Who are the top 10 LBs according to you? (doesn't matter whether they're 4-3 or 3-4, ILB or OLB)
My List
1. Patrick Willis
2. James Harrison
3. DeMarcus Ware
4. Ray Lewis
5. Clay Matthews
6. Brian Urlacher
7. Terrell Suggs
8. Lance Briggs
9. LaMarr Woodley
10. Jon Beason
*Vote for* The Chainsaw Ninja
Favorite Answer
1. Patrick Willis
2. DeMarcus Ware
3. Clay Matthews III
4. James Harrison (better overall linebacker than Ware or Matthews, but at his age I can't expect him to replicate his level of production much longer)
5. Jerod Mayo (fantastic linebacker. You might have just overlooked him on your list, but he's definitely top ten talent.)
6. Ray Lewis (age, that's all it is really)
7. Brian Urlacher
8. LaMarr Woodley (how very spoiled those Steelers are with linebackers)
9. Tamba Hali
10. Jon Beason
@Levi
Although great linebackers I don't think AJ Hawk or Brian Cushing deserve an honorable mention. They're great tacklers, but don't jump out at you or really scare offenses.
Vic - 20
Linebackers in the 3-4 scheme play much more different roles than 4-3 so I'll give you top ten for both schemes.
4-3
1. Jon Beason
2. Lance Briggs
3. Brian Urlacher
4. Lofa Tatupu
5. Jonathan Vilma
6. James Anderson
7.Thomas Davis
8. Stephen Tulloch
9. Barrett Ruud
10. James Laurinitis.
HM: Rolando McClain, Kamerion Wimbley, Kirk Morrison, Curtis Lofton.
3-4
1. Patrick Willis
2. DeMarcus Ware
3. James Harrison
4. Clay Matthews III
5. Ray Lewis
6. Terrell Suggs
7. David Harris
8. Lammarr Woodley
9. Shaun Phillips
10. Cameron Wake
HM: Lawrence Timmons, Brian Orakpo, Jerod Mayo, Paul Posluzny(?).
Anonymous
1. Patrick Willis, ILB, 49ers
2. James Harrison, OLB, Steelers
3. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Cowboys
4. Clay Matthews III, OLB, Packers
5. Ray Lewis, ILB, Ravens
6. Brian Urlacher, ILB, Bears
7. LaMarr Woodley, OLB, Steelers
8. Lance Briggs, OLB, Bears
9. Jon Beason, ILB, Panthers
10. Terrell Suggs, OLB, Ravens
HM's: Lawrence Timmons, Tamba Hali, Cameron Wake, Jerod Mayo, David Harris
Levi
1. Patrick Willis, MLB, 49ers
2. James Harrison, OLB, Steelers
3. Jonathan Vilma, MLB, Saints (he's better than his stats show)
4. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Cowboys
5. Brian Urlacher, MLB, Bears
6. Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
7. Clay Matthews, OLB, Packers
8. Lance Briggs, OLB, Bears
9. Jon Beason, MLB, Panthers
10. LaMar Woodley, OLB, Steelers
Honorable Mentions...
Terrell Suggs, OLB, Ravens
Tamba Hali, OLB/DE, Chiefs
Cameron Wake, OLB, Dolphins
Jerod Mayo, OLB, Patroits
Brian Cushing, OLB, Texans
A.J Hawk, MLB, Packers
@The Chainsaw Ninja
I was really just trying to find some guys I could throw in there.
Also, you put Hali in your Top 10. As much as I'd love to just take that as a testament to Tamba's success, I wouldn't really put him in my top 10. He's a great linebacker and defensive end, put he's really just a pass-rusher, and not even the best at that (I'll give that up to D. Ware).
Anonymous
a million. Aaron Rodgers 2. Drew Brees 3. Phil Rivers 4. Peyton Manning (age is why he's so low, acceptable 2 for occupation between actives) 5. Tom Brady (see Manning rationalization, those adult men won't be in a position to be great constantly) 6. Ben Roethlisberger, he wins 7. Matt Ryan 8. Michael Vick 9. Josh Freeman (i might prefer to have this guy on my team extremely a extensive determination ahead of him) 10. Eli close: Schaub (struggled final 3 hundred and sixty 5 days in any different case he may well be up right here, he grow to be far greater inconsistent than Eli final season), Romo (i'm purely no longer that inspired with him), Flacco ( i in my view like him purely would desire to confirm a shade greater out of him), Cutler (it extremely is my homer %., Da Bears). i comprehend Freeman would somewhat extreme on your opinion yet i might ask you to look at his stats final 3 hundred and sixty 5 days and apart from seem on the consequence of his team, and then seem at his helping forged. This guy is going to be very solid apparently.