Ray Lewis: Greatest LB of All Time?!

[CARavensFan]

Thank you.

Now someone tell the Niner fans that please.
Then again. The logic there is

Bowman>Willis>Lewis

All hail Navarro Bowman. The greatest LB of all time!

 

Well the logic is sound, Bowman is a better all-around LB than Willis and Willis has long be touted as the heir apparent to Ray, so therefore if a guy like Bowman is better than Willis he MUST be better than Ray. It makes perfect sense...

 

 

Not!!!!

[H8R]

Thank you.

Now someone tell the Niner fans that please.
Then again. The logic there is

Bowman>Willis>Lewis

All hail Navarro Bowman. The greatest LB of all time!

 

 

Bowman is a very nice player, I like his game..... but anything more then that is going overboard.

[SecretAgentMan]

Bowman is a very nice player, I like his game..... but anything more then that is going overboard.

Same. I wish we had him lol. But greatest EVAR? No. Very good though

[SecretAgentMan]

Well the logic is sound, Bowman is a better all-around LB than Willis and Willis has long be touted as the heir apparent to Ray, so therefore if a guy like Bowman is better than Willis he MUST be better than Ray. It makes perfect sense...



Not!!!!

Sometimes I wonder if the fog in SF is actually smoke from weed

[CARavensFan]

Sometimes I wonder if the fog in SF is actually smoke from weed

 

You wonder??

[billick]

It is the int's that seperate Ray from the pack.

 

Lewis was the first LB to play from scrimmage line to goal line, the rest played sideline to sideline.

 

LT was a freak, a massive, powerful human who was able to get to the QB early and often.

 

Sacks are a key stat, but takeways rule the roost.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

Yo Johnnyboy were are you getting these stats from? Also is stuff just another word for TFL or is it a tackle for less then a 3 yard gain or what?

A "Stuff" is a tackle on a run play that results in a loss of yardage. They do not include sacks in the total obviously.

The best place to get the number for every season is the player pages on cnnsi.com.

[raywho1]

While I know that it is good for debating purposes, I don't believe in putting the goat label on individuals in team sports.  It is just to subjective.  Obviously, most on this site will say lewis is the best ever.  If this poll were on the Giants site, most would say Taylor. Personally, give me Jack Lambert and I will be happy to line up and play anyone.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

It is the int's that seperate Ray from the pack.

 

Lewis was the first LB to play from scrimmage line to goal line, the rest played sideline to sideline.

 

LT was a freak, a massive, powerful human who was able to get to the QB early and often.

 

Sacks are a key stat, but takeways rule the roost.

 

A sack on 3rd down is basically a takeaway.

 

And if you look at the stats as far as offensive drives where the QB takes a sack, a very high percentage end in punts. Not all the time of course, but a very high majority do so sacks lead to a change in possession very frequently.

 

Not that I disagree with you, just adding to the conversation.

[flaccopoe]

A sack on 3rd down is basically a takeaway.

 

And if you look at the stats as far as offensive drives where the QB takes a sack, a very high percentage end in punts. Not all the time of course, but a very high majority do so sacks lead to a change in possession very frequently.

 

Not that I disagree with you, just adding to the conversation.

 

Only 18% of sacks result in fumbles.  47% of sack fumbles turn into TOs.  Thus, less than 9% of sacks result in TOs.

 

http://www.advancednflstats.com/2010/01/fumble-rates-by-play-type.html

[5aiah]

Only 18% of sacks result in fumbles.  47% of sack fumbles turn into TOs.  Thus, less than 9% of sacks result in TOs.

 

http://www.advancednflstats.com/2010/01/fumble-rates-by-play-type.html

He was bringing up "sack causes punt" as a takeaway of sorts. That brings up a whole lot of other stuff for both sides though. Like I said before, stats aren't what makes Ray the greatest Defensive player of all time. 

[jdynamite]

LT was a revolutionary player, he wasn't just a pass rusher, he was a defensive terror. Offenses literally game planned around him and still couldn't stop him period.

Ray Lewis - is the only LB that should be spoken in the same breath as LT unless you are speaking to some really old people that want to bring up Dick Butkus, ( Jack Ham & Lambert cancel each other , Ray Lewis may get the edge because of longevity and leadership....


A player that gets over looked as one of greatest LBs is probably Seau, he had the stats, longevity was an extremely emotional leader on field also and played both inside and outside backer.... (no I don't rank him above Lewis, LT, or Singletary, I just wanted to give him some props. )

[Ravenseconbeast]

As good as P.Willis is atm, he'll never EVER match what Ray Lewis has done.

Ray mentored hundreds of players, something Willis still hasnt done outside 9ers. Ray played for 17 years (over a decade @ top 5 LB), 2DPOY, sMvP, +11 pro bowls, seven nfl records.

Willis has 12 more years, 100s of nfl players to mentor, become 2x Dpoy, double digit pro bowl(starter), be mvp @ sb, and top over +7 nfl records to top Ray. Let me know when Willis can do that, then you can talk.

[flaccopoe]

As good as P.Willis is atm, he'll never EVER match what Ray Lewis has done.

Ray mentored hundreds of players, something Willis still hasnt done outside 9ers. Ray played for 17 years (over a decade @ top 5 LB), 2DPOY, sMvP, +11 pro bowls, seven nfl records.

Willis has 12 more years, 100s of nfl players to mentor, become 2x Dpoy, double digit pro bowl(starter), be mvp @ sb, and top over +7 nfl records to top Ray. Let me know when Willis can do that, then you can talk.

 

I think it could be a VERY long time before we see another LB win the SBMVP.

[SecretAgentMan]

I think it could be a VERY long time before we see another LB win the SBMVP.

For a LB yes.
If the Texans win the SB any time soon, I'd give it to Watt if he has a good game.
He's just that good IMHO. I haven't ever been that high on a defensive player lol

[PurpleCityLights]

nobody voted for Mike lol.

[izvoodoo]

For a LB yes.
If the Texans win the SB any time soon, I'd give it to Watt if he has a good game.
He's just that good IMHO. I haven't ever been that high on a defensive player lol

Honestly Watt, Ray and Reggie White are the best Defensive players I've ever seen.

 

I picked LT.  Because he basically invented the 3-4 in todays game.