Re: Top 5 most dominant single-season App defensive performances
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2021 6:34 pm
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I can concur with those 3. I would say Dino Hackett would be right there with them if he had one more season like he did as a senior. Jason Hunter was really special but just one season makes it hard to put him on Mount Rushmore. Rico Mack is another name to consider closely. We have had a lot of great defenders indeed.t4pizza wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 11:11 pmI am not as much of a stat head as some but just from my eye test I would say the best individual defenders that I have seen at App are Coakley, Stevens and Lynch. That is in no way a slight to all the other awesome defensive players that we have had over the years, but those 3 stand out to me. I never ever lacked faith that if the ball came anywhere near those three that the play would always be made. Lynch especially stands out for his special teams play and his propensity to block kicks. Everyone knows about Michigan but he had done it so many times prior to that game, that I actually told my brother and father (while we were with him beside in ICU) as we listened to the game that Corey would block that fg. It wasn't even a question in my mind. Those 3 are on my App Defense Mount Rushmore, but I realize that doesn't add anything to the original topic, just late night drunk rambling.
Especially during the Sparky Woods era.AppStFan1 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:36 pmI can concur with those 3. I would say Dino Hackett would be right there with them if he had one more season like he did as a senior. Jason Hunter was really special but just one season makes it hard to put him on Mount Rushmore. Rico Mack is another name to consider closely. We have had a lot of great defenders indeed.t4pizza wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 11:11 pmI am not as much of a stat head as some but just from my eye test I would say the best individual defenders that I have seen at App are Coakley, Stevens and Lynch. That is in no way a slight to all the other awesome defensive players that we have had over the years, but those 3 stand out to me. I never ever lacked faith that if the ball came anywhere near those three that the play would always be made. Lynch especially stands out for his special teams play and his propensity to block kicks. Everyone knows about Michigan but he had done it so many times prior to that game, that I actually told my brother and father (while we were with him beside in ICU) as we listened to the game that Corey would block that fg. It wasn't even a question in my mind. Those 3 are on my App Defense Mount Rushmore, but I realize that doesn't add anything to the original topic, just late night drunk rambling.
The amount of points given up in the second halves of the 2005 national semifinals and finals? Zero. That's how dominant Hunter and Murrell was. And that included going against Furman's beast FB Jerome Felton and a UNI team that could throw the ball.Bootsy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 7:30 amThere are many superb App defenders over the years. But as a tandem, Murrell and Hunter were an absolute nightmare for offensive coordinators back then. You have to appreciate the way they wrecked offenses on a weekly basis.
Watching them, it was like they were competing with one another on every play to see who could get to the QB/ballcarrier first.
That shows how great they were because they faced a lot of future NFL talent in those playoffs.T-Dog wrote: ↑Wed Feb 24, 2021 4:20 pmThe amount of points given up in the second halves of the 2005 national semifinals and finals? Zero. That's how dominant Hunter and Murrell was. And that included going against Furman's beast FB Jerome Felton and a UNI team that could throw the ball.Bootsy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 7:30 amThere are many superb App defenders over the years. But as a tandem, Murrell and Hunter were an absolute nightmare for offensive coordinators back then. You have to appreciate the way they wrecked offenses on a weekly basis.
Watching them, it was like they were competing with one another on every play to see who could get to the QB/ballcarrier first.
There was a play versus Coastal in 2005 where Lynch got an interception at like the App 25 or so, ran it past midfield, stumbled and fumbled the ball, and then Hunter picked up the ball, ran across the field for the last 30-40 yards into the end zone and threw the ball into the stands. I'll always remember that. It's insane that Hunter was not only down the field, but the first to pick up Lynch's fumble and still outran the Coastal offense.
Legree was one of the best ballhawks I've ever seen play the position. He always seemed to be in the right place.AppStFan1 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:17 amStevens is one of the top 5-10 defensive talents to ever come through App but I don't think he ever had that crazy monster production season. He had 7 picks one year but I put LeGree over him since he had 10. He had his senior year cut short due to injury so that potentially prevented him from having the type of season to break through.
Those 2 were a hell of a tandem to watch play. Sticks just enjoyed life and playing the game like no one else on that team. Celebrating that first championship on the field in Chattanooga with that roster will just be a joy in my life I'll never be able to forget.T-Dog wrote: ↑Wed Feb 24, 2021 4:20 pmThe amount of points given up in the second halves of the 2005 national semifinals and finals? Zero. That's how dominant Hunter and Murrell was. And that included going against Furman's beast FB Jerome Felton and a UNI team that could throw the ball.Bootsy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 7:30 amThere are many superb App defenders over the years. But as a tandem, Murrell and Hunter were an absolute nightmare for offensive coordinators back then. You have to appreciate the way they wrecked offenses on a weekly basis.
Watching them, it was like they were competing with one another on every play to see who could get to the QB/ballcarrier first.
There was a play versus Coastal in 2005 where Lynch got an interception at like the App 25 or so, ran it past midfield, stumbled and fumbled the ball, and then Hunter picked up the ball, ran across the field for the last 30-40 yards into the end zone and threw the ball into the stands. I'll always remember that. It's insane that Hunter was not only down the field, but the first to pick up Lynch's fumble and still outran the Coastal offense.
Going back to my era the best ballhawk we had was Quinton McKinney. Q cover the receiver, knock him into next week, and smile at you. He could put a slobber-knocker on you and make you like it.appstatealum wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:25 pmLegree was one of the best ballhawks I've ever seen play the position. He always seemed to be in the right place.AppStFan1 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:17 amStevens is one of the top 5-10 defensive talents to ever come through App but I don't think he ever had that crazy monster production season. He had 7 picks one year but I put LeGree over him since he had 10. He had his senior year cut short due to injury so that potentially prevented him from having the type of season to break through.