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NFL Power Rankings: 30 Greatest Defensive Players Of All-Time

By Robby Sabo

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Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

NFL’s All-Time Defensive Team

The Coaches:

  • Bill Belichick
  • Tom Landry
  • George Halas

The Team:

  • Lawrence Taylor (LE/LOLB)
  • Alan Page (LDT)
  • Joe Greene (NT)
  • Reggie White (RE)
  • Ray Lewis (SAM)
  • Dick Butkus (MLB)
  • Jack Ham (WILL)
  • Deion Sanders (LCB)
  • Rod Woodson (FS)
  • Ronnie Lott (SS)
  • Night Train Lane (RCB)

Sub Packages:

  • Deacon Jones (Sub Rusher)
  • Bob Lilly (Sub Inside Rusher)
  • Merlin Olsen (Sub DT Goalline)
  • Gino Marchetti (Sub DE Goalline)
  • Chuck Bednarik (Sub LB Goalline)
  • Mike Singletary (Sub LB Pass)
  • Mel Blount (Nickelback)
  • Willie Brown (Dimeback)
  • Emlen Tunnell (Quarter Safety)

As far as coaches are concerned, there are too many to count.

Chuck Noll, Buddy Ryan, Bud Grant, Hank Stram, George Allen, Bill Arnsparger and Dick LeBeau are just several of the guys who could’ve made the cut.

Belichick, Landry and Halas will do the job just fine.

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Belichick has not only experienced ridiculous success with the New England Patriots, he enjoyed an entire career molding one of the better defenses in NFL history with the New York Giants. Some of gameplans he came up with were brilliant. This includes the gameplan to go Big Nickel is all situations against the Jim Kelly’s K-Gun Offense in Super Bowl XXV. The genius forced the Buffalo Bills run more than they wanted to.

The team speaks for itself. I ran it out of a 4-3 scheme, so some edge outside linebackers needed to be shifted to defensive end. If Belichick wants to run a few 3-4 sets, he shifts his guy, Lawrence Taylor, to his more familiar role and the rest of the front-seven can still pull it off (even Jack Ham would have had to rush the passer a little).

Next: 30 Greatest Teams In NFL History

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