Randle was my choice. Bob Lilly, Randy White and Cortez Kennedy come to mind Mean Joe Green dominated As did the great Alan Page I dont care about the 2007 timeframe
I agree with your assessment ... Lily, Page, Joe Greene ... They say Lily was the best ever interior pass-rusher in terms of talent, I heard about him on an NFLN countdown of greatest players. Donald needs like 3 or 4 more elite seasons, but he's just as talented as those that came before him. All Pro Accolades and Sack Totals. Donald is coming up strong tho, he has I think 4 all Pros.
You’ve glossed over the parts of those articles that I would’ve highlighted, but instead of doing that I’ll just pick another source. Here’s an 8 minute long video from NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger explaining why Donald is the “greatest interior defensive lineman of all time” http://www.nfl.com/videos/baldys-br...st-interior-DL-of-all-time-Baldy-s-Breakdowns I could honestly keep going but I do feel like it’s a bit of a waste of time. Enjoy the video.
On another note, it’s a bit concerning how quickly Osemele was discarded in the first pass rushing snap Baldy highlighted in that video. I know there’s only one Donald in the league but we’re counting on Osemele to be a good to great starter if we want the OL to even be decent. That snap was a *really* bad look.
Yea, one rep is one rep. But I really do think we need him to get back to his All-Pro self to solidify our line, and that means being at least somewhat competitive against the best players in the league. I’d be interested to see how he fared in the rest of that game, but I cancelled my GamePass subscription last year.
I agree. Some people have decided that Williams who ain't Bob Lilly but is a solid NFL DT was a bad pick because Fletcher Cox who was drafted after him is better. The consensus best DT in Bob Lilly's draft class was Joe Rutgens. He was drafted 3rd by the Redskins in the first round and 4th by the Raiders in the 1st round. Lilly was actually drafted by the Cowboys at 13. Oakland drafted Lilly at pick 4 in the second round. Rutgens had a solid 9 year career and made 2 pro bowls. He was a good pick in spite of the fact Lilly is in the argument as the GOAT at his position almost 60 years later. Williams was a good pick in spite of the fact that Cox has had a better career to date.
Nobody remembers Rodger Brown who played DT for the Lions in the 60's. One of the games is actually known as the Thanksgiving day massacre. Brown sacked Bart Starr depending on reports 6 or 7 times in that one game. In 62 Brown sacked both Starr and Unitas for safeties. He was an amazingly quick 300 pound interior lineman.
Leonard Williams is a very good player. I just see a lack of intensity in his game. The great ones had that drive...that meanness that would intimidate their opponents. Get mean, Leonard... Bob Lily sacked Brian Griese
I only had to watch 5 seconds. "Making a strong claim" to something is not the same as being such. Even though he did not say he is the greatest of all time, I'll give you that one, but when you said "many analysts" have the same view as you I thought it would be simple enough to at least come up with 2 or 3. Unless of course to you, one guy saying "maybe he is" equates to many saying "he is the greatest of all time". Now is it a waste of time to you because after searching and searching you can't find one article saying he is the greatest of all time?
With all due respect, this is going to be the last time I reply to this conversation. I think I’ve proven that I’m not alone in touting Donald as historically great.
its not that hard. these days the twitter analysts proclaim a guy the best ever after 1 good game. Donald has had quite a few good games
Well said. absolutely true, the potential is there with Leonard Williams but he quits too much. and thats also why I get so frustrated when the excuse is made about him facing double teams or "hidden production." If he gave the max effort that he should be giving, it wouldn't matter if he was double teamed and there would be visible production! so all it amounts to is people making excuses for a lack of effort
Good for you, you found a couple, not that I give those one sentence twits much weight considering their job is to get people to reply. Most of the responses to Riddick are people bringing up the same players many here have mentioned Randle, Greene, Lilly. The last 3, "One of", "In the conversation with", "An all time great", so no that was not what you said. But I'm done too, you need to watch some NFL Classics.
True, I agreed he is a great player but he needs to keep up the same level of play for a few more years.
Donald is clearly in the conversation of all time great. That ain't the same thing as the greatest of all time. There's only a couple of people at any position who are in that conversation. LT and Brady are about the only 2 I can think of. Almost everyone agrees that Rice is. I actually think Randi Moss was better than Rice so I'm not one of them. Even Brady has overwhelming numbers and SB my lying eyes says that Marino was better. Blasphemy on a Jets board. Reality in all my time watching pro football the only player I can say for sure was the GOAT at his position is LT. There are just so many incredibly talented players who play football every year, it's virtually impossible to separate one from all the others.
