Lewis & Reed

[skinsfaninok]

After sitting here watching the colts completely shut down Baltimore, I started thinking to myself.. And I asked are Ray Lewis and Ed reed the best players to ever play their positions? I'm only 23 so I really never saw lott or LT play in their primes, but there is no doubt in my mind that in the 17 years that I've watched football that Lewis is the best LB I've seen. He is simply dominant, and as far as reed goes.. He has got to be the best playmaking safety ever. I just wanted to discuss something different ( plus I'm bored). What do you all think?

[KLHJ2]

I think that I am out of alcohol and judging by this thread you are too. JK

I would never take anything away from Lott or LT. I mean Lott amputated his finger to continue to play in a game. Reed and Lott are two different types of safties actually. The same goes for LT and Lewis. LT was one of the first effective pass rushing OLB's. Ray Lewis is just a wild man who has a knack for finding the ball and making tackles. It is hard to say that any is better than the other because they all bring something different and spectacular to the table.

[GMScud]

I don't know if Ray Lewis is the best LB ever, but IMO he's the best since LT. You also have to think of guys like Butkus, Lambert, and Nitschke. I'd have him in the top three with LT and Butkus.

Ed Reed is amazing. As far as the past 20+ years go, I'd probably take him over Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson.

You can make a strong argument that they are the two best to ever play their respective positions.

[SFREDSKIN]

Lawrence Taylor and Jack Lambert are the best LB's I've ever seen, Ronnie Lott was a great safety as was Ken Houston (2 different eras). Reed and Lewis are great but in my opinion if I was building a team I would take Taylor and Lott. By the way, if it was possible to make a trade I would send Landry and Moss to Baltimore for Reed.

[jamf]

I wouldn't put Lewis in the class of LT or Singletary. Ive never seen Ray Nitchke, Butkus or Lambert play but they were dominant in an era when the game was much more violent. Lewis is probably the premier Middle Linebacker of his time but I think Patrick Willis will surpass him if he gets a better team around him.

Ed Reed amazes me. I've never seen a Safety control the secondary like him. I think Lott was a better all around Safety because he was so dominant in the running game and intimidating WRs. I wish I could've seen Ken Houston play...

[GMScud]

Yeah, when LT was in his prime I was like 8 years old, so I don't remember a lot of him. Ray is the best LB I've ever seen as an adult.

I'd take Reed over any other safety just because he so often makes those huge momentum type plays that really change a game.

And I stand by the statement that barring injury, Sean Taylor would have wound up as the best safety of all time.

[djnemo65]

It's pretty hard to compare Ray Lewis and LT since they played completely different positions and were thus asked to do different things. As far as modern MLB's go, Lewis is the gold standard.

And I think it's very likely that in 20 years people will talk about Reed as a Mt. Rushmore safety.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Let me start by saying that it makes me sick to say this - What makes Ray Lewis so incredible is how smart he plays. Having him on the field is like having a D-coordinator out there. He's constantly moving his guys into position and sniffing out plays before the snap. I think part of the reason that he has been so effective for so long is that he just knows what's happening on just about every snap so he can avoid the blockers and the tricks.

I don't know about best ever but he has to be in the conversation.

And Ed Reed is just a fantastic player.

[12thMan]

I think Ray Lewis is a great linebacker who is the most intense player to ever play at that position, but not the most dominant. If there was ever a defensive player that epitomized warrior and raw emotion, it's most definitely Ray Lewis.

As far as Reed goes, besides Lawrence Taylor, he's the most dominant player in NFL history. I know some will disagree with that statement, especially given the position Reed plays. But I've pretty much followed the guy, like most here, since the U and he consistently comes up with either game winning or game changing plays; week after week, year after year. Ed Reed is undoubtedly the best saftey to ever play in the National Football League. Yes, Ronnie Lott included. Another thing Reed rarely get's credit for is his football IQ. I guess that's because he's so athletic and versatile, but he's probably one of the most intelligent if not the most intelligent defensive player in the game today.

What made Ronnie Lott unique to me is that he played like a linebacker in a safety's body. He absolutely had no regard for his physical well being or that of his opponent. If Ronnie Lott played in this era, he'd get hit with fines every other week. People forget that he started out playing corner and moved to safety later in his career. Great player though.

[skinsfaninok]

I would have loved to see lott play in his prime, IMO reed is by far the best since the lott era. Lewis is just a beast , he has got to be in the top 4 ever . Like I said I was just bored and wanted to start a good conversation lol

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

Lawrence Taylor and Jack Lambert are the best LB's I've ever seen, Ronnie Lott was a great safety as was Ken Houston (2 different eras). Reed and Lewis are great but in my opinion if I was building a team I would take Taylor and Lott. By the way, if it was possible to make a trade I would send Landry and Moss to Baltimore for Reed.

Jack Lambert was probably my favorite player all time and Ken Houston was amazing. All of these guys made defense fun to watch. It would be hard to say any LB was better than Taylor. The dude was an animal on the field. LT probably had the biggest impact on the OLB position than anyone but as far as MLB...I'd take Lambert. I'd take Houston as my safety.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by skinsfaninok

I would have loved to see lott play in his prime, IMO reed is by far the best since the lott era. Lewis is just a beast , he has got to be in the top 4 ever . Like I said I was just bored and wanted to start a good conversation lol

Ronnie Lott was just a bad ass. Plain and simple. He would just slam into guys and they'd hit the ground like they just got hit by a 250lb linebacker. That's one of the reasons he had to move to safety, all the rugged play just took it's toll on his body.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Jack Lambert was probably my favorite player all time and Ken Houston was amazing. All of these guys made defense fun to watch. It would be hard to say any LB was better than Taylor. The dude was an animal on the field. LT probably had the biggest impact on the OLB position than anyone but as far as MLB...I'd take Lambert. I'd take Houston as my safety.

I never really bought into the hype about Jack Lambert. Don't get me wrong, he was awesome. But he had Mean Joe Green, LC Greenwood, Mel Blount, Jack Ham, and a gang of other perennial Pro-Bowlers on defense. The Steelers were stacked.

Actually in today's NFL, Lambert wouldn't stand a chance. I think he weighed something like 218 pounds, 220 pounds on a good day.

[WaldSkins]

Two words - Sean Taylor

[skinsfaninok]

Originally Posted by WaldSkins

Two words - Sean Taylor

Love ST but he didn't get that chance he would have been a HOF