Yet Singletary is a HOF'r and Urlacher's career doesn't begin to approach it according to some people.

Many that is true, but an incomplete statement.

Stop it with that logic DD. No need for it around here

Mike was the better tackler but Urlacher does everything else better.

Well there is that pesky Super Bowl victory difference.

How the hell did Marino ever get in then?

I'm not saying Singletary isn't deserving; I'm just saying that comparing the two eras that Urlacher has meant more to this Bear's defense than Singletary ever did to the Bears, including their SB year. There are at least 5 players on that defense more integral to the Bear's success than Singletary from a game performance standpoint.

Many that is true, but an incomplete statement.

How the hell did Marino ever get in then?

I'm not saying Singletary isn't deserving; I'm just saying that comparing the two eras that Urlacher has meant more to this Bear's defense than Singletary ever did to the Bears, including their SB year. There are at least 5 players on that defense more integral to the Bear's success than Singletary from a game performance standpoint.

Doug was a great player besides being a great guy!

Played 186 games as a Bear, the third most among Bears.
Had a career-high 158 tackles in 1972
Had 11 solo tackles vs. New Orleans (10/6/74)
Holds the Bears record for most career interceptions at linebacker (24)
Holds the Bears record for most sacks in a season (18 in 1968)
Was voted into the Louisville Hall of Fame with Johnny Unitas in 1979

I like Brian,too! The big difference is when guys like Doug played there was no ESPN,Sportsradio,Internet talking about how great he is. It's Patty Hearst Syndrome. The hype is drummed in your head so much,you beleive it! Doug's 24 INT are funny,D-Dave? Why? The argument has no validity?

Defense is tough. I'm not convinced that there's a completely sound way to evaluate individual performance, at least based solely upon quantitative measures. That's why I don't like getting sucked into historical arguments with players I haven't had a chance to watch personally. The numbers only tell you so much, which I of course hate to say, but it's true.

Hello Irish Boy,
You are correct. It is hard to judge. Hey,who is that in your avatar?

Scorehead,

Let me go at this from a different angle.

Tell me exactly what you saw from the linebackers yesterday, outside of Briggs play and Roach's sack, that you thought indicated that the linebackers had a good game?

We'd be saying the same stuff if Briggs was out for the year and Urlacher not. "Man, things aren't as bad as I thought they would be", even though a lot of small differences creep in all the time (and sometimes the differences aren't so small, as with the ability to tackle Julius Jones on screen passes). My point is that when you have an overabundance of LB talent, relatively speaking, each additional piece provides less marginal benefit, so when you lose one piece but have another, it's not as noticeable. But the defense is significantly weaker now that it was in game one, and I dare say that poor LB play is going to cost the Bears a game they shouldn't lose, either to a team with good TE play, or a team that can stretch the defense to the outside on the ground. Unfortunately, Atlanta in two weeks might be that team.

Roach did not have a good game.

Odd timing for this thread after a rookie QB almost throws for 300 yards on them and Seneca Wallace puts up nearly 250.

Let me put it in perspective, you hope Nick Roach makes the plays you expect Urlacher to make

Cover two / Tampa two Defenses tend to allow more passing yards.

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

Unfortunately, it doesn't surprise me RFDC. I would really be a pariah if I told everyone that I thought Urlacher was more valuable to this Bears defense than Singletary was at any time during his career.

No JP - you are fine. And Doug was a fine LB too. But Irish just got done saying how tackles are overrated and aren't a great indicator as to the ability of a linebacker especially when determining their greatness potential. I know this is how the position and to some extent defensive players are evaluated, but there is so much more that goes into the position than just tackles - that's all. I wasn't making fun of you or DB.

It's a shame that no one has talked about in length about how the Bears aren't a Tampa 2 team anymore. A damned shame.

It's all I have left. I'm a desparate man. Is Bill Lynch available?

Besides, I needed a car battery in Arkansas once and two guys in a pickup helped me push my car down a state highway. Irish Boy hearts Arkansas.

I like Brian,too! The big difference is when guys like Doug played there was no ESPN,Sportsradio,Internet talking about how great he is. It's Patty Hearst Syndrome. The hype is drummed in your head so much,you beleive it! Doug's 24 INT are funny,D-Dave? Why? The argument has no validity?