Defensive Captains; The Top 10 NFL Inside/Middle LineBackers

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

1.) Ray Lewis, Baltimore

I know that some people think that Ray Lewis has lost a step, but I just fail to see it. I should hate the Ravens’ players, yet all I can do is respect them and what they do, and the one player the Ravens cannot afford to lose is Ray Lewis. He may have lost some speed over the years, but the position isn’t about speed.

It’s about instincts, and no one has better ones than him.

Lewis has a complete skill set. He can crash the line of scrimmage with the best of ‘em, and loves to tackle. He can cover the middle of the field and he can create the turnover.

There’s a reason that he’s one of the best ever, and while I expect him to drop out of the top 5 by the end of next season, I’ve been expecting that every season for the past three years.

2.) London Fletcher, Washington

Perhaps the most underrated LineBacker in the NFL, London Fletcher has been the face of several good defenses. Fletcher can do everything Lewis can do, which has him placed this high and one might even argue that he can do more as Fletcher is one of the only Linebackers in the NFL that can line up against elite Halfbacks one-on-one and succeed.

Don’t believe me? Ask Brian Westbrook in which Fletcher was given man responsibilities against him and found much success.

Fletcher’s numbers, on paper are, arguably, good enough for Hall of Fame candidacy, though he might not actually find Canton. With that said, Fletcher has mine, and should have your respect until he starts to slow down.

3.) Barrett Ruud, Tampa Bay

Barrett Ruud is what Brian Urlacher never actually was… a young LineBacker that is capable of making plays along both sidelines, being excellent in coverage, and capable of crashing the line of scrimmage. Barrett Ruud is madly underrated, and is, in my opinion, the best young LineBacker in the NFL right now.

Ruud can run with any HalfBack in the NFL in isolated coverage. He can make plays along both sidelines, and last year made additions to his came indicating that he is well rounded. He became an adept blitzer last year and has forced 7 turnovers in his short career. Ruud is one amazingly underrated player

4.) Patrick Willis, San Fransisco

Patrick Willis is the future of the LineBacker position. In his rookie season Willis was a one-dimensional tackler and was criticized by idol Mike Singletary for it. Willis worked on it, and improved massively in coverage last season. While not elite in coverage, Willis is now good at it and the only thing that could be asked that he become better at is becoming a better “playmaker” by forcing more turnovers.

Willis, as a third year LineBacker, is already the league’s best tackler, and it’s not even close. His football IQ is pretty high, and I firmly believe that he will sit snugly into the one or two spot on this list by the end of the 2009-10 season.

5.) Lofa Tatupu, Seattle

Lofa Tatupu seems to be one of those guys who just has bad luck. He was massively heralded after a rookie season in which he captained his defense to a Super Bowl appearance, and then had similar success as a 2nd-year player.

Then came Patrick Willis and everyone seemed to forget about Lofa. Lofa then got injured and everyone seemed to forget that Tatupu was ever actually in the NFL. Well I haven’t forgotten about you Lofa.

Tatupu might be the best zone coverage LineBacker in the NFL when he’s healthy, and he is a natural leader, which needs to be taken into account. Tatupu knows how to crash the line of scrimmage, and he knows how to create a turnover.

Not the most athletic Linebacker, Tatupu still succeeds due to one of the highest football IQs in the business.

6.) Karlos Dansby, Arizona

What makes Dansby so good is his ability to play so many Linebacker positions. Dansby’s versatility in having the ability to play the 4-3 Mike, 4-3 Will, 4-3 Sam, 4-3 Mike and 3-4 Mac make him a special specimen.

Many people hypothesize that guys like Patrick Willis can succeed in any system, and while it’s probably true, we actually know that Dansby can because he does in Arizona.

Over the past two seaons Dansby has been lights out, despite the fact that he really doesn’t have any help in the Linebacking corp, and the Cardinals secondary, though talented, has had a propensity to underachieve every year.

7.) James Farrior, Pittsburgh

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