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Belicihick was asked if Mack compares to Lawrence Taylor

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When asked at his Wednesday press conference how Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack compares to Taylor, Belichick responded by saying “Wait a minute, we’re talking about Lawrence Taylor now. I’m not putting anybody in Lawrence Taylor’s class.”

 

I'm not saying I disagree with him, but I hope Mack's ankle is better by game time. Mack already has a 'motor' that is beyond any defensive player in the league, I would love to see him full speed against a non mobile QB in Brady. Although Brady is one of the best at moving around in the pocket. But getting to him is the only way I see the Bears beating the Pats unless Trubisky goes off again.

 

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Yeah, Mack isn't even close to LT. I'd maybe say Reggie White and Bruce Smith could be up there, but Mack is not at least not yet. JJ Watt was approaching that level, but then injuries have really derailed him.

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Yeah, Mack isn't even close to LT. I'd maybe say Reggie White and Bruce Smith could be up there, but Mack is not at least not yet. JJ Watt was approaching that level, but then injuries have really derailed him.

 

I can't really comment on much before 1985 or so....

 

Reggie White belongs in the same class as LT in terms of causing QB chaos, and that's Tier 1 in my book. I remember feeling like those 2 guys were overwhelming...........Bruce Smith is the all time sacks leader, and he was amazing...but it felt like a longevity thing more so than him being as destructive as LT or Reggie White. But I'll agree they are the top 3.

 

If you break those three down by sacks per season, it comes out to:

  • Bruce Smith: 10.5 per season
  • Reggie White: 13 per season
  • Lawrence Taylor: 11 per season

 

I may have Derrick Thomas 4th, but would have to think on it.

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Im old. And a skins fan. All week before the Skins games back in his day the Washington Post would write articles about LT and how to stop him. It never happened.

 

And the Skins had one of the all time great O-Lines. Didnt matter.

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I doubt we'll ever really know how much of LT's motor was fueled by chemical means, but damn he was something to watch cause havoc. Mack kinda resembled him those first couple of Bears games.

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LT was a crazy player. Quite possibly *one of a kind forever*. Ive never seen a linebacker with that kind of speed..... but not just pure speed but quickness, agility, etc. Almost Barry Sanders-ish at times. He closed HARD and fast. Was pretty damned good against the run too which many sack-happy LBs arent. Knew the game too.

 

So, Kalil Mack? Nah.

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Im old. And a skins fan. All week before the Skins games back in his day the Washington Post would write articles about LT and how to stop him. It never happened.

 

And the Skins had one of the all time great O-Lines. Didnt matter.

I agree with this. EVERY team was so focused on stopping LT every single game. Nothing else mattered in pass pro. He was virtually unstoppable. He was going to sack the QB. Reggie White was similar but not to the same extent. And as a heyday Bills fan, I can say that Bruce wasn't just a longevity sack producer. He was the real deal as well. But teams couldnt focus all of their attention on Reggie or Bruce. LT was a focal point for every team.

 

You dont see that kind of commitment today. JJ Watt is/was a force to be sure. Kalil is a great linebacker but doesnt belong in the same conversation IMO.

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Joe Gibbs put an extra guard in the backfield to try and stop him.

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LT chased QBs while his personal demons were chasing him, that's for sure. I'm glad he is still around and not 6 feet under after living that kind of life for so long. But as others have said, he wasn't just a pass rusher. He was a 4-down linebacker who knew the game in and out. It helped to have Bill Parcells as a coach - someone who was uncharacteristically patient with him and really took LT under his wing. Ah yes, those were the days.

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He was ridiculously good and a savvy player to boot. And yes..insanely disruptive to offenses: nose candy or not.

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LT was a destroyer of worlds. transcendent athlete, in the same category as guys like michael jordan and jim thorpe and ty cobb. if sports--not just football, but all of sports--has a valhalla, LT is in it.

 

and i hated the guy.

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Jack Ham was better.

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Jack Ham was better.

Ham was a great player, and a Hall of Famer for certain. But he's not even remotely in the same class with Lawrence Taylor.

 

Reggie White, ###### Butkus, Joe Greene and Deacon Jones are close, but LT is the greatest defensive player evah. And I'm old enough to have seen all of them play.

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yeah, I dont know that I'd compare any active player to him. not yet anyways.

 

Mack is great, but I dont know that hes quite at that level of dominance. it was a fair comment from Belichek.

LT was a destroyer of worlds. transcendent athlete, in the same category as guys like michael jordan and jim thorpe and ty cobb. if sports--not just football, but all of sports--has a valhalla, LT is in it.

 

and i hated the guy.

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Ham was a great player, and a Hall of Famer for certain. But he's not even remotely in the same class with Lawrence Taylor.

 

Reggie White, ###### Butkus, Joe Greene and Deacon Jones are close, but LT is the greatest defensive player evah. And I'm old enough to have seen all of them play.

 

Hams ablity to play the run and pass was outstanding, he was very underrated because he played on the great def team.

 

No way I thought this was about OLB.

 

Of those listed I wouldn’t forget A Page. He was amazing.

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LT blocked off whole side of an offense and wiped out a whole section of the playbook. Him plus Parcells plus BB were impossible to solve together. I think thats where B.B. developed his concept of taking away a teams best advantage because thats what LT did every game, and hes been replicating that ever since.

 

Here he is vs the Saints 1988, single handedly won a 1 point ball game.

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