NFL's All Time #1 LB Corps

[TYLERTECHSAS]

From a Packer's Board

posted 07/02/2007

Which linebacking corps is tops in NFL history? The trio of Ray Nitschke, Dave Robinson and Lee Roy Caffey of Vince Lombardi's Packers ranked sixth, according to the NFL Network series NFL's Top 10, which aired on Wednesday evening.

The 60-minute show analyzed the best linebacker groupings and featured fresh interviews with former coaches including Mike Ditka and Jim Mora.

The show counted down the Top 10 linebacking corps in league history, and the oldest of the bunch was the Packers' trio from the 1960s that includes one Hall of Famer in Nitschke and two other members of the Packers Hall of Fame in Robinson and Caffey.

The three were Green Bay's primary starters at linebacker from 1964 to 1969, helping lead the Packers to three straight league championships, including Super Bowls I and II. In those two Super Bowl victories, the Packers' linebackers combined for 38 tackles, and during that six-year span each of the three was named All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl at least once.

Here are the other linebacking corps in the NFL Network's Top 10, listed in reverse ranking order:

10. 2000 Ravens - Led by linebackers Peter Boulware, Ray Lewis and Jamie Sharper, Baltimore allowed only 165 points and 970 rushing yards - both the fewest ever in a 16-game season. The Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV with Lewis earning Super Bowl MVP honors.

9. "Orange Crush" Broncos - Broncos' Ring of Famers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson anchored a quartet which also included Bob Swenson and Joe Rizzo. Denver won consecutive division titles in 1977-78 with a combined 22-8 (.733) record and earned a berth in Super Bowl XII.


8. Early 1980s Raiders - Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks joined with Rod Martin and Matt Millen to lead the Raiders to five playoff berths and a pair of Super Bowl victories in six seasons from 1980-85. In Super Bowl XV, Martin had a record three interceptions to secure victory for the AFC Wild Card Raiders.

7. Mid-1990s Steelers - Chad Brown, Kevin Greene, Levon Kirkland and Greg Lloyd helped the Steelers to three AFC Central titles and one AFC Wild Card in the four seasons from 1993-96. Pittsburgh advanced to a pair of AFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl in that span. The Steelers set a club record with 55 sacks in 1994.

6. Lombardi's Packers

5. 1985 Bears - Featuring Hall of Famer Mike Singletary between Wilber Marshall and Otis Wilson, this group led a defense which allowed the fewest yards, rushing yards and they rolled to victory in Super Bowl XX.

4. Hank Stram's Chiefs - Hall of Famer Willie Lanier lined up between fellow enshrinee Bobby Bell, Sr. and Jim Lynch for a Kansas City team which posted a 60-20-4 record (.738) from 1966-71. During that span, the Chiefs earned five playoff berths, captured two AFL/AFC crowns and won one Super Bowl. Lanier had a fourth-quarter interception in the Chiefs' Super Bowl IV victory.

3. Bill Parcells' Giants - Pro Football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor anchored a group which included Carl Banks, Pepper Johnson and Gary Reasons. The Giants earned five playoff berths and won two Super Bowls in the seven seasons from 1984-90. In 1986, Taylor had an NFL-high 20.5 sacks, earned AP NFL MVP honors and led the Giants to a Super Bowl XXI victory.


2. 1970s Steelers - Hall of Famers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert led a corps which included Andy Russell and Loren Toews on one of the most dominant defenses of the 1970s. The Steelers won four Super Bowls in six seasons and allowed the fewest points in the AFC in four of the five seasons from 1974-78.

1. Jim Mora's Saints - Led by Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills and Pat Swilling, the Saints had six consecutive .500-or-better campaigns from 1987-92. In 1992, the Saints won 12 games and allowed the fewest points and passing yards in the NFL. All four linebackers were selected to the Pro Bowl following that campaign.

Following are future episodes of NFL's Top 10:
Wednesday, July 11 - Top 10 Most Versatile
Wednesday, July 18 - Top 10 Pass Rushers
Wednesday, July 25 - Top 10 Passing Combinations
Wednesday, August 1 - Top 10 Foul-Ups

Putting a fresh twist on the countdown genre, NFL's Top 10 is a fast-paced weekly series providing an irreverent look at some of the most intriguing subjects in the NFL and creating and debating a top ten list for each category.

Each 60-minute episode of NFL's Top 10 counts down from No. 10 to the top ranking in each category. The rankings are determined by a panel of NFL Network and NFL Films staffers.

NFL's Top 10 delves deeper into the subject matter than previous "list" shows, using interviews and imagery to put them in context and answer the "why" of the order.

Thanks for finding that one.

[DONW]

Lambert, Ham and Russell were the best. Each of them was equally adept at run and pass defense. Of course, it does help tremendously when you have a kick-ass front four.

You could also go with Lambert, Ham, and Dennis Winston.

[louisiana_dog]

Considering the saints lb group made the pro bowl, and they probably had a bigger impact to the team as a whole than the steeler's group. I would think team impact (like the heisman) had a consideration.

[DONW]

Considering the saints lb group made the pro bowl, and they probably had a bigger impact to the team as a whole than the steeler's group. I would think team impact (like the heisman) had a consideration.

The Steelers won 4 superbowls in 6 years. What kind of impact did these guys have with the saints? Did they even make the playoffs?

[Tdawg87]

I'ld have loved to have seen Da Dome Patrol behind that Steeler front four.

That Steeler front four would make any LB corps better including the Dome Patrol...I'm still sticking with the Steelers of the 70's tough. The guys at the NFL Network are smoking something if they really think the Ricky Jackson, Pat Swlling, Sam Mills group were the best. Top 10 for sure, but not the best.

[Bigdog13]

The Steelers won 4 superbowls in 6 years. What kind of impact did these guys have with the saints? Did they even make the playoffs?

I don't think thats fair Don. I mean Bradshaw, Stallworth, Blier, Swann, Franco Harris. Then you have that front four for the Steelers which was amazing. The Saints had nothing comparable to those players. Take those Steeler LB's off that team and replace them with average LB's and they are still great. Take those LB's off of the Saints and replace them with 4 average LB's and they might not win a game. Not to even mention the fact that I would take Chuck Knoll over Jim Mora in a heartbeat.

It's tough comparing things like that though. I personally think the 85 Bears and 86 Giants LB's are as good as any.

[DocMarvin362]

The Steelers won 4 superbowls in 6 years. What kind of impact did these guys have with the saints? Did they even make the playoffs?

"Playoffs... don't talk about playoffs. PLAYOFFS?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? PLAYOFFS?!?!?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwq7B...eature=related

[skilldawg]

From a Packer's Board

posted 07/02/2007

Which linebacking corps is tops in NFL history? The trio of Ray Nitschke, Dave Robinson and Lee Roy Caffey of Vince Lombardi's Packers ranked sixth, according to the NFL Network series NFL's Top 10, which aired on Wednesday evening.

The 60-minute show analyzed the best linebacker groupings and featured fresh interviews with former coaches including Mike Ditka and Jim Mora.

The show counted down the Top 10 linebacking corps in league history, and the oldest of the bunch was the Packers' trio from the 1960s that includes one Hall of Famer in Nitschke and two other members of the Packers Hall of Fame in Robinson and Caffey.

The three were Green Bay's primary starters at linebacker from 1964 to 1969, helping lead the Packers to three straight league championships, including Super Bowls I and II. In those two Super Bowl victories, the Packers' linebackers combined for 38 tackles, and during that six-year span each of the three was named All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl at least once.

Here are the other linebacking corps in the NFL Network's Top 10, listed in reverse ranking order:

10. 2000 Ravens - Led by linebackers Peter Boulware, Ray Lewis and Jamie Sharper, Baltimore allowed only 165 points and 970 rushing yards - both the fewest ever in a 16-game season. The Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV with Lewis earning Super Bowl MVP honors.

9. "Orange Crush" Broncos - Broncos' Ring of Famers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson anchored a quartet which also included Bob Swenson and Joe Rizzo. Denver won consecutive division titles in 1977-78 with a combined 22-8 (.733) record and earned a berth in Super Bowl XII.


8. Early 1980s Raiders - Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks joined with Rod Martin and Matt Millen to lead the Raiders to five playoff berths and a pair of Super Bowl victories in six seasons from 1980-85. In Super Bowl XV, Martin had a record three interceptions to secure victory for the AFC Wild Card Raiders.

7. Mid-1990s Steelers - Chad Brown, Kevin Greene, Levon Kirkland and Greg Lloyd helped the Steelers to three AFC Central titles and one AFC Wild Card in the four seasons from 1993-96. Pittsburgh advanced to a pair of AFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl in that span. The Steelers set a club record with 55 sacks in 1994.

6. Lombardi's Packers

5. 1985 Bears - Featuring Hall of Famer Mike Singletary between Wilber Marshall and Otis Wilson, this group led a defense which allowed the fewest yards, rushing yards and they rolled to victory in Super Bowl XX.

4. Hank Stram's Chiefs - Hall of Famer Willie Lanier lined up between fellow enshrinee Bobby Bell, Sr. and Jim Lynch for a Kansas City team which posted a 60-20-4 record (.738) from 1966-71. During that span, the Chiefs earned five playoff berths, captured two AFL/AFC crowns and won one Super Bowl. Lanier had a fourth-quarter interception in the Chiefs' Super Bowl IV victory.

3. Bill Parcells' Giants - Pro Football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor anchored a group which included Carl Banks, Pepper Johnson and Gary Reasons. The Giants earned five playoff berths and won two Super Bowls in the seven seasons from 1984-90. In 1986, Taylor had an NFL-high 20.5 sacks, earned AP NFL MVP honors and led the Giants to a Super Bowl XXI victory.


2. 1970s Steelers - Hall of Famers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert led a corps which included Andy Russell and Loren Toews on one of the most dominant defenses of the 1970s. The Steelers won four Super Bowls in six seasons and allowed the fewest points in the AFC in four of the five seasons from 1974-78.

1. Jim Mora's Saints - Led by Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills and Pat Swilling, the Saints had six consecutive .500-or-better campaigns from 1987-92. In 1992, the Saints won 12 games and allowed the fewest points and passing yards in the NFL. All four linebackers were selected to the Pro Bowl following that campaign.

Apparently, this board's experts were not entirely in left field by coming up with the 1970's Steelers, on our on, as the best of all time.

Again, I loved that Saints defense, but when you look at this list they were the only team of the 10 that did not win at least a conference championship (The mid-90's Steelers were the only other group that did not win at least one Super Bowl, but they did win the AFC Championship).

The Saints definately should have been in the Top 10, but to put them at number 1, the voter panel must have been composed on Bum Phillips, Hank Stram, Jim Mora and Mike Ditka.

[The Historian]

The NFL Network will replay this show at 8 p.m. CDT today, June 10, and at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, June 11.

[DAWG DUDE]

How about Greg Ellis, Bradie James, Zach Thomas, and Demarcus Ware?

[Reckless Abandon]

Those Saints teams had the misfortune of playing in the same division as the 49ers. If there was a wild card back then, I really think they might have gone to a super bowl.

[domangue]

Apparently, this board's experts were not entirely in left field by coming up with the 1970's Steelers, on our on, as the best of all time.

Again, I loved that Saints defense, but when you look at this list they were the only team of the 10 that did not win at least a conference championship (The mid-90's Steelers were the only other group that did not win at least one Super Bowl, but they did win the AFC Championship).

The Saints definately should have been in the Top 10, but to put them at number 1, the voter panel must have been composed on Bum Phillips, Hank Stram, Jim Mora and Mike Ditka.

Yeah, the Saints aren't as "nationally relevant" as the Cowboys. Oh, wait a minute, aren't you the same guy that wrote the retarded Tech Talk blog?

[TechDawgMc]

Those Saints teams had the misfortune of playing in the same division as the 49ers. If there was a wild card back then, I really think they might have gone to a super bowl.

There's been a wild card since 1970. There were at least two during the 90s.

[Reckless Abandon]

There's been a wild card since 1970. There were at least two during the 90s.

You are absolutely correct. I was very young in the late 80s so I was mainly going by what I had heard. Thats what I get for not looking it up. They were 12-3 in 87 and got SMOKED by Minnesota in the wild card game.

[skilldawg]

Yeah, the Saints aren't as "nationally relevant" as the Cowboys. Oh, wait a minute, aren't you the same guy that wrote the retarded Tech Talk blog?

???????