re: Was Warren Sapp Really THAT Good?

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Derrick Brooks was the best player on that defense. Period.

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Bull...you don't understand football then.

Under the Bucs scheme the Tampa 2 required dominant inside presence to allow Brooks the open space to do his thing.

Sapp made that defense go. He was the absolute key to Monte Kiffin's defense. He was the anchor.

From 1995-2003, he averaged nearly 50 solo tackles and 8.5 sacks per 16 games - extraordinary numbers for an interior defensive lineman.

"When the nose tackle engages the center, the weak side backer is free to flow to the ball after ensuring that his gap (the weak side center-guard gap, or A gap) isn't threatened.

With the SLB and MLB dealing with potential blocks from the TE, FB and an OL, the WLB will be in position to make a lot of plays.

Ballcarriers are "spilled" toward the WLB.

Dungy and Kiffin's philosophy preaches a turn back or spilling concept in run support. That is, a defender taking on a block knows where his most likely help will be and turns or spills the ballcarrier in that direction. Since the WLB is often free in an under front, he's frequently the teammate to whom the running back gets sent."

Dungy's scheme made Derrick Brooks more than it made Sapp - instead, Sapp made the scheme work.