Position Ranking: Overall Defense
by Khaled Elsayed
4/9/2009
Each unit is broken down before a cumulative set of results are provided to determine who in my opinion are the best teams heading out of last season and into this. This involves looking at the starter, and then who will be backing them up as and when this looks like becoming a factor.
After comprehensively reviewing each unit of the defense, the Diner mushes it all together to leave us with our top defense. From worst to first ...
32. Detroit Lions
Coming off the back of an 0-16 season you know the defense wasn’t great. A makeover for the linebacker group could yield a positive impact, but could also be a case of square pegs in round holes. There really isn’t much to like about this unit other than they won’t be much worse than last year.
31. Denver Broncos
Much has been made of a transition to 3-4 without having the personnel to run it, and it’s hard to argue with those making much of it. Simply put they don’t seem to have the specialists required to make a 3-4 tick and Robert Ayers isn’t the kind of impact player this defense needed. The secondary has a Champ in Bailey, but beyond him and DJ Williams this defense could be in for a rough year.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs defense is going to be overly reliant on 3 players this year. Aqib Talib and Gaines Adams are both going to need to step up, while Barrett Ruud is going to continue his play over the past couple of years. Even then there isn’t the talent around them for this defense to be good. This is a defense in transition.
29. Atlanta Falcons
Last year this was all about John Abraham. Considering he was rested a lot the Falcons will need players to step up and step up soon. Guys like Peria Jerry will need to fill a huge void in the chubby frame of Grady Jackson, while Mike Peterson could go down as one of the better value for money signings this off season. The secondary is a work in progress that you feel may need a few years before being able to make up for a front seven lacking big time players.
28. St Louis Rams
Steve Spagnulo should make this defense more competitive, and they definitely have the tools to do something. Chris Long looked to be full of potential last year but other than him and the ageing but effective Leonard Little it’s hard to see where they’ll generate pressure. That they’ve made James Laurinatis the leader of their defense probably says more about it before his arrival than any impact he has made.
27. New Orleans Saints
While recent drafts have tried to address the Saints defense, it’s still struggled and even if Malcolm Jenkins is able to make an immediate contribution there is still a big concern over the front seven and the ability of the secondary to stay healthy and be productive. This unit has potential, no doubt ... but you wonder if they’ll ever realise it.
26. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have shown the Broncos that making a transition to a 3-4 needn’t be such hard work. Finding ageing but effective players in Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel they have the look of a linebacker grouping that should work. Tyson Jackson (right) may have been a reach, but he’ll slot in perfectly and this unit has a nice blend of youth and experience that it should have some good days.
25. Arizona Cardinals
If this is the unit that knocked teams down in the post season then they could be higher, whereas if it plays like it did in the regular season they could be lower. The key to the Cardinals comes down to their consistency. Ignoring some big plays and hits from guys like Wilson, Dockett and Dansby they were largely poor and when their season isn’t do or die will they be able to get the adrenalin pumping and high level performance?
24. Cleveland Browns
In Shaun Rogers the Browns have a player that they can build around ... it’s just a shame that they have failed to build around him adequately. The pickup of Coleman should prove an upgrade, but the linebackers remains a poor unit for a 3-4 group and the secondary is nothing special. The Browns seemed on the verge of something, but as ever since they returned to the league they’ve flopped and nothing showcases this more than their continued defensive woes.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
This defense could rest on how effective John Henderson is, and judging by his souring relationship with Jack Del Rio it doesn’t create much faith. The linebackers and secondary are good units, if somewhat lacking in the playmaking stakes. Other than Henderson, the big question could be Derrick Harvey and how much of an improvement he makes with a full training camp behind him and a year’s worth of experience.
22. Cincinnati Bengals
A unit that is getting better and better, the major question mark remains where they are going to find some pass rush from. In Peko and Sims they have guys who ended the season looking they could stop the run, and with a secondary including emerging star Leon Hall they won’t be that easy to pass on. Still, without pass rush teams won’t fear this unit.
21. Buffalo Bills
The Bills problems rushing the passer have grown more and more prevalent as Aaron Schobel has been worn down by age and injury. With Aaron Maybin holding out there doesn’t seem to be any evidence to suggest this is going to change. The secondary always performs well and this year should be no different, especially with a number of players entering their contract year.
20. Oakland Raiders
Despite struggling for the past few years the Raiders have always seemed to walk into the season with defensive talent aplenty. This year they have the best cornerback in the league and two talented outside linebackers but they can’t go any higher because of the impotency of their defensive line. They’ll need to get better quick.
19. Miami Dolphins
While Joey Porter received the majority of the praise it was the play inside of Crowder and Ayodele that made this defense tick. They’ll want their defensive line to make more of an impact and will be in desperate need of their secondary to play above how it looks on paper for the rest of the defense to match the effectiveness of their linebackers.
18. Indianapolis Colts
In Freeney and Mathis the Colts have some great pass rushers, but other than what they offer do they really get anything else from their front seven? The secondary is a big positive with plenty of playmakers and just generally good players but it doesn’t make up for the first layer of a defense that looks soft.
17. Houston Texans
The Texans don’t get much hype and it’s why them building a very useful defense has really gone under the radar. Mario Williams is a superb talent and should work well in tandem with Antonio Smith, while the linebackers are young and productive from weakside to strongside. The secondary is the soft spot, but even this unit could be home to one of the best cornerbacks in the league if Dunta Robinson is both fit and in the mood to play.
16. Chicago Bears
The Bears so low? Well the truth is they’ve got worse ever since their visit to the SuperBowl with a secondary that has seen better days and key players not having the impact they once had. Tommie Harris needs to play better and Brian Urlacher simply can’t be the liability that he was last year. There are still enough talented players for this defense to hurt teams, but maybe we’re seeing a shift from the Monsters of Midway mindset to something more offensively focused.
15. San Francisco 49ers
Led by Takeo Spikes and Patrick Willis they have got the look of a team that may not be so easy to run over this year. But for as good as you can imagine them being in that aspect, concerns remain over the guys trying to get to the Quarterback and the players trying to interrupt his passes. Bonus points for the Singletary affect.
14. Dallas Cowboys
When you think of the Dallas D you think of DeMarcus Ware and he’s certainly a force heading into a year where he is looking for a new contract. The front seven looks good in most parts with the excellent Jay Ratliff anchoring the defense, but the secondary remains a rather large question mark in parts. Potential over production some might say.
13. Washington Redskins
The big signing of Albert Haynesworth bumps this unit up a couple of notches and it should have a positive impact on players like Andre Carter who were largely disappointing last year. How they go about using Brian Orakpo promises to be intriguing, and the secondary is a good looking group of players on paper that should only be more productive with a better pass rush.
12. Green Bay Packers
 Despite making the move to a 3-4 defense the Packers seem to have the personnel to make an easier switch than most. The problems could be in making the most of Aaron Kampmann but if they can this unit could be one of the surprise defenses of the year. The defensive line will remain a concern until we see how they can handle playing a 3-4. Excellent secondary.
11. Carolina Panthers
The loss of Kemoeatu could prove the defining moment of this entire teams year, let alone how much it impacts on the defense. How they go about consistently shutting down the run without him looks like a mystery on paper and it’s no surprise there are rumours of trading for a space eating defensive tackle. Elsewhere the unit is solid throughout with some elite players in key positions (Gamble and Peppers primarily).
10. Seattle Seahawks
Last year the Seahawks were massively hampered by injuries. This year you would think they wouldn’t have the same kind of bad luck. The defensive line features some very good performers, though Lawrence Jackson will need to play to somewhere near his potential. Aaron Curry is a more complete player than Julian Peterson and will add to a pretty fearsome group of linebackers, while Ken Lucas is a welcome return to help a secondary that you feel will play better than last year.
9. Tennessee Titans
The loss of Albert Haynesworth is a big blow but on the plus side they have stocked enough talent defensively that a solid rotation should go some way to replacing him, and a healthier KVB will improve the pass rush. The secondary is a strength of this unit, aggressive and strong in coverage they have a nice blend of youth and experience.
8. New York Giants
How they cope with the loss of Steve Spagnulo will be the biggest question mark regarding this defense. Much is made of their defensive line but I’m interested to see how Chris Canty works into their base package, and if he can solve a partial problem at defensive tackle. The linebackers could be better and they’ll be hoping to get the 2007 and not 2008 Michael Boley on the field. Corey Webster will probably start getting the credit he deserves soon, being the best player in a young and impressive secondary.
7. San Diego Chargers
 If Lights Out can return to somewhere near his pre-injury form then putting him outside opposite either Shaun Phillips or Larry English will cause fits for any team. If they get that pass rush working then you have to like the secondary a lot more as the playmaking strengths of Cromartie will be maximised and his weaknesses limited. How reliant will the run defense be on Jamal Williams staying healthy?
6. New York Jets
Rex Ryan was in charge of a fantastic unit in Baltimore and you feel he’s in position to go about recreating something similar in New York. Bringing Bart Scott with him was part of the plan, but getting the most out of Vernon Gholston could be the more rewarding accomplishment. The secondary has probably the best young corner in the game in Revis, and maybe the most underrated safety in the league in Kerry Rhodes. This is a defense that looks like it’s going to get better and better.
5. New England Patriots
While much has been made of Tom Brady returning as being the catalyst to the Pats return to greatness, he’s going to need some help and the Patriots have gone about improving a pretty good defense. Upgrading their weakest area the Pats got their hands on some extremely talented corners in Bodden and Springs, while 2nd round draft pick Patrick Chung could factor sooner rather than later alongside the impressive Brandon Meriweather. Ron Brace gives them extra options on the defensive line, and though they lost Mike Vrabel there is hope that Howard will improve their pass rush.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Bart Scott is a big loss and you wonder if it could greatly impact on the performance of other players. That said they were able to resign some key players and do have Kelly Gregg to return which is a huge bonus. Domonique Foxworth was excellent in a porous Falcons defense, so with a more fearsome front 7 in front of him he could well prove worth the money.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have for a long time had one of the best defenses in the league and will return pretty much all their key contributors bar Larry Foote and Bryant McFadden. The emergence of players like Lawrence Timmons and Lamarr Woodley at linebacker and William Gay at cornerback gives you the impression that this defense is going to continue to be one of the best for a long time.
2. Minnesota Vikings
 The biggest issue has been how they cope should the Williams Wall play for any part of the season, but other than that this defense is primed for another big year. Jared Allen made an instant impact, and their linebackers proved themselves amongst the best in the league. The secondary is probably the weakest part of this defense, but even then its still so good that it would be the best part of some other teams defenses.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
The hope is the loss of Jim Johnson is offset with an emotional surge and continuance of play that allows them to take full advantage of the talent they have. The defensive line is stacked with enough talent to rotate, and even with the injury to Stewart Bradley they have the right types of players to replace him and not suffer too much of a drop off. The secondary may have lost its leader, but in Mikell and Demps they have adequate enough replacements talent wise. Leadership is the only thing that concerns about this defense.
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