{"id":447,"date":"2010-01-07T11:52:24","date_gmt":"2010-01-07T16:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=447"},"modified":"2010-01-07T11:52:43","modified_gmt":"2010-01-07T16:52:43","slug":"playoff-top-twelve-defenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=447","title":{"rendered":"Playoff Top Twelve: Defenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

All week long, we’ve been running a special NFL Playoff Top Twelve “marathon.”\u00a0 We did the quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers, but today we’re going to switch over to the other side of the ball and do defense.\u00a0 Unfortunately, I am nowhere near knowledgeable enough (nor\u00a0would I probably have the time to try) to\u00a0break down by defensive positions, so today’s Top Twelve is going to be defensive units, as a whole.\u00a0 And, let me be honest, this was very difficult.\u00a0 It has been an interesting season in that there really aren’t any <\/em>dominant defenses at all.\u00a0 But, all the playoff teams, as to be expected because, well, they made the playoffs, have decent defenses.\u00a0 So, I found it incredibly difficult to actually rank these units.\u00a0 But, I gave it a shot.\u00a0 Oh, and like I’ve said before, I do not like the way the NFL “ranks” its defense (by yards allowed), so, rightly or wrongly,\u00a0I put very little stock into the official rankings when making these decisions.<\/p>\n

This Year’s Top Twelve Playoff Defenses<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

12). New Orleans.<\/strong>\u00a0 (NFL defensive rankings: 25th overall, 26th pass, 21st rush; 21.3 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 Now, this is a bit strange because I actually kind of think that the New Orleans defense is pretty solid–definitely solid enough to win a Super Bowl.\u00a0 And, even though it’s clear that this not exactly the “Year of the Defense,” I guess there are some pretty decent defenses in the playoffs because I have to say that I trust every one of the other 11 teams to get\u00a0a stop more than I trust the Saints defense, which, as I said, I think is pretty good.\u00a0 They have shown some signs of taking on water, though, recently.\u00a0 I do, however, think that LB Jonathan Vilma and CB Jabari Greer are two of the more underrated players in the league at their positions.\u00a0 But, a defense that was predicated on big plays by a 34-year old safety (Darren Sharper–as great as he has been all year) may not exactly be peaking after 17 weeks.\u00a0 Fortunately for fans of the Saints, it’s not their defense that is going to carry them–this side of the ball only has to be adequate.<\/p>\n

11). Arizona.<\/strong>\u00a0 (NFL defensive rankings: 20th overall, 23rd pass, 17th rush; 20.3 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 <\/strong>Maybe Arizona should have been #12, but I couldn’t do it.\u00a0 I mentioned yesterday my fondness for Fitzgerald and Boldin.\u00a0 Well, that is nothing compared to how incredible I think Karlos Dansby and Adrian Wilson are.\u00a0 They are two of the best defensive players I have seen, at their respective positions, and this defense is led by their toughness and leadership.\u00a0 On the down side, they have a mediocre pass rush, led by Dockett and Campbell, and their best cornerback, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, was hurt last week and may not be 100% this week.\u00a0 Like the Saints, this team is predicated upon their potent offense, so the defense only really has to be adequate, but we will see if it can be.<\/p>\n

10). San Diego.<\/strong>\u00a0 (NFL defensive rankings: 16th overall, 11th pass, 20th rush; 20.0 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 Again, the Chargers at #10 shows you the depth in the playoff defenses because this is not a bad defense.\u00a0 It is not, however, the dominant defenses that the Chargers have had before.\u00a0 The whole strength of this defense is in its linebacking corps.\u00a0 A 3-4 defense that has four of the best linebackers in the game today.\u00a0 Everyone knows about Shawne Merriman (who had a bit of a down year, actually), and most people know about the other Shaun, Shaun Phillips.\u00a0 But, very few people talk about Stephen Cooper (over 100 tackles) and my personal favorite player on this defense, Brandon Siler.\u00a0 Siler is an absolute beast.\u00a0 He shuts down\u00a0tight ends (and even wide receivers, at times) and then he stands up even the biggest running backs at the line.\u00a0 The Chargers also have a decent (but probably overrated) pair of corners in Cromartie and Jammer.\u00a0 But, their problems this year have come at the line of scrimmage, where their down linemen have, at times, been dominated.\u00a0 It is a good defense, but not a great one, and it may be their downfall this year in a big spot.<\/p>\n

9). New England.\u00a0 <\/strong>(NFL defensive rankings: 11th overall, 12th pass, 13th rush; 17.8 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 The first time I drafted out this order, I actually had the Patriots dead last on this list.\u00a0 But, then I thought about it and moved them ahead of New Orleans.\u00a0 Then, I thought more and moved them ahead of Arizona.\u00a0 Then, I thought for a long time and decided that I trusted them more than San Diego, as well.\u00a0 I’m not sure why, from a talent standpoint, but I guess it probably comes down to Belichick and how much I believe that he will “find a way.”\u00a0 Because, from a talent standpoint, this may be the worst New England defense of the Belichick Era.\u00a0 Jerod Mayo is a phenomenal player.\u00a0 Vincent Wilfork is a dominant nose tackle.\u00a0 Brandon Merriweather has become a decent NFL safety.\u00a0 Tully Banta-Cain is a marginally good pass rusher, and Leigh Bodden is a serviceable corner.\u00a0 The rest of the defense is just a bunch of guys.\u00a0 The secondary struggles mightily to cover anyone one-on-one (especially Wilhite).\u00a0 The pass rush is almost non-existent, and there is no emotional leader a la Teddy Bruschi or Mike Vrabel.\u00a0 But, Belichick is a mastermind, and he’ll figure something out.\u00a0 I moved them as high as their lack of talent would possibly let me.<\/p>\n

8). Indianapolis.\u00a0 <\/strong>(NFL defensive rankings: 18th overall, 14th pass, 24th rush; 19.2 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 Again, this is a team that isn’t going to win the Super Bowl because of its defense either way…but then again, that’s what we thought in 2005 also, which is exactly what did happen.\u00a0 But, still, this team wins because of Peyton Manning throwing the ball to Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, not a tackle by Melvin Bullet or a sack by former Temple Owl, Raheem Brock.\u00a0 However, there is some real strength in this defense.\u00a0 Their defensive ends, Freeney and Mathis, are probably the best 1-2 pass rushers in the league.\u00a0 Clint Session has become a pretty sturdy Sam-backer alongside the solid veteran Mike-backer Gary Brackett.\u00a0 And, Antoine Bethea has turned himself into a borderline Pro Bowler at free safety.\u00a0 So, there are good things all across this defense, and though they are going to win or lose with their offense, this defense is capable of winning a big playoff game 17-13 or something like that.<\/p>\n

7). Philadelphia.<\/strong>\u00a0 (NFL defensive rankings: 12th overall, 17th pass, 9th rush; 21.1 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 And, then come the Birds.\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong, I really like Sean McDermott, and I think he’s done a decent job in his first go-round as DC.\u00a0 But, this team sorely misses the late, great Jim Johnson.\u00a0 McDermott has inherited the preparation and gameplanning ability from his mentor, but he is not doing quite the same job (and who could) at making in-game or halftime adjustments as JJ did.\u00a0 Then again, that might be a bit early to say because this team has had an absolute revolving door at linebacker.\u00a0 Hell, Jeremiah Trotter is still playing.\u00a0 And, the recent Dallas performance notwithstanding, let us really think about just how good this defense is.\u00a0 You’d be hard-pressed to find\u00a0a better set of cornerbacks or D-tackles anywhere in the league.\u00a0 Trent Cole is probably the most underrated d-lineman of our generation.\u00a0 Then, they have the ability to rotate a host of other pass rushers like Juqua Parker\/Thomas\/Parker, Darren Howard, Jason Babin, and Victor Abiamiri, so there are always fresh pass rushers.\u00a0 The safety spot has been a roller coaster, but you probably know how\u00a0high I am on Quintell Mikell.\u00a0 So, all in all, I am pretty confidence about this defense heading into the playoffs–maybe overconfident, but we’ll find out.<\/p>\n

6). Baltimore.<\/strong>\u00a0 (NFL defensive rankings: 3rd overall, 8th pass, 5th rush; 16.3 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 No matter what the “rankings” may say, this is not the Baltimore defense that dominated most of this decade.\u00a0 It is still a top-notch defense (with studs like Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs), capable of shutting down anyone in the league, but there are also some problems.\u00a0 The secondary has been dreadful, at times, this year.\u00a0 The days of pass deflections and interceptions by Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle have given way to pass interference penalties and missed tackles by Chris Carr and Dominique Foxworth.\u00a0 Ed Reed is still a good safety, but he’s not even close to one of the most dangerous defensive players in the league, like he was just a year ago.\u00a0 There is one thing, however, that hasn’t changed for a decade…Ray Lewis.\u00a0 There are few athletes about whom my feelings have changed so dramatically as those for Ray Lewis.\u00a0 You can consider me one of the biggest fans of Ray Lewis–on and off the field.\u00a0 Not only is he a phenomenal football player, but he is one of the most emotional, charasmatic leaders of any athlete I have watched.\u00a0 And, furthermore, he is one of the most cerebral, intellectual, thoughtful, compassionate players between the lines and outside of them.\u00a0 He is the reason that this defense is still, at times, dominant.\u00a0 He had 134 tackles, but beyond that, he makes everyone on this defense MUCH better because he is a tireless studier of film and a quick-thinking general on the field.\u00a0 This defense is Ray’s defense, and because of that, I would ride with them any day.\u00a0 But, with the problems in the secondary and with the outside rushers, this is as high as\u00a0I can possibly rank them.<\/p>\n

5). Minnesota.<\/strong>\u00a0 (NFL defensive rankings: 6th overall, 19th pass, 2nd rush; 19.5 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 This defense is very good, but there are issues here, as well.\u00a0 (See the trend?\u00a0 I speak highly of the defenses ranked at the bottom and talk about the weaknesses of the defenses towards the top.\u00a0 That just goes to show you that,\u00a0unlike most other seasons,\u00a0the difference between these “good” defenses and the “bad” defenses” is really not all that great this year.)\u00a0 Let us start with where they shine–on the line of scrimmage.\u00a0 The game of football is won in the trenches.\u00a0 I have always believed that, and I probably always will.\u00a0 And, this D-line dominates week in and week out.\u00a0 The Williams Wall is awesome.\u00a0 Jared Allen is awesome (and hysterical).\u00a0 And, Ray Edwards is usually the forgotten guy, but he is very good on the other end.\u00a0 Everything starts with the pressure on the QB and, more importantly, with a complete stuff of the opposing rushing attack.\u00a0 Then they have a decent shut-down corner in Antoine Winfield, and a very good strong-side backer in Chad Greenway.\u00a0 Their safeties are just average.\u00a0 The problems come in with the other two linebacker positions.\u00a0 Four weeks ago, this may have been the best defense in the league, but their middle-linebacker (and maybe\u00a0their\u00a0best defensive player), E.J. Henderson broke his femur in Week 13.\u00a0 They have been really struggling to find a replacement, and it has had a trickle-down effect on the whole defense, who had embarrassing performances against the Panthers and Bears, before apparently getting back on track against the debacle that they call a football team from New York in Week 17.\u00a0 It’s hard to say whether they have found a way to perform without their star middle-linebacker, but it’s not hard to say that they sure have the talent to overcome a loss, even as big as Henderson.<\/p>\n

4). Cincinnati.\u00a0 <\/strong>(NFL defensive rankings: 4th overall, 6th pass, 7th rush; 18.2 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 <\/strong>Maybe I’m too high on this defense because I LOVE them -2.5 at home against the Jets on Saturday.\u00a0 Or…maybe I’m too low on them because it’s hard to imagine a team that starts Dahani Jones having a good defense.\u00a0 Either way, I have a lot of faith in this Cincy defense.\u00a0 I keep saying that the game is won in the trenches, but there is a way to give your trenches an advantage over their trenches–take away the quarterback’s options.\u00a0 That is how Cincinnati has won this year.\u00a0 They have two complete shut-down corners in Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph, so very rarely to do ever see an opposing quarterback feel comfortable throwing the ball in the pocket.\u00a0 That allows their pass rushers (who are just average now that Antwan Odom is lost for the season) to get some real pressure on the quarterback and win the battle of the trenches.\u00a0 The linebacking corps is solid with a rotation of Keith Rivers, Brandon Johnson, and, well, Jones.\u00a0 The big question\u00a0here is whether or not rookie Rey Maualuga will be 100% on Saturday.\u00a0 Maybe they are hanging by a thread here, depending so much on their corners, but I do believe in the Bengals, for some weird reason (money), so let’s see what they can do.<\/p>\n

3). Green Bay.\u00a0 <\/strong>(NFL defensive rankings: 2nd overall, 5th pass, 1st rush; 18.6 PPG)<\/em>.\u00a0 It is weird how these things get figured out, but it happened in Green Bay when they lost their best defensive player for the season.\u00a0 The Packers struggled to adapt to Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense for the first part of the season, but then their star DE\/OLB Aaron Kampman went down with an injury, and everything seemed to click.\u00a0 It’s not incredibly surprising, considering those who know these things always said that Kampman just was not suited for a 3-4 scheme, but it’s still strange to see a team lose their most talented defensive player and get much better <\/em>on defense.\u00a0 Either way, this team is rolling right now on that side of the ball.\u00a0 Charles Woodson will probably be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Barnett is fast becoming one of the best ILBs in the game, their safeties (Bigby and Collins) have been playing at a very high level, and youngsters Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk fit perfectly into the 3-4 scheme.\u00a0 Even formerly troubled rookie, B.J. Raji is starting to really contribute at nose tackle.\u00a0 Oh, and did I mention Al Harris is on IR–that can only help, unless of course you enjoy pass interference penalties and personal fouls\u00a0in the worst possible situations.<\/p>\n

2). Dallas.<\/strong>\u00a0 (NFL defensive rankings: 9th overall, 20th pass, 4th rush; 15.6 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 Another guy who I cannot ever seem to think about objectively is DaMarcus Ware.\u00a0 Since the moment he stepped into the league, I have thought he was one of the best players I have ever seen, and no one can convince me otherwise.\u00a0 But, now, I think that this Dallas defense is, for the first time in Ware’s career, perfectly built around him.\u00a0 They have a budding star in nose tackle Jay Ratliff and two absolutely terrific corners in Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins.\u00a0 And, they have built an unbelievable set of 3-4 linebackers, with Ware and Anthony Spencer on the outside and, on the inside, wily veteran Pro Bowler Keith Brooking and young up-and-comer Bradie James.\u00a0 And, for all the flack that Wade Phillips gets as a head coach, he sure can coordinate a defense.\u00a0 This defense is fantastic and is probably the reason that I think, if they can get past the Eagles on Saturday (a BIG if), might win the whole thing.<\/p>\n

1). N.Y. Jets.<\/strong>\u00a0 (NFL defensive rankings: 1st overall, 1st pass, 8th rush; 14.8 PPG)<\/em>\u00a0 I would probably rank this team #1 on defense for the mere fact that their head coach is related to Buddy Ryan.\u00a0 But, I don’t need to rely on stupid, childish loyalties because this team’s defense is that <\/em>good.\u00a0 First of all, we have to mention Darrelle Revis.\u00a0 Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water, the rest is covered by Darrelle Revis.\u00a0 He may be the best shut-down corner that I have seen since Deion Sanders.\u00a0 He simply takes your best receiver out of the game.\u00a0 And, as we all know here in Philly, that other guy (Lito Sheppard) is pretty good himself.\u00a0 Throw in some solid safeties, Kerry Rhodes and Jim Leonhard, and you’ve got yourself the game’s best secondary.\u00a0 Add in a solid pass rush, led by the DEs Shaun Ellis and Marques Douglas and a pass rushing linebacker in Calvin Pace, and you simply cannot throw the ball effectively on the Jets.\u00a0 Period.\u00a0 So, you have to run it effectively, which is where the solid inside linebackering tandem of Bart Scott (“Hot Sauce”) and David Harris (127 tackles) come into play.\u00a0 This defense is stacked and is scary for any playoff opponent–and it has to be because their offense is questionable, with a rookie QB.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

All week long, we’ve been running a special NFL Playoff Top Twelve “marathon.”\u00a0 We did the quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers, but today we’re going to switch over to the other side of the ball and do defense.\u00a0 Unfortunately, I … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,450],"tags":[351,83,106,7,5,4,349,176,6,76,864,74],"class_list":["post-447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl","category-top-twelve","tag-bengals","tag-cardinals","tag-chargers","tag-colts","tag-cowboys","tag-eagles","tag-jets","tag-packers","tag-patriots","tag-ravens","tag-saints","tag-vikings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=447"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}