Having watched 4-7 games a week for 10 years from the 1977-1990 era, here are some thoughts...i am sure they are not so accurate pre 1977, lol.....
Here is how I rank: I studied about 40 Bruce Smith games from 1988-1990--he is so great against run and pass and beat many more double teams than Reggie White...and White had a bunch of sacks against centers. Kevin Green got like 12/16 sacks in 1989 on TEs and RBs, or chasing down QBs at 6 secs...loved him on the Rams, but he didn't beat OTs like Deacon, White, Smith and Younglood did.
Warren sapp and John Randle- great against pass, but not legendry overall (vs run) like BOb Lilly and Olsen
Youngblood> Derrick Thomas/Carl Eller/Coy Bacon/Fred Dean by a hair
Reggie White> Jack Younblood
Bruce Smith> Reggie White (by more than a little)
Deacon> Bruce
AD > than all...and it isn't close in my opinion
The amount of double teams AD has beaten is incredible. I only saw Deacon highlights, but I didn't see many double teams...though I think he had 26 sacks one year.
