The Best All-Time 49er Defensive Player?

Originally posted by BirdmanJr:
Lott for now

Willis will be the best after he retires

I'm a huge fan of Ken Norton. But I think it's a huge reach to put him on a list ahead of HOFers Nomellini, Wilcox and Johnson.
I also think Eric Davis doesn't belong in this conversation. I'd have Eric Wright and Keena Turner on the list ahead of him.

oh...

Ronnie Lott ftw

if you didnt vote for lott then you don't know football. you can make an argument , albeit small, he's the greatest defensive player of all-time. as great as willis is, he's a long way till he reaches lott's level. which isn;t to say he can't reach it.

Lott played on some of the greatest teams ever and best defenses of his time. Not taking anything away from him but he wouldnt of made the impact if he had to line up with Roman or Derek Smith or whoever Willis has lined up with.

They are predicted the niners to be a top10 defense and thats all on Willis...take him out and they are one of the worst units in the league.....Cant say the same about Lott.

HOF Class of 1994
1961-1976 San Francisco 49ers
James Earl Johnson. . .49ers' No. 1 draft pick, 1961. . . . Blessed with outstanding speed, leaping ability. . .Named All-Pro four times. . .Selected to five Pro Bowls. . .Career record: 47 interceptions, 615 yards (both were 49ers records). . .Opposition passers avoided throwing in his area. . .Played in two NFC title games. . .Born March 31, 1938, in Dallas, Texas

Jimmy Johnson, a 6-2, 187-pound two-way star from UCLA, was the first of three first-round draft choices of the San Francisco 49ers in 1961. The brother of former world decathlon champion Rafer Johnson, Jimmy played wingback on offense and as a defensive back at UCLA. He also was an outstanding track star, a 13.9-second high hurdler and a 25-foot broad jumper.

The 49ers tried Johnson as a defensive back as a rookie, moved him to the offensive unit in his second season and then back to the defensive unit to stay in his third season in 1963. Johnson, who was born March 31, 1938, in Dallas, Texas, intercepted five passes in his rookie season but also did well with 34 receptions for 627 yards and four touchdowns as an offensive receiver in 1962.

He played a year at safety in 1963 and then moved to the left cornerback spot for the remainder of his 16-season career, which was concluded after the 1976 season. He played in 213 games, more than any other 49er at the time of his retirement.

Recognized as one of the best man-to-man defenders in history, Johnson's reputation was so great that opposition quarterbacks threw only rarely into his defensive territory. Still, Johnson intercepted 47 passes and returned them 615 yards.

He had his big moments as a receiver as well, an 80-yard touchdown reception against the Chicago Bears and a 181-yard day vs. Detroit, both in 1962. Johnson was named All-Pro four straight years from 1969 through 1972. He played in three Pro Bowls and missed two others because of injuries.

The former college honor roll student won the Pro Football Writers' George Halas Award for courageous play in 1971 and twice was the winner of the coveted Len Eshmont award given by the 49ers for inspirational play.

1961 San Francisco 12 5 116 23.2 0 0
1962 San Francisco 12 0 0 0.0 0 0
1963 San Francisco 13 2 36 18.0 0 1
1964 San Francisco 14 3 65 21.7 0 0
1965 San Francisco 14 6 47 7.8 0 0
1966 San Francisco 14 4 57 14.3 1 2
1967 San Francisco 11 2 68 34.0 0 1
1968 San Francisco 13 1 25 25.0 0 0
1969 San Francisco 14 5 18 3.6 0 0
1970 San Francisco 14 2 36 18.0 1 1
1971 San Francisco 14 3 16 5.3 0 1
1972 San Francisco 14 4 18 4.5 0 0
1973 San Francisco 13 4 46 11.5 0 0
1974 San Francisco 13 3 50 16.7 0 0
1975 San Francisco 14 2 0 0.0 0 1
1976 San Francisco 14 1 17 17.0 0 0
Career Total 213 47 615 13.1 2 7
Additional Career Statistics: Receiving: 40-690, 4 TDs; 1 Safety

Tough call. I'd say it comes down to David Baas, Taylor Mays, Ashley Lelie or Thomas Clayton.

Im a BY fan myself. But im also only turning 20 in a couple weeks so i didnt see most of the other ones play except in nfl films when they show those ad ofcource willis every sunday.

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Tough call. I'd say it comes down to David Baas, Taylor Mays, Ashley Lelie or Thomas Clayton.

Noob.... You forgot Amp Lee...

- 98

ima have to go with Ronnie lott, P willis, Bryan Young...........

not even close...

Ronnie Lott

Ronnie Lott....duh

Originally posted by wolfpack52:
Lott played on some of the greatest teams ever and best defenses of his time.

Not taking anything away from him but he wouldnt of made the impact if he had to line up with Roman or Derek Smith or whoever Willis has lined up with.

Originally posted by kidash:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Tough call. I'd say it comes down to David Baas, Taylor Mays, Ashley Lelie or Thomas Clayton.

Noob.... You forgot Amp Lee...

- 98

he was as slow as mudd moving up hill but he was fun to watch

Originally posted by SonocoNinerFan:

Originally posted by BobS:

Originally posted by BSacamano:

Originally posted by crabman82:
only played 1 year, but i'm going with dieon, when u have a year like he did in 94, u dont need any additional seasons to be in the discussion

Blasphemy. Deion was nothing more than a rented Cowboy.

That and he wasn't even a complete player at his position. Get a running back loose in the secondary and he was looking for a place to hide. He was a total sissy, I think he is way overrated, I have no respect for a gutless coward on a football field.

Deion's a HOF'er . . . but as a one year rental he doesn't even make my All-Time 49er team.

Same goes for the Rod Woodson rental (1997)

The one player that seems out of place is Eric Davis. He was good and all (better than most of the DBs on the current team), but one memorable pick-6 against the Cowboys does not a Best All-Time 49ers Defensive Player make.

Eric Wright and even Don Griffin > Eric Davis


MERTON HANKS for his dance alone should be on this list instead of Eric Davis!

Originally posted by jreff22:

Originally posted by BirdmanJr:
Lott for now

Willis will be the best after he retires