The NFL's Under-the-Radar Defensive Team

There are some NFL players that get much of the attention—even if it isn't warranted.

Then there are those that fly under the radar and get less-than-deserved notoriety.

While both offensive and defensive players share this "overlooked" status, let's stick with the latter. Those making plays on defense can be undervalued due to the team they play for and/or because the impact they have on the game is not exactly reflected in the statistics they accumulate. 

Here is a look at who best qualifies for the defensive side of the all-underrated team.

DE: James Hall

If the squad for the under-the-radar players was in need of a captain for the defense, Hall would be the man.

The Rams defensive end recorded an impressive 10.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2010, ranking among the league leaders in each category. This was no fluke, however. Hall has averaged 5.5 sacks over the course of the past 10 seasons.

So, why has this ordinary name with an extraordinary ability to rush the passer been forgotten about when discussing the league's elite? Quite simply, it's been due to the team's he's played on.

Hall has spent the last four years with a mediocre St. Louis club. Before that, he suffered through seven dreary seasons in Detroit.

DT: Cliff Avril

With the vaunted All-Pro DT Ndamukong Suh, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and now rookie DT Nick Fairley, the Detroit Lions have a defensive line that has the potential to be dominant.

The one player in that bunch that gets overlooked is Avril, who has totaled 19 sacks since joining the Lions in 2008. Three of those sacks came in a December 2010 meeting with the Chicago Bears.

Avirl needs to be mentioned more often when discussing talented Lions defensive lineman who have tremendous upside.

DT: Antonio Garay

While his haircut is hard to ignore, many failed to see his impact on the field in 2010.

Although the numbers don't show it, Garay helped the Chargers' top-ranked defense control the line of scrimmage with his ability to stuff the opposing team's running game.

He also showed an ability to rush the passer, getting 5.5 QB sacks. It was a true breakout season for Garay. Prior to last year, he had yet to record any sacks.

DE: Chris Clemons

Since joining the NFL in 2004, Clemons has worn the uniforms of four different teams–and he is having the most success with his current club.

Even though he's only spent one year as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, his immediate impact has been tremendous: 11 sacks and 49 tackles—both career-highs.

Clemons had been a consistent performer on defense prior to 2010, but last year helped his quality rating improve significantly.

LB: London Fletcher

Many players on the Redskins are noted for their ability to underachieve. Fletcher is quite the opposite.

For more than a decade, he has been a consistent and reliable linebacker that put up the numbers while remaining highly underrated.

He put up a career-high for sacks in 2000 as a member of the St. Louis Rams (5.5) and tackle output five years later in Buffalo (157). Fletcher has had at least 128 tackles in 10 of the past 11 seasons. 

For the first 12 years of his NFL life, Fletcher's leadership and quality play had not yet resulted in a Pro Bowl appearance. Thankfully, that all changed in 2010 when he was elected to play in Hawaii for the first time.

LB: Ben Leber

While E.J. Henderson was the star linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, Ben Leber was nearly just as important.

Other defensive players on the Vikings have made their plays with far more notoriety (i.e., Jared Allen). Leber consistently produced and was very reliable, only missing one game in five seasons with Minnesota. He has nine forced fumbles since 2006 and led the NFL with four fumble recoveries in 2008.

Now a member of the St. Louis Rams, Leber has a chance to come from the background and stand out as a veteran leader of that defense.

LB: D.J. Williams

It's hard to imagine that a first-round pick would be living in relative obscurity and lack national attention, but that's been the case for Denver's best and most versatile linebacker. 

The seven-year pro has recorded at least 119 tackles in three of the previous four seasons. He's also been adept at creating turnovers for the Broncos. In his career, Williams has 10 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. 

Williams has put up numbers that should merit Pro Bowl selections. However, he has yet to receive the invite to play in the NFL's All-Star game.

CB: Brent Grimes

The number of current NFL players that hail from Shippensburg University can be counted on one hand. Fullback John Kuhn of the Green Bay Packers is one of them. Brent Grimes is trying to make sure that the defense is represented as well.

In the past two seasons with the Falcons, the 28-year-old has come of age, totaling 11 interceptions to go along with his 153 tackles.

As a key member of an Atlanta defense that has steadily improved, Grimes deserves far more credit.

CB: Brandon Carr

Carr and fellow fourth-year CB Brandon Flowers have created one of the league's best young cornerback tandems in Kansas City.

While Flowers—a second-round pick—receives a majority of the praise, the performances for the other Brandon—selected in the fifth round—usually go unnoticed.

Carr was solid right out of the gate, posting 73 tackles and snatching two picks in 2008. In total, he has 192 tackles and four INTs.

Safety: Nate Allen

Shortly after being taken in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft out of the University of South Florida, Allen became a regular member of the Philadelphia Eagles' secondary.

In a rookie season that was cut short due to a December knee injury, Allen had 42 tackles and three interceptions.

Provided he can remain on the field and off the injured list, Allen has the potential to quickly raise his stock in terms of the top young players at the safety position.

Safety: Dashon Goldson

A knee injury has left Goldson questionable for the 49ers' season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. If he is unable to go, it would be a tough blow to their secondary.

Goldson has proven his worth by compiling 174 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and six interceptions over the past two seasons.

For a defense that can hamper their team's chances of victory with its inability to stop the pass, Goldson has been a rare bright spot. But offseason additions could help him enhance his impact.