GrnBay007
06-04-2008, 12:18 PM
By Pete Prisco
DL Rankings: Giants are good but Chargers are better
The ideal NFL defensive front would include big bodies to anchor the run, speed rushers off both edges and -- thanks to the recent league-wide trend -- players who can move up and down the line with their versatility.
Did we just describe the New York Giants' line?
The Giants have big bodies in Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins to hold the point on running downs. They have speed rushers in Osi Umenyiora and Mike Strahan on the edges. Justin Tuck, who dominated in the Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots, is the versatile one, showing up both inside and outside.
Not only that, they are the envy of the league. And in a league of copycats, everybody is looking to do what the Giants did with their front in stopping the Patriots.
But do they have the best defensive front?
The answer is no. That honor goes to the San Diego Chargers. Since they play a 3-4 front, we'll include the down three linemen and the two outside rushers in the evaluation. There is no better group in the league than that five.
It starts with rush linebacker Shawne Merriman and includes four other players with few weaknesses.
So the Chargers take the top spot in our rankings of the league's defensive fronts. The rest of the rankings will follow. Teams that play 4-3 fronts will get their down players evaluated. Teams that play 3-4 get the down players, plus the two outside linebackers.
Don't forget -- on Thursday, we'll combine the rankings of each team's offensive and defensive lines to come up with the best overall group in the league.
Here's a hint: The Chargers are up there.
San Diego Chargers
Best player: OLB Shawne Merriman. Weak link: LDE Igor Olshansky.
The skinny: The Chargers use a 3-4, so their outside linebackers are included in the evaluation. Merriman is a star off the right side. Shaun Phillips, the other outside backer, also is a good player. Nose tackle Jamal Williams is a power player when he's on the field. Luis Castillo and Olshansky are perfect for this 3-4 scheme. Making Olshansky the weak link is nitpicking; that's how good this front is. Backup players Ryon Bingham and Jacques Cesaire are capable of being starters. It's the best group in football.
Rating: 1
Minnesota Vikings
Best player: RE Jared Allen. Weak link: LE Ray Edwards.
The skinny: The addition of Allen really makes this one of the league's best groups. He is scary good at times. He joins the best tackle combo in the league in Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, the latter the better of the two. Kevin Williams is one of the NFL's best. Edwards has some pass-rush ability, which should compliment this elite threesome. Backups Ellis Wyms, Fred Evans and Brian Robison are all good players to have around.
Rating: 2
Chicago Bears
Best player: DT Tommie Harris. Weak link: NT Anthony Adams or Dusty Dvoracek.
The skinny: In Harris, the Bears have a dominant inside player. He is the key to this group. He has to stay on the field after missing some time last season. He doesn't have a great player next to him, no matter who starts, so he has to be good. Ends Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown and Mark Anderson are good pass rushers, although Anderson's sack totals fell from 12 to five in his second season. Watch out for rookie defensive tackle Marcus Harrison.
Rating: 8
Green Bay Packers
Best player: LE Aaron Kampman. Weak link: RE Cullen Jenkins.
The skinny: Kampman is a smallish end who plays bigger and stronger than he looks. He can be disruptive in the passing game. Jenkins didn't give the Packers the production they wanted in the pass rush last season. He's more of a tackle playing out of position. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilla brings some speed as a backup. With Corey Williams traded to Cleveland, Johnny Jolly steps in next to Ryan Pickett as a starting tackle. Jolly played a lot in the rotation, and played well, before suffering a shoulder surgery late in the season. Justin Harrell, the 2007 first-round pick, and Colin Cole will also be in the mix. Fourth-round pick Jeremy Thompson could help with the edge rushing.
Rating: 10
Detroit Lions
Best player: RE Dewayne White. Weak link: LE Jared DeVries.
The skinny: Detroit has problems up front. The Lions signed White last year as a free agent with the idea he would amp up the pass rush; injuries prevented that. But he's still this unit's best player. DT Cory Redding got a big deal before the 2007 season and didn't play as well as in '06. DeVries plays hard, but he's limited. Chartric Darby, signed as a free agent from Seattle, will help inside. The player to watch here could be second-year defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis. He has some pass-rush skills and will challenge DeVries. Rookies Andre Fluellen and Cliff Avril will factor as well.
Rating: 31
The rest of the NFL.......
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10853318
DL Rankings: Giants are good but Chargers are better
The ideal NFL defensive front would include big bodies to anchor the run, speed rushers off both edges and -- thanks to the recent league-wide trend -- players who can move up and down the line with their versatility.
Did we just describe the New York Giants' line?
The Giants have big bodies in Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins to hold the point on running downs. They have speed rushers in Osi Umenyiora and Mike Strahan on the edges. Justin Tuck, who dominated in the Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots, is the versatile one, showing up both inside and outside.
Not only that, they are the envy of the league. And in a league of copycats, everybody is looking to do what the Giants did with their front in stopping the Patriots.
But do they have the best defensive front?
The answer is no. That honor goes to the San Diego Chargers. Since they play a 3-4 front, we'll include the down three linemen and the two outside rushers in the evaluation. There is no better group in the league than that five.
It starts with rush linebacker Shawne Merriman and includes four other players with few weaknesses.
So the Chargers take the top spot in our rankings of the league's defensive fronts. The rest of the rankings will follow. Teams that play 4-3 fronts will get their down players evaluated. Teams that play 3-4 get the down players, plus the two outside linebackers.
Don't forget -- on Thursday, we'll combine the rankings of each team's offensive and defensive lines to come up with the best overall group in the league.
Here's a hint: The Chargers are up there.
San Diego Chargers
Best player: OLB Shawne Merriman. Weak link: LDE Igor Olshansky.
The skinny: The Chargers use a 3-4, so their outside linebackers are included in the evaluation. Merriman is a star off the right side. Shaun Phillips, the other outside backer, also is a good player. Nose tackle Jamal Williams is a power player when he's on the field. Luis Castillo and Olshansky are perfect for this 3-4 scheme. Making Olshansky the weak link is nitpicking; that's how good this front is. Backup players Ryon Bingham and Jacques Cesaire are capable of being starters. It's the best group in football.
Rating: 1
Minnesota Vikings
Best player: RE Jared Allen. Weak link: LE Ray Edwards.
The skinny: The addition of Allen really makes this one of the league's best groups. He is scary good at times. He joins the best tackle combo in the league in Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, the latter the better of the two. Kevin Williams is one of the NFL's best. Edwards has some pass-rush ability, which should compliment this elite threesome. Backups Ellis Wyms, Fred Evans and Brian Robison are all good players to have around.
Rating: 2
Chicago Bears
Best player: DT Tommie Harris. Weak link: NT Anthony Adams or Dusty Dvoracek.
The skinny: In Harris, the Bears have a dominant inside player. He is the key to this group. He has to stay on the field after missing some time last season. He doesn't have a great player next to him, no matter who starts, so he has to be good. Ends Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown and Mark Anderson are good pass rushers, although Anderson's sack totals fell from 12 to five in his second season. Watch out for rookie defensive tackle Marcus Harrison.
Rating: 8
Green Bay Packers
Best player: LE Aaron Kampman. Weak link: RE Cullen Jenkins.
The skinny: Kampman is a smallish end who plays bigger and stronger than he looks. He can be disruptive in the passing game. Jenkins didn't give the Packers the production they wanted in the pass rush last season. He's more of a tackle playing out of position. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilla brings some speed as a backup. With Corey Williams traded to Cleveland, Johnny Jolly steps in next to Ryan Pickett as a starting tackle. Jolly played a lot in the rotation, and played well, before suffering a shoulder surgery late in the season. Justin Harrell, the 2007 first-round pick, and Colin Cole will also be in the mix. Fourth-round pick Jeremy Thompson could help with the edge rushing.
Rating: 10
Detroit Lions
Best player: RE Dewayne White. Weak link: LE Jared DeVries.
The skinny: Detroit has problems up front. The Lions signed White last year as a free agent with the idea he would amp up the pass rush; injuries prevented that. But he's still this unit's best player. DT Cory Redding got a big deal before the 2007 season and didn't play as well as in '06. DeVries plays hard, but he's limited. Chartric Darby, signed as a free agent from Seattle, will help inside. The player to watch here could be second-year defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis. He has some pass-rush skills and will challenge DeVries. Rookies Andre Fluellen and Cliff Avril will factor as well.
Rating: 31
The rest of the NFL.......
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10853318