The Top Five: Best 4-3 Outside Linebackers in the NFL

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for NFLSportChannel.com

Published: July 3, 2009

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... it never really had all that much.

As an outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme, you must be intelligent. Only guys with the best football intelligence can succeed here. This is due to the fact that outside linebackers are asked to do a lot for a defense.

They are usually the last guy keeping the play from turning into a huge gain. If a running back goes to the outside and beats the outside linebacker, it's at least a 15 yard gain because the corners have their backs turned and the safeties play that deep.

Same thing in the passing game. If a running back catches the ball in the flats, then beats the linebacker, even the biggest of running backs can turn that into an easy first down.

These are the guys who don't allow that to happen.

 

5. Thomas Davis (Carolina Panthers)

47 games started, 9.5 sacks, 1 INT, 8 forced fumbles, 268 tackles

Davis came into the league as a safety/linebacker hybrid. He playe...

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