I have compiled a list of the top 15 3-4 inside linebackers in the NFL.

1. Patrick Willis- The dude can do everything at a high-level and is one of the best players against the run. Willis also more than holds his own in coverage, and he can even bring the heat up the middle; easily the best linebacker in football.

2. Lawrence Timmons- Such a beast, and he is also more than competent as a pass rusher.

3. Bart Scott- The best linebacker against the run, and he redirects plays almost at will. His play goes beyond statistics and quotes, the only way to capture his greatness is by watching and learning.

4. Derrick Johnson- Johnson is one of the most underrated players in the NFL, and those who know who he is are too slow to talk about his All-Pro talent. There is no better LB in coverage than Johnson, and he has been one of the best defensive players this season.

5. Takeo Spikes- Takeo Spikes almost never misses a tackle, and thus his consistency alone makes him a top ten inside linebacker. When you factor in some very good work in coverage with great overall play against the run, you get one of the best five ILBs in the NFL. Spikes is also a solid blitzer, and he is an underrated veteran player in general. Playing next to Patrick Willis for a while will do that to you, as people think he is already way past his prime.

6. David Harris- I really hope he gets back to form, as Harris is one of the best 3-4 ILBs out there with his ability to disrupt the run and his terrific coverage skills. Harris is a very versatile linebacker who is also a successful pass rusher for an ILB.

7. Brian Cushing- Yes, Cushing is a better player than DeMeco Ryans. The reason being is that Ryans is a one-dimensional player who is great against the run and a decent blitzer, but he struggles in coverage. Cushing has great instincts and is almost as good of a run-stuffer as Ryans, and he is also much better in coverage and slightly better as a pass rusher.

8. London Fletcher- It's always annoying to see the savvy veteran on various underrated lists, because Fletcher isn't really underrated thanks to all these people commonly labeling him as such. However, Fletcher is still a playmaker who provides value in all facets of the game. He also plays next to to criminally overrated Rocky McIntosh, and I have no reason as to why his partner is even a starter in the NFL.

9. NaVorro Bowman- I really believe in Patrick Willis's new star partner on the inside, and he has been absolutely sensational this season. He is at least above-average in every area of the game, and Bowman has already emerged as one of the best linebackers against the run in the NFL.

10. DeMeco Ryans- I'll take the other Texans inside linebacker here, and he has always been one of the better linebackers against the run. Ryans also provides value as a pass rusher, but he is a definite liability in coverage.

11. Desmond Bishop- Bishop really emerged last year and grabbed a chokehold of the starting inside linebacker slot alongside A.J. Hawk. While Nick Barnett is better than Hawk, Bishop was able to top Barnett after the veteran went down with an injury.

12. James Farrior- One of the most consistent players in the league, Farrior is solid- as always- against the run and is an important asset in coverage for the Steelers. Farrior is a yearly fixture at linebacker for the team, and he was instrumental in the very successful development of current superstar ILB- and second on this list- Lawrence Timmons.

13. Karlos Dansby- Although some scouts say that he would be a better fit as a 4-3 OLB, Dansby is still a pretty darn good 3-4 ILB. He is very good against the run thanks to his aggressive gap-penetration, and Dansby can definitely hold his own against tight ends. While he gives up a lot of catches, they are usually for minimal gains. And oh by the way, the aforementioned gap-penetration ideal also makes him a solid pass rusher (for a 3-4 inside linebacker that is).

14. Nick Barnett- Robbed of his job by Desmond Bishop, Barnett signed with the Buffalo Bills and is continuing his menacing work in run defense. Barnett is also a decent pass rusher who does solid work in coverage.

15. Daryl Washington- I wanted to devote the last spot to an up-and-coming linebacker who deserves this ranking. Ken Wisenhunt has a thing against giving rookies a lot of snaps, but Washington was very good in limited playing time last season. He has broken out in a big way now that he has more opportunities, and Washington has been one of the best 3-4 ILBs in the league this year. He is a stud against the run, makes plays in coverage, and he is already one of the best at bringing the heat from the inside.

Still going strong at 36

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Posted By: Joe Soriano - Category: NFL, NFL Rankings, LBs, Bart Scott, David Harris, Karlos Dansby, Nick Barnett, Brian Cushing, DeMeco Ryans, James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons, Takeo Spikes, Derrick Johnson, London Fletcher, A.J. Hawk, Desmond Bishop, NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis

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2011 Week 9 Preview: Steelers and Ravens

November 2nd 2011 17:51

When these two AFC North heavyweights met in the first week of the season, I was way off in the Ravens surprised and unrepeatable drubbing of the Steelers. Since then, the Ravens are coming off of a devastating loss and a game that was much closer than it should have been. And this was to a team that the Steelers easily handled the week before. Last Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger put in an absolutely dominating performance to shred the Patriots and cement the team's status as contenders.

The Steelers have one of the worst lines in the NFL, but they showed signs of life against the Pats. Although their opponent's interior pass rush played well, the rest of the guys weren't quite as effective going after the quarterback. Still, right tackle Marcus Gilbert absolutely dominated, and I don't recall him ever putting his quarterback under pressure. He was also a force in run blocking, but that may be due to a very favorable matchup against the mightily struggling Rob Ninkovich. Right guard Ramon Foster wasn't quite as good in run blocking, but I also believe that he didn't give up pressure at all and was a key cog in a surprisingly stable right side.

However, the left side is still a mess with Jonathan Scott and Chris Kemoeatu. The left guard was beaten quite handily by the Pats defensive tackles, and Scott might just be the worst left tackle in the NFL right now. Props to J'Marcus Webb and Charlie Johnson who are in serious consideration for this "award".

Things look dire when you look at the two monsters they are slated against; Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata. After a surprisingly anonymous display against the Jags, Ngata showed the Cards whose boss in an inspired display that showed us why he gets his contract. A common misconception is that Suggs is an outside linebacker, but he actually plays most of his snaps at defensive end. Not only is he one of the best pass rushers in the game, but Suggs might just be one of the five best players against the run. The sleeping giant was always solid this season, but he has really turned up the heat the past two weeks.

The Patriots were taken down by the Heath Miller show, and I expect him to be a factor in this game. Ray Lewis is a pretty good player in coverage, but I trust that Ben will find the soft spots- like he did last week- and hit up Miller. Mike Wallace was focused on heavily in the team's last game, but I think this deep threat will have a dagger or two in this one.

I have absolutely no idea as to why Cary Williams is the starter right now.
His display in the last game that these two teams met in pretty much sums up his overall ability; he stinks. Williams gives up far too much space to receivers, and that's not exactly helpful when going up against the best deep threat in the NFL (yeah, I said it). Look, Chris Carr and rookie Jimmy Smith are better players in just about every way. Carr embodies the description of what a solid cornerback is, and Smith has the potential to be a difference-maker in the secondary.

Michael Oher owned last week, and he has been a player who I have often criticized. However, he didn't give up much pressure at all and had arguably his best game in pass pro as a pro. Marshal Yanda and Matt Birk are two of the best in the business, but I can't say the same about left tackle Bryant McKinnie. If Ben Grubbs doesn't play, Andre Gurode will be a severe downgrade at the position. Although he was fantastic the last few years with the Cowboys, Gurode has been stinking it up as a Raven.

The good news is that the Steelers defensive line hasn't been lighting it up this season. While Casey Hampton has been average and is consistently not bad, only Brett Keisel has made much of a difference for the team this season on the line.

An even bigger concern is the fact that James Harrison will miss yet another game. The best linebacker in the NFL, Harrison is obviously a huge key to what the Steelers do on defense. What makes things even worse is the team's moronic decision with regards to who they have replaced him with. Although Lawrence Timmons is one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL, the same cannot be said for his ability on the outside. Simply put; he can't rush the passer at all. I think he has only had a couple of pressures at the position, and that's simply pathetic.

It's not that he is in a funk; it's just that Pittsburgh isn't utilizing him correctly. Thus, he is struggling because he can't rush the passer at a position where that skill is put at a premium. Timmons is still making plays in run defense and hasn't been a liability in coverage, but the Steelers are best served moving him back to the inside and playing Justin Worilds. The drop off in quality from Worilds to Foote in the starting line-up is worth it. The good news is that LaMarr Woodley has been a revelation since Harrison's injury and has been one of the most productive OLBs in the NFL since that point.

I really don't get Joe Flacco right now, and his inconsistency is frustrating. This game really depends on Ike Taylor. Although penalties have been an enormous problem for him this season, he has still shown that he is one of the premier cover corners in the league. In fact, he is the only guy in the Steelers secondary who can take a competent receiver mano a mano. If he can effectively seal Anquan Boldin, then this is a win for the Steelers. If Boldin gets seven catches and rips off some big ones, then this probably isn't a win for the Steelers.

I really don't care for anybody else in the wideouts vs. secondary battle, aside from Troy Polamalu and Torrey Smith. The rookie wideout is a deep threat who doesn't do much else, and it's up to Polamalu to make sure he doesn't burn the Steelers. Do you really trust Bryant McFadden to prevent Smith from making a big play? Let's not kid ourselves, because this game rides on Flacco as it does for every quarterback in every game. However, it seems to me like this is a statement game for Flacco; we will see who he is as a quarterback.

As far as the running game goes, I think Ray Rice will be able to make himself a factor. The Steelers run defense hasn't looked impenetrable right now, so it won't take a Trojan Horse to get past the gates of Troy. No, Rice's pure ability as a runner will be enough for him to remain productive. It seems likely that he will be able to snare a few balls in as a receiver, but I don't expect him to own the Steelers. However, it is feasible to think that he will gain 80 or so yards on the ground.

Even though I like the Ravens defense more than the Steelers, there are too many "What ifs?" with regard to the Ravens offense. We have no idea as to what we will get from Joe Flacco. This is going to be a very close game, and I am going with the team who has the quarterback that I believe in. Gimme Ben Roethlisberger.

Revenge

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10/2011 Pittsburgh Steelers Top 20 Players

October 10th 2011 17:26

1. LB James Harrison- Does everything well.
2. S Troy Polamalu- Hey there, thanks for reading.
3. QB Ben Roethlisberger- Where would this offense be without him? Yeah, that was a rhetorical question buddy.
4. LB Lawrence Timmons- Simply a beast in the middle.
5. CB Ike Taylor- Great shutdown corner who is their only worthy player at the position.

6. WR Mike Wallace- Trust me, I'm not underrating this monster of a deep threat.
7. LB LaMarr Woodley- He may be a little bit low, but that says more about the Steelers' defensive talent than Woodley's.
8. TE Heath Miller- His great blocking is really overlooked.
9. LB James Farrior- A very reliable veteran, and seriously grammar doesn't really matter in these rankings guys.
10. RB Rashard Mendenhall- I'm starting to think that this guy may be a little overrated.

11. DE Brett Keisel- Team's best DE with Aaron Smith getting older and Ziggy Hood proving that he is a bust.
12. S Ryan Clark- He hits hard.
13. WR Hines Ward- Can still make the plays when you need him to. And by plays, I'm talking about the plays that keep the chains moving; he ain't Mike Wallace that's for sure.
14. WR Antonio Brown- Young and restless, he would be a huge benefactor of a real offensive line.
15. T Willie Colon- Believe me, I also think I have him too low; but the only good offensive lineman on the Steelers has rarely been healthy, and I question his ability to contribute on a week-to-week basis because of his lack of health.

16. DT Casey Hampton- He can still clog up them holes.
17. RB Isaac Redman- Watch the breakout, cuz it's coming.
18. LB Larry Foote- Would probably start for at least 20 other NFL teams.
19. WR Emmanuel Sanders- He can catch and run. What else do you want? Juggling?
20. CB Keenan Lewis- Only because I like the upside, and Max Starks is not a viable option on this list. Oh yeah, and Maurkice Pouncey stinks. Don't believe me? I really think that you shouldn't be buying into the hype, because his rookie brother is already killing him.

Roasted the Titans yesterday

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3/2011 Team Scope: Pittsburgh Steelers

March 25th 2011 15:54

The Steelers are obviously in good shape with another Super Bowl appearance under their belts. However, there are still some weaknesses on this roster that need to be patched up.

We all know how great Ben Roethlisberger is, and they are deep at quarterback. Dennis Dixon is a decent player, Byron Leftwich is startable, and Charlie Batch is a good veteran backup. The Steelers have arguably the best group of QBs in the league. The Philadelphia Eagles are close with Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick, and Mike Kafka. The Packers are also in contention with Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, and Graham Harrell.

Rashard Mendenhall is a good power rusher, and Mewelde Moore is one of the premier third down backs in the game. He racks up yards after contact and played really well in the Super Bowl. At receiver, Mike Wallace is the best deep threat in the game. Their receivers play well off of eachother's strengths and weaknesses. Hines Ward is a possession receiver that plays the short game. Heath Miller is a solid blocking tight end that is a nice red zone target as well as another short range receiver. Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown are speedy downfield receivers. Overall, it is a solid core that suits Roethlisberger.

Willie Colon was missed last season, and he is a huge upgrade over the completely inept Jonathan Scott at left tackle. Colon is a solid player, and he is the best offensive lineman on the Steelers. Chris Kemoeatu is a great run blocker who has incredible strength. He does a great job of pulling defensive linemen and creating holes. I would say he is the second best OL on Pittsburgh. Rookie center Maurkice Pouncey is overhyped, but he is still a great leader- especially for a young player- and he will definitely be a good player for years to come.

Trai Essex is a poor guard, and Flozell Adams is a decent run blocker but horrible in every other part of his game. Adams is too old and is only a decent run blocker because of his size. The O-Line has no depth, and the Steelers sorely need to draft a guard and maybe a tackle too.

Defense has always been a strength in Pittsburgh, and it all starts with Dick LeBeau's amazing blitz packages in his 3-4 defense. Aaron Smith is still one of the better run stopping ends in the league, and that's very important for a 3-4 end. Brett Keisel put together a nice year in 2010, and fellow 2010 starter- because Smith was out for the year- Ziggy Hood was also solid. Nick Eason is a capable backup too.

James Harrison is a stellar pass rusher, and he plays a rugged style that makes him pay far too much fine money. However, Harrison is the best linebacker in the league because of his pass rushing ability and his decent run D. LaMarr Woodley completes the dynamic edge rushing duo. He is very explosive and is a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

James Farrior is actually still a solid player, even at this stage in his career. Farrior's leadership and excellence are vital, and he is the one that mentored Lawrence Timmons. Farrior still gets the tackles; he always has. Lawrence Timmons had an incredible year last year and was the second best linebacker in 2010; behind teammate James Harrison. Timmons is going to be a star in the NFL for a while. Jason Worilds and Larry Foote are solid backups.

The biggest problem with the Steelers lies with their cornerbacks. Ike Taylor is a top cover corner that excels in zone coverage, but he's the only person on this roster worth starting at the position. Teams almost always throw it away from him because their other corners are just so bad. Bryant McFadden is a physical corner, but he gives up far too many catches and repeatedly gets burned. Nickel corner William Gay is poor. The only good thing I have to say about is that he's fast, and pretty much every cornerback in the NFL is fast. Fourth corner Anthony Madison is terrible and can't cover at all.

Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu make up one of the five best safety tandems. Clark is a vicious hitter that is excellent in run support, but he is one of the worst safeties in coverage. Polamalu is one of the biggest superstars in football, and his meaning to the Steelers cannot be expressed in words. He is such an athletic and instinctive player that can do it all. Polamalu can blitz, intercept, and he is the guy that the scheme revolves around. Antonio Brown is a good returner and so are backup returners Antwaan Randle El and Emmanuel Sanders. Shane Suisham is one of the worst kickers in the league, and punter Jeremy Kapinos is subpar.

Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches out there, and his players love to play for him. He does a great job of motivating and managing. We already talked about LeBeau, and both of them help make up a really good coaching staff. With all that being said, I see the Steelers going deep in the playoffs again next season. What about you? Leave your input in the comments section.