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Discussion: Greatest Giant Linebackers
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davydo56 |
Greatest Giant Linebackers
Dec 24 2008, 5:09 PM EST
It's tough to compare players of different eras, but with that disclaimer, who are the best trio of Giant linebackers that played together? I'm leaning to Taylor, Carson, and Reasons. Anyone have some other great linebacking trios for the Giants?
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RRoble |
1. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Dec 26 2008, 11:03 AM EST
I believe that LT, Carson and Reasons are the best hands down, however, your question caused me to research past NY Giants linebackers over the decades. I did not know Sammy Huff was such an impact player. Below are some comparisons between Huff and Pro Football Weekly's #1 "Inside Linebacker" in NFL history, Mr. Harry Carson.......Sam was on the All-50s team. Did Harry make an All-decade team? Sam made All-Pro 8 times. Harry went to the Pro Bowl 9 times Did he ever make All-Pro? Harry had 11 career interceptions. Sam had 30 Harry had 19 sacks. Sacks weren't recorded when Sam played Harry complained for years that the HOF voters were sportwrtiers. Sam got in easily on the first try. Sam made the list of 100 greatest. Former players voted for those to be included. Harry didn't make it. Harry played most of his career at ILB Sam played his whole career at MLB Harry played with the best LB of all time (LT) and at least three other at least very good LBs (Kelly, Van Pelt, Banks) Sam played alongside good LBs who weren't up to the level of those Harry played with. Sam played with one of the best defensive lines in the league So did Harry. Sam played with a good secondary that included one All-Time great (Emlen Tunnell.) Harry played with a better secondary... 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
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davydo56 |
2. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Dec 27 2008, 1:13 PM EST
Nice info! My dad always talked up Sam Huff and now I know why. Thanks!
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revmoran |
3. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Dec 28 2008, 2:02 PM EST
Back when the players went both ways, Mel Hein could dominate a game on defense the same way LT could. He's in the Hall of Fame as a Center, but in his player bio you'll read that he "could do everything expected of a center and a linebacker and quite a bit more." He played 60 minutes of every game for 15 seasons - 172 consecutive games. If you're talking about all time Giants defensive greats, you have to consider Hein.
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davydo56 |
4. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jan 2 2009, 12:16 AM EST
Who played with Hein in the linebacking corps back then? I agree with RRoble that Taylor, Carson, Reasons were the best trio, but you make a strong case for Hein - Perhaps there's an all-time trio here with players from all eras?
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revmoran |
5. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jan 3 2009, 8:17 PM EST
Through the 1940s there was no free substitution - if a player was taken out of the game in the first half he couldn't go back in until the second half - if he was taken out in the second half, he was done for the day. So players like Ken Strong, Tuffy Leemans, Ward Cuff, Hank Soar, Dale Burnett, Ed Danowski were in the backfield on both offense and defense.
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gmen11 |
6. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jan 13 2009, 2:19 PM EST
Gmen have been blessed with alot of great ones including the LB's already mentioned. Others that were far above average include Pepper Johnson, Byron Hunt, Carl Banks, Jesse Armstead, Mike Barrow, Andy Headon, Brad Van Pelt to name a few.
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RRoble |
7. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jan 13 2009, 5:47 PM EST
How about Antonio Pierce? He probably couldn't play both ways but is well above average.
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VanPeltKelley |
8. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jan 22 2009, 7:57 PM EST
The Giants have been blessed with so many great linebackers, but for personal favorites, it would have to be Brad Van Pelt and Brian Kelley
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gmen11 |
9. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jan 23 2009, 12:56 PM EST
I was always under the impression that Mel Hein was an all pro center. I knew he played Dline too but was unaware he was a backer with Big Blue.
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Ben21 |
10. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jan 29 2009, 5:32 PM EST
LT,Carson and Banks for me
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JOHNNY56 |
11. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Feb 19 2009, 9:35 PM EST
"LT,Carson and Banks for me"I AM 41 YEARS OLD AND # 1 WITHOUT A DOUBT IS LT! HUFF AND CARSON ARE TIED FOR SECOND. I'VE NEVER SEEN AN OUTSIDE LINEBACKE TAKE ON A TACKLE AND FULLBACK AND MAKE MORE STOPS THAN CARL BANKS, HE'S MY # 3. IF ANYONE HAS THE PLAYOFF GAMES FROM THE 86 POST SEASON WATCH THEM, I BET YOU FORGOT HOW AWESOME # 58 REALLY WAS. THE REST WOULD BE VAN PELT, KELLY, PEPPER, & REASONS. Do you find this valuable? |
Cobalt23 |
12. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Feb 23 2009, 11:40 PM EST
I have been a season ticket holder for 24 years. My dad 42 years. I'll give you my list... from the players I watched to the players I have seen on video(NFL Films) to the players I was told about.1. Lawrence Taylor 2. Harry Carson 3. Sam Huff 4. Carl Banks 5. Brad Van Pelt 6. Gary Reasons 7. Pepper Johnson 8. Jessie Armstead 9. Brian Kelly 10. Mike Barrow Honorable Mention: Steve DeOssie & Antonio Pierce 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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RRoble |
13. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jul 1 2009, 9:27 PM EDT
"How about Antonio Pierce? He probably couldn't play both ways but is well above average."What kind of year does AP have to have to be considered as one of the greateast Giant linebackers or at least crack Cobalt23's top ten list? Do you find this valuable? |
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den/nyg |
14. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jul 2 2009, 10:12 AM EDT
| Post edited: Jul 3 2009, 12:52 PM EDT
#1 group would be Carson,Taylor,Reasons.My #2,H.Svare,S.Huff and C.Livingston.Svare and Huff in one way or another(Svare retired,became defensive coach) in five championship games,winning in '56.#3 would be Carson,Taylor,VanPelt,and Kelley.
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den/nyg |
15. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Jul 3 2009, 12:46 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jul 3 2009, 12:57 PM EDT
Thinking about '56 team...Best defensive team,Giants or otherwise in history!Robustelli(HOFer),Grier,Katkavage on D-line.Svare and Huff(HOFer) at LB.Patton and Tunnell(HOFer) in secondary.All those listed were multiple probowl guys.Most involved(in one way or another) in multiple Championship Games.Giants appeared in five between '56 and '64.
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RRoble |
16. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Sep 19 2009, 1:59 PM EDT
How about 3 NY Giants in this fans 'Top 10 All Time Linebackers' in the NFL list:http://history.giants.com/video/7523859/Top+Ten+NFL+LineBackers The 1st pic of Strahan sacking Brady in the Super Bowl along with Antonio Pierce at #10 tells me this video clip was made a Giants fan! Do you find this valuable? |
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gmen11 |
17. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Sep 19 2009, 8:11 PM EDT
Great music to that video but that's about it. If the video was made by a Giant fan, he has little or no objectivity or credibility imo. His #1 guy LTis an OUTSIDE LB while the rest of the group are MLB's with completely different responsibilities. Antonio Pierce is not only a Top 10 All time LB, he is not in the Top 25 or 30. AP could not hold Zack Thomas's or Derrick Brooks's dirty clothes. Greg Lloyd of the Steelers was a much better/meaner MLB. Brian Uhlacher is not even the best LB on his team. If someone is going to include OLB's in their Top 10, where is the GREAT Jack Ham? Where is the GREAT Derrick Thomas? Carl Banks? If you have not seen the video, do not waste your time unless you like the song let the bodies drop...........
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RRoble |
18. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Sep 19 2009, 9:02 PM EDT
| Post edited: Sep 19 2009, 9:03 PM EDT
Really GMen11, why go that way?? Wow, go back to bed and wake up on the other side tomorrow so the Giants can win, ha. Someone put in the time to make the video and it has NY Giants in it. I took the time and effort to find it and post it. Thanks to the fans who make these videos. This is a New York Giant related site last time I checked so no one is wasting anyone's time with this video. Make your own videos or post some yourself. Focus on Dallas and please have an attitude adjustment.
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gmen11 |
19. RE: Greatest Giant Linebackers
Sep 20 2009, 1:38 AM EDT
If I want videos I go to Blockbuster. I thought I clicked on DISCUSSION board, not amateur video hour. I'll make you a deal Roble, I will go back to the rack and get some shut eye if you promise to purchase Football for Dummies, study real hard and keep your posts relevant to DAVY56 thread; you know Greatest GIANT Linebackers. 16 quality and informative opinions and posts on Greatest Giant Linebackers, and then your 2 posts. Repeat after me, Carson, LT and Pierce are Giants...........Urlacher, Singletary, Butkus are Bears (Oh my). Me thinks you might be the producer of this off topic video and your feelings got hurt. Again, I do not mean to disrespect you, but you do not seem to have any regard for intelligent journalism or good ol' fashioned responsible debate and your knowledge of Big Blue history appears artificial at best. I doubt I am in the minority of NYG fans that have an expectation for our fans to be as knowledgeable and objective as they are loyal. If I am in error, I apologize and will only speak for myself. Opinions should be based on some kind of fact(s) no? So I refuse to clap clap for someone who took an hour out of their life to produce a video clip that is rediculously erroneous (Find a well rounded, long time football fan that thinks Pierce is top 10 LB all time) and to applaud the moderator that chose to post such a video under the wrong thread or any thread for that matter.
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