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Vikings DT
John Randle
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We asked NFL insiders whom they regard as the top three defensive tackles in football.
Some chose to downgrade 49ers DT Bryant Young and Cardinals DT Eric Swann because of
injuries and Cowboys DT Leon Lett because of his suspension, while others said they just
went on ability. Here is a compilation of their responses along with quotes on each
player. All comments were made anonymously.
1. John Randle, Vikings — "(Has) great quickness, (is) very explosive
and (has) a motor that is always going 110 mph. He is the Mike Singletary of defensive
linemen."
2. Warren Sapp, Buccaneers — "When he is in the right mental and
physical shape, he may be the most disruptive defensive football player in the NFL today.
I don’t think it is possible for a football player to play better than he played vs.
the Giants in this year’s opener. If I were building a defense, he is the guy I would
start with — if he would guarantee me he would work and keep his weight down."
3. Bryant Young, 49ers — "Before his injury, most people had him rated
as their top defensive tackle. (Young is) not the same as he was before he was hurt, but
let’s remember he was not supposed to be playing until November."
… "He is the whole package and has even more heart than ability. That
Bryant Young is one class act. He has the highest grade for intangibles we can give in our
system."
4. Darrell Russell, Raiders — "If he continues to improve, the sky is
the limit. I don’t know if he will ever realize his full potential, because he is not
really a nasty, mean (son of a gun) with a chip on his shoulder."
5. Travis Hall, Falcons — "Very steady. A great technician and a true
self-made player." … "From a mental and technique standpoint, (he) is the
best I have seen. And this kid is a pretty good athlete. Hall may be the key man on the
Falcons’ defense. He is very underrated and very good."
6. Cortez Kennedy, Seahawks — "Is not the player he once was but is
still a very good player you must always account for. He is massive and powerful, plays
with leverage and is still quick off the ball and disruptive. He is having his best
(season) in years and is almost as awesome as he was a few years ago, when nobody could
block him."
7. Dana Stubblefield, Redskins — "It seems like every other year he
turns it on, and this is one of his ‘on’ years when he has something to
prove." … "Still very quick, powerful and disruptive."
8. Luther Elliss, Lions — "A big, powerful, intense (son of a gun) who
plays hard and has enough movement to make some things happen. Is starting to use his
hands better to shed blocks."
9. Leon Lett, Cowboys — "Ability-wise, he still has about 95 percent
of what he once had, but the off-the-field stuff does not seem to stay away."
10. Eric Swann, Cardinals — "His knee may be shot, and he never was a
real warrior, but nobody had more tools." … "His instincts were always a
little off, but you don’t have to be Mike Reid, Alan Page or Merlin Olsen to play on
the defensive line." … "He never was that competitive or savvy, and now he
has at least one bad knee." |
