Linebacker Experiment (by expinch)

Danno · 12-30-2003, 02:33 PM

I usually don't re-post someone else's post but this guy's research is worthy of theft and I wanted to share it with all of you guys and see if you're as convinced as I am that we need a complete overhaul of our linebackers.
ItÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã¢Â„Â¢s the most compelling evidence of our defense's weakness that I've seen in quite a while.

Great post by expinch of WDZ....

This is particularly for the people who don't believe linebackers should be our #1 priority in the offseason.

Earlier this year I tested my theory that our linebackers aren't worth poop by doing a little experiment. As I have stated before, I believe a defense is only as good as their linebackers, and how the linebackers go, the defense goes. So what I did was list the top 10 teams in overall defense in the NFL for the 2003 Regular Season, then I listed the 2 top tacklers for each team and their respective position. The Saints are added at the end, draw your own conclusions.

#1 Overall Defense - Dallas Cowboys
#1 Tackler - Dat Nguyen - ILB
#2 Tackler - Dexter Coakley - OLB

#2 Overall Defense -Buffalo Bills
#1 Tackler - London Fletcher - MLB
#2 Tackler - Takeo Spikes - OLB

#3 Overall Defense - Baltimore Ravens
#1 Tackler - Ray Lewis - ILB -
#2 Tackler - Edgerton Hartwell - ILB

#4 Overall Defense - Denver Broncos
#1 Tackler - Al Wilson - MLB
#2 Tackler - Nick Ferguson - FS

#5 Overall Defense - Tampa Bay Bucs
#1 Tackler - Derrick Brooks - OLB
#2 Tackler - Ronde Barber - CB

#6 Overall Defense - Jacksonville Jags
#1 Tackler - Akin Ayondele - OLB
#2 Tackler - Mike Peterson - MLB

#7 Overall Defense - New England Patriots
#1 Tackler - Tedy Bruschi - MLB
#2 Tackler - Rodney Harrison - SS

#8 Overall Defense - Carolina Patriots
#1 Tackler - Will Witherspoon - MLB
#2 Tackler - Mike Minter - FS

#9 Overall Defense - Pittsburg Steelers
#1 Tackler - James Farrior - ILB
#2 Tackler - Kendrell Bell - ILB

#10 Overall Defense - Miami Dolphins
#1 Tackler - Zach Thomas - MLB
#2 Tackler - Junior Seau - OLB

And finally the New Orleans Saints
#1 Tackler - Jay Bellamy - SS
#2 Tackler - Fred Thomas - CB

I don't have time to check, but I"d be willing to bet the Saints are the only team in the NFL who didn't have a linebacker eiher be the leading tackler or the 2nd leading tackler. Our defense is going to suck until we upgrade these guys across the board, write it down.

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12-30-2003, 02:33 PM	#1
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,747	Linebacker Experiment (by expinch) I usually don't re-post someone else's post but this guy's research is worthy of theft and I wanted to share it with all of you guys and see if you're as convinced as I am that we need a complete overhaul of our linebackers. ItÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã¢Â„Â¢s the most compelling evidence of our defense's weakness that I've seen in quite a while. Great post by expinch of WDZ.... This is particularly for the people who don't believe linebackers should be our #1 priority in the offseason. Earlier this year I tested my theory that our linebackers aren't worth poop by doing a little experiment. As I have stated before, I believe a defense is only as good as their linebackers, and how the linebackers go, the defense goes. So what I did was list the top 10 teams in overall defense in the NFL for the 2003 Regular Season, then I listed the 2 top tacklers for each team and their respective position. The Saints are added at the end, draw your own conclusions. #1 Overall Defense - Dallas Cowboys #1 Tackler - Dat Nguyen - ILB #2 Tackler - Dexter Coakley - OLB #2 Overall Defense -Buffalo Bills #1 Tackler - London Fletcher - MLB #2 Tackler - Takeo Spikes - OLB #3 Overall Defense - Baltimore Ravens #1 Tackler - Ray Lewis - ILB - #2 Tackler - Edgerton Hartwell - ILB #4 Overall Defense - Denver Broncos #1 Tackler - Al Wilson - MLB #2 Tackler - Nick Ferguson - FS #5 Overall Defense - Tampa Bay Bucs #1 Tackler - Derrick Brooks - OLB #2 Tackler - Ronde Barber - CB #6 Overall Defense - Jacksonville Jags #1 Tackler - Akin Ayondele - OLB #2 Tackler - Mike Peterson - MLB #7 Overall Defense - New England Patriots #1 Tackler - Tedy Bruschi - MLB #2 Tackler - Rodney Harrison - SS #8 Overall Defense - Carolina Patriots #1 Tackler - Will Witherspoon - MLB #2 Tackler - Mike Minter - FS #9 Overall Defense - Pittsburg Steelers #1 Tackler - James Farrior - ILB #2 Tackler - Kendrell Bell - ILB #10 Overall Defense - Miami Dolphins #1 Tackler - Zach Thomas - MLB #2 Tackler - Junior Seau - OLB And finally the New Orleans Saints #1 Tackler - Jay Bellamy - SS #2 Tackler - Fred Thomas - CB I don't have time to check, but I"d be willing to bet the Saints are the only team in the NFL who didn't have a linebacker eiher be the leading tackler or the 2nd leading tackler. Our defense is going to suck until we upgrade these guys across the board, write it down.