2011 NFL Preview: 10 Defensive Ends Who Could Rack Up 10+ Sacks

Coming off the heels of one of the greatest Super Bowl matchups in NFL history, it’s time to look ahead to next year.

If you’re like me, then the beginning of the new NFL season is two months away when the NFL Draft takes place. Hopefully for us football fans there IS a season come September.

For many football fans, mid-July is when they start counting down to opening day. By that time, their baseball team is out of the race and a fresh start for their football team is on the horizon.

Here’s a list of the 10 defensive ends that have the best chance to hit the ten sack mark this coming season.

Last year, 20 players amassed 10 sacks during the season; 10 of them were defensive ends. Most of the names on the list are familiar names, the rest are guys who are just now breaking out on the scene.

There are a couple catches, however. One, I am not counting rookies. At this point, without knowing where they are going, it’s too difficult to know what kind of playing time they’ll get and what system they’ll be in. Many college ends are drafted as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Which leads me to my next catch; no outside linebackers will be included in this list. Sorry Clay Matthews.

10) Robert Mathis – Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 12: Robert Mathis #98 of the Indianapolis Colts sacks J.P. Losman #7 of the Buffalo Bills on November 12, 2006 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Robert Mathis will be entering his ninth season in the NFL. He’s spent his entire time thus far in Indianapolis opposite sack master Dwight Freeney.

Mathis has done quite well, in his own right, as a Colt. In his last eight seasons, he’s it the 10-sack plateau four times (plus 9.5 twice), racking up a total of 70.5 sacks.

Many offensive gameplans dedicate a lot of double-team attention on Freeney, which allows Mathis frequent one-on-one pass rushing plays.

He finished last season with 11 sacks, and with his current contract expiring after the 2011 season, you can bet he’ll be motivated this year.

2011 Prediction: 10.5

9) Osi Umenyiora – Giants

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LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Rex Grossman #5 of the Washington Redskins is hit by defensive end Osi Umenyiora #72 of the New York Giants at FedEx Field on January 2, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. The Giants won the game 17-14. (Photo by Win McNa

I’m a little bit skeptical about adding Osi Umenyiora to this list, and only for one reason: his pattern. Not counting 2008, which he missed the entire season due to a preseason knee injury, he’s had 10-plus sacks every other year since 2005. In 2005 he notched his career high 14.5 sacks. In 2006, he only got 6, 2007 was 13, 2009 was 7 and last year was 11.5.

So, if the pattern continues, he’ll be under 10 this season. It’s just hard to imagine considering all the talent he has, so he cracks the top ten.

2011 Prediction: 10.0

8) Chris Long – Rams

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ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 03: Chris Long #72 of the St. Louis Rams pressures Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks on October 3, 2010 at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams defeated the Seahawks 20-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Chris Long is coming off his third season with the Rams and his career high 8.5 sacks. Having made four in his rookie season and five in his second, Long has improved each year. This year is the year he breaks out for a big season. He definitely has the genes, as the son of hall of fame defensive end Howie Long.

2011 Prediction: 11.5

7) Justin Tuck – Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 28: Justin Tuck #91 of the New York Giants sacks David Garrard #9 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during their game on November 28, 2010 at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty I

When Michael Strahan retired in 2007, Justin Tuck stepped right in and filled in where Strahan left off. Tuck had 10 sacks in 2007 and 12 in 2008. Coming off a 11.5 sack 2010 season, there’s no reason Tuck shouldn’t hit 10 in 2011.

2011 Prediction: 12.5

6) Julius Peppers – Bears

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is hit by Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears in the helmet as Peppers was called for a personal foul in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field

After spending his first eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers, in which he hit 10 sacks six times, Julius Peppers went to the Chicago Bears and put up 8 sacks in his first season. The man is one of the most athletic players ever to play the position and has built a reputation of being an elite pass rusher.

Now, with a full season under his belt, Peppers could come back in 2011 to dominate opposing offenses and return to his 10-plus ways. The Bears’ defense could really become one of the best in the league. Now if only they could get the offensive side figured out…

2011 Prediction: 12.5

5) John Abraham – Falcons

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Quarterback Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals is sacked by John Abraham #55 of the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The elder statesman on this list, John Abraham will be 33 this season. He’s second, behind Jason Taylor, on the active sack leader board with 102.5. In his 11-year career, he’s hit the 10-sack mark six times, three of which has come in his five seasons as a Falcon.

Abraham is entering the final year of his current deal and with his age, he’ll be looking to prove he still has what it takes to be a force in the league.

2011 Prediction: 11.5

4) Trent Cole – Eagles

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 18: JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders is sacked by Trent Cole #58 of the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Get

Trent Cole is coming off back-to-back 10-plus sack seasons, getting 12.5 in 2009 and 10 last season. As part of a defense that ranked only 12th a season ago, Cole was the anchor of the front seven, getting the majority of the team’s 39 total sacks. Cole could very well be amongst the rising defensive superstars in the NFL.

2011 Prediction: 12.5

3) Mario Williams – Texans

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets is sacked by Mario Williams #90 of the Houston Texans on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Texans 30-27. (Photo b

Mario Williams just finished his fifth season in the NFL. After a slow rookie season, Williams exploded into the player the Houston Texans were hoping for. After sack totals of 14 in 2007 and 12 in 2008, Williams’ production dropped a bit to 9 in 2009 and 8.5 last season.

However, there are two big reasons why Mario Williams could rip up offenses in 2011. The first is that his in the final year of his rookie contract. He’s going to want to impress the masses with a high level of production this year.

Second, he has a new defensive coordinator with a new scheme. Wade Phillips was brought in as the new defensive coordinator. Say what you want about his lack of success as a head coach, but the man knows defense. Phillips is also transitioning the Texans to a 3-4, which means Williams’ primary job is going to be to rush the passer. Phillips will try to turn Williams into a newer version of Bruce Smith (Phillips was the Bills’ and Smith’s defensive coordinator from 1995-97 when they had one of the best defenses in the NFL).

2011 Prediction: 13.0

2) Dwight Freeney – Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Matt Schaub #8 of Houston Texans fumbles the ball while being tackled by Dwight Freeney #93 of the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyon

Dwight Freeney is currently ranked fourth among active sack leaders with 94. Freeney is coming off his third straight 10-plus sack season. He has some of the best moves we’ve seen in a while, but he turns 31 this week and one has to wonder how much is left in the tank.

The Colts should have a good year in 2011. They face a number of weaker offenses, such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Carolina and Kansas City (not quite sold on them after their weak playoff showing), so Freeney should get plenty of opportunities to wreak havoc.

2011 Prediction: 13.0

1) Jared Allen – Vikings

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MINNEAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 07: Defensive end Jared Allen #69 of the Minnesota Vikings sacks quarterback Derek Anderson #3 of the Arizona Cardinals at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 7, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings won 27-24 in overti

Jared Allen has been on a tear in recent years. He’s had 10-plus sacks in each of the last four seasons. In those four seasons, from 2007 with the Chiefs to his last three years with the Vikings, he’s gotten 15.5, 14.5, 14.5 and 11 sacks, so it should be a surprise to no one to see Allen atop this list.

2011 Prediction: 14.0

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St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk rushes upfield against the Indianapolis Colts, October 17, 2005 in Indianapolis. The Colts defeated the Rams 45 - 28 in a Monday Night Football game. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

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