Greatest DE of All Time

[Clayton]

I'll take Bruce Smith as a pure d-end.

Definitely worthy though it is interesting that you picked a 3-4 DE as a 'pure' DE but at the end of the day a sacked QB is a sacked QB

 

[packerzrule]

In my opinion it's Reggie White.

agreed


end of discussion

 

[Shanemansj13]

Merlin Olsen and Mean Joe Greene come to mind. I'll say Alan Page.

There were tackles

 

[Shanemansj13]

I'm one season alone, Deacon Jones had 100 solo tackles, 100 in 12 games. None of these other clowns came close to that feat, he was stopping shit before the lbs even had a chance to make a play.

Ohh ok...Reggie White was a clown. I have Deacon right there at 2, he was a beast.

 

[Ojb81]

Definitely worthy though it is interesting that you picked a 3-4 DE as a 'pure' DE but at the end of the day a sacked QB is a sacked QB

By "pure", I basically meant that he was THE best ever (in my opinion of course) at both setting the edge vs. the run, and rushing the passer from outside the guard/tackle.

 

[tducey]

Reggie White. Could be an argument made that he could be the best defensive player in NFL history.

 

[Clayton]

By "pure", I basically meant that he was THE best ever (in my opinion of course) at both setting the edge vs. the run, and rushing the passer from outside the guard/tackle.

If it wasn't for the Herschel Walker trade setting up the Cowboys Dynasty, surely Bruce Smith would be known as one of the greatest NFL players of all time. I feel like most people just see him as one of the guys behind Reggie White but the Bills really did run the AFC for awhile.

 

[Beaker]

It's Reggie White.

The end

 

[Shanemansj13]

If it wasn't for the Herschel Walker trade setting up the Cowboys Dynasty, surely Bruce Smith would be known as one of the greatest NFL players of all time. I feel like most people just see him as one of the guys behind Reggie White but the Bills really did run the AFC for awhile.

Bruce Smith was another guy I would put in the conversation...you can't go wrong with White, Deacon or Bruce. The thing about Bruce is he could play in a 3-4 and 4-3.

 

[David_son]

I dont know maybe the All Time sack leader who just so happen to play as a 3-4 most of his career.

 

[GNG]

I'm one season alone, Deacon Jones had 100 solo tackles, 100 in 12 games. None of these other clowns came close to that feat, he was stopping shit before the lbs even had a chance to make a play.

Head slaps are not allowed in today's NFL.

 

[douggie]

There were tackles

See post 27

 

[Battlelyon]

Head slaps are not allowed in today's NFL.

Yeah, and you are badly mistaken if you think he couldn't play without the headslap. What is funny to me, is that anybody could do it until it was outlawed. But nobody came close to Deacon when it comes to his level of production. That is because he was a once in generation player.

 

[PatsFan2003]

Charles Haley should be on the list.

With one hand.

 

[soxfan1468927]

I'm one season alone, Deacon Jones had 100 solo tackles, 100 in 12 games. None of these other clowns came close to that feat, he was stopping shit before the lbs even had a chance to make a play.

When did he have 100 solo tackles in 12 games?

 

[Mebert]

One second I am digging up great Lions players at DE..............

......ok really good lions players at DE........Robert Porcher?

 

[Battlelyon]

When did he have 100 solo tackles in 12 games?

In 1967, Deacon had 26 sacks, 100 solo tackles, 139 total tackles, 74 qb hurries, 9 passes deflected and 3 forced fumbles

 

[soxfan1468927]

In 1967, Deacon had 26 sacks, 100 solo tackles, 139 total tackles, 74 qb hurries, 9 passes deflected and 3 forced fumbles

1. That was a 14 game season
2. Where do you get those numbers?

 

[Iggloo]

Sacks were not recognized as a stat until 1982, so it has always been hard to judge guys like Deacon Jones versus modern players because the numbers don't exist. This number is one people have basically made up after looking at the tapes and gauging how many sacks the player would have had under modern rules. For years, people have argued Jones probably would be the all-time sacks leader if they had counted sacks in his day, and they may be right. We will never know though.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Yeah, and you are badly mistaken if you think he couldn't play without the headslap. What is funny to me, is that anybody could do it until it was outlawed. But nobody came close to Deacon when it comes to his level of production. That is because he was a once in generation player.

They didn't record tackles fyi....so saying he got 100 solo tackles is not accurate. Now Reggie White did have 100 or tackles in 4 seasons. Reggie, Deacon and Bruce are all elite DE's but saying Deacon is just better by far is absurd. Reggie White might be the most dominant defensive player of all-time and he did it against better competition.