Anthony D.
Lifelong Dolphan
Team DL rankings: Miami fourth
Michael Harmon / FOXSports.com
This week, I'm stepping across the line of scrimmage and giving further inspection to the defensive units. Offensive players are scrutinized with every throw, run and passing route completed. It's high time that the individual components of defenses get their just due.
Today, I'm examining the defensive lines of each NFL team. In addition to the straight personnel, I'm also evaluating the fantasy contributions we can expect heading into 2006. For example, the Browns and Broncos slide in this form of evaluation. While both are successful at cutting down on total points allowed, their overall contribution in other defensive categories were lacking.
The defending NFC champions rise to the head of the class. With a ballhawking defense and an offense that will apply pressure of its own, the Seattle Seahawks lead my list of defensive linemen.
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks led the NFL with 50 sacks in 2005. Bryce Fisher and Rocky Bernard combined for 17.5 of those sacks and accounted for 76 tackles. Grant Wistrom provided solid pressure off the other end with 52 tackles and four sacks of his own. Of chief import here was Wistrom's ability to stay healthy through the course of the year. Marcus Tubbs also supplemented the efforts of Chartric Darby and Bernard when he rotated into the game. Tubbs added 40 tackles and 5.5 sacks of his own. Seattle is primed for another run to the top of the fantasy stats with this nucleus returning intact.
2. Atlanta Falcons
John Abraham got his wish and exited the Jets this off-season. He now pairs with Patrick Kerney to form one of the most formidable defensive end combinations in the game. And when you add the pressure applied by tackle Rod Coleman (10.5 sacks), the Falcons figure to terrorize opposing quarterbacks throughout the fall. The Falcons will count on Coleman and Chad Lavalais to stuff the run better than they did in '05, when Atlanta ranked 26th in rushing defense at 128.9 yards per game.
3. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers remained among the top defenses in 2005 with great pressure off the edges from Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker. The duo combined for 18 sacks and 94 tackles to boost the Panthers to fifth in overall defense. Carolina received great play from Maake Kemoeatu on the interior. He stepped up in the absence of Kris Jenkins, who played in only one game last season. Kemoeatu and Jenkins will team to protect the middle of the line and keep Carolina's lofty ranking in run defense (fourth at 91.6 yards).
4. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins ranked second in the NFL last season with 49 sacks and return all four members of their defensive line. Jason Taylor remains the leader of the unit, and posted another double-digit sack total in 2005 with 12. Keith Traylor returns to thwart the running game up the middle. Traylor is paired in the middle with veteran defensive end-turned-tackle Vonnie Holliday, who tallied 52 tackles and five sacks of his own. On the end opposite Taylor is long-time NFL star Kevin Carter, who registered his highest tackle total since 1998 (53) and recorded six sacks.
5. Chicago Bears
The Bears return all starters from their top-ranked defense of 2005 (12.6 points per game). Chicago ranked 11th against the run at 102.3 yards per game and surrendered only nine touchdowns. Interior linemen Tommie Harris, Ian Scott and Tank Johnson handled the middle well, allowing Brian Urlacher and the top-notch linebacking corps to clean up plays at the line of scrimmage. Defensive ends Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown provided a consistent pass rush. Ogunleye and Brown combined for 86 tackles and 16 sacks.
Michael Harmon / FOXSports.com
This week, I'm stepping across the line of scrimmage and giving further inspection to the defensive units. Offensive players are scrutinized with every throw, run and passing route completed. It's high time that the individual components of defenses get their just due.
Today, I'm examining the defensive lines of each NFL team. In addition to the straight personnel, I'm also evaluating the fantasy contributions we can expect heading into 2006. For example, the Browns and Broncos slide in this form of evaluation. While both are successful at cutting down on total points allowed, their overall contribution in other defensive categories were lacking.
The defending NFC champions rise to the head of the class. With a ballhawking defense and an offense that will apply pressure of its own, the Seattle Seahawks lead my list of defensive linemen.
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks led the NFL with 50 sacks in 2005. Bryce Fisher and Rocky Bernard combined for 17.5 of those sacks and accounted for 76 tackles. Grant Wistrom provided solid pressure off the other end with 52 tackles and four sacks of his own. Of chief import here was Wistrom's ability to stay healthy through the course of the year. Marcus Tubbs also supplemented the efforts of Chartric Darby and Bernard when he rotated into the game. Tubbs added 40 tackles and 5.5 sacks of his own. Seattle is primed for another run to the top of the fantasy stats with this nucleus returning intact.
2. Atlanta Falcons
John Abraham got his wish and exited the Jets this off-season. He now pairs with Patrick Kerney to form one of the most formidable defensive end combinations in the game. And when you add the pressure applied by tackle Rod Coleman (10.5 sacks), the Falcons figure to terrorize opposing quarterbacks throughout the fall. The Falcons will count on Coleman and Chad Lavalais to stuff the run better than they did in '05, when Atlanta ranked 26th in rushing defense at 128.9 yards per game.
3. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers remained among the top defenses in 2005 with great pressure off the edges from Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker. The duo combined for 18 sacks and 94 tackles to boost the Panthers to fifth in overall defense. Carolina received great play from Maake Kemoeatu on the interior. He stepped up in the absence of Kris Jenkins, who played in only one game last season. Kemoeatu and Jenkins will team to protect the middle of the line and keep Carolina's lofty ranking in run defense (fourth at 91.6 yards).
4. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins ranked second in the NFL last season with 49 sacks and return all four members of their defensive line. Jason Taylor remains the leader of the unit, and posted another double-digit sack total in 2005 with 12. Keith Traylor returns to thwart the running game up the middle. Traylor is paired in the middle with veteran defensive end-turned-tackle Vonnie Holliday, who tallied 52 tackles and five sacks of his own. On the end opposite Taylor is long-time NFL star Kevin Carter, who registered his highest tackle total since 1998 (53) and recorded six sacks.
5. Chicago Bears
The Bears return all starters from their top-ranked defense of 2005 (12.6 points per game). Chicago ranked 11th against the run at 102.3 yards per game and surrendered only nine touchdowns. Interior linemen Tommie Harris, Ian Scott and Tank Johnson handled the middle well, allowing Brian Urlacher and the top-notch linebacking corps to clean up plays at the line of scrimmage. Defensive ends Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown provided a consistent pass rush. Ogunleye and Brown combined for 86 tackles and 16 sacks.
