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Mark Daniels & #8207;Verified account @MarkDanielsPJ 4m4 minutes ago Belichick asked if Khalil Mack is up there with Lawrence Taylor: "Wait a minute, we're talking about Lawrence Taylor, now. I'm not putting anybody in Lawrence Taylor's class." |
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2. revamp another position's athletic requirements to deal with him,
he's not quite there.
If Watt's back to his 2012-2015 form, he's not far behind. And he's leading the league with 7 sacks (granted 3 were against Wheeler) combined with 4 FF, 8 TFL and 11 QBHits.
LT manhandled men 70-90 pounds heavier than him on a play-to-play basis, then outran a lot of running backs and receivers.
There is no comparison to LT from anyone playing the game today.
Stan, you’re awake!!!! Did you sleep through the Red Sox-Yankees series? We missed you 😂😂😂😂😂
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but he's the only player in today's NFL that can be compared to him without being laughed out of the room.
If Watt's back to his 2012-2015 form, he's not far behind. And he's leading the league with 7 sacks (granted 3 were against Wheeler) combined with 4 FF, 8 TFL and 11 QBHits.
Ummm no, no he's not. LT is on another tier.
Until someone comes along who changes the game and forces great coaches to reinvent Offenses, we can stop even thinking anyone is even close to LT.
BB had the exact correct response,IMO.
He did. But it was the week before HOU played NE, and was almost certainly facetious. BB trying to get in HOU's and Watt's head.
Belichick has softened his stance a little on Bavaro > Gronk in recent years. He won't say Gronk is better, but he makes it closer at a minimum in recent years.
This was in 2010, when Gronk was a rookie:
Athletic as Gronkowski is for his size, Bavaro was equally so in his 6-4, 245 pound package.
Belichick cautioned that no one get too hasty putting anyone in Bavaro's class quite yet.
"That's a little stretch to compare anybody at that stage of their career to Bavaro," said Belichick. "Bavaro had a great career. He played against some of the all-time greats -- Reggie White twice a year, and White is playing 6-technique head up on the tight end and you really don't get any help. That's a pretty big assignment. I think I'd be reluctant to put anybody in Mark Bavaro's class.
"I don't mean that in any way to slight any of our players. He set the bar up there pretty high. He could block, he could catch, he could run, and run after the catch. He was a great competitor. Mark was there every single week," Belichick said. "That's a guy you could count on. We lined up every year at training camp and he could block Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor. Not too many guys blocked them. You talk about competitive battles -- if you like football, that's about as good as you could find right there."...
this was in 2015:
Belichick went on to break down what made Bavaro so special.
"It would be hard for me to put anyone past Bavaro just because of the times he blocked (Hall of Fame defensive end) Reggie White with no help. ... There was no double team, he just blocked him," Belichick said. "Now, that was a good battle. Reggie got him a few times, too.
"I've seen Bavaro block (former Giants linebacker and Hall of Famer Lawrence) Taylor, block (former Giants linebacker Carl) Banks. Those were as competitive of matchups in practices that I've ever seen. It was awesome to watch. Players of that level compete the way they competed and all three of those guys, they were tremendous football players.
"I have a lot of accolades to Rob and all his blocking, just saying it's hard for me to put anyone past Bavaro based on Reggie White, Banks, Taylor. Those guys were pretty good. I can't tell you how many times coaching Taylor and he got blocked. I mean, not very many. They might of run away from him. They might have got in his way. ... Banks, it would be in the single digits for me.
"But we didn't play against Bavaro But we played against him in training camp, we played against him in practice. Whether it was one-on-ones or nine-on-sevens or running drills or it was a pass where you had to re-route the guy. There wasn't any of that. It was, I know who's blocking me, he knows he's blocking me, let's have at it, and that was awesome. It was awesome."...
As for Bavaro, you do not get tight ends like him anymore. He was an extra offensive lineman in most cases and he was still as good a pass catcher as there was. If he were playing today, he would make Gronk look like a pussy. Had he not hurt his knee in 89, I think it was, he would be in the HOF right now. In my mind, he still should be in the Hall of Fame. On one leg, he was better than 90% of other tight ends in the league. We do not win SB 25 without Bavaro.
Wait until Saquon gets a real offensive line in front of him.
BB has compared Gronk and Bavaro.
I would prefer Bavaro, less injury prone.
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no one ever will be. There are two football players that deserve their own special wing in the HOF because no one will ever compare to them on the field. Jm Brown and LT. Off the field let's not discuss.
Wait until Saquon gets a real offensive line in front of him.
Not sure how he would do running behind a FB, but imagine Bavaro and Carthon blocking for him.
As a pass rusher, Mack isn't in the same stratosphere as Reggie White, who is arguably the most consistent, greatest pass rusher in history. His year over year numbers are just staggering.
As a pass rushing OLB, I agree with the majority of the sentiments above - Mack is not in LT's class. LT could play coverage when asked and he was phenomenal in chasing down running plays away from him. His combination of speed, power, and relentlessness were chilling...
As a pass rusher, Mack isn't in the same stratosphere as Reggie White, who is arguably the most consistent, greatest pass rusher in history. His year over year numbers are just staggering.
As a pass rushing OLB, I agree with the majority of the sentiments above - Mack is not in LT's class. LT could play coverage when asked and he was phenomenal in chasing down running plays away from him. His combination of speed, power, and relentlessness were chilling...
I think the coke had something to do with his relentlessness?
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specifically or the OLB position?
As a pass rusher, Mack isn't in the same stratosphere as Reggie White, who is arguably the most consistent, greatest pass rusher in history. His year over year numbers are just staggering.
As a pass rushing OLB, I agree with the majority of the sentiments above - Mack is not in LT's class. LT could play coverage when asked and he was phenomenal in chasing down running plays away from him. His combination of speed, power, and relentlessness were chilling...
I think the coke had something to do with his relentlessness?
I've thought about that. On the other hand, maybe it prevented him from going to an even higher level.
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But LT was obviously in a category of his own. Can't say I've watched many of his games, but I've seen a lot of his highlights (I know. Totally the same.) and there's no one who came close to him. He's in a tier of his own.
But I would think that Derrick Thomas (another guy who was a bit before my time) came closest to being the next LT.
But I would think that Derrick Thomas (another guy who was a bit before my time) came closest to being the next LT.
Different players. DT was more of a one trick pony - but a great one trick. A hellacious end speed rusher. Tremendous off the speed and quickness. Didn’t exude the power of LT or the ability to impact the running game. So there really is limited comparison.
The closest player to LT that I’ve seen was one of LT’s peers - Pat Swilling down in New Orleans. Very similar players, especially on the rush and creating turnovers. Not as good against the run, but a dynamite player who should be in the HoF. Was part of a great trio of LBs with the Saints with Rickey Jackson and Sam Mills. No idea why they aren’t all in the HoF.
The only proper answer is a Billy Madison principal plaintive reply that ends with "everyone in this room is dumber for listening to your question and May God have mercy on your soul."
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of any players in the history of the NFL, Bavaro would be his first pick.
BB has compared Gronk and Bavaro.
I would prefer Bavaro, less injury prone.
Nope, just played through injury.
Did not even see him against the Dolphins Sunday. Completely forgot Mack was on the Bears....
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But I would think that Derrick Thomas (another guy who was a bit before my time) came closest to being the next LT.
Different players. DT was more of a one trick pony - but a great one trick. A hellacious end speed rusher. Tremendous off the speed and quickness. Didn’t exude the power of LT or the ability to impact the running game. So there really is limited comparison.
The closest player to LT that I’ve seen was one of LT’s peers - Pat Swilling down in New Orleans. Very similar players, especially on the rush and creating turnovers. Not as good against the run, but a dynamite player who should be in the HoF. Was part of a great trio of LBs with the Saints with Rickey Jackson and Sam Mills. No idea why they aren’t all in the HoF.
Great quartet of LBs. Vaughan Johnson was very good - 4X Pro Bowler.
Sam Mills I think has just as strong a case as Ricky Jackson did for the HOF. College Football HOF and USFL all-time team. 5X Pro Bowl and an All-Pro (which Jackson doesn't have).