Jump to content

Who are the top 5 greatest 3-4 Inside Linebackers of all-time?


Who is the # 1 greatest 3-4 Inside Linebacker of all-time?  

9 members have voted

  1. 1. Who is the # 1 greatest 3-4 Inside Linebacker of all-time?

    • Ray Lewis, BAL (1996-2012)
    • Sam Mills, NO/CAR (1986-1997)
      0
    • Patrick Willis, SF (2007-2014)
    • James Farrior, NYJ/PIT (1997-2011)
      0
    • Karl Mecklenburg, DEN (1983-1994)
      0
    • Harry Carson, NYG (1976-1988)
    • Randy Gradishar, DEN (1974-1983)
      0
    • NaVorro Bowman, SF/OAK (2010-2017)
      0
    • Bill Bergey, CIN/PHI (1969-1980)
      0
    • Levon Kirkland, PIT/SEA/PHI (1992-2002)
      0
    • Derrick Johnson, KC/OAK (2005-2018)
      0
    • Lawrence Timmons, PIT/MIA (2007-2017)
      0
    • Pepper Johnson, NYG/CLE/DET/NYJ (1986-1998)
      0
    • Karlos Dansby, AZ/MIA/CLE/CIN (2004-2017)
      0
    • David Harris, NYJ/NE (2007-2017)
      0
    • Chris Spielman, DET/BUF (1988-1997)
      0
    • C.J. Mosley, BAL/NYJ (2014-present)
      0
    • Keith Brooking, ATL/DAL/DEN (1998-2012)
      0
    • Donnie Edwards, KC/SD (1996-2008)
      0
    • OTHER (Specify in thread)
      0
  2. 2. Who is the # 2 greatest 3-4 Inside Linebacker of all-time?

    • Ray Lewis, BAL (1996-2012)
      0
    • Sam Mills, NO/CAR (1986-1997)
    • Patrick Willis, SF (2007-2014)
    • James Farrior, NYJ/PIT (1997-2011)
    • Karl Mecklenburg, DEN (1983-1994)
    • Harry Carson, NYG (1976-1988)
    • Randy Gradishar, DEN (1974-1983)
      0
    • NaVorro Bowman, SF/OAK (2010-2017)
      0
    • Bill Bergey, CIN/PHI (1969-1980)
      0
    • Levon Kirkland, PIT/SEA/PHI (1992-2002)
      0
    • Derrick Johnson, KC/OAK (2005-2018)
    • Lawrence Timmons, PIT/MIA (2007-2017)
      0
    • Pepper Johnson, NYG/CLE/DET/NYJ (1986-1998)
      0
    • Karlos Dansby, AZ/MIA/CLE/CIN (2004-2017)
      0
    • David Harris, NYJ/NE (2007-2017)
      0
    • Chris Spielman, DET/BUF (1988-1997)
      0
    • C.J. Mosley, BAL/NYJ (2014-present)
      0
    • Keith Brooking, ATL/DAL/DEN (1998-2012)
      0
    • Donnie Edwards, KC/SD (1996-2008)
      0
    • OTHER (Specify in thread)
      0
  3. 3. Who is the # 3 greatest 3-4 Inside Linebacker of all-time?

    • Ray Lewis, BAL (1996-2012)
      0
    • Sam Mills, NO/CAR (1986-1997)
    • Patrick Willis, SF (2007-2014)
    • James Farrior, NYJ/PIT (1997-2011)
    • Karl Mecklenburg, DEN (1983-1994)
      0
    • Harry Carson, NYG (1976-1988)
      0
    • Randy Gradishar, DEN (1974-1983)
    • NaVorro Bowman, SF/OAK (2010-2017)
      0
    • Bill Bergey, CIN/PHI (1969-1980)
      0
    • Levon Kirkland, PIT/SEA/PHI (1992-2002)
    • Derrick Johnson, KC/OAK (2005-2018)
      0
    • Lawrence Timmons, PIT/MIA (2007-2017)
      0
    • Pepper Johnson, NYG/CLE/DET/NYJ (1986-1998)
      0
    • Karlos Dansby, AZ/MIA/CLE/CIN (2004-2017)
      0
    • David Harris, NYJ/NE (2007-2017)
      0
    • Chris Spielman, DET/BUF (1988-1997)
    • C.J. Mosley, BAL/NYJ (2014-present)
      0
    • Keith Brooking, ATL/DAL/DEN (1998-2012)
      0
    • Donnie Edwards, KC/SD (1996-2008)
      0
    • OTHER (Specify in thread)
      0
  4. 4. Who is the # 4 greatest 3-4 Inside Linebacker of all-time?

    • Ray Lewis, BAL (1996-2012)
      0
    • Sam Mills, NO/CAR (1986-1997)
    • Patrick Willis, SF (2007-2014)
    • James Farrior, NYJ/PIT (1997-2011)
      0
    • Karl Mecklenburg, DEN (1983-1994)
    • Harry Carson, NYG (1976-1988)
    • Randy Gradishar, DEN (1974-1983)
      0
    • NaVorro Bowman, SF/OAK (2010-2017)
      0
    • Bill Bergey, CIN/PHI (1969-1980)
    • Levon Kirkland, PIT/SEA/PHI (1992-2002)
      0
    • Derrick Johnson, KC/OAK (2005-2018)
    • Lawrence Timmons, PIT/MIA (2007-2017)
      0
    • Pepper Johnson, NYG/CLE/DET/NYJ (1986-1998)
      0
    • Karlos Dansby, AZ/MIA/CLE/CIN (2004-2017)
    • David Harris, NYJ/NE (2007-2017)
      0
    • Chris Spielman, DET/BUF (1988-1997)
      0
    • C.J. Mosley, BAL/NYJ (2014-present)
      0
    • Keith Brooking, ATL/DAL/DEN (1998-2012)
      0
    • Donnie Edwards, KC/SD (1996-2008)
      0
    • OTHER (Specify in thread)
      0
  5. 5. Who is the # 5 greatest 3-4 Inside Linebacker of all-time?

    • Ray Lewis, BAL (1996-2012)
      0
    • Sam Mills, NO/CAR (1986-1997)
    • Patrick Willis, SF (2007-2014)
      0
    • James Farrior, NYJ/PIT (1997-2011)
      0
    • Karl Mecklenburg, DEN (1983-1994)
      0
    • Harry Carson, NYG (1976-1988)
      0
    • Randy Gradishar, DEN (1974-1983)
      0
    • NaVorro Bowman, SF/OAK (2010-2017)
    • Bill Bergey, CIN/PHI (1969-1980)
    • Levon Kirkland, PIT/SEA/PHI (1992-2002)
      0
    • Derrick Johnson, KC/OAK (2005-2018)
      0
    • Lawrence Timmons, PIT/MIA (2007-2017)
      0
    • Pepper Johnson, NYG/CLE/DET/NYJ (1986-1998)
      0
    • Karlos Dansby, AZ/MIA/CLE/CIN (2004-2017)
      0
    • David Harris, NYJ/NE (2007-2017)
      0
    • Chris Spielman, DET/BUF (1988-1997)
    • C.J. Mosley, BAL/NYJ (2014-present)
      0
    • Keith Brooking, ATL/DAL/DEN (1998-2012)
      0
    • Donnie Edwards, KC/SD (1996-2008)
    • OTHER (Specify in thread)
      0


Recommended Posts

Leading up to the start of the season, I'll be posting a thread once every day or so devoted to determine the top 5 all-time at each position, as voted on by JN.

I am using football-reference.com's AV (Approximate Value) metric to help compare across eras.  The "Peak AV Average" means the average "score" for each player's among their top 5 performing years in the league, to help establish which players had the high peaks and which players were more of the "compilers" over a long career.  Utilizing a "peak AV" also allows for players with careers shortened by injury to be included.

Also note that AV only goes back so far, so some players from the earliest days in NFL history (primarily the 30s, 40s and early 50s) are, unfortunately, excluded.

 

Late last week, JN voted on Left Tackles:

 

 

 

Today, we vote on 3-4 Inside Linebackers!

Below are the candidates and their resumes, ranked in the order weighted by AV/Peak AV:

 

1.  Ray Lewis, BAL (1996-2012)

  • Career AV:  224
  • Peak AV Average:  18
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  7
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  12

2.  Sam Mills, NO/CAR (1986-1997)

  • Career AV:  127
  • Peak AV Average:  16
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  5

3.  Patrick Willis, SF (2007-2014)

  • Career AV:  108
  • Peak AV Average:  16
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  5
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  7

4.  James Farrior, NYJ/PIT (1997-2011)

  • Career AV:  128
  • Peak AV Average:  14
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  2

5.  Karl Mecklenburg, DEN (1983-1994)

  • Career AV:  114
  • Peak AV Average:  15
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  3
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  6

6.  Harry Carson, NYG (1976-1988)

  • Career AV:  126
  • Peak AV Average:  12
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  0
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  9

7.  Randy Gradishar, DEN (1974-1983)

  • Career AV:  106
  • Peak AV Average:  14
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  2
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  7

8.  NaVorro Bowman, SF/OAK (2010-2017)

  • Career AV:  78
  • Peak AV Average:  15
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  4
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  3

9.  Bill Bergey, CIN/PHI (1969-1980)

  • Career AV:  111
  • Peak AV Average:  12
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  2
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  4

10.  Levon Kirkland, PIT/SEA/PHI (1992-2002)

  • Career AV:  99
  • Peak AV Average:  12
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  2

11.  Derrick Johnson, KC/OAK (2005-2018)

  • Career AV:  102
  • Peak AV Average:  11
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  4

12.  Lawrence Timmons, PIT/MIA (2007-2017)

  • Career AV:  89
  • Peak AV Average:  12
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  0
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  1

13.  Pepper Johnson, NYG/CLE/DET/NYJ (1986-1998)

  • Career AV:  99
  • Peak AV Average:  11
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  2

14.  Karlos Dansby, AZ/MIA/CLE/CIN (2004-2017)

  • Career AV:  111
  • Peak AV Average:  10
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  0
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  0

15.  David Harris, NYJ/NE (2007-2017)

  • Career AV:  92
  • Peak AV Average:  11
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  0
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  0

16.  Chris Spielman, DET/BUF (1988-1997)

  • Career AV:  91
  • Peak AV Average:  11
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  4

17.  C.J. Mosley, BAL/NYJ (2014-present)

  • Career AV:  73
  • Peak AV Average:  13
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  0
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  4

18.  Keith Brooking, ATL/DAL/DEN (1998-2012)

  • Career AV:  108
  • Peak AV Average:  9
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  0
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  5

19.  Donnie Edwards, KC/SD (1996-2008)

  • Career AV:  107
  • Peak AV Average:  9
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  0
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  1

 

Just missed the cut:  Tedy Bruschi, Steve Nelson, Shane Conlan, Vaughan Johnson, Matt Millen, Vincent Brown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...