All-Falcons Poll: Middle Linebacker

We roll on with the All-Falcons poll series, where you as the fan can pick which player is your favorite player at each and every position on offense and defense. The basics are as follows:

Each position will have its own set of parameters for a player to make it onto the list, each poll will be accompanied by a chart that shows each players statistics compared to their peers to illustrate why they qualify for the poll and for the readers base of knowledge, the defensive scheme will be a 4-3 (2 CB’s, 1 FS, 1 SS, 2 OLB’s, 1 MLB, 2 DE’s, 2 DT’s), the offensive scheme will be the I-formation (1 RB, 1 FB, 1 QB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 T, 2 G, 1 C).  The end of the series will be either a chart on who plays each position and a poll to see how well you think it came out. This paragraph will precede each poll for reference.

This poll will deal with the middle linebacker position. I would like to start by stating that some players will overlap from one poll to another because out of fairness they do fit the parameters set forth for both positions. In the case of a player winning both positions, I will use the position that gets the most votes, and the remaining position will go off of the second or third place finisher. Now after some research the parameters for the middle linebacker position are going to be identical the the previous outside linebacker parameters. The lack of tackle statistics once again put me in a hard place. It goes as follows:

The player had to play on the team for AT LEAST 3 consecutive seasons; they have had to record a Weighted Career Approximate Value (as researched on pro-football-reference.com/ http://www.sports-reference.com/blog/approximate-value/ ) of at least a 30, remember the higher the number the better; the player has to have had a recorded statistic in 2 of the 4 following categories tackles, fumble recovery, interception, or sack; lastly the player DID NOT have to begin or end their career with the Falcons.

So there are the parameters for the middle linebacker position. Let’s see who we have and how they stack up (All statistics brought to you by pro-football-reference.com):

Well now that you have the parameters and statistics lets get to the voting. You can vote for 1 of the 4 candidates:

So there you have it. You read it, you analyzed it, and you voted. Now lets hear what your thoughts are on the middle linebackers, the poll series, or anything else Atlanta Falcons related.