Chiefs’ Best Front Seven: Stairway To Heaven
By Laddie Morse
Who Has the Best Front Seven Inside Linebackers?
In Kansas City, Derrick Johnson is the man. His speed and ability to get to the holes and the angles he’s able to take because of that speed will continue to confound linemen and scheming OCs. Although Johnson has only been to the Pro Bowl for the past three years he deserved to go many years prior to that. ILB Joe Mays has been brought in to play the Yin to DJ’s Yang and should be the immovable stump and thumper the Chiefs have been desiring for years. Most fans will only look back at May’s stats for last year at Houston but that was his first year back following an injury. If you want to take a peek back several years when he played for the Broncos, you’ll see someone who was their best LB. My prediction: J-May will be the thug to DJ’s plug (now if you’re someone who is offended by my use of the word “thug” please don’t in any way think I’m calling Mays a thug nor do I support thuggish behavior in the slightest).
In Frisco, the 49ers have had “the” best set of linebackers in the league for a few years now. However, with Aldon Smith doing time for a DUI and other assorted Stupid Human Tricks, the LB corp on the Bay won’t be any better than the Chiefs. In fact, Aldon Smith’s behavior has knocked the 49ers group out of the top stop as the league’s best front seven. As long as they still have NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis inside, the 9ers are going to be formidable. Yes, they have an edge over the Chiefs here but not by much because I give DJ the nod as better than both of the 49ers ILBs.
In Seattle, the Seahawks have Bobby Wagner and while he’s only had two years in the league he’s an excellent middle LB. However, of all the inside and middle linebackers on the Chiefs, 49ers and Seahawks, I’d rank Wagner only above Mays.
Here, the tip goes to the 49ers and their two superior ILBs.
“You got mud on yo’ face, you big disgrace
Kickin’ your can all over the place
Singin’ we will, we will, rock you.”
We Will Rock You, Queen, 1977
Lastly, let’s see why the Chiefs outside linebackers clinch the deal making them the best front seven.
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