Doug Baker's 2009 Midseason NFL All Pro Team: Defense

It’s the middle of the 2009 NFL football season and time to make my mid-season NFL All Pro selection. As always, some players on this list might not make the cut by the end of the season, and some players who have been injured and did not make it this time around may end up on the team at the end of the year (like Troy Polamalu).

The top players on the list are the starters and the second players are backups.

2009 ALL PRO TEAM DEFENSE

DE: Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

DE: Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers

DE: Aaron Schobel, Buffalo Bills

DE: Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts

Jared Allen is the most dominant defensive player in the league today. He has owned the line scrimmage and is part of the reason why the Minnesota Vikings defense is so good. He is the type of defensive player than can dominate a game on his own.

After Allen I actually found it hard to pick other defensive linemen in general. I have heard much talk about the so called down year Julius Peppers is having but I don’t see it. He’s still one of the elite defensive ends in the league.

I have also been very impressed every time I have seen Aaron Schobel play. He always seems to be in the thick of things, disrupting the offense.

Finally, I really hate to put Dwight Freeney on this squad because he is awful against the run. But he is a pass rushing machine and in a league dominated by the pass, he’s a great asset.

DT: Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens

DT: Casey Hampton, Pittsburgh Steelers

DT: Kevin Williams, Minnesota Vikings

DT: Chris Hovan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Haloti Ngata has really come into his own as a defensive tackle and is the best player at this position in 2009. He does tire a bit at the end of games, but don’t all defensive tackles? He has helped keep the Ravens linebackers clean and able to light people up.

Casey Hampton is the best nose guard in the league this year and really clogs up the middle of the line while the voracious Pittsburgh linebackers chew up running backs and receivers.

Minnesota has a great defensive line with Kevin and Pat Williams. Both are deserving of a spot on this team but I am going with Kevin. He seems quicker to get penetration and tougher to move off the line of scrimmage.

Finally, every time I have seen Tampa Bay get spanked this year one defensive player stands out, and that is Chris Hovan. It’s not his fault the defense is so lame this year.

And for my fellow Patriots fans who wonder why Vince Wilfork isn’t on the team? He’s not been nearly as impressive in the 4-3 and gets pushed off the line of scrimmage more easily, not that he still isn’t a great defensive tackle.

And the $100 million man Haynesworth? Hurt, less effective, and whining. Figures.

LB: Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos

LB: James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

LB: Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

LB: Curtis Lofton, Atlanta Falcons

LB: Dhani Jones, Cincinnati Bengals

LB: Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49′ers

LB: London Fletcher, Washington Redskins

LB: Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens

For linebackers I pick a starting unit of four and a back up unit of four, regardless of whether they play inside or outside.

So far this season, the linebacker that has had the most impact on his team is Elvis Dumervil of the Denver Broncos. He has an AFC high ten sacks and plays well against the run and pass. He seems to be playing better in the 3-4 brought in by Josh McDaniels.

James Harrison leads a Pittsburgh linebacker crew that wreaks pure havoc on opposing offenses. Last year’s Defensive Player of the Year is a force to be reckoned with again.

How does Ray Lewis, as old as he is, still play at such a high level? It’s no hyperbole to say that Ray Lewis is a first ballot Hall of Fame linebacker. He remains the leader of one of the best defenses in the league.

Finally, second year player Curtis Lofton of the Atlanta Falcons rounds out the starting lineup. He is the defensive leader of a young Falcons unit and the NFL’s leading tackler.

And the best of the rest—Dhani Jones is a key cog in a much improved Cincinnati defensive. Having lost a would-have-been All-Pro in Antwan Odom for the season, he has stepped up his game to keep the pace going for this team.

P