thanks Hammer for Studwell, for those who never heard of him the guy was an absolute beast from what i read, he just bad luck and played most of his career on a bad Vikings team in the 80s
Scott Studwell is one of the more under-rated defensive players in the history of the league. Despite being virtually left out of all great defensive player discussions, his career statistics compare favorably to nearly every linebacker in the history of the NFL. Most discussions on the top linebackers in NFL history consist of: Dick Butkus, Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, Ray Lewis and Zach Thomas, among others; Scott Studwells career statistics compare to or outmatch even these greats in most respects. For Instance, while Scott Studwell wasn't a prolific sack artist like a Lawrence Taylor, he recovered 15 opponents fumbles to Taylors 10. Among the linebackers listed above, only Butkus had more, with an astounding 25 (an NFL record at the time of his retirement; currently 3rd all-time to Viking great Jim Marshall's 28).
A linebackers primary characteristic is his tackling ability and Scott Studwells was unmatched. While Ray Lewis and Zach Thomas are still playing and could catch Scott Studwell, he outstrips their current stats along with the other 3 unquestioned all-time greats listed with them above. Though Tackles were an unofficial stat until recent years, they were tracked by the team and in the case of name-players, by other sources such as Topps Co.. Among these all-time greats listed above, Ray Lewis paces the group in total career tackles with 1,838 tackles, 1,259 solo, trailed by Zach Thomas' 1,814 total tackles. Lewis has played almost exclusively in a 3-4, which traditionally generates more tackling opportunities for linebackers than a 4-3 defensive scheme. Singletary managed only 1,488 total tackles in the Bears 4-6, a scheme designed to funnel all action towards the middle and thus generate disproportionate tackles totals. But in a traditional 4-3 defense, Scott Studwell amassed an amazing 1,981 Total Tackles. He also accumulated an incomperable 1,308 solo tackles.
Despite his peerless tackling ability, he played primarily during the 1980s during a prolonged losing period for the Minnesota Vikings franchise. Consistently playing against teams with superior talent, he often kept the team in games with hard-nosed defensive play. Given the character he displayed with his tenacious, leave-it-on-the-field style of play, he certainly deserves mention with the other great linebackers in the history of the NFL.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Studwell