All-Decade Defense: Urlacher Gets Featured
by Dane Noble on Jun 22, 2009 12:30 PM CDT
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PrintIt's the time of year when many websites are running their Top-10 Lists, coaches rankings, etc., and ESPN will have a similar feature this week. Even though we still have one year left in this decade, they are doing a daily installment of their "All-Decade" lists.
Today, they have pieced together their All-Decade Defense. Brian Urlacher gets the nod in the Linebacker department.
Linebackers Derrick Brooks, Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher: Brooks has started 16 games in each of the last 13 seasons. He has 17
interceptions this decade. Brooks, released by Tampa Bay in the offseason, brought exceptional quickness to the position even late in his career.
Brooks
Lewis
Urlacher
Lewis and Chicago's Urlacher are sluggers by comparison.
At his best, the 260-pound Urlacher was athletic enough to play the deep middle in coverage, yet strong enough to punish receivers and running backs on underneath plays.
According to the article, Urlacher edged out Zach Thomas. Thomas has had a great career, but in my opinion, there is really no question that Urlacher would win that battle every time.
The rest of the All-Decade Defense is:
DE: Michael Strahan, N.Y. Giants,
DT: Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay/Oakland
DT: Kris Jenkins, Carolina/N.Y. Jets
DE: Jason Taylor, Miami/Washington
LB: Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay
LB: Ray Lewis, Baltimore
LB: Brian Urlacher, Chicago
CB: Champ Bailey, Washington/Denver
CB: Troy Vincent: Phil./Mia./Buff./Wash.
S: Ed Reed, Baltimore
S: Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh
Did ESPN get this right? Would you replace any of these names with someone else?
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1 MLB on the list is enough
I’d take Urlacher off the list… personally I think if you do a best of list, you should be true to the list and name a MLB and 2 OLB’s
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 22, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions
What is a decade?
If it has to be the 10 years starting from 200-2010, then OK. But if it is 1998 to 2008 then it is slightly different. I would have thought Simeon Rice might deserve some mention— if not a real challenge to Jason Taylor. They didn’t even put his name on the list which I think is wrong. That guy dominate for a few years.
Def got the safeties right.
Those guys would still be in every play with that all-world defense. Their instincts are unmatched.
Ronde Barber over Troy Vincent.
That’s the only improvement I can make. I feel like there’s gotta be a better NT than Jenkins but I can’t think of one.
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