Charles Haley deserves a mention

The thing about Bailey is he played CB like none have before or since. Had an almost psychic knowledge of where the ball was so he could cover his man but also ballhawk the way usually only safeties and the very rare MLB (basically just Urlacher, Lewis and briefly Keuchly have been able to do it at that position) can. I remember a game where somebody said he covers the ball. Never forget that, made so much sense then to describe how a CB who was a complete shutdown corner could still manufacture the kind of production he did.

Other great corners with Champ's coverage skills never were able to make the big plays Champ Bailey did because they covered their man in a way that prevented the ball from being thrown their way. The only one who ever truly covered an entire half of the field was Bailey.

I feel like if I were alive/cogent for LT he would have to be #1 by a huge margin. He totally reinvented OLB.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

The thing about Bailey is he played CB like none have before or since. Had an almost psychic knowledge of where the ball was so he could cover his man but also ballhawk the way usually only safeties and the very rare MLB (basically just Urlacher, Lewis and briefly Keuchly have been able to do it at that position) can. I remember a game where somebody said he covers the ball. Never forget that, made so much sense then to describe how a CB who was a complete shutdown corner could still manufacture the kind of production he did.

Other great corners with Champ's coverage skills never were able to make the big plays Champ Bailey did because they covered their man in a way that prevented the ball from being thrown their way. The only one who ever truly covered an entire half of the field was Bailey.

Have a terrible night and die in MANY fires.

Champ definitely needs to be mentioned in this discussion for those of us under 40 imo. I’m still taking Revis over him and not thinking all that hard about it though.

Not really a fan of the question because defending is too broad of a category... guys that were good at pass rushing aren't going to be any good at coverage... makes it difficult to compare across positions, but I will try my best.

41

• Aeneas Williams
• Brian Urlacher
• Lawrence Taylor
• Ray Lewis
• Reggie White

I have another 20 guys I'd like to put in my top five. I put Aeneas up there because I am a Cardinals fan and like almost all Cardinals, he doesn't get the respect he deserves for how good he really was... but I would probably put Woodson or Bruce Smith in there for real over him.

Speaking of unique CB skills, has any DB simply erased a side of the field like Nnamdi Asomugha did for like two years? The most perfect marriage of player skill and scheme ever. Then he became an Eagle and wasn’t an nfl player two years later. Crazy.

I feel like if I were alive/cogent for LT he would have to be #1 by a huge margin. He totally reinvented OLB.

Mel Blount was far better than both of them. Coverage and laying the wood.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

It probably happened before but Deion was the first guy I'd seen that completely shut down one side of the field. Teams just didn't throw that way. I'd never seen that.

Yeah, he couldn't tackle anyone. But...didn't seem to matter.

I don’t believe you. I’ve never heard of a Blount Island.

It probably happened before but Deion was the first guy I'd seen that completely shut down one side of the field. Teams just didn't throw that way. I'd never seen that.

Yeah, he couldn't tackle anyone. But...didn't seem to matter.

Im pretty hammered right now.

+1. He seems like the guy for anyone who’s old like dr Ken and reader.

It probably happened before but Deion was the first guy I'd seen that completely shut down one side of the field. Teams just didn't throw that way. I'd never seen that.

Yeah, he couldn't tackle anyone. But...didn't seem to matter.

Much like Wes Mantooth from Anchorman, I pure, straight hated him but goddamnit I respected him.

Much like Wes Mantooth from Anchorman, I pure, straight hated him but goddamnit I respected him.

It seems crazy to me that we only have one Keuchley mention so far and it’s in reference to his pass coverage. Even with the concussions I think he stands with the greats.

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.

Needs more years... same with Mack... could be in the list sometime but he is only in his 7th year, so not quite enough yet. Kind of like Sale pitching -- everything is on track, but need some more years.

Are you stoned or pissed off, or both, when you create these postings?