Analysis: He's a tackling machine. In two years, he's established himself as one of the league's best defensive players.
1. Ray Lewis, Ravens Comment: He's still a dominant force in the NFL. Not only does he rack up tackles, but he is a good pass-rushing LB who has great hands to pick off passes.
Analysis: Is he what he was in his prime? No. Is he still very good? You bet.
3. DeMeco Ryans, Texans Comment: He is simply the best and most underrated young LB in the NFL. Ryans improves every single year and he does it on a team that lacks interior talent on the defensive line, and lacks help at the Outside LB spot. Now that he has rising star Mario Williams and rookie OLB Brian Cushing to take pressure off of him, he'll only get better.
Analysis: On any other team he's a household name. He gets lost playing on a bad Cleveland defense.
5. London Fletcher, Redskins Comment: This guy has found the fountain of youth. He's playing his MLB spot like he's 25 years old, with the talent of a All-pro. He will only get better, once Albert Haynesworth gives him bigger holes to get through.
Analysis: He's still one of the better middle linebackers, but he's slipped some in recent years. He needs a bounce-back season.
6. Stewart Bradley, Eagles Comment: Awesome linebacker for Philadelphia. He's not a big name player, but he does rack up the tackles and helps keep that defense strong.
Analysis: As a rookie, he established himself as a future star. He brings a lot of athleticism to a unit that needs it.
7. Kirk Morrison, Raiders Comment: Oakland has a great young tandem of LB's with Morrison and Thomas Howard. Morrison is a sideline to sideline player who makes interceptions look easy.
Analysis: Here's another player who doesn't get the due he deserves because he plays on a bad team. Watch him some time. You'll like his play.
8. Barrett Ruud, Buccaneers Comment: It's a pretty good compliment when you can outshine superstar LB Derrick Brooks in his own home. Barrett Ruud was a terror last season and I hate that he plays in the NFC. He's going to be a great player for years to come.
Analysis: He moves to the Jets where he leaves the shadow of Ray Lewis. He talks a good game, but backs it up.
9. Brian Urlacher, Bears Comment: He declined last season in terms of tackles. His contract disputes and his nagging neck injury seem to be slowing him down and he continues to get outshined by OLB Lance Briggs. Even with all his troubles, he still is a top MLB.
Analysis: He plays the all-important middle in the Tampa-2 and does it well. He's a tackling machine.
10. Paul Posluszny, Bills Comment: From what I saw of this guy last year, he was amazing. I loved how he was the leader of the Bills' defense and really took charge on the field. He needs to prove that it wasn't a one-year stint in order to move up the list.
It was already rediculous that Prisco decided not to put Clinton Portis on his top 10 running backs list. But it is absolutely inexplicable for London Fletcher to not be on his top 10 ILB list. I believe that London Fletcher has the most tackles of anybody in the league since 2003, and his numbers have yet to drop off. He is a top ILB in the league, and I really don't understand
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