NFL Modern Era Draft: Draft Picks Only Thread

[BobboFitos]

Round 5, Pick 159 SS Kenny Easley


Before I get into my standard writeup, I want to acknowledge 3 primary negatives:
1. Kenny Easley was incredibly injury prone. He played in 89 games over 7 seasons, which means he missed an average of 3.3 games a year. It wasn't just 1 "fluke" injury either: He suffered from ankle, kidney, and other assorted maladies that all contributed to him missing time. (And retiring early)
2. Kenny Easley started his career in 1981 and retired after the 1987 season: Since we MUST take a player after 1985, his "peak" years may have been passed. I'll explain why this is not a huge issue.
3. Kenny Easley did not rack up excessive bulk totals. Tackle numbers are not widely available (or even reliable) and neither are passes deflected. So, his greatness may be diminished further.

With that said...

Kenneth Mason Easley Jr. was a Strong Safety who - if he maintained his health - would be in the conversation of best defensive player ever. Just think about that statement for a second. Best defensive player... Ever. Dr. Z, one of the who people we have been able to appeal to authority, once claimed that Easley was the best Safety ever, even over Lott.

Ron Wolf, former GM of the Packers once said, "Well, if I were drafting them, this is the order in which I'd pick them. No.1 Easley. The best safety I've ever seen. The crème de la crème. Unfortunately, he got hurt. Plus he played in Vladivostok, where nobody ever heard of him."

Kenny Easley was taken in the 1981 draft by the Seahawks (played his entire career there) with the 4th overall pick. He played a total of 7 years (89 games) until while taking a physical the doctors found a kidney disease. This led to his retirement. Kenny Easley was tall for his era, at 6-3, and also well-built, weighing 206 lbs. at his playing weight. Kenny played collegiality for UCLA, and is a member of their college Hall of Fame.

Kenny has many accolades worth listing:
-5 time Pro Bowler
-3 time 1st-team All-Pro
-1984 AP Defensive Player of the Year
-1981 AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year
-Seahawks Hall of Fame member*

*He may still get elected into the Hall of Fame. These quotes are pretty indicative of his chances:

"He'd be a Hall of Fame player (had he played longer). Maybe he still is. He was that good." -- Bill Walsh, 49ers coach, '79-88

"Nobody hit like Easley. Nobody. He should be in the Hall of Fame." -- Ralph Hawkins, Seahawks DB coach, '83-88

So, now to address the weak points:
-To "win" in this league, clearly you need to be healthy. Easley did have 2 full seasons of 16 games (and not coincidentally he was a 1st team pro bowler and DPOY in those healthy seasons) so I understand he may miss some time. If he's healthy though, he's 1st or 2nd round value at the end of the 5th round.
-We're not getting the ACTUAL production, but rather the EXPECTED production. This is key; people mistake this often. (In both this draft and the NBA one) As Jeff W has said, in 1986, he was coming of 3 consecutive 1st-team All-Pros and 4 consecutive pro bowls. He hurt his ankle 10 games in (why he wasn't a pro bowler, despite having great production again) and it was his MEDICINE (advil) that caused his kidney problems. Further, his last year (28 yr old, still VERY MUCH in his peak) he still was a pro-bowler... Despite missing 3 games!
-Tackle stats were not kept, but his int/game (~.4) and accolades surely do deserve recognition in lieu of large tackle numbers.

As noted, I will be taking Kenny Easley as a 27 year old; he was still very much in his peak, and was well on his way to yet ANOTHER pro-bowl season, but in 10 games he recorded 1 sack, 2 ints, and a bunch of tackles. (So prorated to 16 games, nearly 2 sacks and 4 ints) He was coming off a 13 game, 2 sack, 2 int, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery season, fwiw.

Team BobboFitos/Jeff W:

SS - Kenny Easley (27)
ROLB - Derrick Thomas (23)
MLB - Mike Singletary (30)
RDE - Jared Allen (25)

~~~~~~~

WR - Terrell Owens (28)

Dr. Zoidberg, you are on the clock!

[vixticator]

Round 5, Pick 151
Wilber Marshall, OLB



Wilber Marshall was a key player for two Superbowl defenses, in particular the '85 Bears. At 6'1" and 230 lbs he had the kind of speed and demenor that would make modern scouts drool. He definitely contributed his fair share of quarterback knockouts including one on Tony Eason in Superbowl XX along with Richard Dent (Eason did not return). Marshall, Singletary and undrafted OLB are arguably the best trio of all-time.

Marshall is a member of the exclusive 20/20 club. Those meaning interceptions and sacks, career. I wonder how many are in his club of 45 career sacks, 23 interceptions and 24 forced fumbles. I think not so many.

"Lawrence Taylor is recognized as the greatest at that position. But not even LT had the responsibilities Marshall did in Buddy Ryan's exotic defense. While Marshall also could rush off the edge, his responsibilities included pass coverage. He was matched with running backs, linebackers — even wide receivers.

"Determined, nasty, hard-hitting, smart, knowledgeable — a pit bull," said fellow Bears linebacker Otis Wilson. "That's why we called him 'Pit Bull.' "

"Some of his most hellacious hits, where he launched his body to detonate a quarterback, led to rules changes. "Understand what I'm going to tell you," Hampton said. "Wilber wasn't a dirty player — he was a vicious player. He played the game with an inner rage. He'd knock the living (stuff) out of you every chance he got. That creates an intimidation and fear that players don't want to talk about or acknowledge."

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

WARNING THE FOLLOWING MAY CONTAIN HISTORY

Another noteable fact is that Marshall is one of two people, the other being Al Davis, to successfully sue the NFL twice. He is perhaps the most important figure in the creation of modern free agency. "Marshall was paid like the star linebacker that he was; however, that was in the mid 1980s; while there was no salary cap, per se, there was also no competition among teams for the services of a player. In those days, you were the property of the team that drafted you until and unless some other team traded for you. While there WERE such things as Free Agents, those were the players that were either not drafted, or had been cut by their team." [1] Marshall sued for “illegal restraint of employment” and won. He became the first free agent, and signed with the Washington Redskins where he was an instrumental in the march to Superbowl XXVI victory. He spent his final years reunited with Buddy Ryan in Houston and Arizona.

Unfortunately, his life post-NFL has not been good. Like many of his fellow players Marshall suffers tremendously from injuries sustained during his career. He managed to win a small settlement against the league for his disabilities and has since united with former coach Mike Ditka in fighting to raise awareness for the plight of his fellow retired players.

Wilber Marshall is a fighter both on and off the field. His story is glory and tragedy. I am glad to make him part of my team where I'll play him opposite Derrick Brooks to form the most overall skilled OLB tandem in our league. I'll be using him to rush the QB when I need to blitz but he will also prove most valuable in coverage. Sorry, your versitile running back is utterly worthless against me.



Career highlights and awards:
Two time Super Bowl champion (XX, XXVI)
3x Pro Bowl selection (1986, 1987, 1992)
2x First-team All-Pro selection (1986, 1992)
1x Second-team All-Pro selection (1991)
1992 NFC Defensive Player of the Year
20/20 Club
70 Greatest Redskins


Current team:
DE Michael Strahan
OLB Derrick Brooks
S Bob Sanders
DT Bryant Young
OLB Wilbur Marshall

P.S. Everyone has won a Superbowl. This is not intentional, but a cool fact.

further information / sources
1. http://www.theredskinreport.com/2008...nst-nfl-again/
2. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colum...marshall_x.htm
3. http://www.pro-football-reference.co...M/MarsWi00.htm
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilber_Marshall

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Round 5, Pick 160: DE/Superfreak: Justin Tuck (current)





“In a game like this, you have to leave it all on the field - and that's exactly what I did.” – Justin Tuck on Super Bowl XLII

In the biggest game of his career, a game in which seven other players have already been drafted by us, Justin Tuck played bigger than all of them. With Tuck’s six tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble, the New York Football Giants did the impossible and put the 1 on the New England Patriots’ 18-1.

After Tuck’s 10 sacks in the 2007 season, many wondered how he would respond in a full-time role with Michael Strahan retiring. With Osi Umenyiora’s season-ending injury, opposing offenses were free to focus on Tuck and force the other Giants to beat them. Seven games into the 2008 season, and there’s no stopping Justin Tuck. Tuck already has 30 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception, and a defensive touchdown. Tuck has a tremendous first-step, and is constantly active against the run and the pass. Justin Tuck is the new prototype for defensive lineman. He can play inside and outside, on the line, off the line, he does it all.

Team so far:
RB Marshall Faulk
WR Sterling Sharpe
QB Drew Brees
LT Bruce Armstrong
DE/Superfreak Justin Tuck

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Round 6, Pick 161 Antonio Gates (age 26)




Despite not playing college football, Antonio Gates has established himself as one of the best tight ends to ever play the game. He is already a 4-time Pro Bowler and a 3-time first-team All-Pro and is well on his way to Canton. Gates has the speed to blow by linebackers and has too much size and strength to be guarded by defensive backs. Gates is incredible at placing his body between the defender and the ball, showing off his basketball skills. Gates’ soft hands and flexibility allow him to catch nearly everything thrown his way. Gates has the speed to hit the seam or turn a short completion into a long gain with his running after the catch. Gates’ blocking is average, but it has improved over the years as he can use his size and quickness to seal the edge against the defensive end.
Gates is an absolute nightmare to matchup against. Drew Brees throwing to Sharpe, Faulk, and Gates?! Good luck!


Team so far:
RB Marshall Faulk
WR Sterling Sharpe
QB Drew Brees
LT Bruce Armstrong
DE/Superfreak Justin Tuck
TE Antonio Gates

[DA TRUF!]

Round 5, Pick 30 (#158 Overall)
Sam Adams, DT, 2000 (Age 27)







One of the areas on my team I had hoped to solidify with my next two picks was run defense, and I'm doing it in a big way by taking Sam Adams. I'll be taking Adams at the age of 27, when he was a key member of one of the best defenses of all-time and won a Super Bowl ring.

At 6'3" and 350 pounds, Adams is a massive tackle and virtually a brick wall against the run. While he may not rack up eye-popping numbers, he clogs the middle, and is the perfect fit next to John Randle on my defensive line. Adams was one of three 2000 Ravens defenders selected to the Pro Bowl (Ray Lewis and Rod Woodson were the other two). That season, the Ravens gave up just 165 points (an NFL record for a 16 game season), and then followed that up by allowing just 23 points in 4 playoff wins. They allowed a record-low 2.69 yards per rushing attempt, in large part due to the inability of opposing offenses to get Adams off the line of scrimmage.

After the 2002 season, salary cap issues led to Adams going from the Ravens to the Bills. The Bills promptly went from 24th in the league in 2002, giving up 4.5 yards per rush, to tied for 4th in the league in 2003, giving up just 3.5 yards per carry. In 2006, with Adams now on the Bengals, the Bills fell once again to the bottom of the league in rushing defense, giving up 4.7 yards per attempt. The impact of Adams on the rushing defense of the teams he played for was monumental. While there might be some bigger names left at defensive tackle, at his peak, Adams was one of the best run-stuffers ever, and the perfect fit for my defense.

Team so far:

OT - Richmond Webb
RB - Terrell Davis
--------------------------
DT - John Randle
DT - Sam Adams
S - Ronnie Lott

[battschr]

Round 6- Pick 164- Cornelius Bennett- LB

Bennett is a 'do-it-all' linebacker. Good in coverage, good at stopping the run, able to provide a pass rush. He was a guy I considered in rounds 4 and 5, happy to get him here.

When he arrived from the Indianapolis Colts in an October 1987 trade, Bennett played like a maniac. He did it all—rushed the passer, fought off tight ends who tried to hook him, covered down-field. Then he leveled off, always playing well but never performing the way he had in '87. Now he's all over the place again. He has been a one-man pass rush, except on the occasions when the Bills send right linebacker Darryl Talley as a surprise move. At times this season Bennett seemed to be holding the Buffalo defense together by sheer force of will.- Dr. Z

# 5x Pro Bowl selection (1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994)
# NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
# 1 Time 1st Team All-Pro
# 2-time AFC Defesive Player of the Year (1988 and 1991)

Team so far:
OT-Orlando Pace
CB-Darrell Green
OG-Mike Munchak
DE-Clyde Simmons
QB-Boomer Esiason
LB- Cornelius Bennett

[Needle77]

Round 6 Pick 166

Defensive Tackle Steve McMichael





Steve McMichael the "other" guy to Dan Hampton on the Bears DL. McMichael was a guy that could get into the backfield for the Bears. A penetrating DT is something that is important to any DL. I can put him next to a number of players that can take on the double team and it will help out McMichael's value. Yes, depending on who it is will also depend on his value but someone that can get a rush from the inside and disrupt rush plays by causing havoc from the inside is a combination that I couldn't pass up.

There is some issue with McMichael's peak and if he is as good as advertised. McMichaels best season could very well come in the strike shorten seasoned where he was on pace for a very good season numbers wise with 7 sacks and another outstanding season of tackles with 57. This shortening of the season may hurt McMichaels overall numbers(not getting to 100+ sacks) but I think that shouldn't hurt him much. Is it possible that his best years are coming at the age of 29 or 30? I think he fixed his technique up at this point in his career and it allowed for him to play at a higher level. McMichael is a strong start to my trench players on the other side of the ball from the "T-Squad."

Another positive of McMichael is the amount of games that he played. He will be healthy and on the field and will be a player I can rely on game in and game out.

Oh and if you don't like him, I'll send him to your house and allow him to MONGO SPIKE you!!

McMichaels Accolades:

2x All-Pro(4x by the Associated Press)
4x ProBowl
95 career sacks
838 career tackles
2 INT's for 5 yards!!

I will be taking McMichael at the age of 30.

Needle's Team:

T-Squad: LT- Tony Boselli, LG- Russ Grimm, C- Dwight Stephenson, RT- Larry Allen

CB- Sam Madison, DT- Steve McMichael

[BobboFitos]

Round 6, Pick 165 via ZJ123 CB Patrick Surtain


Patrick Surtain (no nickname) is a multi-skilled athlete who has had success in various sports. That said, he's had the MOST success in football, where he will likely be my right corner back. (Or left CB, it really is somewhat irrelevant, he will be matching up with the opposing #1 WR) Patrick Surtain was taken in 1998 draft by the Dolphins in the 2nd round with the 44th pick. Patrick played for the Dolphins for 7 years, and then signed with the Chiefs, where he has been since. (In his 4th year there, still active)

Patrick Surtain, as mentioned above, is a true athlete by every definition of the word. At 5-11 192lbs., Patrick has the speed, quickness, and smarts to keep up with nearly any type of receiver. Patrick has the ability to cover man to man which he has done throughout his career (awesome in manpress coverage) and also the ability to shift to zone (which he has done with great success as well). He also is a pretty hard hitter, so he can take down RBs that get to the outside. Patrick has played in 158 career games (129 starts) and is still active. Patrick graduated from University of Southern Mississippi. (Real quick, he also was capable of playing both D1 baseball and basketball)

Patrick, over his 11 year+ career, has several accolades that I'd like to list:
-3 time Pro Bowler
-1 time 1st-team All-Pro
-7.5 career sacks, 36 career ints (nearly .25 per game), 8 career forced fumbles, 8 career fumbles recovered, and 422 tackles. (2.7 tackles/game)

From Wiki, it's worth mentioning Patrick also established the "Patrick Surtain Foundation" to promote literacy. So clearly he does give back somewhat to the community. This goes along with the defensive camaraderie that my guys bring; we have a preacher, Walter Payton men of the year, defensive leaders of various teams, a jokester (Jared Allen), and a charity man. Pretty good group of guys that will mesh well!

I will be taking Patrick Surtain as 26 year old in 2002. He was a 1st-team All-Pro, mainly due to his 6 ints. His 1.5 sacks and 40 tackles didn't hurt either!

Team BobboFitos/Jeff W:

SS - Kenny Easley (27)
RCB - Patrick Surtain (26)
ROLB - Derrick Thomas (23)
MLB - Mike Singletary (30)
RDE - Jared Allen (25)

~~~~~~~

WR - Terrell Owens (28)

[capone0]

Carnell Lake – Strong Safety



To shore up my first 4 defensive picks I guess I finally had to go for someone who plays on the outside. Carnell Lake primarily played safety throughout his career for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was very solid in coverage although never had great interception numbers but was the other great defensive back that played for the Steelers teams of the 90s. One thing I really liked about him is when the Steelers needed Carnell to play corner after Rod Woodson got hurt, he played it and even made the all-pro team that year and had arguably the best season of his career.

I will mention that I really wanted Browner (better interception guy), but Carnell is no slouch and probably a better tackler. With this pick it gives me 2 lineman, 1 linebacker and 1 defensive back from my first 4 picks on defense. I think it gives me a solid core of 2 HOF lineman and 1 near HOF linebacker and safety. I will now build around those 4 to make a defensive unit that nobody will want to play. The key is obviously the front seven especially the front 3 or 4 but I wanted one guy in the secondary to be at least at an elite level.

Accolades
1990s all decade team
5 time pro bowler
1 time first team all pro
3 time second team all pro
Played safety and corner
25 sacks, 16 picks, 15 forced fumbles in a 11 year career

Team:

Offensive: Gannon, Matthews
Defensive: Howie, Albert, Mecklenburg, Carnell

[metsandfinsfan]

Round 5 pick 23 Jeff Saturday Center



Saturday is the Anchor of the Colts Offensive Line that protects Peyton Manning. When he was out this year, Manning struggled. This is not a coincidence.

The Colts allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL 2004, 2005, and 2006. I will take him in the 2004 season where Manning threw 49 touchdowns while only being sacked 13 times

Saturday made the Pro Bowl in 2005, 2006, and 2007, and recovered a fumble in the 2006 championship game to score a touchdown. He made a key block in that game which became known as "The Block". He then helped lead the Colts to win the Superbowl that year
In 2006, he also won the "Tuesday Morning Non-QB, Non-RB, NFL MVP Award"

All Pro Starting Center in Pro Bowl - 2005, 2006, 2007
Anchor of O-Line that allowed 13 sacks in 2004

[metsandfinsfan]

Round 6 pick 8 Hugh Douglas DE



http://www.pro-football-reference.co...D/DougHu00.htm
I will be taking him at age 28 (2000)

His statistics speak for themselves. In a 10 year career, High Douglas had 6 seasons with 8 sacks or more. He has 80 career sacks in 138 NFL games(108 starts). He won the defensive rookie of the year with the Jets in 1995, where he had 10 sacks. He did well with the Jets, but really made a name for himself when he got traded to the Eagles. In 1998, his first with the Eagles, he had 12.5 sacks. He had an injuryplagued season in 1999, but then he made the pro-bowl in 2000, 2001, 2002 where he had 15, 9.5, and 12.5 sacks respectively.

He had 51 1/2 sacks in 66 games from 1998-2002 at the RE position on an amazing eagles defense. His 80 sacks put him 43rd all time. He also forced 13 fumbles while recovering 5 in his career, while scoring one touchdown

Not only was he an awesome tackle, but he can sing too!!

My team so far
QB - Kurt Warner
RB - Eric Dickerson
WR - Chad OchoCinco
C - Jeff Saturday

LB - Andre Tippett
DE - Hugh Douglas

[EPiPeN11]

Round 6 pick 169 Sean Taylor (RIP)



There probably has never been a safety who has been more physically gifted than Sean Taylor in NFL history which obviously says a ton about his ability. At 6-3 220 he is big and strong for a safety yet can run a 4.40 40 yard dash. Not only that, he is one of the biggest hitters in NFL history who intimidates receivers over the middle and will take on ballcarriers in the hole.

A tremendous ball athlete with hands like a wide receiver and great moves after he picks off a pass. Covers a lot of ground in the secondary. Takes good angles when pursuing ballcarriers. Has very good quickness and cutting agility and will be able to cover TE's if needed (as will Reed). Generally makes good reads and decisions. Plays with a nasty streak.

I am taking him the year of his death where he in only 9 games he recorded 5 INT's and was playing the best football of his life.

I will be teaming him up with Ed Reed and Champ Bailey to form what will be the best secondary in this league and I love having both him and Reed as my safetys.

Team so far:

Offense

WR: Marvin Harrison
TE: Tony Gonzalez

Defense

CB: Champ Bailey
FS/SS: Ed Reed
OLB: Greg Lloyd
FS: Sean Taylor

[Steroid Boy]

Round 6 Pick 171

Levon Kirkland





Kirkland was a massive inside linebacker, just 6-1 but weighing anywhere from 275-300 pounds during his career. Yet, he had great speed and agility for a big man. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993. By 1995, he was recognized as one of the top inside linebackers in the league, and had a stellar performance in Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the season. In that game, the Steelers defense held the Cowboys to just 15 first downs and Emmitt Smith and the Cowboys powerful running attack to just 56 yards, despite losing 27-17, Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman.

"The game a lot of people have pointed to in Levon's development was the Super Bowl in 1996," Steelers coach Bill Cowher says of the game in which Kirkland had eight tackles and a sack and helped hold the Dallas Cowboys' Emmitt Smith to 49 yards rushing. "We bring our inside linebackers a lot as blitzers and also have them drop back—so he has to do a lot. It's something special for a guy who has [that kind of] size to be able to do that."

By last season he was calling the signals and was the leading tackier (95 solo stops) and tied for second in sacks (five) on a defense that ranked No. 1 in the NFL against the run. Never was his versatility more evident than in the AFC Championship Game, a 24-21 loss to the Denver Broncos. Kirkland had 11 tackles, a sack and an interception. He has become a constant. He hasn't missed a game in college or the pros.
That game, and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. The Steelers had lost their emotional leader, outside linebacker Greg Lloyd, at the start of the season to a knee injury, but Kirkland took over the mantle of leadership. He also took over Lloyd's role in pass coverage as the only linebacker in the Steelers nickel defense. Opponents thought Kirkland would not be as adept in pass coverage as the fast Lloyd, but they quickly found out that Kirkland was just as fast and quick. He had four interceptions that season, a high amount for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles.

He made the Pro Bowl after the 1997 season as well, making a career-high and team-leading 126 tackles and career-high 5 sacks, as the Steelers went to the AFC Championship game (losing to the Denver Broncos). Although Kirkland played well in the next three seasons (1998-2000), the Steelers struggled on offense, and failed to make the playoffs, and Kirkland did not earn any more Pro Bowl berths despite his strong play.

Team So Far

QB Brett Favre
OT Jackie Slater
LILB Levon Kirkland
RILB Harry Carson
RCB Antonio Cromartie
LCB Ty Law

[DA TRUF!]

Round 6, Pick 3 (#163 Overall)
Tom Nalen, C, 1998 (Age 27)





With Terrell Davis in my backfield, who better to pick next than the guy who anchored his offensive line, center Tom Nalen? I'll be taking Nalen at the age of 27, in 1998, when he made the second of four straight Pro Bowls and paved the way for Davis' 2,000 yard season.

Few centers have been as dominant or as tough as Nalen. For six seasons, from 1996 through 2001, Nalen never missed a start. During that time, he made four Pro Bowls, and helped give the Broncos one of the league's most potent rushing attacks, as they had a 1,000 yard rusher for 6 straight years from 1995 through 2000. Nalen brings great character as the leader of that line, and great chemistry since he blocked for Davis.

A scout's take on Nalen that I found in the SI Vault:
"He's incredibly quick getting into his block, which is vital for a center because a split second after he snaps the ball, a 320-pound defensive tackle blasts into him. Great feet, great using his hands. Doesn't look strong, but uses leverage well and always seems to have his man tied up. Young centers should watch the way he's constantly between his man and the ball, and how long he maintains his block. When I watch tape of the Broncos, it's like Nalen has Velcro on his forearms, because he never lets his man get free."

[kkcountry]

Round 6, Pick 12

Carl Banks, OLB









Considering the recent run on LBs, I'm shocked that Carl Banks is still here.

After assimilating the most disruptive pass rush in this draft, I needed an elite strong side linebacker to stop the run. "One of the greatest in the modern era at playing over the tight end," Carl Banks wasn't afraid of contact, not one bit. Here's what he thinks of Brian Urlacher (Converasation with Dr. Z)

"Give me a one-word opinion of Brian Urlacher," he asked me.

"Soft," I said.

"Thank you," said Banks, who had been the best in the game at the little-appreciated skills of nullifying the tight end and never getting hooked to the inside. "Plays five yards back, runs sideline to sideline," he said. "Never takes on blockers"

Yeah he played in a 3-4, but from what I've read he'd be a textbook Sam in a 4-3 as well. Want to say he'll a liability in coverage? (More SI Vault)

Carl Banks, for instance, was not a speed burner but I never saw him struggle when trying to cover people. He knew the angles. He wasn't given impossible assignments. Some of the strongside pluggers would come out on a nickel defense, but if I remember right, Banks stayed in because he was so good at patrolling the intermediate areas. Remember the '91 Super Bowl Giants, with their big LBs, against the Bills' three and four-wideout Red Gun offense? Bill Parcells kept his big guys on the field and had them roughing up anything that came into their area. By the fourth quarter, all those fancy receivers were dropping the ball.

So, word of warning for those of you with or planning on drafting TEs who in todays game get off the line with barely a shove. CARL BANKS WILL **** YOU UP. Plan on running lots of short crossing routes to get the ball in the hands of your playmakers? CARL BANKS WILL **** YOU UP.

As far as age/season, I'll take him at age 25/1987 season, where he was coming off of his brilliant Super Bowl XXI performance where he had 14 tackles (10 solo, 4 for loss (sup bro)) and was voted as 1st team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl.

Awards -
Member - NFL All Decade Team - 1980s
1x 1st team All-Pro
1x Pro-Bowl

Team kkcountry

QB Warren Moon

DT Cortez Kennedy
DT Keith Millard
DE Mario Williams
CB Rashean Mathis
OLB Carl Banks