Pete Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Ronnie Lott. Ed Reed is great, but this is the dawn of great safetys. Bob Sanders, Troy Polamalu, the late Sean Taylor, Brian Dawkins, Adrian Wilson- there are so many great safetys
Alphadawg7 Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Better than Ronnie Lott? Lott was an interception guru as well, getting 63 in his career (reed currently has 43) but he was also a tackler. Lott had over 100 tackles 5 times, while Reed has never done so. He actually only had 41 tackles this year. Your safety shouldnt have that many tackles if the group up front is getting the job done. That means too many times guys were getting tackled down field. Reeds tackle numbers are lower because of the tremendous job being done up front, and if you watch Reed, he is one heck of a tackler too. That being said, at this point, you still have to give it to Lott as best ever, but I think when Reeds career is over he might just over take Lott as best ever. To this point, I would have to agree, he is at least best play making S ever...
No QB - No Bueno Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I always liked Deron Cherry of the Chiefs. Excellent all around player. Has to be top 10 all time.
R. Rich Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I always liked Deron Cherry of the Chiefs. Excellent all around player. Has to be top 10 all time. Not bad. Cherry was a fierce hitter as well as a sound cover guy. Top 10? Maybe. Lemme see.... Ronnie Lott Paul Krause Kenny Easley Ken Houston Willie Wood Sammy Baugh Larry Wilson Donnie Shell Darren Woodson ......is he as good as, or better than, Steve Atwater, Mel Renfro, or John Lynch? I dunno.
Pete Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Not bad. Cherry was a fierce hitter as well as a sound cover guy. Top 10? Maybe. Lemme see.... Ronnie Lott Paul Krause Kenny Easley Ken Houston Willie Wood Sammy Baugh Larry Wilson Donnie Shell Darren Woodson ......is he as good as, or better than, Steve Atwater, Mel Renfro, or John Lynch? I dunno. Good list. I really liked Kenny Easley. Jack Tatum was a ferocious hitter too
Rico Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Not bad. Cherry was a fierce hitter as well as a sound cover guy. Top 10? Maybe. Lemme see.... Ronnie Lott Paul Krause Kenny Easley Ken Houston Willie Wood Sammy Baugh Larry Wilson Donnie Shell Darren Woodson ......is he as good as, or better than, Steve Atwater, Mel Renfro, or John Lynch? I dunno. Renfro played CB.
R. Rich Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Renfro played CB. Thanks for the correction. Still, considering the 9 I listed, and the fact that I didn't list Reed, Lynch, Atwater, or others like Jack Christensen, I don't know if I would consider Cherry as one of the 10 best safeties of all time.
R. Rich Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Good list. I really liked Kenny Easley. Jack Tatum was a ferocious hitter too Easley was awesome. For a strong safety to have over 30 career picks in 7 years, that's pretty solid. Plus, 'til Reed won the DPOY back in '04, the last safety to accomplish that feat? Yep, you guessed it: Easley. Imagine how much more he could've done were it not for the kidney disease that cut his career short.
Rico Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Thanks for the correction. Still, considering the 9 I listed, and the fact that I didn't list Reed, Lynch, Atwater, or others like Jack Christensen, I don't know if I would consider Cherry as one of the 10 best safeties of all time. I wouldn't either, but I would have Ed Reed right below Lott.... though I never saw Sammy Baugh play lol. Don't remember too much about Easley, cause I didn't get to see too many Seahawk games. I don't think he played very long though, at least compared to the others. ETA: Just read your post about the kidney disease.
R. Rich Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I wouldn't either, but I would have Ed Reed right below Lott.... though I never saw Sammy Baugh play lol. Don't remember too much about Easley, cause I didn't get to see too many Seahawk games. I don't think he played very long though, at least compared to the others. Easley played 7 years, racked up 32 picks, was voted to 5 Pro Bowls, and, as I mentioned earlier, was the 1984 Defensive Player of the Year. He had to retire after the '87 season due to a kidney disease. He was voted to the NFL's all 1980s team, and but for the kidney problem, he probably would've cemented his bid for the Hall of Fame.
WellDressed Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Not bad. Cherry was a fierce hitter as well as a sound cover guy. Top 10? Maybe. Lemme see.... Ronnie Lott Paul Krause Kenny Easley Ken Houston Willie Wood Sammy Baugh Larry Wilson Donnie Shell Darren Woodson ......is he as good as, or better than, Steve Atwater, Mel Renfro, or John Lynch? I dunno. Atwater was excellent on a so-so Denver D.
Pete Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Atwater was excellent on a so-so Denver D. Atwater blowing up Christian Okoye on MNF is one of my favorite hits ever. Okoye was never the same player ever after that
Bill from NYC Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Atwater was excellent on a so-so Denver D. I was just going to post about him. He was absolutely great and belongs in the HOF. Atwater and Lott were the best I ever watched.
Bufcomments Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Ronnie Lott is the best I've seen overall But Ed Reed is off the hook when he gets the ball in his hands, but he is a natural playmaker and he benefits by having Ray Lewis in front of him. Ray Lewis demands you play well and it has to rub off on Reed The Bills have to find a Ray Lewis type player that is part coach part animal like Lewis. easier said than done... The Bills had Ed Reed in mind when they drafted Whitner. I wonder if they blitzed Whitner more would he be more effective....
No QB - No Bueno Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Not bad. Cherry was a fierce hitter as well as a sound cover guy. Top 10? Maybe. Lemme see.... Ronnie Lott Paul Krause Kenny Easley Ken Houston Willie Wood Sammy Baugh Larry Wilson Donnie Shell Darren Woodson ......is he as good as, or better than, Steve Atwater, Mel Renfro, or John Lynch? I dunno. I'd take Cherry's all-round game over Lynch and Atwater. Atwater and Lynch were great, but I see them primarily as hitters and run supporters. You couldn't go wrong with them, but I think Cherry was a great hitter and more athletic than either. As for Krause, my recollection of him was that he played deep and smart - I don't remember him being much of a hitter (especially with that D-line).
stuckincincy Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I wonder if they blitzed Whitner more would he be more effective.... They will have to pick shots, with that. When they play their Cover 2, he's generally not close enough to the LOS.
loyal2dagame Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 How many years was Lott a CB & how many of those Ints. came at that position? I can't remember how long he was at corner before switching to the safety positions. Bottom line...both were very very good. If you made me pick one I would take Lott but you can't go wrong there can you? ronnie lott came out in the 81 draft and played cb from 81-84. in 85 he shifted to safety for the rest of his career. he is still the greatest imho in part because players were more likely to let a ball go when they saw him comming in for a hit. intimidation is a factor that can not be measured but is undoubtably important. reed is good, but lott was scary good...... in every way
No QB - No Bueno Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Lott was mediocre in the 90s with the Raiders and Jets. Basically slow and late to the pile. Post 49ers, we used to call him 'late hit' Lott. Playing without regard to his physical well being in the 80's had its toll. Its a joke he made the all NFL 90s decade team.
Recommended Posts