"Too Tall", Lett or Ware?

[WV Cowboy]

Lilly, White, Haley, Howley, Jordan, TT Jones, .. it gets muddy after that for me.

I'm getting close to adding Hollywood Henderson soon.

 

[jem88]

I couldn't just now off the top of my head pick 10 before I got to him.

Through 2000, he was still #3 in tackles, #3 in sacks, #1 in fumbles and #1 in games played.

He was a force.

It's interesting to try to think of ten. Off the top of my head, and in no particular order (btw, I began watching in 1982, so I'm going on trust with certain players from before that era):

Randy White, Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Charles Haley, Deion Sanders, Darren Woodson....ok now I'm running out of certainties. Any older players I've not mentioned? Doomsday101, care to help out? Other possibilities include Harvey Martin, Roy Williams (if he continues his current pace), and Terence Newman (ditto.)

 

[jem88]

Well in that case it would be Ed "Too Tall" Jones by a landslide. Lett had a lot of potential but he was nowhere near the force that Jones was.

When he was on his game and focused, he was every bit the force that Jones was. The problem with Lett was that he couldn't stay on the field due to suspensions. He was absolutely dominant in 1996 (prior to getting suspended.)

 

[jackrussell]

exactly.

no one on the original list tops lilly.

frankly, i put randy white ahead of the other three as well.

Who's Bob Lilly?

 

[AsthmaField]

Who's Bob Lilly?

Dude... I can't believe you're a Cowboys fan and you don't know who Bob Lilly is. You should be ashamed. I'm only going to say this once... so pay attention.

Bob Lilly was the fastest corner ever to play the position. He was like a blanket in coverage and while he wasn't a great tackler... he was too dangerous to throw against. He was really short for a DB but his technique was so good that he still was the best ever in coverage.

He was also the first black man ever to win the Heisman.

I can't understand how you didn't know that.

 

[TNCowboy]

Harvey Martin, Bob Lilly, Chuck Howley, Randy White, Cliff Harris, Charles Haley, Charlie Waters, Lee Roy Jordan, Mel Renfro, Deion Sanders, Too Tall Jones....you're in pretty deep water when you talk about all-time greats. Ware has a ways to go.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Lett doesn't even belong in the conversation... Unless the conversation is about "Biggest Wastes of Natural Ability in Cowboys History".

 

[rw54]

I think George Andrie needs at least a mention here. He was a terrific pash rusher and got overshadowed on a very talented defense. When it comes to DL no team comes close to the talent we have had. That's why I hate the 3-4, its not who we are. But whatever works.

 

[Chuck 54]

After it's all said and done , who will be remembered as the best "D" player for the Cowboys?

Unless Ware actually somehow manages to be the reincarnation of LT, Too Tall wins this hands down based on what we've seen so far of Ware. That's not putting Ware down...it's like comparing Glover to Randy White or Bob Lilly....it's not even close.

 

[Chuck 54]

1. Bob Lilly

2. Randy White

3. Ed Jones

4. Mel Renfro

5. Harvey Martin

Howley, Haley, Harris, Woodson, Pugh, Jordan, Waters, Henderson, Sanders, Walls, and Jeffcoat are all worthy of consideration.

That's the list I was scrolling for...no need to type anything else...Personally, I'd eliminate Waters and Henderson and Walls from the list, not that they weren't very good players, but I think they were far down the scale from everyone else you named. I'd put those three more in the category of Cornel Green and Herb Adderly

 

[MichaelWinicki]

When he was on his game and focused, he was every bit the force that Jones was. The problem with Lett was that he couldn't stay on the field due to suspensions. He was absolutely dominant in 1996 (prior to getting suspended.)

I remember "very good". I don't remember "dominant".

 

[J-DOG]

Too Tall is in my top 5 all time of favorites. Lett will never get there. So Ware has a ton of work and at least 10 more years..."AS A COWBOY"...To even come close.

Well said.
Lett was good for a short period of time.
Too Tall was good for a very long time.
Ask Phil Simms what he thinks of him.

I like Ware and I like his potential.
Too Tall was one of my personal favorites.
Guys like Too Tall and Harvery Martin will always be all-time greats to me.
They may not have the induction into the Hall of Fame like Randy White but to me those guys will always be thought of as legends.

If you think about it with all the great players we have had thru the years the Cowboys have been really blessed to have so many great players.
From Bob Lilly to Randy White...
Staubach and Aikman
Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith
Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin
Too Tall and Harvey Martin to Charles Haley
Walt Garrison to Robert Newhouse to Moose Johnston...how are those guys for crowd favorites?
Mel Renfro to Everson Walls to Terence Newman
Cliff Harris and Charlie Waters to Darren Woodson....
We have so many good players it's really amazing that one organization has had this much talent over the years.

 

[jem88]

I remember "very good". I don't remember "dominant".

I think we've had this discussion before, but I remember defensive MVP candidate before getting suspended.

 

[jackrussell]

Dude... I can't believe you're a Cowboys fan and you don't know who Bob Lilly is. You should be ashamed. I'm only going to say this once... so pay attention.

Bob Lilly was the fastest corner ever to play the position. He was like a blanket in coverage and while he wasn't a great tackler... he was too dangerous to throw against. He was really short for a DB but his technique was so good that he still was the best ever in coverage.

He was also the first black man ever to win the Heisman.

I can't understand how you didn't know that.

:laugh2: .....

 

[lane]

the three best defensive players i've seen play for us in my 31 years of watching the cowboys:

randy white
ed jones
harvey martin

i wish i could of seen bob lilly play........my dad said he was one mean cowboy.

 

[jackrussell]

Too Tall was good for a very long time.
Ask Phil Simms what he thinks of him.

Yes he was...Even better after he came back from boxing.

Simms....Had to have nightmares about him. I know of at least 2 games Ed swatted some balls to Jeffcoat for TDs. (if memory serves me right)

 

[J-DOG]

the three best defensive players i've seen play for us in my 31 years of watching the cowboys:

randy white
ed jones
harvey martin

i wish i could of seen bob lilly play........my dad said he was one mean cowboy.

I think he and Don Meredith came in at about the same time.
I do believe Bob Lilly was our very first draft pick ever as a franchise.
The guy played in the Southwest Conference at TCU...was nicknamed the "Purple cloud" because he was in the backfield so much.
If anyone remembers how guys like Aikman,Emmitt and Michael went thru the rough times to lead us to the promised land...try and remember that guys like Lilly,Garrison,Renfro,Hayes, and many others did the same thing a long time ago.
Guys like Lilly,Staubach,Aikman and Emmitt are players and people who do not come around very often.

 

[J-DOG]

Yes he was...Even better after he came back from boxing.

Simms....Had to have nightmares about him. I know of at least 2 games Ed swatted some balls to Jeffcoat for TDs. (if memory serves me right)

That's right.
One of those game's was a divisional winning game with Steve Pelluer playing qb.
That play where Jeffcoat picked it off and took it to the house was so big in that game.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think we've had this discussion before, but I remember defensive MVP candidate before getting suspended.

If you want to get "nitty-gritty" about it ALL players that play are MVP candidates.

 

[jem88]

If you want to get "nitty-gritty" about it ALL players that play are MVP candidates.

Fair point, but I think you know what I meant.