Brian Urlacher Still On Top

by Adam T on May 27, 2009 9:58 AM CDT Comment 19 comments

SportingNews.com has a list up of the top inside linebackers. Brian Urlacher tops the list.

1. Brian Urlacher, Bears. He recorded 90-plus tackles for the eighth time in his nine-year career but didn't make as many impact plays in '08. That has a lot to do with the lack of production from the defensive line. That will change this year, and Urlacher will play with renewed energy after being left off the Pro Bowl roster.

The rest of the best...
2. Patrick Willis, SF
3. Karlos Dansby, AZ
4. Ray Lewis, BALT
5. Jon Beason, CAR
6. DeMeco Ryans, HOU
7. James Farrior, PITT
8. E.J. Henderson, MINN
9. Barrett Rudd, TB
10. Kirk Morrison, OAK

What do you think of the list?

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Comments

Sadly,

I think they got one and two backwards.

by rdent4hof on May 27, 2009 10:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hesitantly agree

I hate to say this, but you’re right. Plus, Tatupu should definitely be up there. And Ray Lewis is too high up…IMO

by chicagoan on May 27, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Afraid I have to disagree with you.

Patrick Willis is definitely a great LB. He will have to play a few more years before he surpasses Urlacher, IMO. I know, Urlacher had an off year last year but that happens. It wasn’t all his fault. The entire defense had an off year due to horse sh&t coaching, again IMO.

As it is the off-season, it is my right to assume/dream, that all that mess has been fixed and the Bears are going to go 16-0 next year all shut outs.

I do think that Willis is going to be a name that we hear for a long time. It is definitely a leg up coming into the league as a LB and playing under Singletary.

by Fridge72 on May 28, 2009 1:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Urlacher can be...

… the best again. I think if the D- line gets that nasty attitude they once had, Urlacher can win his second Defensive Player of the Year award. (Sorry, I do not know how to put quotes in pink) You said, “He will have to play a few more years before he surpasses Urlacher, IMO” I agree, if I were making an all-time list. But if this list is just about the current standings, I’ve got to take Willis.

by rdent4hof on May 28, 2009 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't argue with a bear on top

Period.

When I played I was a triple threat.... Stumble.... Fumble.....Grumble....
"Marcus Harrison iz in ur Backfield sackin ur Quataback!"

by scespy12 on May 27, 2009 10:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lofa Tatupu?

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on May 27, 2009 10:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tapuwho?

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on May 27, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes. And if Marinelli does what we think he can do on that line, we will see it.

when Ray Lewis career was derailed over poor play, it was because there was nothing up front. Just watch, Urlacher’s still got it.

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on May 27, 2009 10:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i agree completely.

if there is no push up front, the next level suffers greatly. lets hope that the front can pull themselves together. and we will see everything else fall back in place.

by chinative on May 27, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shocker

I guess the chief editor at SN is a Bears’ fan.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

"Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack." - Sun Tzu

by propheteer on May 27, 2009 10:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

With all due respect to Brian Urlacher he is no longer at the top of any list

Obviously as fans of the Bears we are bias. But objectively speaking there is no denying that Brian Urlacher isn’t close to being the football player he once was. No surprise given that this will be his 10th year in the league. The Ray Lewis’ of the world are a very rare breed to sustain greatness for so long.

Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...

by BLou on May 27, 2009 12:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I would have to wait until after this year to agree with you

I really do believe that the drop in Urlacher’s play last season was more due to the poor play of the D-line and scheme than it was about his ability. If he has another down year, especially if he line shows improvement, then I’m with you. Even with that, if he’s not at the top of the list, he’s still in the “team picture” for one of the best.

by BearFan611 on May 27, 2009 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would agree..

but Urlacher’s best seasons happened while he had giants playing in front of him. We shall see…

You're being very Un-Dude right now.

by IslandBoodler87 on May 27, 2009 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Urlacher's drop off last year had more to do with the play calling

or lack of play calling than anything. Babich had Ur up or near the line of scrimmage on every play only to have him drop back and try to cover the middle rather than let him play at his natural spot off the line and read and react. By asking Ur to backpedal into every play you negate his greatest asset; his speed. Let him play back off of the line of scrimmage where he can flow to the ball and his productivity will come back. I just hope Lovie’s a better play caller than Bob was. Can’t be much worse!

"Like a young contortionist, for the first time coming into his own...." -Bert Sugar

by Just Dave on May 27, 2009 8:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Babich had Ur up or near the line of scrimmage on every play

And why do you think that was? Just random bad play-calling for the hell of it?

by Dane Noble on May 27, 2009 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously the o-line had its issues

but it got too damn predictable. Try it once and a while. Mix it in. But to cripple one of your best weapons in an essential “gimmick” play consistently is exactly why Bob’s being asked to give back his toys cause play time’s over. It may have been slightly more effective if they have used it in combination with some exotic blitz packages but every time Bob hears the word “exotic” he blushes. Using Ur as a decoy to cover for a poor pass rush was fairly inexcusable in my opinion. That’s all I’m trying to say.

"Like a young contortionist, for the first time coming into his own...." -Bert Sugar

by Just Dave on May 27, 2009 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs