Dutch 874 Posted June 29, 2014 (edited) Rank your top 10 LB's. No pass rushers! Don't like someone else's list, inquire about it but make sure you post your own 1. Luke Kuechly - This kid is an absolute stud. I was praying that he lasted on the board until my Eagles picked. There is just something about a stud play making linebacker. I love this kid. He can do everything exceptionally well and plays with a ferocious hunger and has an outstanding motor. Sorry P-Willis, the torch has been passed. 2. Daryl Washington - Tremendously underrated and overlooked. Daryl Washington is an all around complete linebacker who can do everything. He is one of the fastest linebackers in the league and has incredible instinctive abilities. Great tackler, awesome in coverage and is effective blitzing. Daryl Washington looks like a blur on the field and deserves so much more recognition. 3. Lavonte David - Man, if he has another season even close to last year, it will be hard to argue that he's not the best linebacker in the league. He is effective and exceptional in every part of the game. If he continues playing like this, he might be the second coming of Derrick Brooks. 4. Patrick Willis - P-Willis has been the golden standard for the linebacker position for years now taking the torch from Ray Lewis. P-Willis is an intelligent instinctive play maker who can still lay the wood. He's very physical and knows where he needs to be. He's been playing at an elite level ever since he was a rookie and still going into his 8th season as one of the top elite linebackers in the league. 5. NaVorro Bowman - He's been schooled by the best linebacker in the league, has natural talent, and great work ethic. Those things combined has transformed him into a top caliber elite linebacker. Bowman makes plays all over the field running from side line to side line. 6. Vontaze Burfict - Straight tackling machine. May not be as good in coverage as some of the guys ahead of him but he is a sure fire tackler who plays the game with ferocity and much physicality. I have a soft spot for outstanding tacklers. 7. Derrick Johnson - Derrick Johnson wasn't always a great player but it's good to see players develop over time. Derrick Johnson has been a top linebacker in this league for like the past 4 years and I'm glad he has been getting the recognition he deserves. 8. Kiko Alonso - Usually try to refrain from putting rookies on my list but Kiko played like a top 10 linebacker and was just awesome. 9. Karlos Dansby - Dansby has always been a solid player throughout his entire career but last year, he played at an all pro level. He did some amazing things for that Cardinals defense. 10. Bobby Wagner - Wagner is on the best defense in the league and undoubtedly benefits from that, but he does make some quality plays on his own. I like the speed of his game and play making ability and think he could handle his own on another team/system. Honorable mentions: Sean Lee - Lee is a great talent and is probably the best cover linebacker in the entire league. He's very fast and nimble too. However, he is always hurt. He has yet to put a full season together. To be a top linebacker in the league, you have to be durable and be able to give and withstand punishment in my opinion. Linebacker is a tough and macho position. You can't get put into the same category with guys who are amazing talents as well but are tough as nails while you are broken all the time. Jon Beason - Beason was once a top two linebacker in this league. P-Willis was 1.a and Beason was 1.b. Just as talented. However, Beason has been suffering with injuries for about 3 years and hasn't been on the field. When he went to the Giants, he appeared to have regained that elite form and played outstanding in those 12 games. However like Sean Lee, he got hurt in OTA's and will sit out. Extremely talented but soft as cotton. No doubt if he could stay healthy he could be a potential top 5 linebacker. Brian Cushing - Same deal here. Incredibly talented and plays the game like a barbaric savage. This dude plays violent and is an amazing linebacker. Cushing was a top 5 linebacker when he was healthy but can't stay on the field now. Edited June 30, 2014 by Favre4Ever Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Turry 755 Posted June 29, 2014 in no particular order Patrick Willis Navvro Bowman Derrick Johnson Lavonte David Luke Kuechly Daryl Washington Vontaze Burflict Chad Greenway Donald Butler (last year was a down year I hope) Kiko Alonso Save your tears cowgirls fans. If your injured all the time your not on the field and if your not on the field than your not ranked. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted June 29, 2014 Can't be effective if you're not on the field. The best guys are on the field making plays. Not sitting on the sidelines. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AL_Royalty 489 Posted June 30, 2014 So outside LB's are ok just as long as they're not TOO effective? As long as they don't accrue too many gaudy stats, they can be in your top ten? That's pretty whack, bruh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted June 30, 2014 So outside LB's are ok just as long as they're not TOO effective? As long as they don't accrue too many gaudy stats, they can be in your top ten? That's pretty whack, bruh. Pass rushing OLBs, man. Look at the difference between Lavonte David and Von Miller. Both are OLBs. One is a pass rusher. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted June 30, 2014 Yeah, and Von is a better run defender than Lavonte as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted June 30, 2014 Yeah, and Von is a better run defender than Lavonte as well.Not gonna argue about the specifics of it, just pointing out the reasoning of how to pick linebackers. We know the differences between the two. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted June 30, 2014 Miller is arguably the best LB in the league without a doubt... Not sure many are even in the same stratosphere. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted June 30, 2014 #1 Lavonte David #2 Navorro Bowman #3 Luke Kuechly #4 Patrick Willis #5 Vontaze Burfict #6 Kiko Alonso #7 Jerod Mayo :patriots: #8 Paul Posluszny #9 Derrick Johnson #10A David Harris #10B Danny Trevathan 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AL_Royalty 489 Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) Miller is arguably the best LB in the league without a doubt... Not sure many are even in the same stratosphere. Apparently not, Favre. He's a pass rusher. Haven't you heard? He's not even top ten. Also, how can someone arguably be something without a doubt? Edited June 30, 2014 by Charles-in-Charge 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted June 30, 2014 Von Miller isn't a pass rusher. He's a complete linebacker who happens to excel at killing the QB. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted June 30, 2014 Not only would I say he is the best LB in the league (I am talking all around, here). And I have said this before... But he seems to be one of those ELITE, once in a lifetime type players. I don't want to take anything away from the guys in SF, DJ, David, etc... But NOBODY... Nobody touches Von Miller. They don't get within an arms length of Von Miller. They don't get within 10 football fields length of Von Miller. He is the best LB in the league. One of the best I have ever seen, personally. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted June 30, 2014 There's nothing wrong with omitting guys like Miller in this thread because Dutch is talking about LBs who play a traditional LB role (i'm assuming). Comparing Miller to the rest of the 4-3 olbs who play traditional roles is apples to oranges (or however that expression goes). The fact that people even try to push that he's this "complete lb" is laughable imo. He isn't on another level to the oher elite LBs in the NFL. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted June 30, 2014 I separated the two because their roles are different. They all are in a sense but ROLB rushes the passer more than anything else. That's not to discredit them by any means as far as their other capabilities, but they can have a category all to themselves. Not to mention adding all the linebackers in one category of 10 is way too much considering there are 3 different positions within that one label of linebacker. No reason to get flustered fellas.. I was actually looking forward to breaking this down into two groups and having a pass rushing category. Again, not to say that they can't do anything else, but if they can, that can warrant them a higher spot on your list. ROLB is a glorious position and needs a category all to itself. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Turry 755 Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) What Dmac said. I thought the list was more of the 4-3 OLB/ILB thats why I gave love to guys like Greenway. Edited June 30, 2014 by monstersofthemidway Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted June 30, 2014 There's nothing wrong with omitting guys like Miller in this thread because Dutch is talking about LBs who play a traditional LB role (i'm assuming). Comparing Miller to the rest of the 4-3 olbs who play traditional roles is apples to oranges (or however that expression goes). The fact that people even try to push that he's this "complete lb" is laughable imo. He isn't on another level to the oher elite LBs in the NFL. You're right.. It is apples to an orange. All the guys are apples, then you have the elite amazing talent of Von Miller as the orange. The other guys don't even compare. That's how wide the gap is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted June 30, 2014 This thread should be titled, "Top 10 3-4 ILB/4-3 LBs" Excluding people at those positions that also happen to get sacks is ludicrous. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted June 30, 2014 Gonna have to agree with JD, Razor, Durst and Zack here to an extent. I'm not sure Von Miller would be as good as LaVonte David in his role in his defense and vice versa. If you think that Miller would still be good in coverage if he was asked to drop back as much as your typical WLB then you're smoking something real good, but having said that he's far from a liability and he's absolutely elite as a run stopper and tackler. That alone would get him into the top 5 imo, but what sets him apart from the field is his pass rush ability. I wouldn't go as far to say a guy like LaVonte David isn't anywhere in his league though. Having said that, at this time LaVonte David is the only LB who comes close to Miller at this point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted June 30, 2014 This thread should be titled, "Top 10 3-4 ILB/4-3 LBs" Excluding people at those positions that also happen to get sacks is ludicrous. That would be a better title but it would still exclude predator linebackers. In general: I don't see the issue with creating a separate category for them. They rush the passer more than anything else and trying to rank 3 positions of the linebacker in a top 10 list is overkill. It's too many players at that position considering it's 3 positions inside of that one position. So, another list can be made for pass rush specialist and if they excel in any other part of their game, that can warrant a higher ranking on peoples list. Seems quite simple and I don't see the issue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted June 30, 2014 It's not actually a Top 10 LB list though, to be fair. I think those of us here are smart enough to differentiate between the guys who rush the QB and only rush the QB compared to the guys that have the ability to rush the QB but can also do other things as well.What a complete lack of faith in our members... Haha. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted June 30, 2014 It's not. It's a top 10 ILB 3-4/4-3 MLB, OLB like Zack said. For the sake of variety and because of all the talent, I split the two groups up. Again, it's not a knock on the predator linebackers. I'm not saying all they do is rush the passer or that's all they are capable of. But rushing the passer is their main role and it's a bonus if they can do the other things. So because of that, I separated the two groups. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) Gonna mark down how many snaps Von takes rushing the QB & at the LoS. I'll post the results, and if it is more than 50-60%, I'd consider him a pass rusher specialist. Edited June 30, 2014 by Chernobyl426 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted June 30, 2014 If you are looking for the best run and pass defending LB, that's fine. Just aptly name the list that, and not something misleading like best LBs... lol. I shall remove myself, however. Continue with your sorta best LBs list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KempBolt 498 Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) If we're talking "Off-LOS" linebackers, then I'd rank them... 1. Navorro Bowman 2. Lavonte David 3. Patrick Willis 4. Luke Kuechly 5. Derrick Johnson 6. Karlos Dansby 7. Chad Greenway 8. Lawrence Timmons 9. Jerod Mayo :Patriots: 10. Vontaze Burfict So I basically copped out and left Daryl Washington, Sean Lee, and Brian Cushing off the list. On Washington, I decided to keep an extra slot for guys who are actually going to play football in 2014. And as for Lee and Cushing, I have tremendous respect for how good both of them are. But they have missed so much time I just can't put them up. If they were able to stay on the field more than half the time, I definitely have them both up there. Edited July 9, 2014 by KempBolt 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
