David Robbins
Ole Miss Rocks!
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We have had great Defensive players on our team. And, it was at all 3 units. Never, though, have we had all 3 units having outstanding players all at one time, until now. Is it the best in the league? No! But, it is by far the best Defensive unit we have ever had.
Now, I wanted to take a look at many of the best players we've had in the past, just to see where we stand now. I won't name them all, because there are too many. But, I will try to get as many of the greats as I can. Then, ya'll tell me where the guys we have now stand with all these oldies but goodies. Also, remember that most players on this list will be from the early 80's and onward, because before that, we didn't have much.
D-Line:
Wayne Martin, Frank Warren, Jim Wilkes, Joe Johnson, Will Smith, Le'roi Glover, Norman Hand.
These are the top guys that we've had on the D-Line in the past. In Saints history, there were none better in the history of our team. They could - for the most part - do it all. They all had very little weakness in their game. They could stop the run, and rush the passer. No, they weren't HOF'ers, and the Line's they played on weren't peppered with ALL great players, playing with them. Today, every one of our guys are Pro-Bowl talents. The guys listed above never had that. However, I believe every one of them could play on our Line today, and we wouldn't miss a beat.
IMO, Wayne Martin, and Le'roi Glover are the best of this bunch. You also can't count out Jim Wilkes. Glover is much better than Sheldon Rankins. If you put him on our line today, there is no QB that would rest easy. Wayne Martin and Cameron Jordan are pretty even in talent. However, Wayne blows Davenport away (at this point in his career). If we had Wayne on our Line today, playing with Cam, combined with La'roi Glover, no team would want to play us!
So, what do ya'll think about my accessment? Granted, I have left guys off this list, but I believe this is the best of the bunch. I cannot think of anybody else we've ever had on our team that is better than these guys, or the guys we have playing today.
Linebacker:
Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Pat Swilling, Vaughn Johnson, Jonathan Vilma, Jack Delrio, Scott Shanlee, Scott Fujita, Renaldo Turnbull.
These are all the best we've had, and of course, the first 4 is a given. If they were in their prime, there is no doubt who we would want playing for us. However, when you look at Vilma and Delrio, those are 2 names that could also play with anyone.
Now, today we have Demario Davis. He is head and shoulders above everyone we have at Linebacker today. All the others could be replaced by someone with better talent. Anzalone is injury prone, and A. J. is too slow. Ellis is a rookie, so we don't really know what he will become.
I think it is a given that all the others on this list would be backups to the Dome Patrol. But, if you took the DP out of the conversation, which of these guys could play in place of the guys on our team today? Personally, Vilma and Delrio would get the nod from me. If Jack had played his whole career for us, I believe he would be one of our all time greats. What do ya'll think?
Secondary:
Tommy Myers, Gene Atkins, Sammy Knight, Brett Maxie, Dave Waymer, Ron Harper, Darren Sharper, Jabari Greer, and Tracy Porter.
Man, the cubard is pretty bare in the Secondary for our all time team. Tommy Myers and Sammy Knight could start on any of our teams - including the one today. They were that good. Maxie and Atkins were the standard for us since we became a winning organization, but I believe they would be backups behind Myers and Knight.
Now, we can never forget Dave Waymer. He was great as both a Corner and a Safety. But, would his speed be good enough against todays receivers? To me, the best Corner we've ever had (not counting Lattimore and Apple) is Jabari Greer, and he is the best we've ever had. You could just always count on him to make plays. No, he wasn't a shut down corner, but he could play. The question is, though, could he start for us today, or would he be a backup? What do ya'll think?
This thread is just for fun, but it should provide just a little incite on the history of our Defensive unit. Thought this might bring back memories for all of us. Now, I know there are a lot of great players that I've missed. Sue me, I'm old and can't remember everything. lol. Still, I believe these are the pinnacle of the players we've had. So, tell me what ya'll think, and if I've missed someone you think is better, be sure to write him in there. I'm just curious to know how today's unit stacks up to what we've had in the past.
Now, I wanted to take a look at many of the best players we've had in the past, just to see where we stand now. I won't name them all, because there are too many. But, I will try to get as many of the greats as I can. Then, ya'll tell me where the guys we have now stand with all these oldies but goodies. Also, remember that most players on this list will be from the early 80's and onward, because before that, we didn't have much.
D-Line:
Wayne Martin, Frank Warren, Jim Wilkes, Joe Johnson, Will Smith, Le'roi Glover, Norman Hand.
These are the top guys that we've had on the D-Line in the past. In Saints history, there were none better in the history of our team. They could - for the most part - do it all. They all had very little weakness in their game. They could stop the run, and rush the passer. No, they weren't HOF'ers, and the Line's they played on weren't peppered with ALL great players, playing with them. Today, every one of our guys are Pro-Bowl talents. The guys listed above never had that. However, I believe every one of them could play on our Line today, and we wouldn't miss a beat.
IMO, Wayne Martin, and Le'roi Glover are the best of this bunch. You also can't count out Jim Wilkes. Glover is much better than Sheldon Rankins. If you put him on our line today, there is no QB that would rest easy. Wayne Martin and Cameron Jordan are pretty even in talent. However, Wayne blows Davenport away (at this point in his career). If we had Wayne on our Line today, playing with Cam, combined with La'roi Glover, no team would want to play us!
So, what do ya'll think about my accessment? Granted, I have left guys off this list, but I believe this is the best of the bunch. I cannot think of anybody else we've ever had on our team that is better than these guys, or the guys we have playing today.
Linebacker:
Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Pat Swilling, Vaughn Johnson, Jonathan Vilma, Jack Delrio, Scott Shanlee, Scott Fujita, Renaldo Turnbull.
These are all the best we've had, and of course, the first 4 is a given. If they were in their prime, there is no doubt who we would want playing for us. However, when you look at Vilma and Delrio, those are 2 names that could also play with anyone.
Now, today we have Demario Davis. He is head and shoulders above everyone we have at Linebacker today. All the others could be replaced by someone with better talent. Anzalone is injury prone, and A. J. is too slow. Ellis is a rookie, so we don't really know what he will become.
I think it is a given that all the others on this list would be backups to the Dome Patrol. But, if you took the DP out of the conversation, which of these guys could play in place of the guys on our team today? Personally, Vilma and Delrio would get the nod from me. If Jack had played his whole career for us, I believe he would be one of our all time greats. What do ya'll think?
Secondary:
Tommy Myers, Gene Atkins, Sammy Knight, Brett Maxie, Dave Waymer, Ron Harper, Darren Sharper, Jabari Greer, and Tracy Porter.
Man, the cubard is pretty bare in the Secondary for our all time team. Tommy Myers and Sammy Knight could start on any of our teams - including the one today. They were that good. Maxie and Atkins were the standard for us since we became a winning organization, but I believe they would be backups behind Myers and Knight.
Now, we can never forget Dave Waymer. He was great as both a Corner and a Safety. But, would his speed be good enough against todays receivers? To me, the best Corner we've ever had (not counting Lattimore and Apple) is Jabari Greer, and he is the best we've ever had. You could just always count on him to make plays. No, he wasn't a shut down corner, but he could play. The question is, though, could he start for us today, or would he be a backup? What do ya'll think?
This thread is just for fun, but it should provide just a little incite on the history of our Defensive unit. Thought this might bring back memories for all of us. Now, I know there are a lot of great players that I've missed. Sue me, I'm old and can't remember everything. lol. Still, I believe these are the pinnacle of the players we've had. So, tell me what ya'll think, and if I've missed someone you think is better, be sure to write him in there. I'm just curious to know how today's unit stacks up to what we've had in the past.