THUMPER
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THUMPER’s Ultimate All-Time Team
A few years ago I posted this on a couple of forums and it was a good way to pass the slow time during the offseason as it sparked a lot of discussion.
The object here is not simply to select the best players at each position but to build a team that could play together. Based on who my coaches are helped to determine who some of the players were that I selected.
I also went with a 60-man roster just because I like it. So let's see your 60-man Ultimate Team.
I will add some comments as to why I chose the guys I did...
THUMPER’s Ultimate All-Time Team
(Starters listed first)
QB: Otto Graham, John Unitas, Roger Staubach, John Elway
To me the most important aspects of a QB are the ability to lead and make plays. I am not as concerned about his accuracy or how pretty his passes are as I am about his ability to win games. The guys I picked did just that. Montana would have been another one but 4 QBs was enough.
HB: Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, Gayle Sayers, Earl Campbell
Here I was looking for different styles and these guys definitely have that. All 4 are outstanding in certain areas and were highly productive. I also wanted guys that could do more than just run with the ball. It was a tough choice between Sayers, Tony Dorsett, and Lenny Moore but Sayers was just SO GOOD I had to take him.
FB: Jim Brown, Jim Taylor, Bill Brown
It will be one heck of an offense with both Payton and Brown in the backfield together. Jimmy wasn't the best of blockers but with my O-Line I don't have to worry too much about having a lead blocker. If I need one Bill Brown is there to provide the battering ram for me. Cowboys fans will knock me for not having Daryl Johnston but my FBs need to be able to run the ball as well as block and catch. Bill Brown was an excellent blocker and a very good runner, one of the best all-around FBs ever IMO.
WR: Paul Warfield, Steve Largent, Bob Hayes, Jerry Rice, Lance Alworth, Elroy Hirsch
Warfield & Largent together, WOW! Or can you imagine a 3-WR set with Warfield, Hayes, & Hirsch? Talk about lengthening the field. I got guys that could run, catch, and make plays. All of these guys could score too which is what I wanted. I didn't go with size as much as with speed and the ability to make big plays.
TE: Kellen Winslow, Dave Casper, Billy Joe DuPree
Winslow was an obvious choice and Casper was pretty easy too but most people don't know much about DuPree. He was not a big numbers guy just a big play guy. A good blocker and excellent receiver he scored a lot of TDs considering how few passes he caught in his career. One of the highest TD% of any TE ever. Besides that he was a Cowboy so he had to make my team.
OT: Anthony Munoz, Art Shell, Rayfield Wright, Ron Mix, Jackie Slater
Lots of great OTs to choose from and these guys were some of the best ever. All of these guys excelled in both pass and run blocking. What more could you ask. It was tough to cut Erik Williams but I wanted guys who were more mobile.
OG: John Hannah, Larry Allen, John Niland, Jim Parker
Not as many great OGs out there but these were some AWESOME ones. Parker played mostly at OT but was great inside as well. I just replaced Gene Upshaw with John Niland because Upshaw is pissing me off right now.
C: Jeff Van Note, Mark Stepnoski, Jim Otto
Jeff Van Note is a guy who should be in the HoF but because he played on some lame Atlanta teams he is overlooked. I wanted to have Bednarik in the group as well but had to make room and 4 Centers would be a bit extravagant.
32
DT: Bob Lilly, Randy White, Merlin Olsen, Joe Greene, Ernie Stautner
No question about the 1st 4 guys but for any of you younger fans who haven't heard of Stautner (and shame on you Cowboys fans because he was an assistant with us for many years) he was an incredible player. One of the most dominating players at any position ever. He played for some of the worst Steeler teams in their history and still made the HoF. I couldn't have an All-Time team without him. Lilly & Manster side by side, who could ask for more.
DE: Deacon Jones, Ed Jones, Howie Long, Lee Roy Selmon, Jack Youngblood
I know some would question why I have Ed Jones instead of Reggie White but I couldn't stand Wedgie and I want Too Tall on my team. He was certainly no slouch and made QBs have to throw around him.
OLB: Lawrence Taylor, Chuck Howley, Ted Hendricks, Jack Lambert
I would love to see the face of the QB when he sees Too Tall coming in from one side and Ted Hendricks from the other side. Howley was a big play guy who was always in the right spot. Lambert should have been a Cowboy.
ILB: Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Lee Roy Jordan
Too many good ones to choose from and I had to cut some great players at this position but I am pretty happy with the guys I've got. Jordan was one of the smartest and quickest MLBs ever and played like he was a lot bigger.
CB: Herb Adderley, Mike Haynes, Mel Renfro, Dick Lane, Rod Woodson
Another position with tons of great players to choose from. You will no doubt note that Deion didn't make the team. I want guys who were all around players not one dimensional. All of my CBs were great tacklers as well as great cover guys.
S: Ronnie Lott, Cliff Harris, Paul Krause, Emlen Tunnell
Safetys need to be able to hit as well as defend the pass and these guys were some of the best all-around ever. I hated to cut Charlie Waters and Larry Wilson but I just couldn't justify 6 safetys.
26
P: Sammy Baugh
This was a sneaky way to add a QB without taking a position away from someone else. Sammy was an awesome punter and a pretty good DB as well as being a great QB. I thought about adding a ST player and it would have been Spec Sanders, an incredible all-around player back in the late 40s & early 50s. Ran and passed for over 1400 yards each in one season at TB and set the NFL record for INTs (13) as a DB. He also led the AAFC in punting one year.
K: Morten Anderson
Hey I had to pick a kicker and since I really don't care much about them I just went with a guy that has been consistently excellent all his career.
2
Coaches: Paul Brown, Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, Sid Gillman, Don Shula
I am not sure who would run which platoon or how these guys would divvy up the work but they were the top-5 IMO so I figure they would work it out.
I made a list of the best guys at each position and whittled it down to 60 + 5 coaches.
Guys I had to cut:
Dan Marino, YA Tittle, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, John Mackey, Larry Csonka, Doug Atkins, Chuck Bednarik, Charlie Waters, Willie Lanier, Mike Ditka, Tommy McDonald, Lenny Moore, Raymond Berry, Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Roosevelt Brown, Ray Guy, Larry Wilson, Gino Marchetti, Alan Page, Ray Nitschke, Lem Barney, Ken Houston, George Halas, Marv Levy, and many others.
I will eventually update my team with some more current players but I figured I'd leave it the way it was for now.
OK, so let's see your team...
A few years ago I posted this on a couple of forums and it was a good way to pass the slow time during the offseason as it sparked a lot of discussion.
The object here is not simply to select the best players at each position but to build a team that could play together. Based on who my coaches are helped to determine who some of the players were that I selected.
I also went with a 60-man roster just because I like it. So let's see your 60-man Ultimate Team.
I will add some comments as to why I chose the guys I did...
THUMPER’s Ultimate All-Time Team
(Starters listed first)
QB: Otto Graham, John Unitas, Roger Staubach, John Elway
To me the most important aspects of a QB are the ability to lead and make plays. I am not as concerned about his accuracy or how pretty his passes are as I am about his ability to win games. The guys I picked did just that. Montana would have been another one but 4 QBs was enough.
HB: Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, Gayle Sayers, Earl Campbell
Here I was looking for different styles and these guys definitely have that. All 4 are outstanding in certain areas and were highly productive. I also wanted guys that could do more than just run with the ball. It was a tough choice between Sayers, Tony Dorsett, and Lenny Moore but Sayers was just SO GOOD I had to take him.
FB: Jim Brown, Jim Taylor, Bill Brown
It will be one heck of an offense with both Payton and Brown in the backfield together. Jimmy wasn't the best of blockers but with my O-Line I don't have to worry too much about having a lead blocker. If I need one Bill Brown is there to provide the battering ram for me. Cowboys fans will knock me for not having Daryl Johnston but my FBs need to be able to run the ball as well as block and catch. Bill Brown was an excellent blocker and a very good runner, one of the best all-around FBs ever IMO.
WR: Paul Warfield, Steve Largent, Bob Hayes, Jerry Rice, Lance Alworth, Elroy Hirsch
Warfield & Largent together, WOW! Or can you imagine a 3-WR set with Warfield, Hayes, & Hirsch? Talk about lengthening the field. I got guys that could run, catch, and make plays. All of these guys could score too which is what I wanted. I didn't go with size as much as with speed and the ability to make big plays.
TE: Kellen Winslow, Dave Casper, Billy Joe DuPree
Winslow was an obvious choice and Casper was pretty easy too but most people don't know much about DuPree. He was not a big numbers guy just a big play guy. A good blocker and excellent receiver he scored a lot of TDs considering how few passes he caught in his career. One of the highest TD% of any TE ever. Besides that he was a Cowboy so he had to make my team.
OT: Anthony Munoz, Art Shell, Rayfield Wright, Ron Mix, Jackie Slater
Lots of great OTs to choose from and these guys were some of the best ever. All of these guys excelled in both pass and run blocking. What more could you ask. It was tough to cut Erik Williams but I wanted guys who were more mobile.
OG: John Hannah, Larry Allen, John Niland, Jim Parker
Not as many great OGs out there but these were some AWESOME ones. Parker played mostly at OT but was great inside as well. I just replaced Gene Upshaw with John Niland because Upshaw is pissing me off right now.
C: Jeff Van Note, Mark Stepnoski, Jim Otto
Jeff Van Note is a guy who should be in the HoF but because he played on some lame Atlanta teams he is overlooked. I wanted to have Bednarik in the group as well but had to make room and 4 Centers would be a bit extravagant.
32
DT: Bob Lilly, Randy White, Merlin Olsen, Joe Greene, Ernie Stautner
No question about the 1st 4 guys but for any of you younger fans who haven't heard of Stautner (and shame on you Cowboys fans because he was an assistant with us for many years) he was an incredible player. One of the most dominating players at any position ever. He played for some of the worst Steeler teams in their history and still made the HoF. I couldn't have an All-Time team without him. Lilly & Manster side by side, who could ask for more.
DE: Deacon Jones, Ed Jones, Howie Long, Lee Roy Selmon, Jack Youngblood
I know some would question why I have Ed Jones instead of Reggie White but I couldn't stand Wedgie and I want Too Tall on my team. He was certainly no slouch and made QBs have to throw around him.
OLB: Lawrence Taylor, Chuck Howley, Ted Hendricks, Jack Lambert
I would love to see the face of the QB when he sees Too Tall coming in from one side and Ted Hendricks from the other side. Howley was a big play guy who was always in the right spot. Lambert should have been a Cowboy.
ILB: Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Lee Roy Jordan
Too many good ones to choose from and I had to cut some great players at this position but I am pretty happy with the guys I've got. Jordan was one of the smartest and quickest MLBs ever and played like he was a lot bigger.
CB: Herb Adderley, Mike Haynes, Mel Renfro, Dick Lane, Rod Woodson
Another position with tons of great players to choose from. You will no doubt note that Deion didn't make the team. I want guys who were all around players not one dimensional. All of my CBs were great tacklers as well as great cover guys.
S: Ronnie Lott, Cliff Harris, Paul Krause, Emlen Tunnell
Safetys need to be able to hit as well as defend the pass and these guys were some of the best all-around ever. I hated to cut Charlie Waters and Larry Wilson but I just couldn't justify 6 safetys.
26
P: Sammy Baugh
This was a sneaky way to add a QB without taking a position away from someone else. Sammy was an awesome punter and a pretty good DB as well as being a great QB. I thought about adding a ST player and it would have been Spec Sanders, an incredible all-around player back in the late 40s & early 50s. Ran and passed for over 1400 yards each in one season at TB and set the NFL record for INTs (13) as a DB. He also led the AAFC in punting one year.
K: Morten Anderson
Hey I had to pick a kicker and since I really don't care much about them I just went with a guy that has been consistently excellent all his career.
2
Coaches: Paul Brown, Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, Sid Gillman, Don Shula
I am not sure who would run which platoon or how these guys would divvy up the work but they were the top-5 IMO so I figure they would work it out.
I made a list of the best guys at each position and whittled it down to 60 + 5 coaches.
Guys I had to cut:
Dan Marino, YA Tittle, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, John Mackey, Larry Csonka, Doug Atkins, Chuck Bednarik, Charlie Waters, Willie Lanier, Mike Ditka, Tommy McDonald, Lenny Moore, Raymond Berry, Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Roosevelt Brown, Ray Guy, Larry Wilson, Gino Marchetti, Alan Page, Ray Nitschke, Lem Barney, Ken Houston, George Halas, Marv Levy, and many others.
I will eventually update my team with some more current players but I figured I'd leave it the way it was for now.
OK, so let's see your team...
You gotta have love for the older guys, but bridging the gap to the modern era of TEs, there was Sharpe, and he was great.
