2011 NFL Predictions: Power Ranking All 32 NFL Defensive Units
Everyone knows defense wins championships, unless your quarterback is Aaron Rodgers...
Or Drew Brees.
Actually, I think that Manning guy (both Manning's if you're scoring at home) won one too, and that Brady character has a few in New England.
Alright, so maybe defense doesn't single-handedly win championships, but it is definitely a key to success.
Many teams upgraded their defenses through the draft since they have been unable to do so through free agency, and other teams decided to focus more on the offensive side of the ball.
Here's a look at how all 32 NFL teams stack up on defense heading into the 2011 season.
32. Washington Redskins
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Redskins fans will likely disagree with their spot on this list, but someone had to be last, and that someone is the 'Skins.
Washington had the second-worst defense in the league last season and I don't see them being much better this year. First round pick Ryan Kerrigan was a good selection, and he should fit nicely in Washington's 3-4 defense opposite of Brian Orakpo, but he was one of only two major defensive upgrades in the draft.
Clemson's defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins was the team's second round pick and he also figures to be a solid addition as the 'Skins look to rid themselves of Albert Haynesworth.
London Fletcher continues to play at a very high level, but you have to wonder if this will finally be the season the 35-year-old slows down. DeAngelo Hall had six interceptions to lead Washington's secondary last season, but the Skins struggled in pass coverage, giving up the second most yards in the league through the air.
Safety O.J. Atogwe came over from the Rams before the lockout began, but I still don't see things getting much better in 2011. The Redskins should be able to create some turnovers with Hall and Atogwe on the field, but will they be able to cover? I believe they will struggle as a unit once again.
31. Denver Broncos
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I expect the Broncos defense to be improved from where they were last year when they were missing their best defender, Elvis Dumervil.
But how much will they improve? After all, they were the worst defense in the league last season.
Denver will benefit from the return of Dumervil and the selection of Von Miller in the draft, but both players fit better as outside linebackers in a 3-4 and the Broncos are going to a 4-3 now that John Fox is in charge.
The Broncos upgraded their secondary by taking safety Raheem Moore in the second round and inside linebacker Nate Irving in the third.
The Broncos had a very good draft and they will be much more talented on the defensive side of the ball this season, but they will also be very young.
30. Seattle Seahawks
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The Seahawks may have made the playoffs last season but that had more to do with the 12th man then it did their defense.
Seattle's secondary was atrocious for the most part last season, with the exception of rookie safety Earl Thomas. Thomas had five interceptions to lead the Seahawks secondary, while veteran corner Marcus Trufant looked far from the Pro Bowl corner he was earlier in his career.
Defensive ends Chris Clemons and Raheem Brock were pleasant surprises for the Seattle defense, but middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu looked to have lost a step during his seventh season.
The Seahawks didn't do a whole lot to upgrade their defense in the draft and, unless players like Aaron Curry and Walter Thurmond step up big in 2011, I don't see the Seattle defense stopping too many opposing offenses.
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29. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Jacksonville gave up the fifth-most yards in the league last season and, since they decided to go with offense with their first three draft picks, things don't figure to get any better this season.
Rashean Mathis is a solid corner but he does not have a lot of help in the rest of the secondary. Wyoming safety Chris Prosinski was the Jags' fourth-round selection and he will be counted on to improve Jacksonville's porous pass defense as a rookie.
Linebacker is the team's strength on defense, where Daryl Smith and Kirk Morrison are both solid players, but the defensive line needs to get better in free agency or the Jags could be hurting.
Tyson Alualu had a good rookie season and he should improve in his second season, but the Jags are still a long way from contending on defense.
28. Tennessee Titans
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The Titans were hit hard by injuries last season but I'm still not impressed with their overall level of talent on the defensive side of the ball.
Second round pick Akeem Ayers is a potential steal in the second round and I expect him to make an impact as a rookie.
Cortland Finnegan has been preparing for the 2011 season by playing Mike Tyson's Punch-Out (not really, well, maybe). Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey was another good value pick for the Titans as they snagged him in the third round. He is another player I think will contribute right away.
The Titans should see some improvement this season just by having guys healthy, but I don't see enough talent on the defensive side of the ball to be anything more than average.
27. Buffalo Bills
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The Bills' 4-12 record was about as deceiving as a 4-12 record could be last season. Buffalo played very hard last year, despite coming up on the wrong end more often than not.
The problem for Buffalo was not effort, but a lack of talent. The Bills believe they upgraded their talent pool greatly with their selection of Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus in the first round, and I happen to agree.
Dareus should instantly improve the Bills run defense which was the worst in the league last season.
Linebacker Paul Posluszny was a tackling machine last season, recording 151 tackles, and safety Donte Whitner also got his fair share, with 140 tackles.
Buffalo should be improved this season and, if they don't allow the losses to wear on them, they could be a difficult victory for any opponent.
26. Cleveland Browns
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The Browns had a pretty good draft and they landed a potential force in the middle of their defensive line during the first round when they selected Baylor's Phil Taylor.
Pitt defensive end Jabaal Sheard was a good addition in the second round and he should be an effective pass-rusher in the Browns 4-3.
Second-year corner Joe Haden has all the makings of a future star as the Browns appear to be finally headed in the right direction on both sides of the ball.
25. Indianapolis Colts
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The Colts run defense was one of the bottom 10 in the league and they didn't do a whole lot to improve it during the draft.
Third-round pick Drake Nevis should see playing time at defensive tackle as a rookie, but he is not a great run defender.
The Colts secondary was also below average last season and no Indy defender had more than two interceptions on the season.
Peyton Manning won't be around forever, and this could be the season the Colts finally fall off their perch as the best in the AFC South.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
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The Bengals had one of the best drafts of any team in the league, but that had more to do with their offense than their defense.
Nevada outside linebacker Dontay Moch was their third round selection and, while the reviews on him are mixed, there is no doubt about his blazing speed off of the edge (4.40).
The Bengals are solid at linebacker where the team's top three tacklers, Dhani Jones, Rey Maualuga, and Keith Rivers reside.
Corner Johnathan Joseph had a bit of a down year last year, but he has a good career and he should bounce back this season.
23. Carolina Panthers
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Carolina's terrible 2010 season had a lot more to do with the team's offense than their defense, but they still could use improvement on both sides of the ball.
Linebacker Jon Beason is one of the top defenders in the league, and corner Chris Gamble is a big-time player as well.
Defensive end Charles Johnson filled the void left by Julius Peppers by recording 11.5 sacks last season, and linebacker James Anderson led the team with 130 tackles.
Carolina finished 18th in total defense last season and I think they would gladly take a similar effort this year as their offense figures to have some major struggles.
22. St. Louis Rams
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The Rams picked up a potential elite pass-rusher in the first round with their selection of UNC defensive end Robert Quinn.
St. Louis finished last season as the 19th-ranked defense in the league and I would expect a similar result this year.
Linebacker James Laurinaitis led the team with 114 tackles in 2010, while defensive end James Hall was the team leader in sacks with 10.5.
Third-year corner Bradley Fletcher had a solid season last year, intercepting four passes while making 75 tackles.
21. Detroit Lions
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The Lions hit it big with their selection of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in the first round.
Suh was a disruptive force in the middle of the Lions defensive line all season and he will be joined by yet another first-rounder this season, Auburn's Nick Fairley.
The Lions still have questions in their secondary, but they are banking on opposing quarterbacks having little time to throw as Suh and Fairley wreak havoc during the 2011 season.
20. New England Patriots
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The Patriots were another team that did very well in last year's first round as they landed Pro Bowl corner Devin McCourty.
McCourty's seven interceptions led the team, while Jerod Mayo made a ridiculous number of tackles, 175 in total.
New England used most of their picks this season on their offense, but their second selection was used on corner Ras-I Dowling. Dowling should help provide added stability in the Pats secondary but New England will most likely still struggle to rush the opposing passer.
The Patriots defense is good, but not great, although it doesn't have to be with Tom Brady leading the charge on offense.
19. Arizona Cardinals
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Arizona has some very good players on defense, particularly in their secondary where they now have two potential shutdown corners, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and rookie Patrick Peterson.
Peterson was taken in this year's draft with the fifth overall pick and he should make an immediate impact for the Cards defense.
Safeties Kerry Rhodes and Adrian Wilson are also big-time players and the Cards figure to have one of the premier secondaries in the league.
The rest of Arizona's defense is solid as well and, if the Cardinals offense can get it together this year, the Cards could contend for the NFC West crown.
18. Houston Texans
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The Texans secondary was terrible last season, giving up the most passing yards in the league—so what did they do in the early rounds of this year's draft?
They upgraded their pass-rush, of course.
It was actually a smart move to give their secondary some help, and that is exactly what they did by adding defensive end J.J. Watt and outside linebacker Brooks Reed.
Defensive end Mario Williams is already a premier pass-rusher in the league, and now the Texans hope they have a couple more.
Corner Brandon Harris was also a great pick in the second round and the Texans figure to benefit from the return of linebacker DeMeco Ryans from injury.
17. Dallas Cowboys
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The Cowboys greatly underachieved last season on both sides of the ball, as they finished 23rd in total yards on the defensive side.
UNC linebacker Bruce Carter was a good addition in the second round, while fifth-round corner Josh Thomas is a potential steal.
DeMarcus Ware led the NFL in sacks last season with 15.5 and he figures to be the leader of the Dallas defense once again this year.
The Cowboys have too much talent on both sides of the ball to not perform better this season, but a lot of their success may lie on the shoulders of their secondary as they look to improve on last year's performance.
16. San Francisco 49ers
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The Niners have arguably the best linebacker in football in Patrick Willis and they are hoping that they added another impact defender with their selection of Aldon Smith in this year's first round.
Smith will be counted on to rush the passer from the outside of the Niners 3-4 defense, and third-round pick Chris Culliver will be expected to improve a secondary that struggled at times last season.
If young players like safety Taylor Mays can take their play up a notch this season, the Niners should have a good shot at contending for the NFC West crown this year.
15. Atlanta Falcons
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The Falcons offense gets the majority of credit for the team's success and deservedly so, but the Atlanta defense is not too bad either.
Corner Brent Grimes really stepped up last season, making some impressive interceptions and leading the team with five picks.
Linebacker Curtis Lofton led the team with 118 tackles and three forced fumbles.
Don't expect their defense to look too different this season, as the Falcons spent most of their draft on receiver Julio Jones. Inside linebacker Akeem Dent is the only defender the Falcons drafted with the potential to start this season, while defensive end Cliff Matthews should work his way into the playing rotation at times as well.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The Bucs defense was good, not great, last season, and this season they have some concerns to address.
The biggest concern is the status of No. 1 corner Aqib Talib, who has been unable to stay out of trouble off of the field. Corners E.J. Biggers and Myron Lewis may have to step up this season if the Bucs get rid of Talib, and No. 2 corner Ronde Barber has clearly lost a step.
Tampa Bay used their first two picks on defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers. Neither player is a guarantee however, as Clayborn has production concerns and Bowers has injury concerns.
Third-round pick Mason Foster should be a solid contributor at linebacker as a rookie. I actually expect the Bucs defense to take a step back this season as their pass defense struggles.
13. Minnesota Vikings
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The Vikings had a disappointing season last year, but little of that was the fault of their defense. Minnesota finished the year in the top 10 for total defense as linebacker Chad Greenway led the team with 144 tackles.
Defensive end Jared Allen had another strong season tallying 11 sacks, while Ray Edwards added another eight.
Antoine Winfield was the team's top corner last season and he should be once again this year, despite being 33-years-old.
The Vikings defense may have a tough time staying inside the top 10 this season since they will likely spend a lot of time on the field.
12. Philadelphia Eagles
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The Eagles were solid, but unspectacular on defense last season. Corner Asante Samuel is one of the best in the league and his seven interceptions last year proved it.
Safety Quintin Mikell led the Eagles defense with 88 tackles and Trent Cole led the team with 10 sacks.
Philadelphia added one of the draft's top safeties in the second round with their selection of Jaiquawn Jarrett, and they may have gotten a steal in the third round with their pick of corner Curtis Marsh.
Fourth-round pick Casey Matthews has a lot of work to do if he is to live up to his brother Clay, but the Eagles are hoping that his great football instincts will be a nice addition to their defense.
Philadelphia is said to be one of the front-runners for Nnamdi Asomugha and, if they are able to land him, they would become a major Super Bowl contender.
11. New Orleans Saints
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The Saints are another team that has a solid defense although their offense gets most of the credit.
New Orleans was fourth in the league in yards allowed last season (although you wouldn't know after the playoff loss in Seattle) and they were especially good against the pass, allowing an average of under 200 yards per contest.
The Saints got great value with their first pick of this year's draft when Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan fell to them with the 24th pick, and linebacker Martez Wilson and corner Johnny Patrick were also good picks in the third round.
Jonathan Vilma is the defense's leader and their leading tackler, as he recorded 105 last season. The Saints should continue to play well on the defensive side of the ball this season after infusing their roster with some good, young talent.
10. Miami Dolphins
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The Dolphins quietly finished sixth in the league in total defense last season and third-year outside linebacker Cameron Wake was a major reason why. Wake got to opposing signal-callers 14 times last season, while safety Yeremiah Bell's 101 tackles led the team.
At age 22, Vontae Davis is a rising star at corner and, although the Dolphins didn't do much on the defensive side of the ball during the draft, they should continue improving due to their surplus of young talent.
It won't be easy for the Dolphins in the AFC East this season but, if they can get their offense on the right track, they could surprise some people this season.
9. Oakland Raiders
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A big reason for the Raiders resurgence last season was the play of their defense and, more specifically, their defensive line.
Richard Seymour's play justified the the team's trade of their first-round pick to the Pats, and rookie Lamarr Houston was another strong player along the Raiders defensive line.
Nnamdi Asomugha is one of the best corners in the league, but there is a good chance that he will be leaving once free agency begins. The Raiders drafted two corners, but neither player looks to be a lock to start right away.
Linebacker Rolando McClain had a good rookie season and should improve during his sophomore campaign.
The Raiders defense might take a bit of a hit this season if Asomugha leaves, but I expect them to be stout against the run regardless.
8. Chicago Bears
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The Bears made it all the way to the NFC Championship last season before they fell victim to the eventual Super Bowl champs.
Defensive end Julius Peppers had a strong debut season in Chicago, recording a team-leading eight sacks. Veteran middle linebacker Brian Urlacher continues to make plays as he led the team with 125 tackles on the season.
The Bears were solid against the run last season, but they could have been better against the pass and I'm not sure third-round safety Chris Conte will make much of a difference this year.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs are one of the top up-and-coming defenses in the league. Safety Eric Berry made the Pro Bowl last season and there is little doubt that he will do anything but get better this year.
Outside linebacker Tamba Hali led the AFC in sacks and he should be a terror once again this season, especially after the Chiefs spent a third-round pick on another big time pass-rusher, Justin Houston.
Corner Brandon Flowers is a bit underrated and defensive end Glenn Dorsey showed major improvement last season.
Kansas City was in the middle of the pack as a defense last season but I expect them to definitely finish in the top 10 this season.
6. Baltimore Ravens
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I'm sure Ray Lewis will slow down someday, I'm just not sure how soon that time will come. Lewis is still the leader of the Ravens defense, but he has plenty of help from players like Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs.
Baltimore addressed their corner position with the pick of Colorado's Jimmy Smith in the first round and, although he has some concerns attached to him, I expect him to be a solid contributor for the Ravens.
Last season, Baltimore finished 10th in overall defense and I believe they will be right around that range once again this year.
5. New York Giants
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The Giants defensive line is scary; I mean really scary. I can't imagine how Bears quarterback Jay Cutler feels about them, but I'm sure he would say something similar.
Defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck combined for 23 sacks and 16 forced fumbles last season.
New York is thinner at linebacker, but sixth-round pick Greg Jones should have an opportunity to contribute as a rookie and first-round pick Prince Amukamara will get plenty of playing time at corner, likely in nickel packages.
The Giants finished seventh in total defense last season and I think they could end up close to that once again this season with Tuck and Umenyiora leading the way.
4. San Diego Chargers
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The Chargers allowed the fewest yards in the league last season and yet they spent their first three picks in the draft on defense.
Defensive tackle Corey Liuget was the team's first-round selection and he should make an impact as a rookie, even if it is a limited one, as young defensive linemen not named Suh often struggle.
Veteran safety Bob Sanders joined the Chargers before the lockout began and he will be looking to increase his Madden injury rating this year by actually playing past Week 1.
I expect San Diego's defense to be quite good again this season, but not quite the best.
3. Green Bay Packers
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The Packers Super Bowl run last season had more to do with their offense than it did their defense, but they are still very capable on both sides of the ball.
Linebacker Clay Matthews has a motor that never stops and corner Charles Woodson is still playing at an elite level, even at the age of 34.
Undrafted free agent corner Sam Shields looks to be a solid find and Tramon Williams also played a high level last season.
Green Bay didn't add much help on the defensive side of the ball during the draft, but they really didn't need to either.
2. New York Jets
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The Jets already had one of the best defenses in the league last season and they figure to better this year after drafting defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis in the first two rounds.
Jets coach Rex Ryan will find ways to create pressure on opposing offenses despite not having a great amount of pass-rushers at his disposal.
Corner Darrelle Revis is one the best in the game, and linebackers David Harris and Bart Scott solidify the middle of the Jets defense.
This could be the year that the Jets get over the hump and into the Super Bowl.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers gave up the fewest points in the league last season and the second fewest yards.
Pittsburgh has studs at every level of their defense with players like Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, and LaMarr Woodley. Defensive tackle Casey Hampton is getting up there in age, but he still a key part of the Pittsburgh defense and first-round pick Cameron Heyward figures to see playing time early and often.
Pittsburgh's run defense was especially stingy last season, allowing just 62.8 yards per game on the ground.
The Steelers defense figures to be very good once again in 2011 as they look to return to the Super Bowl for the second straight season.
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