I'm getting in the football mood already :D

[Agathon]

...

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Players in heavy contact positions (eg not QB or WR) tend to decline at that age. Additionally, his supporting cast has actually improved in many ways over the past few years. Ed Reed is a DPOTY level safety. Terrell Suggs is an elite pass-rusher. They picked up a quality veteran cornerback in Samari Rolle.

You don't really know how good that 2000 Ravens D was, do you? Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa closed up the middle, so that Lewis hardly even had to worry about run blockers. It is well known that the strength of the DTs is what can elevate a MLB, not the secondary (which hardly affects a MLB's play aside from Free Safety support). The last few years, the Ravens played a 3-4 due to their lack of DT strength, which, of course made Lewis seem less active, as he only was responsible for one half of the field and didn't have the DT strength that he did earlier in his career. Going back to a 4-3 and drafting Ngata in the 1st round may indeed show Lewis in his best light again (though I expect another 100+ tackles and him to lead the defense again).

It is no coincidence that 2nd year DT Tommie Harris played at a Pro-Bowl level when Urlacher excelled last year.

I think we're getting to the crux of the matter here. MLBs are high profile for defensive players, even though the quality of their play is directly dependant on supporting cast. When people talk about Mike Peterson, Tedy Bruschi, Brian Urlacher, Dan Morgan, and James Farrior, they really should be talking about Marcus Stroud, Richard Seymour, Tommie Harris, Kris Jenkins, and Casey Hampton. The latter is probably the most underrated defensive player I can think of.

The truth is that most teams are very happy with their situation at MLB. So why do we consider it such an important position?

[Al B. Sure!]

How about that? The two starting Giants DE's on the top 50

[Ted Striker]

I'll ****ing tackel all your azzes before the ball gets snapped

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Jaguar
I think we're getting to the crux of the matter here. MLBs are high profile for defensive players, even though the quality of their play is directly dependant on supporting cast. When people talk about Mike Peterson, Tedy Bruschi, Brian Urlacher, Dan Morgan, and James Farrior, they really should be talking about Marcus Stroud, Richard Seymour, Tommie Harris, Kris Jenkins, and Casey Hampton. The latter is probably the most underrated defensive player I can think of.

The truth is that most teams are very happy with their situation at MLB. So why do we consider it such an important position?

MLBs are usually the 'QBs' of the defense. Not in that everything goes through them so much, but in that they usually lead the defense. They have a pretty good vantage point in the 4-3 of the opposing offense. They line up about 5 yards back, staring right in front at the QB. It makes it a bit easier to analyze the offense from that vantage point.

[Al B. Sure!]

Imran:

Safeties have the same advantages... but yeah, they're so far back that they can't really 'lead' the defence because everyone would have to turn around to see them

[Locutus]

Just one week to go to the greatest sporting event in the world!

[Blaupanzer]

Two months to go to preseason of the only sport that separates the men from the boys. No shorts and shirts for the real football game.

[Blaupanzer]

Does Ben's injury pique your interest or frustrate it? May substantially change the competitive balance.

Motorcycle without a helmet indeed!