PTF 2007 MIDDLE LINEBACKER POWER RANKINGS
The quarterbacks of the defense — signal-callers, run-fit organizers and the men asked to control the middle of the field.
WHY MLB GETS ITS OWN ARTICLE
The outside linebacker article was about a different job.
In modern NFL language, an outside linebacker — especially in a 3-4 front — is often much closer to an edge defender. He is asked to set the edge, rush the passer, attack tackles, chase from the backside and create pressure.
The middle or inside linebacker has a different identity. The MLB is often the defensive signal-caller, the 'Mike' in the middle of the defense, and frequently the player wearing the communication helmet or 'green dot.' He has to diagnose formations, communicate checks, fit the run correctly, clean up between the tackles and keep the front seven organized.
That is why combining OLB and MLB into one linebacker article would hide two very different roster-building jobs.
OLB: edge pressure, pursuit, outside contain, pass-rush value.
MLB/ILB: recognition, tackling, run defense, traffic control, communication and command of the middle.
This article is therefore about the field generals of the defense.
HOW THE RANKINGS WORK
The defensive front determines how many MLBs count.
4-3 defense: one true middle linebacker starts in the base front, so only the team's best projected MLB counts.
3-4 defense: two inside linebackers are on the field in the base front. Madden lists those inside players in the MLB group, so the two best projected MLBs count equally.
4-3 Team MLB Score = MLB1 NOVR
3-4 Team MLB Score = (MLB1 NOVR + MLB2 NOVR) / 2
This is the same formation-aware philosophy used in the DT article. A 3-4 team cannot hide a weak second inside linebacker behind one star, because both players are part of the base defense.
Until an actual depth-chart override is confirmed, the highest-NOVR MLBs on each roster are treated as the projected starters.
League-average team MLB score: 83.52
League median team MLB score: 84.00
THE FULL LEAGUE MLB POWER RANKING
1. Dolphins — 99 — 4-3 — MLB Brian Urlacher 99
2. Redskins — 98 — 4-3 — MLB Jeremiah Trotter 98
3. Jaguars — 97 — 4-3 — MLB Kawika Mitchell 97
4. Rams — 95 — 4-3 — MLB Cie Grant 95
5. Steelers — 94 — 4-3 — MLB James Harrison 94
6. Eagles — 93 — 4-3 — MLB Antonio Pierce 93
7. Texans — 92 — 4-3 — MLB Jonathan Vilma 92
8. Lions — 91 — 4-3 — MLB Chris Claiborne 91
9. Giants — 90 — 4-3 — MLB Alfred Fincher 90
T10. Broncos — 89 — 4-3 — MLB Al Wilson 89
T10. Buccaneers — 89 — 4-3 — MLB Dan Morgan 89
T10. Falcons — 89 — 4-3 — MLB Keith Brooking 89
13. Chargers — 86 — 4-3 — MLB Roy Williams 86
T14. Saints — 85 — 4-3 — MLB Ryan Fowler 85
T14. Vikings — 85 — 4-3 — MLB Larry Foote 85
T16. Bears — 84 — 4-3 — MLB Lawrence Timmons 84
T16. Bengals — 84 — 4-3 — MLB Lance Briggs 84
18. Ravens — 83.5 — 3-4 — ILB Bart Scott 94 | ILB Tim Dobbins 73
T19. Cowboys — 83 — 3-4 — ILB Ray Lewis 93 | ILB Rocky Boiman 73
T19. Titans — 83 — 3-4 — ILB Solomon Bates 93 | ILB Donnie Edwards 73
21. Raiders — 80 — 3-4 — ILB Napoleon Harris 89 | ILB Peter Sirmon 71
22. Panthers — 79.5 — 3-4 — ILB DeMeco Ryans 93 | ILB Brandon Spoon 66
23. 49ers — 79 — 4-3 — MLB Leon Joe 79
24. Patriots — 78 — 4-3 — MLB Jeremy Cain 78
25. Bills — 77.5 — 3-4 — ILB Lofa Tatupu 92 | ILB Rashean Mathis 63
26. Packers — 76 — 3-4 — ILB Jonathan Goddard 86 | ILB Ryan Claridge 66
T27. Cardinals — 73 — 4-3 — MLB Zach Thomas 73
T27. Colts — 73 — 4-3 — MLB Brad Kassell 73
29. Browns — 72 — 4-3 — MLB Rod Davis 72
30. Jets — 70 — 4-3 — MLB Tony Gilbert 70
31. Chiefs — 63.5 — 3-4 — ILB D'Qwell Jackson 65 | ILB Buster Davis 62
32. Seahawks — 61.5 — 3-4 — ILB Chaun Thompson 66 | ILB Monty Beisel 57
Miami owns the best middle linebacker situation in PTF because a 4-3 defense lets Brian Urlacher's league-best 99 stand alone as the entire base MLB score.
Washington follows with Jeremiah Trotter at 98, Jacksonville has Kawika Mitchell at 97, and St. Louis gets a 95 from Cie Grant.
The first 3-4 team does not appear until Baltimore at #18. That does not mean the 3-4 teams lack stars. Baltimore has Bart Scott at 94, Dallas has Ray Lewis at 93, Tennessee has Solomon Bates at 93 and Carolina has DeMeco Ryans at 93. The difference is that every one of those teams must also put a second inside linebacker on the field.
That is exactly what this ranking is designed to expose.
THE ELITE 4-3 FIELD GENERALS
1. Dolphins — Brian Urlacher — NOVR 99 — Age 29
2. Redskins — Jeremiah Trotter — NOVR 98 — Age 30
3. Jaguars — Kawika Mitchell — NOVR 97 — Age 26
4. Rams — Cie Grant — NOVR 95 — Age 28
5. Steelers — James Harrison — NOVR 94 — Age 29
6. Eagles — Antonio Pierce — NOVR 93 — Age 29
7. Texans — Jonathan Vilma — NOVR 92 — Age 26
8. Lions — Chris Claiborne — NOVR 91 — Age 29
9. Giants — Alfred Fincher — NOVR 90 — Age 24
10. Broncos — Al Wilson — NOVR 89 — Age 30
11. Buccaneers — Dan Morgan — NOVR 89 — Age 29
12. Falcons — Keith Brooking — NOVR 89 — Age 32
This is the purest version of the classic middle-linebacker role: one central defender directing the front seven and carrying the entire MLB spot.
Urlacher, Trotter and Mitchell form a clear top three. All three are 97 or better, and all three play in a scheme where their individual quality is not diluted by a second base inside linebacker.
THE 3-4 INSIDE LINEBACKER TANDEMS
1. Ravens — 83.5 — Bart Scott 94 / Tim Dobbins 73
2. Cowboys — 83 — Ray Lewis 93 / Rocky Boiman 73
3. Titans — 83 — Solomon Bates 93 / Donnie Edwards 73
4. Raiders — 80 — Napoleon Harris 89 / Peter Sirmon 71
5. Panthers — 79.5 — DeMeco Ryans 93 / Brandon Spoon 66
6. Bills — 77.5 — Lofa Tatupu 92 / Rashean Mathis 63
7. Packers — 76 — Jonathan Goddard 86 / Ryan Claridge 66
8. Chiefs — 63.5 — D'Qwell Jackson 65 / Buster Davis 62
9. Seahawks — 61.5 — Chaun Thompson 66 / Monty Beisel 57
Baltimore owns the best 3-4 inside pair at 83.5. Bart Scott is an elite 94, while Tim Dobbins is a much more ordinary 73.
Dallas and Tennessee tie at 83.0. Ray Lewis and Solomon Bates give those teams star-level MLB1 talent, but both are paired with a 73-rated second inside linebacker.
Carolina is the most dramatic example of the formation effect. DeMeco Ryans is already a 93 at age 23, but Brandon Spoon is 66. The Panthers therefore score only 79.5 as a complete 3-4 inside-linebacker room.
TOP INDIVIDUAL MLBs
1. Brian Urlacher, Dolphins — NOVR 99 — Age 29 — 258 lbs
2. Jeremiah Trotter, Redskins — NOVR 98 — Age 30 — 262 lbs
3. Kawika Mitchell, Jaguars — NOVR 97 — Age 26 — 253 lbs
4. Cie Grant, Rams — NOVR 95 — Age 28 — 235 lbs
5. Bart Scott, Ravens — NOVR 94 — Age 27 — 235 lbs
6. James Harrison, Steelers — NOVR 94 — Age 29 — 242 lbs
7. DeMeco Ryans, Panthers — NOVR 93 — Age 23 — 247 lbs
8. Solomon Bates, Titans — NOVR 93 — Age 27 — 243 lbs
9. Antonio Pierce, Eagles — NOVR 93 — Age 29 — 240 lbs
10. Ray Lewis, Cowboys — NOVR 93 — Age 32 — 245 lbs
11. Lofa Tatupu, Bills — NOVR 92 — Age 24 — 250 lbs
12. Jonathan Vilma, Texans — NOVR 92 — Age 26 — 230 lbs
13. Chris Claiborne, Lions — NOVR 91 — Age 29 — 259 lbs
14. Alfred Fincher, Giants — NOVR 90 — Age 24 — 238 lbs
15. Napoleon Harris, Raiders — NOVR 89 — Age 28 — 255 lbs
16. Dan Morgan, Buccaneers — NOVR 89 — Age 29 — 245 lbs
17. Al Wilson, Broncos — NOVR 89 — Age 30 — 240 lbs
18. Keith Brooking, Falcons — NOVR 89 — Age 32 — 245 lbs
19. Jonathan Goddard, Packers — NOVR 86 — Age 23 — 240 lbs
20. Roy Williams, Chargers — NOVR 86 — Age 27 — 235 lbs
Brian Urlacher is the only 99 in the pool. Jeremiah Trotter is 98 and Kawika Mitchell is 97.
Behind them is an interesting cluster: Cie Grant 95, Bart Scott and James Harrison 94, then Antonio Pierce, DeMeco Ryans, Ray Lewis and Solomon Bates at 93.
THE NEXT GENERATION — BEST ROSTERED MLBs AGE 25 OR YOUNGER
1. DeMeco Ryans, Panthers — NOVR 93 — Age 23
2. Lofa Tatupu, Bills — NOVR 92 — Age 24
3. Alfred Fincher, Giants — NOVR 90 — Age 24
4. Jonathan Goddard, Packers — NOVR 86 — Age 23
5. Lawrence Timmons, Bears — NOVR 84 — Age 21
6. Pat Thomas, Eagles — NOVR 76 — Age 24
7. Zak DeOssie, Saints — NOVR 75 — Age 23
8. Tim Dobbins, Ravens — NOVR 73 — Age 25
9. Kelvin Smith, Lions — NOVR 72 — Age 23
10. Anthony Waters, Cowboys — NOVR 71 — Age 23
11. Keyaron Fox, Bears — NOVR 71 — Age 25
12. Rod Wilson, Jaguars — NOVR 71 — Age 25
13. Barrett Ruud, Saints — NOVR 70 — Age 25
14. A.J. Hawk, Colts — NOVR 68 — Age 23
15. Jordan Beck, Bengals — NOVR 68 — Age 24
16. Ryan Claridge, Packers — NOVR 66 — Age 24
17. D'Qwell Jackson, Chiefs — NOVR 65 — Age 24
18. Oscar Lua, Panthers — NOVR 64 — Age 23
19. Nick Barnett, Buccaneers — NOVR 64 — Age 25
20. Gerris Wilkinson, Packers — NOVR 63 — Age 24
DeMeco Ryans is the standout young field general: 23 years old and already 93 NOVR.
Lofa Tatupu is right behind at 24/92, while Alfred Fincher is 24/90. Those are the three young MLBs who already look like high-end long-term starters.
Jonathan Goddard at 23/86 and Lawrence Timmons at only 21/84 are the next development tier.
SCHEME FIT CHANGES EVERYTHING
The easiest way to see why this article needs the 4-3/3-4 adjustment is to compare Baltimore with Miami.
Miami: Brian Urlacher is 99. In a 4-3, that one player fills the base MLB job. Team score: 99.
Baltimore: Bart Scott is 94, which is elite. But a 3-4 also needs the second inside linebacker, and Tim Dobbins is 73. Team score: 83.5.
If we ranked only each team's best MLB, Baltimore would look like a 94-level room and the weakness beside Scott would disappear completely.
The same issue appears in Carolina: Ryans 93 / Spoon 66, Buffalo: Tatupu 92 / Mathis 63, and Green Bay: Goddard 86 / Claridge 66.
For a 3-4 defense, the second inside linebacker is not depth. He is part of the starting structure.
DIVISION-BY-DIVISION BREAKDOWN
AFC EAST
1. Dolphins — 99 — 4-3 — League 1 — Brian Urlacher 99
2. Patriots — 78 — 4-3 — League 24 — Jeremy Cain 78
3. Bills — 77.5 — 3-4 — League 25 — Lofa Tatupu 92 / Rashean Mathis 63
4. Jets — 70 — 4-3 — League 30 — Tony Gilbert 70
Miami carries the division with Brian Urlacher's league-best 99. Buffalo is much more complicated: Lofa Tatupu is a 92, but the Bills' 3-4 forces Rashean Mathis 63 into the scoring pair. New England and the Jets both sit below 80.
AFC NORTH
1. Steelers — 94 — 4-3 — League 5 — James Harrison 94
2. Bengals — 84 — 4-3 — League T16 — Lance Briggs 84
3. Ravens — 83.5 — 3-4 — League 18 — Bart Scott 94 / Tim Dobbins 73
4. Browns — 72 — 4-3 — League 29 — Rod Davis 72
Pittsburgh leads with James Harrison 94. Baltimore has the division's strongest 3-4 inside tandem, but the two-player requirement pulls the Ravens to 83.5 despite Bart Scott's 94.
AFC SOUTH
1. Jaguars — 97 — 4-3 — League 3 — Kawika Mitchell 97
2. Texans — 92 — 4-3 — League 7 — Jonathan Vilma 92
3. Titans — 83 — 3-4 — League T19 — Solomon Bates 93 / Donnie Edwards 73
4. Colts — 73 — 4-3 — League T27 — Brad Kassell 73
Jacksonville's Kawika Mitchell 97 and Houston's Jonathan Vilma 92 make this one of the strongest divisions. Tennessee has a star in Solomon Bates, but the second 3-4 ILB lowers the Titans to 83.0.
AFC WEST
1. Broncos — 89 — 4-3 — League T10 — Al Wilson 89
2. Chargers — 86 — 4-3 — League 13 — Roy Williams 86
3. Raiders — 80 — 3-4 — League 21 — Napoleon Harris 89 / Peter Sirmon 71
4. Chiefs — 63.5 — 3-4 — League 31 — D'Qwell Jackson 65 / Buster Davis 62
Denver's Al Wilson 89 and San Diego's Roy Williams 86 are the best single MLBs here. Kansas City is badly hurt by its 3-4 pair of D'Qwell Jackson 65 and Buster Davis 62.
NFC EAST
1. Redskins — 98 — 4-3 — League 2 — Jeremiah Trotter 98
2. Eagles — 93 — 4-3 — League 6 — Antonio Pierce 93
3. Giants — 90 — 4-3 — League 9 — Alfred Fincher 90
4. Cowboys — 83 — 3-4 — League T19 — Ray Lewis 93 / Rocky Boiman 73
The strongest MLB division in PTF. Washington has Jeremiah Trotter 98, Philadelphia has Antonio Pierce 93 and the Giants have Alfred Fincher 90. Dallas is the only 3-4 team in the group and therefore has to count both Ray Lewis and Rocky Boiman.
NFC NORTH
1. Lions — 91 — 4-3 — League 8 — Chris Claiborne 91
2. Vikings — 85 — 4-3 — League T14 — Larry Foote 85
3. Bears — 84 — 4-3 — League T16 — Lawrence Timmons 84
4. Packers — 76 — 3-4 — League 26 — Jonathan Goddard 86 / Ryan Claridge 66
Detroit leads with Chris Claiborne 91. Chicago and Minnesota are solid, while Green Bay's 3-4 structure exposes the gap between Jonathan Goddard 86 and Ryan Claridge 66.
NFC SOUTH
1. Buccaneers — 89 — 4-3 — League T10 — Dan Morgan 89
2. Falcons — 89 — 4-3 — League T10 — Keith Brooking 89
3. Saints — 85 — 4-3 — League T14 — Ryan Fowler 85
4. Panthers — 79.5 — 3-4 — League 22 — DeMeco Ryans 93 / Brandon Spoon 66
Atlanta and Tampa Bay both score 89, New Orleans sits at 85, and Carolina's DeMeco Ryans 93 is dragged down by the second 3-4 inside spot.
NFC WEST
1. Rams — 95 — 4-3 — League 4 — Cie Grant 95
2. 49ers — 79 — 4-3 — League 23 — Leon Joe 79
3. Cardinals — 73 — 4-3 — League T27 — Zach Thomas 73
4. Seahawks — 61.5 — 3-4 — League 32 — Chaun Thompson 66 / Monty Beisel 57
St. Louis has one of the league's elite 4-3 signal-callers in Cie Grant 95. Seattle, by contrast, has the weakest 3-4 inside tandem in the league at 61.5.
DIVISION STRENGTH RANKING
1. NFC EAST — 91.00
2. AFC SOUTH — 86.25
3. NFC SOUTH — 85.62
4. NFC NORTH — 84.00
5. AFC NORTH — 83.38
6. AFC EAST — 81.12
7. AFC WEST — 79.62
8. NFC WEST — 77.12
The NFC East is the clear #1 MLB division at 91.00. It combines three elite 4-3 middle linebackers with Ray Lewis leading Dallas' 3-4 pair.
The NFC West finishes last at 77.13, largely because Seattle's two-man 3-4 room scores only 61.5.
UNASSIGNED MLBs WORTH WATCHING
1. Jamie Sharper — NOVR 85 — Age 33 — 240 lbs
2. Andra Davis — NOVR 82 — Age 29 — 255 lbs
3. Derek Smith — NOVR 77 — Age 32 — 245 lbs
4. James Farrior — NOVR 77 — Age 32 — 243 lbs
5. Heath Farwell — NOVR 70 — Age 24 — 235 lbs
6. Jay Foreman — NOVR 66 — Age 31 — 240 lbs
7. Michael Nattiel — NOVR 60 — Age 27 — 227 lbs
8. Nate Webster — NOVR 59 — Age 30 — 230 lbs
9. Orlando Ruff — NOVR 58 — Age 31 — 250 lbs
10. Rob Morris — NOVR 57 — Age 32 — 243 lbs
11. Lance Mitchell — NOVR 56 — Age 25 — 247 lbs
12. Ed Hartwell — NOVR 56 — Age 29 — 250 lbs
Jamie Sharper is the best immediate veteran option at 85. Andra Davis is next at 82.
For a 3-4 team with a weak second inside linebacker, those two players are more valuable than they may look in a generic free-agent list because the second MLB is a real base starter.
Heath Farwell is the most interesting young unassigned option at age 24/70.
GM TAKEAWAYS
1. Brian Urlacher is the league's premier defensive field general. A 99 NOVR in a 4-3 means Miami gets full value from the best MLB in the pool without needing a second base inside linebacker.
2. Formation matters more at MLB than a simple top-player list suggests. A 3-4 team must solve two inside-linebacker spots, not one.
3. Baltimore has the best 3-4 inside room, but there is still a major gap between MLB1 and MLB2. Bart Scott 94 / Tim Dobbins 73 is good enough for the best 3-4 score, but it is nowhere near the elite 4-3 rooms.
4. Carolina has one of the league's best young defensive leaders in DeMeco Ryans. The Panthers' problem is not MLB1. It is finding a second inside linebacker closer to Ryans' level.
5. Buffalo has the same roster-construction problem. Lofa Tatupu is 92 at only 24, but Rashean Mathis 63 creates a 29-point starter gap.
6. A veteran free-agent MLB can be disproportionately valuable to a 3-4 team. Jamie Sharper 85 or Andra Davis 82 could immediately raise several of the league's weakest two-ILB rooms.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Outside linebacker and middle linebacker may share the LB label, but they are not the same roster-building problem.
The OLB article is about players who can attack the edge, pressure the quarterback, pursue and contain.
This MLB article is about the men controlling the heart of the defense: the Mike linebackers, inside tacklers and signal-callers who diagnose what the offense is doing and get everyone lined up correctly.
The formation-aware scoring makes that distinction even more important.
A 4-3 defense can build the position around one great field general. A 3-4 defense needs two inside linebackers who can survive together.
That is why Miami's Urlacher-led room sits at #1, while teams such as Baltimore, Dallas, Carolina and Buffalo can have a genuine star at MLB1 and still rank much lower as complete units.
ONE IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT MLB NOVR
Across the full 103-player MLB pool:
- 14 MLBs are 90+
- 4 MLBs are 95+
- 1 MLB is 99
- Average MLB NOVR: 70.72
- Median MLB NOVR: 69
The top of the MLB pool is strong, but depth falls off quickly. That is much more painful in a 3-4, where the second inside linebacker is part of the base defense rather than a bench player.
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