Continuing discussion of professional sport’s Goats and Botes, the best of all time and best of their generation, it is important to understand that there are no absolutes. People have different standards surrounding a player’s level of greatness. Considering all factors, such as individual success versus team success, the question remains as to what is most significant in evaluating athletes’ impact on their sports. 

In the National Football League, these questions are especially layered. As there are so many players and many more player positions compared to other sports, it makes it even more difficult. In attempting to define the greatness of a player in pro football, people often make the mistake of comparing different positions. It is sheer folly. There are too many considerations to take into account, such as technical and instinctive knowledge of the position’s requirements for success. Other factors include differing levels of athleticism, IQ for the sport, and certain intangibles that may make one player better than his peers. 

In football, injuries are the largest common denominator. It is a sport that requires a high pain threshold. They say that every NFL player is injured to some degree at all times, because of the the physically lethal nature of the sport. Clearly some injuries are worse than others. A player’s career could be over at any moment, whether it be due to an especially hard hit or just a freak injury that is completely unexpected. In fact, it is ingrained in football players to expect the unexpected. Their careers could end on any given Sunday, so they had better make the best of what they have right now, both on the field and off (contractually). Working hard to keep their bodies in prime shape is vital, through weight lifting, improving flexibility, and also mental training. Preparation is also key. Film study becomes an absolute necessity. The difference between winning and losing may come down to one play that is impacted by a player’s study of the opponent’s tendencies in certain situations. That one play can make or break an entire career, so staying sharp both mentally and physically becomes monumental. 

I am going to attempt to evaluate the best players at each position on defense, through a generational timeline. As implied earlier, discussion of the best players remains confined to certain borders, e.g. offense versus defense, and then a breakdown of each individual position on both sides of the ball. Pundits are always claiming that this player or that player is the best football player ever. There are too many things wrong with that approach to even mention. First of all, you cannot proclaim one player better overall than another when they play two entirely different positions. It defies all logic. You cannot call a quarterback a better football player than a linebacker, for example, when each has his own specialized domain. The quarterback is not a better linebacker than the other, and the linebacker is not a better quarterback. It may be an oversimplification, yet it must be stated. 

Furthermore, offensive players always receive more glory than defensive players. It is just a fact. They may both have equal impact, or more, but that doesn’t matter when they show the highlights of the game. Inevitably a quarterback or receiver will get more credit for winning. They show a defensive play only if there is a sack or a turnover involved. There is a well known philosophy that “defense wins championships.” It is true. Your team is less likely to win if you can’t stop the other team from scoring. Of course, offense plays an equal part, but the problem is that the offense usually gets too much credit. In the playoffs defense becomes an even greater element. Scores are usually lower because only the best teams remain in contention, and those teams must have a strong defense (and offense). 

There is one approach to this debate that I like to make. If you could choose the greatest offensive players of all time or the best defensive players in history at each position as your ‘fantasy’ team, one side only, which would you prefer? For me, it would be defense every time. If a team can’t score, they can’t win. I would take my chances with Deacon Jones and Dick Butkus over any offensive player, even the best quarterbacks. If a QB is constantly under assault, it doesn’t matter how good he is. The pressure from the defense becomes too severe to make any progress. Sure, I would love to have Johny Unitas as my QB throwing to Jerry Rice, but it would make no difference against a team composed of the best all time defensive players. 

Since the offense usually gets all of the glory, let’s start with the best defensive players at the top tier, in a generational timeline. These players are the best of their eras (Botes) and part of a timeline of potential Goats. 

Having a strong defensive line is imperative for a defense. It is the first layer of the defense that the offense must overcome. If the line is weak, then the offensive line can dominate a game running and passing the ball. It is all about controlling the line of scrimmage. A defensive tackle or end must be able to stop the run and pass equally well, not just one or the other. Some defensive linemen receive more acclaim sacking than others, yet ideally they should be well rounded. The best defensive tackles in football history are Bob Lilly (Dallas in 60’s and early 70’s), Joe Greene (Steelers in 70’s), Alan Page (60’s and 70’s), Buck Buchanon (60’s to early 70’s), Merlin Olson (60’s and 70’s), and Randy White (Dallas 70’s and 80’s). One current player, Aaron Donald, is already considered among the top tier, also. Whether he will eventually reach the level of the Goats, Lilly, Greene, Page, and White, is the only question. 

Defensive End has always been the so called “glory position” of the defense, and it reached even higher levels of acclaim with certain stars, starting in the 50’s and 60’s. The QB Sack became an added barometer for success at the position. It is basically the defensive equivalent to a touchdown on offense. Doug Atkins (Bears in 50’s and 60’s) was considered the original Goat. Gino Marchetti (Colts in 50’s and 60’s) dominated in the same era. Then Deacon Jones (Rams) held court in the 60’s and early 70’s. Reggie White (Packers in 80’s and 90’s) and Bruce Smith (Bills in 80’s and 90’s) were the best modern defensive ends, along with Charles Haley (Dallas in 90’s: 5 time Super Bowl winner), among others. Deacon Jones and Reggie White are generally considered the Goats. In fact, Deacon was the first person to give the taking down of a QB its proper nomenclature, the Sack, in the 1960’s. It is only fitting that he is one of the Goats. 

Linebackers are vital to the defense. They require the most versatility in football, much like a midfielder in soccer. They must be jacks of all trades, taking on aspects of the defensive line in front of them and traits of defensive backs behind them. They must be strong tacklers against the run, while playing a key role in stopping an offense’s passing attack. Middle linebackers are sort of the quarterbacks of the defense, calling the plays. Without a stellar middle linebacker, a defense will likely struggle. Outside linebackers are equally important. They should be adept at both run stopping and rushing the quarterback. The Sack became an added layer of an outside linebacker’s prowess in the 80’s with the fearsome rushing skills of Lawrence Taylor. He brought an added excitement to watching the defense for even the casual fan. 

Football’s best middle linebackers are Dick Butkus (Bears in 60’s to early 70’s), Ray Lewis (Ravens in 2000’s), Bill George (Bears in 50’s and 60’s), Mike Singletary (Bears in 80’s), Jack Lambert (Steelers in 70’s to early 80’s), Ray Nitschke (Packers in 60’s), Joe Schmidt (Detroit in 50’s to early 60’s), and Chuck Bednarik (Eagles in 50’s). Dick Butkus, by consensus, is considered the Goat. His frightening physical prowess combined with his off the charts football IQ made him unstoppable. He was a holy terror whom the offense feared to the core. Ray Lewis was likely the second best of all time. His versatile physicality and high IQ made him the best modern middle linebacker. He roamed the field with the best, covering the middle and all areas with dominant tackling skills and remarkably keen instinct.

There have been many exceptional outside linebackers (OLB). Willie Lanier (Kansas City in 60’s and 70’s) may have been the first Goat. Ted Hendricks and Jack Ham were the standard in the 70’s. All three had remarkable all around skill. Then, basically a new outside linebacker (OLB) position was created, the ‘rush linebacker’. Lawrence Taylor (Giants in 80’s), forged with awesome power and speed, became the first OLB to attack the QB on a consistent basis. Once coach Bill Parcells unleashed his supersonic weapon in Taylor, the NFL was never the same. Every team had to find a player like Lawrence Taylor, even though there could be only one at his level. The Sack became a new prerequisite skill for this type of OLB. Derrick Thomas (Kansas City) created a maelstrom of his own in the 90’s. He set the record for the most sacks in one game, with seven (in 1990). However, it is notable that Doug Atkins (DE) holds the unofficial record for a single game, with 12. This was before sacks were officially monitored. Supposedly the original number was a mythical 17, yet some were later considered half sacks. That is an insane number, either way. 

Regarding the OLB position in general, it is impossible to compare the all around skill set of some linebackers to others. The rush linebacker is essentially a different position, so one cannot fairly compare Willie Lanier or Jack Ham to Lawrence Taylor. It is not fair to either party. Let’s just say that Lanier, Ham, and Hendricks are the Goats of the traditional OLB, while Taylor is the undisputed king of the rush LB. The common denominator among all linebackers, middle and outside, is the fear that is instilled in offensive players. Whether it is Butkus or Taylor on the other side of the line, the offense starts with a disadvantage psychologically, before the play is even called. No matter how skilled the quarterback, running back, or receiver, they are beaten already. 

The Secondary is the last line of defense. Safeties and Cornerbacks bear the great responsibility of trying to stop the other team’s running and deep passing threats. I’ll start with the Safety position. As with other positions, a safety must be versatile. It takes a special athlete to excel at safety. It requires superior speed to cover fast receivers, and also the ability to hit a runner with force. Ideally, you want an assassin for run defense combined with the athletic ability of a tiger to handle athletic receivers. The original Goat was Emlen Tunnell (Giants in 50’s). He pioneered the position, setting the standard for all future players. Others along the way have included Ken Houston (Oilers and Washington in 70’s), Larry Wilson (Cardinals in 60’s and 70’s), Paul Krause (Vikings in 60’s and 70’s), Cliff Harris (Dallas in 70’s), Ronnie Lott (49ers in 80’s), Ed Reed (Ravens in 2000’s), and Troy Polamalu (2000’s). It is difficult to narrow it down to only one Goat, as each of them brings unique attributes to the table. Taking the best of each makes the perfect safety. Ken Houston may have been the the best all around, but Tunnell and Ronnie Lott were close, along with Krause’s insatiable knack for interceptions (NFL record 81), Cliff Harris’s brutal hitting, and Wilson’s terrifying ability to rush the QB. 

Cornerback is a lonely position. It is just you, one on one, running backwards against a speed demon with great hands, who can run by you at any moment.. It requires greater speed than a safety, in order to handle the offense’s fastest receivers. More than likely the receiver will be on a deep route, and you are the only one who can prevent the touchdown. It is a unique challenge, and there have been very few have truly excelled at the position at the highest level. Some of the best were Dick “Night Train” Lane (Rams and Lions in 50’s and 60’s), Willie Brown (Packers in 60’s and 70’s), Mel Blount (Steelers in 70’s and early 80’s), Rod Woodson (Steelers and Ravens in 80’s and 90’s), and Deion Sanders (Falcons, 49ers, and Cowboys in 90’s). The Goat comes down to Night Train Lane, Rod Woodson, and Deion Sanders. It is Lane who wins out if all eras are included, Woodson as a hybrid hitter and cover corner, and Sanders as the modern, pure cover corner. Realistically, they were all amazing, but Night Train was the best overall. He could play better in today’s era than Deion would in the 50’s to 70’s, and he was just as great an athlete as Sanders. He played with a reckless abandon in tackling unfortunate receivers who were about to become his next victims. He was the Butkus or Taylor of cornerbacks, and he possessed great speed and athleticism. 

I might take Rod Woodson overall over Deion if he had not suffered the knee injury. He was just as fast as Deion until the injury. After he switched to safety he didn’t do much, except make First Team All Pro for multiple seasons. He was one of the few all time defensive players who made First Team All Pro at two different positions. It is noteworthy that Ronnie Lott also accomplished the feat, first starring at cornerback, then switching to safety. Among the all time best defensive backs, including both corner and safety, and considering both pass and run coverage, Night Train, Houston, Lott, and Woodson might be the best overall. 

In the game of football defense has always held a special place. It embodies the traits of toughness, dedication, and sacrifice that people most associate with the sport. While there have been many brilliant defensive players over the years and decades, only a few have achieved a Goat level status. They are the best, and they will always be among the top tier, no matter who comes along later. Greatness is not a right, yet something earned. These players certainly earned their place. 

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