Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Joe Schmidt's passing does, indeed, inspire this. Many to name in that very time-period when the position came into true prominence.

I'll leave it to those who know better to take this on, if any of you would want roll up your sleeves to take the time, that is (a simple list of ten in no particular order or maybe just listing five instead can suffice).

Be interesting to read the opinions.

I think I can give TJ Troup's
1. Burkus (went into the 1970s, don't know how strict you are for 1950-69)
2. Schmidt ... TJ thinks he the best of the big 3 of the 1950s
3. Bill George
4. Chuck Drazenovich
5. Nitschke/Huff

I think that would be pretty close

Well, according to the NFL's Team of the Decades:
1950's:
Joe Fortunato
Bill George
Sam Huff
Joe Schmidt

1960's:
Dick Butkus
Larry Morris
Ray Nitschke
Tommy Nobis
Dave Robinson

That excludes my favorite, Chuck Bednarik... so I guess he'd be in my top ten.

Dave Robinson was outside linebacker

Les Richter is another for the list imo

So was Concrete Charlie...

I didn't see anything that specified MLB.

Mike Ditka felt Bill George was a great linebacker, even before Butkus. Fortunato wasn't bad himself.

JuggernautJ wrote: ↑Thu Sep 12, 2024 8:48 pm That excludes my favorite, Chuck Bednarik... so I guess he'd be in my top ten.

He is an interesting one. He played MLB later in his career. In teh 1950s much of the time
he was what now is called off-ball LBer, but with the Eagles defense he'd line out by a tackle or end
depending ... not quite and edge guy ... but more of an OLBer than anything
based on several factors.

And he's split time at center. The 60-minute thing was also late in his career
He'd play center some games and LBer others ... or first half one, second half the other.
SO both ways but not all game ... George Connor was probably the guy who played both ways
next-most, then maybe Tank Younger.

But there were plenty of guys who did -- Gifford, Matson ... too many to name. Intesting era.

JuggernautJ wrote: ↑Thu Sep 12, 2024 9:32 pm So was Concrete Charlie...

I didn't see anything that specified MLB.

All I saw was MLB. Yes Bednarik played OLB most of his career. Played MLB at the end of his career.

If that's the case then Bobby Bell needs to be mentioned. Nick Buoniconti too

JohnTurney wrote: ↑Thu Sep 12, 2024 8:47 pm I think I can give TJ Troup's
1. Burkus (went into the 1970s, don't know how strict you are for 1950-69)
2. Schmidt ... TJ thinks he the best of the big 3 of the 1950s
3. Bill George
4. Chuck Drazenovich
5. Nitschke/Huff

I think that would be pretty close

How do you see Drazenovich being superior to Huff? What were Huff's deficiencies?

Bryan wrote: ↑Sat Sep 14, 2024 8:54 am

JohnTurney wrote: ↑Thu Sep 12, 2024 8:47 pm I think I can give TJ Troup's
1. Burkus (went into the 1970s, don't know how strict you are for 1950-69)
2. Schmidt ... TJ thinks he the best of the big 3 of the 1950s
3. Bill George
4. Chuck Drazenovich
5. Nitschke/Huff

I think that would be pretty close

How do you see Drazenovich being superior to Huff? What were Huff's deficiencies?

Not my rankings. I posted what I am pretty sure, based on conversations, was TJ Troup's thoughts would be. I'd recommend his book "The Birth of Football's Modern 4-3 Defense: The Seven Seasons That Changed the NFL". A lot of information about players over the years.

He goes yeah by year for all teams and gives blurbs about players. He writes glowingly of Drazenovich. Thinks he was underrated because the Washington defenses were not good. Said he covered better than the others ... that he'd scrape to the ball, good instincts as he saw them.


He's mentioned Huff was good but his coverage skills were behind Schmidt more of a converted D-tackle who was good and mobile but didn't have the speed of a running back. He said he was a "fine" zone defender He would have Les Richter behind those guys at maybe 6th or 7th.