Who would you take...?

[pazrul72]

Seeing as it's the dead part of the offseason I think I can get away with a pointless thread hypothetical. All of the Lebron vrs Curry talk got me thinking of the football equivalent. Curry is that guy that does one thing, most people can't, really really really well. He's special and has the stats to prove it. Lebron is more about the overall game. He does not blow you away with any one skill but looking at the whole picture there is nothing he can't do. Curry is like a CB that leads the league with 12 INTs, 3 of them being pick 6's. LBJ is that middle linebacker with 100 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 FF and 2 picks. Your starting a defense and have the choice of one franchise player, so who would you take? The CB or the LB?

 

[IcyPatriot]

You build around the player who has the best overall game ... hardest to scheme against.
Player who can help the team win even when their best skill may be inept on game day.
I cannot stand him but in this case that's LeBron.

Also strength in football is up the middle ... another reason to go MLB.

 

[pazrul72]

You build around the player who has the best overall game ... hardest to scheme against.
Player who can help the team win even when their best skill may be inept on game day.
I cannot stand him but in this case that's LeBron.

Also strength in football is up the middle ... another reason to go MLB.

I voted LB for just about all the reasons you said. Versatility helps you win even when your A game is off and the LB has a better chance of making "the play" when you need it most whatever that play is. A huge sack, a tackle for a loss, a fumble. That said I can see the argument for a shut down corner that QB's are afraid to go against, especially in a passing league. I just think the LB has a better chance of affecting every play versus the CB who takes away 4-6 crucial plays.

 

[TBR]

This would be a better question without the very flawed analogies...

 

[BobDigital]

First off I am not a huge fan of the comparison as the sports are too different :/ But to your football question...

It depends what you mean. I took CB over LB if we are talking about traditional positions.

For instance I would rather have a prime Revis than prime Ray Lewis (murdering aside)

But if your LB is pass rusher ala Von Miller that changes things.

My view on defense

Pass rush >(slightly) Coverage >>> Run Stopping

Now you need to be able to do all 3 of these things to some reasonable level. If you can only be strong at 1 it is pass rushing cause that is where errors that turn games around are usually forced.

So really it depends on what your LB can do. All LBs can **** rush and run block to various degrees but generally traditionally the first thing the LB does it block the run so i am going with that.

 

[fnordcircle]

A good pass rush can do a lot more for your DBs than your DBs can do for your pass rush. Even a guy like Revis in his prime is going to get beat the more time the QB has in the pocket.

 

[Kontradiction]

If I'm Matt Millen, I take a WR.

 

[InRodWeRust]

The NFL is such a pass happy flag football league now so I'd take the shutdown cornerback that leads the league with 12 INTs, 3 of them being pick 6's. Too many quarterbacks are too reliant on their best wide receiver and can't spread it around as much as Tom so when their binky is taken away it makes things easier for the defense. Plus I think it's a little tougher to find a cornerback like that than a middle linebacker with 100 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 FF and 2 picks. Not saying that the linebacker is a bad choice by any means but I'd give the edge to the cornerback.

 

[Froob]

Curry is an elite finisher too, I wouldn't say he's a one trick pony.

 

[Tony2046]

I'd take the CB but both have their benefits. Pressure sack or Coverage sack.

An elite CB coupled with good DB's would give the pass rush more time to get to the QB.

If we are talking about the Pats then it would definitely be the CB. 9 interceptions = Brady gets a chance to score 9 more times and because the Pats usually lead the league in scoring the opposing team will most likely be playing from behind which usually translates into less running and more passing.

 

[Wiluven]

If I'm Matt Millen, I take a WR.

If I'm Al Davis, I take the fastest guy.

 

[pazrul72]

This would be a better question without the very flawed analogies...

Flawed because I don't watch the NBA and am going off of what I read on here? Curry is really really really good at hitting 3's. LeBron scores defends rebounds and assists. As far as I can tell that's like a CB versus a LB in that a CB who gets 12 picks is gonna be making 15 million a year regards of any other stat where as a middle linebacker has to have a lot of different stats to get that kind of money. Either way this would be a better post if it had more then just a negative statement.

 

[pazrul72]

First off I am not a huge fan of the comparison as the sports are too different :/ But to your football question...

It depends what you mean. I took CB over LB if we are talking about traditional positions.

For instance I would rather have a prime Revis than prime Ray Lewis (murdering aside)

But if your LB is pass rusher ala Von Miller that changes things.

My view on defense

Pass rush >(slightly) Coverage >>> Run Stopping

Now you need to be able to do all 3 of these things to some reasonable level. If you can only be strong at 1 it is pass rushing cause that is where errors that turn games around are usually forced.

So really it depends on what your LB can do. All LBs can **** rush and run block to various degrees but generally traditionally the first thing the LB does it block the run so i am going with that.

I was talking in essence revis vrs ray ray so I understand the appeal of prime shut down half the field revis. He changes the entire defense in a way few have. I disagree that stopping the run is the least important thing you have to do. In fact I would rate it the most important and bet it's the first thing on Bill's list every week. When a team is getting a consistent 4-6 yards from their running game it opens everything else up. The linemen get into wearing down the defense, play action becomes deadly, safteys first instinct is to go forward so they can be burned deep. Yes passing records are being broken every year but IMO the heart of the game is still based on running and stopping the run. Making a team one dimensional is the greatest thing a defense can do because when you know what's coming you have the advantage. I take the LB for the same reason I would take a RB instead of a WR. I want the guy who touches the ball 20 times a game instead of 6. That said I see your point and I appreciate the discussion.

 

[Ivan]

The LB. More consistency imo. Corners can be shutdown for a year or two and then just fall of the cliff, overall LBs tend to play consistently.

 

[TBR]

Flawed because I don't watch the NBA and am going off of what I read on here? Curry is really really really good at hitting 3's. LeBron scores defends rebounds and assists. As far as I can tell that's like a CB versus a LB in that a CB who gets 12 picks is gonna be making 15 million a year regards of any other stat where as a middle linebacker has to have a lot of different stats to get that kind of money. Either way this would be a better post if it had more then just a negative statement.

I didn't intend to be negative or rude, but the analogy just doesn't work for me, which sort of hinders my ability to answer the LB or CB question given what it implies.

Curry is an elite finisher too, I wouldn't say he's a one trick pony.

Led the league in steals (per game) as well.

As for LeBron, obviously he's great but his jump shot can be inconsistent at times. (I'm trying to think of an LB equivalent for that... Maybe Jamie Collins and his coverage?)

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

If I'm Matt Millen, I take a WR.

S-T-U-D

 

[pazrul72]

I didn't intend to be negative or rude, but the analogy just doesn't work for me, which sort of hinders my ability to answer the LB or CB question given what it implies.

Disagreeing or having something not work is totally fine, I would just like to know why or hear how it does work for you. I just can't stand what I call dues syndrom where a quality poster who can be articulate, insightful, and share his knowledge of the game posts "you're wrong" adding nothing to the conversation. So if you have any suggestions on a better analogy I would be happy to hear it. Like I said I don't watch basketball and 99% of what I do know comes from reading this board. It just made me think what the equivalent would be and who I would take. Basically it's the off-season and I am bored as hell.


Led the league in steals (per game) as well.

As for LeBron, obviously he's great but his jump shot can be inconsistent at times. (I'm trying to think of an LB equivalent for that... Maybe Jamie Collins and his coverage?)

Now there is an interesting comparison. Elite physical skills that can do a bit of everything but occasionally has unexplanable brain farts. So would you take prime Revis or Collins? I think I would still take the LB but that's a lot closer and harder to justify. I love Collins btw bought his jersey last year as I believe he is going to break out and be an all pro stud but prime Revis was so good.