Thread: Who is the greatest Broncos defensive player of all time?

I just remembered Gradishar being called the best goaline/short yardage LB in the game.

Champ was a great player but teams just had to avoid his side of the field. Inspite of how great he was he never played on a defense that was more than good, in fact he played on what was the worst defense the Broncos ever fielded.

Originally Posted by Al Wilson 4 Mayor

Champ was a great player but teams just had to avoid his side of the field. Inspite of how great he was he never played on a defense that was more than good, in fact he played on what was the worst defense the Broncos ever fielded.

Uh huh.

This year the best CB for the Broncos had 1 Int and 6 PD. Simmons had better stats: 4 Int and 15 PD.

Guess what Darrent Williams's numbers were?

I guess my point is that even though the Broncos D wasn't enough to stand up to Reggie and Peyton, they were a year off a likely SB berth and scrapping for postseason triumph. Too bad they moved on from Jake Plummer during the draft and ruined it. I wonder if Mike would have still gone with Cutler if he knew Cutler was Cutler.

Originally Posted by MOtorboat

But Von Miller put a team on his back and won a Super Bowl.

So much for the "No Fly Zone"

Originally Posted by The Glue Factory

So much for the "No Fly Zone"

He was hitting Cam before they were able to press the WR.

There is a lot of talk on here that Champ is the best corner ever. But I can’t go there because Rod Woodson is the best corner to ever play. His tackling ability, size speed combo, instincts, ball skills and leadership were off the charts. Then his transition to safety later in his career made him the best at that position as well. God could not have crafted a better defensive back.

Mecklenberg played every defensive position save for DB (even NT), could do them all effectively, could play the run, defense the pass, and (especially) rush the passer. He was unique, a seriously dominant player, and a Nightmare to game plan against, and he could attack and disrupt an offense from all over the field. Gradishar was a much better pure run stuffer, Von maybe the best pass rusher in NFL history not named Lawrence Taylor (and I would argue even that) but Meck was amazing in his day, a truly unique talent

Originally Posted by MOtorboat

Champ Bailey’s 2006 was the greatest season a cornerback ever had. But Von Miller put a team on his back and won a Super Bowl. Only two or three players in history did the latter and that accomplishment includes the ring. So I voted Miller.

What I loved about Champ was how focused he was on sniffing out the run and stopping the run. The last few years, with his speed going, he wasn't as capable, but for a while, he was so fast, he could play the run first, and if it was play action, he had the speed to catch back up and make the play. But, if it was a run, or screen pass, he stuck his head in there and made the tackle. Pretty sure when he separate his shoulder and had to start wearing the strap to keep his arm from getting too high, it was from stopping the run. He was an elite cover cornerback that played the run like a safety.

So, I probably lean towards Champ over Von. Von has been taken completely out of the game by double teaming him, Champ took away one side of the field from the other team's offense, and allowed us to roll extra coverage to the other side.

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

Von maybe the best pass rusher in NFL history not named Lawrence Taylor (and I would argue even that)

deacon jones and reggie white want a word. . . lol. . .

Originally Posted by dogfish

deacon jones and reggie white want a word. . . lol. . .

I thought Reggie White was more of a destroyer of linemen than pass rusher. Maybe that's the same thing.

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

I thought Reggie White was more of a destroyer of linemen than pass rusher. Maybe that's the same thing.

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...W/WhitRe00.htm

In my eyes he is the best defensive player ever. He was an elite pass rusher, top three all-time. He's also one of the greatest run stoppers on the DL, ever. Regardless of position or formation.

For an anecdotal take -- I know Bears fans who think the guy was shorted with just eight all-pro first teams. In that he racked up 12 sacks or more 10 separate times.

I was watching highlights of this guy, in like 1988, lining up DT and running by a ******* guard. More agile than Suh, more explosive than Paige, stronger than Donald or Atkins, more tenacious than Randle. More versatility than Watt and more athletic than Deacon Jones. This man was the perfect defensive player. In today's era his 12 a year average would be about 15, and the sack record would easily be his.

If the rules treated offensive and defense fairly you could pick this guy after the top two QB's.

He...he was better than us. He wasn't a human being...he was something more...

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

I thought Reggie White was more of a destroyer of linemen than pass rusher. Maybe that's the same thing.

198 career sacks, and he got them in the golden era of NFL tackles. . . kingsley's right-- he was a top-3 all time defender, regardless of position. . .

Originally Posted by dogfish

198 career sacks, and he got them in the golden era of NFL tackles. . . kingsley's right-- he was a top-3 all time defender, regardless of position. . .

He also made my point for me--he was more than just a pass rush specialist. He was a disruptive force that would not, could not be denied. Von is also great in run and in coverage (I assume), but he is a pass rush specialist much like LT. More quick twitch than tactical nuclear weapon.

I wasn’t trying to correct anyone...I just...really like Reggie White.

Originally Posted by Jaded

I just remembered Gradishar being called the best goaline/short yardage LB in the game.

This is what I remember most about him. He really did have a uncanny ability to fill the hole and smoke some fools on the goal line.