The Shawne Merriman Celebration will be in madden 10 after a sack/Half sack

[dat swag]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tengo Juego

Did someone just say Derrick Burgess is a nobody!? :rollseyes: Most ignorant thing I've heard all week.

Keep rollin them eyes cause Burgess can't even get a mention in the SPORTING NEWS TOP 25 LB's...Like I said he could really be ALL WORLD but the bottom line is he isn't a household name and he's a virtual nobodt=y when it comes to getting the mainstream media publicity that Top tier NFL LB's are getting.

Ranking the top 25 NFL linebackers



Posted: July 21, 2008
War Room scouts



More position rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT
So what's the buzzword for an elite NFL linebacker, no matter whether he plays outside or inside? Playmaking. Whether it's making tackles, rushing the passer, covering receivers, it's all about making an impact. These are the very best of the impact players at the position:

******** type="text/javascript"> DART.init( { "site_key_name":"spn.nfl", "zone":"article", "pos":"right1", "tile":"2", "sz":"300x250" }); ******** type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/spn.nfl/article;pos=right1;tile=2;sz=300x250;ord=546412698 9379902?"> ******** src="http://m1.2mdn.net/879366/flashwrite_1_2.js">

1. Shawne Merriman, San Diego Chargers. Merriman is the ultimate playmaking linebacker in the modern NFL. A top pass rusher, he is also strong against the run and plays with unmatched intensity. Although some will point to his struggles with the NFL substance-abuse policy, there still seems little doubt he's the league's most talented at the position.

2. Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears. Urlacher does everything well, which makes him the ideal field general for the Bears' Tampa 2 scheme. In addition to being a top run defender with the speed to chase from sideline-to-sideline, he is also adept in coverage and can be an effective blitzer. Urlacher is tough, a tremendous leader, and still played well despite injuries in 2007. With some more help from his defensive tackles, he should once again be a dominant player after a slight decline.

3. DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys. Ware is just a notch below Merriman outside. He is another top pass rusher who displays remarkable speed and quickness. Lost in his quarterback-chasing prowess is Ware's ability to seal off edges against the run and run with both backs and tight ends in coverage.

4. Adalius Thomas, New England Patriots. Thomas is another versatile linebacker who can play just about anywhere in the Patriots' 3-4 alignment. He wasn't the monster some fans expected when he came over from the Ravens, but his ability to play the matchup game for Bill Belichick's unit makes the Patriots a very tough team to plot against.

5. Julian Peterson, Seattle Seahawks. Peterson is a rare athlete with a knack for making big plays. He is a stellar run defender who can lay the wood. He is quick and smooth when dropping into coverage. He also makes plays on the ball and is a terrific blitzer off the edge.

6. Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens. Even though Suggs will often put his hand in the dirt as a defensive end in pass-rush situations, he is officially an outside linebacker. He is an explosive playmaker as a pass rusher and continues to improve against the run, using his hands and physical strength to seal edges. He is very versatile and can attack from both sides, making him a matchup problem for most offensive coordinators.

7. Lance Briggs, Chicago Bears. Quickness is the key to Briggs' game. He diagnoses plays with ease, has a good first step, and is at his best when he can run to the ball, making plays from sideline-to-sideline. He is a sure tackler who chases down running plays and rushes the passer well, but his strength comes in his coverage skills, which are nearly unparalleled. Playing next to Uralcher, he's an outstanding athlete and terrific playmaker in his own right.

8. Keith Bulluck, Tennessee Titans. One of the NFL's most underrated players, Bulluck simply makes plays all over the field. Despite a drop in numbers last season (fewer than 100 tackles for the first time since 2001), is still one of the league's surest-tackling run defenders. He can also play well in coverage and is a natural leader on the Titans defense.

9. Mike Peterson, Jacksonville Jaguars. Another tough guy who is very athletic and highly productive. He has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, but when he is healthy, he is a game-changer who anchors a top NFL defense.

10. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans. Ryans is a very instinctive player who diagnoses plays well, wastes few steps, and gets to the ball quickly. He is closing in on 300 tackles after only 32 career games. He is a stellar athlete who has great range and a nose for the ball.

11. Shaun Phillips, San Diego Chargers. Some don't give Phillips his due, and attribute his success to playing across from Merriman. But any team that has tried to single-block Phillips will argue that point. Big, physical, and athletic, he is a sure tackler who can dominate against the run. A high-effort player, he is looking to make a play on every snap.

12. Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers. Quick and instinctive, Willis exploded on the scene as a rookie with 174 tackles. He is very fast and will run from sideline-to-sideline to track down ballcarriers. When he gets there, he can separate the runner from the ball. With experience and more time in the lineup, he will quickly become an elite player in the league.

13. James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers. Joey who? No one was asking about his Joey Porter's whereabouts last fall and that's because Harrison made everyone forget in Pittsburgh. He quickly became the premier playmaker in the Steelers' 3-4 defense with 98 tackles, 8 1/2 sacks, 7 forced fumbles and an interception. With stronger play from a healthier front in '08 that includes including rising star LaMarr Woodly, Harrison can be more dominant.

14. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots. Vrabel had a stellar '07, and despite his age (he will turn 33 in August), he remains a very versatile and productive performer. A tremendous pass rusher, the Pats also rely on him to defend the run, drop into coverage, and even take part in the goal-line offense. Vrabel will regularly be moved inside and outside and be called upon to match up based on an offense's strengths, which is what really makes the Patriots' scheme work.

15. Bart Scott, Baltimore Ravens. Everyone thought Scott would be the new star of the Ravens' defense when Thomas left for the Patriots. It didn't happen. As suspected, he wasn't quite the same player as he was in '06 (when he was dominant) without a strong and familiar supporting cast. Still, he's strong and versatile, delivers big hits and can play any position in the Ravens' linebacker corps. Scott remains at his best, however, when lined up inside next to Ray Lewis.

16. Greg Ellis, Dallas Cowboys. Ellis returned from injury to learn a new position in '07 and responded with 12 1/2 sacks. Although he is aging (he will turn 33 in August) and may lose his job to Anthony Spencer sooner rather than later, Ellis is a solid run defender as well and brings a veteran presence to the Dallas D.

17. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens. Some will argue that Lewis deserves a higher ranking than this, but a look at the results of the '07 season will show that Lewis is not the playmaker he once was. He can't dominate on his own without some protection from the linemen in front of him. He is still a very good tackler and run defender, and his leadership role on the Ravens is unquestioned, but his best days are behind him.

18. Lofa Tatupu, Seattle Seahawks. Tatupu is a playmaker who always is around the ball. He is very quick to get deep in his coverage drops and has the hands to make plays on the ball. He also moves quickly against the run and is a sure tackler. Although he is undersized (6-0, 242) and not given enough credit for his athleticism, Tatupu is the perfect fit for the Seattle Tampa-2 scheme and will continue to be a top playmaker.

19. Michael Boley, Atlanta Falcons. Boley is another playmaker who does it all; he quietly racked up surpassed 110 tackles last season. Productive and athletic, he has the range to make plays all over the field and should get only better under the tutelage of new coach Mike Smith, who was so instrumental in building the stellar defense in Jacksonville.

20. Nick Barnett, Green Bay Packers. Barnett is at his best when playing upfield, where he can consistently wrap up ballcarriers between the tackles while still having the lateral speed to make plays outside the tackle box. Although not known for his pass-rush ability, he can get to quarterbacks and is the anchor of a much-improved Green Bay defense.

21. James Farrior, Pittsburgh Steelers. Age (33) is catching up to Farrior, and although he hasn't been the playmaker he once was, he is as steady as they come playing inside in the Steelers' defense. Like Ray Lewis, he is still a strong run defender and on-field leader.

22. Keith Brooking, Atlanta Falcons. Brooking is coming off a down year in '07, but he could be moved back to his natural position on the weak side this season. He is smart, tough, instinctive, and fast. His versatility has allowed him to play several roles on the Falcons' defense over the years. Even though this is probably his last year on this list, he's a natural playmaker and a team-first kind of player who can play anywhere.

23. A.J. Hawk, Green Bay Packers. Hawk flies around the field. He plays with great intensity and has a mean competitive streak. Although he had a "down" second year in '07, he still recorded 105 tackles and showed his trademark quickness and explosiveness throughout the season. He is a great athlete and a football player through and through. He can do just about anything on the field.

24. Zach Thomas, Dallas Cowboys. Old school allegiances die hard and so we have a hard time rooting against Thomas, even at 35. He has defied the odds as an undersized middle man for his entire career. He has played in every scheme imaginable and succeeded. He has crafted a career as super-productive linebacker because of a head, heart, and hustle mantra that won't allow him to offer anything less than his best effort on every snap. The Cowboys let Akin Ayodele go for a reason. They expect Thomas to perform.

25. London Fletcher, Washington Redskins. Fletcher has been counted out for several consecutive years now, but he continues to be consistently productive and a natural leader in the middle of the Redskins' defense. With Andre Carter and Jason Taylor working at end, expect the running game to come straight downfield at Fletcher. Expect even more tackles this year.

[afro_dogg20]

dat swag,

there's a reason Burgess isn't recognized as one of the top 25 LB in the game.............it's because he's a DE, if you click on the link for DE in more position ratings you'll see that he is ranked 9th

[Tengo Juego]

So because Burgess isn't a household name these means he cant have a celebration? And are you people seriously agreeing that hes not good?

And who said he is a LB? He's a defensive end.

[SouthernBrick]

Quote: Originally Posted by afro_dogg20

dat swag, there's a reason Burgess isn't recognized as one of the top 25 LB in the game.............it's because he's a DE, if you click on the link for DE in more position ratings you'll see that he is ranked 9th

9. Derrick Burgess, Oakland Raiders: Burgess is a pure pass rusher and is coming off a down year, but his natural ability and high energy make him eligible for this high a spot on the list. He is undersized, and durability has been an issue at times, but his 35 sacks in three seasons in hard to ignore on what has been a very bad team.

owned...you should really look up your info before you start talkin smack about a player b/c you clearly didn't even know what position he played, Not only is he highly rated in his position but he's in the top 10 so he must be a household name.

Thats the only reason I compare merriman to D ware b/c there stats are mostly similar in terms of sacks and tackles etc.

Plus they have been in the NFL the same amount of yrs. Merriman didn't play last season thats why D ware has a huge lead on him now but if you compare all the other season's, Merriman is beating D ware by every season except for the last one he played (in terms of sacks b/c thats what there most known for). Not last season but the one before that. And I thought he had more interceptions than merriman but thats not the case.

And oh yeah they play the same position...but its ok we all make mistakes were all human!!!

But overall you got owned...just accept it!!!

[Tengo Juego]

Whats with this household name ish anyway? lol I mean if you know football, you should know who Derrick Burgess is.

[adembroski]

Quote: Originally Posted by afro_dogg20

dat swag, there's a reason Burgess isn't recognized as one of the top 25 LB in the game.............it's because he's a DE, if you click on the link for DE in more position ratings you'll see that he is ranked 9th

Thank you! I was starting to think I was the one who was confused:P

[Exonerated]

These rankings for the 2007 season predicting the 2008 season. Far outdated IMO. After 2008, these rankings are really suspsect.

Even being a colts fan, i wouldn't rank Freeney #1. Too many times, he goes for the QB instead of trying to stop the run. But maybe thats how the colts gameplan i dunno. Jason Taylor #2, i don't think so for the 2009 season anymore.

[l NErd l]

Nice. I am very excited.......
I do also hope they include other unique celebrations from other players i.e. Ware, Allen, Lewis etc.>>