BOOOOOOOOM!!!! Sapp baby! Greatest DTackle of all time!
I can't say this straight up... there are different types of defensive tackles, expected to do different things on the field. For instance, you can't compare Warren to the Nose tackle in a 3-4 (or even the nose tackle in a 4-3!). Nor can you compare him to a 3-4 defensive end (which is more like a defensive tackle than a 4-3 defensive end... and warren was barely average the seasons he played 3-4 end in Oakland). Heck, you can't compare Warren to any sort of defensive tackle in a 2-gap scheme.
But what you can compare Warren to is any defensive tackle who played "under-tackle" in a 4-3 single gap system. He's THE prototype for this player. He's the standard. He has the best first step I have EVER seen on a tackle. His first step is speed rush defensive end quality. And he had moves! His bull rush, his swim move, his rip... he could beat you with all three. In fact, his down seasons following shoulder issues came undoubtedly because he lost some of the oomph on his swim and rip moves (the season after he got his shoulder cleaned out was his 10 sack domination in oakland).
Athletically, he was a once in generation player. If he had never switched to tackle at miami, I believe he would have been one of the best all round tight ends in football.
I was lucky enough to see him play highschool ball back in Apopka. I remember him attending playoff games in 2001 when his old highschool team won the state title (he bought all the players rings). I'm very happy for Warren, he deserved this 100%.
