The Mount Rushmore of current linebackers
In the midst of the NFL offseason, cover32 will debut a series of new segments to hype up NFL fans for the start of the 2017 season. The Mount Rushmore series follows the doppelgangers, roundtable, and debate series.
(Previous Mount Rushmore: Owners, Offensive Line Prospects, Worst Uniforms, Quarterbacks, Celebrations, Fantasy Football Performances, Coaches)
As football fans, most of the time we always debate about who the greatest QB of all time is, or even put together a Mount Rushmore of it. It’s the same subject with RBs and WRs, whether it’s current or past. From Tom Brady vs. Joe Montana to Jerry Rice vs. Cris Carter, there is always debates and there always will be.
Obviously, everyone knows the more dominant defensive players that have either played or are currently playing. There is a Mount Rushmore for every position in any sport, but who is on the Mount Rushmore of current LBs in the NFL right now?
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VON MILLER
How could Von Miller not be on this Mount Rushmore? Ever since he was drafted number two overall in the 2011 draft by the Denver Broncos, Miller has never failed to exceed expectations. Sometimes, I wonder if the Carolina Panthers made the right choice by picking their franchise QB Cam Newton over Miller. Granted that Newton is a good QB, Miller has the stronger case as to why he should have been the number one pick.
In his six years, Miller has 338 total tackles, has racked up 73.5 sacks (having double digit sacks in five of six seasons), 19 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and one interception returned for six points. Don’t forget that he was the leader of one of the best defenses’ if not the best in the 2015-2016 season when the Broncos defeated Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, where Miller was honored as Super Bowl MVP. Miller has been one of the most physical football players for six years and he will keep getting better as his time goes on.
LUKE KUECHLY
I would say that Kuechly is the one linebacker in the league you do not want to run at. He is a thumper that will knock out a running back. Drafted in 2012, ninth overall by the Carolina Panthers, Kuechly has made a huge impact for the Panthers and the league as a whole. A scary thing about Kuechly is that he’s a thumper but can also play coverage. Not many linebackers are like that. Especially with having a great defensive coordinator in Sean McDermott since coming into the league. McDermott molded Kuechly into the player he is now.
In five seasons, Kuechly has 693 total tackles, nine sacks, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 12 interceptions and one touchdown. We rarely see Kuechly blitz, but we always see him all over the field making tackles and picking off QBs. Kuechly is still in his prime and should be able to stay in it for at least three to four more years. If not more.
DONT’A HIGHTOWER
Hightower has always been an underrated linebacker in the NFL, but has made a name for himself. Being coached by arguably the best coach of all time, Bill Belichick, Hightower has developed into a monster player who plays his heart out. He is a hard hitting linebacker that isn’t afraid of contact. He also played in a crucial role in this past years’ Super Bowl victory over the Atlanta Falcons. His forced fumble of Matt Ryan swung the momentum in favor of the Patriots, who later completed the comeback.
In his career so far, Hightower has accumulated 372 tackles, 17 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. It took him a little time to become the player that he is now, but the last couple of years have helped him become a well known playmaking linebacker for the Patriots. He still has room to grow, but I believe he’s shown why he deserves to be on this Mount Rushmore.
CLAY MATTHEWS
Going into his ninth season, Clay Matthews has shown offenses’ that you do not underestimate him. He has been a big contributor to the Green Bay Packers defense since 2009 when he was drafted 26th overall. With the amount of success he has had, Matthews still wants to do more. He has more left in the tank which scares opposing offenses’.
Matthews has 396 tackles, 72.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, six interceptions and two touchdowns in eight seasons. Talk about productivity and putting everything out on the line. At one point, Matthews was a top defensive player in the league if not the best. He has battled with injuries, some that he played through and some that caused him to be sidelined. He still plays with intensity and brings motivation to the defense.
— Brandon Ray is the Managing Editor for cover32 Jaguars and Broncos and a National Writer for cover32. He covers the Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos and the NFL. He can be followed him on Twitter @Brandon_ray79.
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