bill and tom's excellent adventure(the only draft that matters)
((to us))
(((part eleven)))

day 11: defensive line

as i ponder where to go with my third and final defensive lineman selection, two names jump out at me. i assume that both are coming off the board, regardless, in this round, because i feel like chris will take one or the other as well. i won't name both because i don't want to put words in his mouth nor do i want to remove the potential of team tom drafting another dud and dressing him up with numbers and accolades posted against competition that didn't wear facemasks.

i got my mountain of a man in ted washington last round. i've got my rush tackle/end in the greatest defensive lineman to ever play the game in reggie white. i need a guy on the other side of ted washington that can stop the run, primarily, but cause his own havoc in the backfield since he's going to be blocked with one guy every snap of this game.

i'm taking randy white.

from '77 to '85, randy white was the truth for the dallas cowboys. nine pro bowls and nine first team all-pros lead his resume. nicknamed the "manster" (half man, half monster), white was able to play a number of positions for his teams due to his size and freakish (for a white guy) athleticism, lining up at end and some linebacker. white found his home at d-tackle, and seeing him on my line will give system montana bad memories from their showdowns in the 80's.

Deacon Jones

8 Pro Bowls

8 All Pros

NFL 75 Anniversary Team

60's All Decade Team

2 - Defensive Player of the Year

HOF 1980

"Revolutionized the DE position", "First to use the head slap, that they all use now", "Lightning Quick"

Sacks weren't recorded, but the un-official numbers give him 194.5 which would be 3rd all time.

Named #15 on the 100 Greatest Players of All Time. In comparison, Randy White was named #62.

With Deacon Jones on one side of my 4-3 and Bruce Smith on the other. I think this team is shaping up to be pretty good. I feel certain I can find a sufficient DT to go next to Mean Joe.

yep. i could've called it. i was torn with my white pick, because i know the consensus on most of the "best ever" lists have deacon above white, but, as you noted, jones was a true defensive end, and, in my 3-4 scheme, it wouldn't have made sense to have another guy coming off the end.

it is interesting how a guy in white with 9 all-pro teams versus deacon's 8 would be so much less regarded, but, in the end, i think it goes back to the points that were made along with my ted washington pick. there isn't a lot of glamour playing on the inside of a d-line. comparing a rush end and a tackle isn't apples to apples.

I don't want to down play the "Manster" because he was on my list! Both are outstanding picks. No matter where they end up on the 100 All Time Players list, they are both very high on the d-line list.

you can tell it's been too long since we logged a pick. all this kumbaya crap is going to have to end fast.