.
He would do just fine today, the only problem would be how much money teams would be willing to pay him given his extra curricular activities.
Link - ( New Window )
Quote:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWB9ia_ZPjk)
I wasn't fortunate enough to watch the LT era and I don't know much about football before his time. It's clear from the video that he was a rocket made out of muscle and fueled by a mix of passion, intensity, testosterone, and cocaine.
Please help me understand LT, my older fellow NYG fans.
1. What was the most common defensive scheme prior to LT? He has often been cited as changing the NFL game. Apparently LB's just lined up and reacted prior to LT?
2. What was the ideal outside LB prior to LT?
3. Did LT single-handedly dominate and innovate, or did quality coaching and changing the defensive scheme also significantly assist him? In other words, did the game change with and for him, or did he change the game and just make the coaches look good?
4. What other qualities did he have besides rushing the passer as a LB? Was he also good at stopping the run? Did LB'ers cover TE's and RB's in pass coverage back then, and if so, did he do that well too?
5. Did he help define the mold of a pass-rushing DE, or was that type of player already established and he just happened to be so effective from the edge as a LB?
6. Did LT ever attempt and/or excel in rushing through OL gaps? Did they call LB run blitz's?
Any other insights would be awesome. I'm trying to understand the legend, and I don't doubt it at all, I just want to help celebrate it. Thank you!
I'm not going to answer point by point but what you need to know is
1. He changed the game because there was never another player with his combination of speed and power (and probably ferocity too). He just couldn't be blocked by any single person so coached had to design blocking schemes to adjust to him (keeping a TE close to the line to either stay in or at the very least chip him. Sam with RBs).
2. Watch some of the clips on youtube. He was so dominant that QBs were scared to death and it effected their play.
3. He was excellent against the run. Find the clip of him on youtube running down George Rogers from literally the other side of the field and tackling him for a loss. Astounding athleticism.
4. He was rarely used on the inside because that would negate one of his best assets, speed.
5. There are plenty of fantastic defensive players since he but he was simply playing at a whole other level. Amazing.
Don't Analyze. just watch and enjoy
That was the kind of affect he had on players. I have never seen a player as good as him since. There is always the "next LT' but it never materializes.
Week in and week out he disrupted opposing offenses. I really think he should be number 1 on the NFL all time greatest list.
Quote:
never gets old. LT - ( New Window )
LT played at the perfect time for him because if you try to count the number of plays he makes in that video and how many would be penalties in today's NFL, it would be a lot.
They called a penalty on him one time early in his career and I think it was during a pre-season game.
Taylor asked the ref what did he do? The ref replied saying something like this ...
"I don't know but, that was to dominate and violent for it to be legal"
Does anyone else remember that story?
Every weekend during the 80's (in season), I used to watch 2 particular players. And, every time I thought I just watched the bar (for greatness/excellence) being set - every week both of those guys would move it up again.
Larry Bird and Lawrence Taylor.