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Giants DE
Michael Strahan
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We asked NFL insiders to name the most dominating defensive player in the NFL. The
consensus was Michael Strahan, when healthy, followed by Ray Lewis. All comments were made
anonymously.
1. DE Michael Strahan / Giants — "I have never seen a left end
dominate the way he did in some games last year. He was the biggest reason the Giants got
into the Super Bowl last year."
"Better than Reggie White ever was because he takes less downs off and has better
pass-rush techniques. He can bull-rush, speed-rush or finesse-rush and is just so strong
and explosive."
"I have never seen anything like him. He just refuses to be blocked. He made Jon
Runyan and Korey Stringer look like total stiffs, and what he did to the Rams was
superhuman."
"If I could pick any defensive football player in the game, he would be my
choice."
2. MLB Ray Lewis / Ravens — "Great hitter with the great instincts.
Like a blood-thirsty shark. He is combination of Dick Butkus and Jack Lambert. He can take
on and control blockers and make plays all over the field."
"His instincts and intensity are second to none."
"He sets the tempo for the entire defense. I don’t think anyone hits or plays
any harder."
"His instincts and anticipation are tremendous, and he has the ideal disposition
for a middle linebacker. He is mean and nasty."
3. DT Warren Sapp / Buccaneers — "Mean and nasty, cat-quick and very
instinctive. He disrupts offenses and must be accounted for all the time."
"When his weight is down and his motor is running at full speed, he is the most
disruptive inside guy in the game and a true difference-maker."
4. LB Sam Cowart / Bills — "The Bills are an entirely different team
without him. When he is healthy, he is a lot like Ray Lewis but just not quite as
good."
5. CB Charles Woodson / Raiders — "Shut-down type of corner who can do
it all. Excellent blitzer. Has wide receiver’s hands and ball skills. Can play the
run like a strong safety. The whole package."
"Great, great ability, but still has some bad habits. Tends to peek, bites on
double moves and likes to freelance." |
