The middle linebacker position to a football team's defense is the equivalent to the quarterback of the team's offense. The position can be likened to the catcher of a baseball team, the point guard in basketball and the center in hockey. All the good ones are typically the heart and soul of the team. They become the "coach" on the field of play. They lead both by encouragement and example.
With the upcoming DugoutZone signing with Baltimore Ravens RAY LEWIS in August, I thought that this would be a great time to begin a discussion of who is the best NFL middle linebacker ever. This question always raises considerable debate as the NFL has been blessed with many great ones over the years.
To generate some comments here, I would like to begin with my list of the ten best middle linebackers of all time. I have chosen the DugoutZone Digest 10 from the eleven Hall of Famers who were true middle linebackers their entire career, three current or recently retired future hall of Famers and three young up and comers:
The Hall of Famers:
Bill George
Joe Schmidt
Ray Nitschke
Sam Huff
Dick Butkus
Willie Lanier
Jack Lambert
Nick Buoniconti
Derrick Thomas
Harry Carson
Mike Singletary
The Future Hall of Famers:
Junior Seau
Ray Lewis
Brian Urlacher
The Up and Comers:
Jon Beason
DeMeco Ryans
Patrick Willis
The criteria I have used to whittle this list of storied defenders down to the ten best is not only their statistics, but also the impact that they have had on their team. The amount of leadership exhibited along with the sheer fear put into their opponents was just as important as how many total tackles made. All of these individuals spent most, if not all, of their career with the same team - placing their mark of intensity on the entire defense. My ten finalist are:
Ray Nitschke - He WAS the Green Bay Packers defense.
Sam Huff - He helped to refine the mlb position in the media glare of NYC.
Willie Lanier - His Chiefs teams went from perennial losers to consistent winners.
Dick Butkus - There was a reason no one wanted to play Da Bears - it was Dick Butkus.
Jack Lambert - He gave his heart, soul and front teeth to the Steelers.
Derrick Thomas - HOF career cut short by tragedy.
Mike Singletary - One picture of "the look" tells the story.
Junior Seau - Helped to change the Chargers from a scoring machine to a winner.
Ray Lewis - Mr. Raven for fourteen years and going strong.
Patrick Willis - Playing for Mike Singletary may make this youngster one of the best.
There you have our starting point. Though there may be some disagreement on who should have made the list and who should have been left off as a result, surely we can all agree that "the best ever" is on the list. Now let's all start the discussion to pare these greats down to five finalists for the title of Best Linebacker Ever!
"Don't fire the messenger"
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
1964 - The Year Oriole Magic Began
It was 1966 and the upstart Baltimore Orioles were heavy underdogs in the World Series. The National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers were led by future Hall of Fame pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. The Birds were given little chance.
The O's jumped on Drysdale early in Game 1 and went on to win 5-2. Then Orioles Magic began. Our own future Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer threw a gem in Game 2 - beating Koufax with a complete game shutout! The Orange & Black headed back to Baltimore with new found hope.
Game 3 featured a match-up between 2 young hurlers. Claude Osteen got the start for the Dodgers and Wally Bunker took the mound for the Birds. The pitching mound had already been dubbed "Bunker Hill" after Wally's stellar rookie season in 1964. A solo home run by O's center fielder Paul Blair in the 5th was all Wally would need as he went on to a three-hit complete game shutout. His masterpiece was all the Birds needed to propel them to an incredible sweep of Da Bums when Dave McNally finished off the Series with yet another complete game
1-0 shutout. The Dodgers pitching was very good. The Orioles were better!
Wally Bunker is making the rounds in Baltimore this weekend including a stop at the DugoutZone on Sunday. His appearance started me thinking about the construction of the great Orioles teams of the 60's & 70's. Wally Bunker was the first of many great young pitchers to arrive in Baltimore. He turned in a remarkable rookie season in 1964 - going 19-5 and finishing 8th in the AL MVP balloting. Nine year veteran teammate Brooks Robinson produced his finest complete season in a remarkable 22 year career and won the '64 AL MVP Award.
Two years later the Orioles would add more young pitching talent (Palmer, McNally) to a solid nucleus and a key aquisition in Frank Robinson. That core formed the most dominant franchise in baseball for the next ten years. This model of young talented pitching built around a core of solid veteran position players solidified by a key acquisition has become the blueprint for successful teams. Can someone send a copy to the Yard?
The O's jumped on Drysdale early in Game 1 and went on to win 5-2. Then Orioles Magic began. Our own future Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer threw a gem in Game 2 - beating Koufax with a complete game shutout! The Orange & Black headed back to Baltimore with new found hope.
Game 3 featured a match-up between 2 young hurlers. Claude Osteen got the start for the Dodgers and Wally Bunker took the mound for the Birds. The pitching mound had already been dubbed "Bunker Hill" after Wally's stellar rookie season in 1964. A solo home run by O's center fielder Paul Blair in the 5th was all Wally would need as he went on to a three-hit complete game shutout. His masterpiece was all the Birds needed to propel them to an incredible sweep of Da Bums when Dave McNally finished off the Series with yet another complete game
1-0 shutout. The Dodgers pitching was very good. The Orioles were better!
Wally Bunker is making the rounds in Baltimore this weekend including a stop at the DugoutZone on Sunday. His appearance started me thinking about the construction of the great Orioles teams of the 60's & 70's. Wally Bunker was the first of many great young pitchers to arrive in Baltimore. He turned in a remarkable rookie season in 1964 - going 19-5 and finishing 8th in the AL MVP balloting. Nine year veteran teammate Brooks Robinson produced his finest complete season in a remarkable 22 year career and won the '64 AL MVP Award.
Two years later the Orioles would add more young pitching talent (Palmer, McNally) to a solid nucleus and a key aquisition in Frank Robinson. That core formed the most dominant franchise in baseball for the next ten years. This model of young talented pitching built around a core of solid veteran position players solidified by a key acquisition has become the blueprint for successful teams. Can someone send a copy to the Yard?
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