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Which defense has improved the most? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ookook
- Start date
Improved
Vikings - IMHO they added more talent than anyone else. Surely to goodness they can harness it.
Falcons - Improved on an already good defense.
Browns - Much improved coaching and focus on defense. Unloaded a lot of defenseive busts and brought in people who fit in Crennel's system.
Worse (not necessarily bad)
Titans - Too many free agent and cap losses.
Redskins - The well ran dry for salaries this year and they lost a lot in their LB and secondary. However, I still expect them to be in the upper portion of defenses due to the remaining players and coaches.
Vikings - IMHO they added more talent than anyone else. Surely to goodness they can harness it.
Falcons - Improved on an already good defense.
Browns - Much improved coaching and focus on defense. Unloaded a lot of defenseive busts and brought in people who fit in Crennel's system.
Worse (not necessarily bad)
Titans - Too many free agent and cap losses.
Redskins - The well ran dry for salaries this year and they lost a lot in their LB and secondary. However, I still expect them to be in the upper portion of defenses due to the remaining players and coaches.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Vikings and Chiefs, but that doesn't mean squat when it comes to fantasy football. I've seen plenty of great NFL defenses rank near the bottom in fantasy scoring. It's a crap shoot most years trying to figure out who the best fantasy defense will be. Of course you didn't ask which defense will be the best fantasy defense, but I thought I would throw that in there.
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Family Matters
Footballguy
I agree with the one's posted already. But as funny as it sounds, Baltimore has made some nice additions and I expect them to be improved. They should be the dominate D this year as long as Cinncy doesn't go off on them twice and blow up their points against.
mad sweeney
Footballguy
Ditto for Seattle. No matter how many good moves we made on paper, the biggest problem is still calling the shots on D. I think we can improve from last year into the top half of the league, but breaking the top third is probably wishful thinking. Unless they manage to come up with a pass rusher sometime between now and opening day.
SammyJankis
Footballguy
Cardinals
- Added Chike Okefor to other side of D-line so NFC sack leader Bert Berry doesn't have to do it all by himself.
- Added Andrell Rolle for an upgrade at corner.
- Added Robert Griffith, the Browns leading tackler to play the other safety position across from Adrian Wilson.
- Added Eric Green, Daryl Blackstock, Orlando Huff, Lance Mitchell and Earnest Shazor for depth.
- Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby will be given expanded roles. Dockett should be a beast this year.
- Kenny King is healthy in the middle.
- Wendell Bryant finally "gets it". May realize his potential. Has been working out at team facility since Feburary.
This D under the direction of future head coach Clany Pendergrass could be scary good in 05. Don't sleep on Lance Mitchell either. Mitchell is a guy that looked like a first rounder until tearing his ACL and having a sub-par 04. He's close to 100% and Dennis Green absolutely loves him.
- Added Chike Okefor to other side of D-line so NFC sack leader Bert Berry doesn't have to do it all by himself.
- Added Andrell Rolle for an upgrade at corner.
- Added Robert Griffith, the Browns leading tackler to play the other safety position across from Adrian Wilson.
- Added Eric Green, Daryl Blackstock, Orlando Huff, Lance Mitchell and Earnest Shazor for depth.
- Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby will be given expanded roles. Dockett should be a beast this year.
- Kenny King is healthy in the middle.
- Wendell Bryant finally "gets it". May realize his potential. Has been working out at team facility since Feburary.
This D under the direction of future head coach Clany Pendergrass could be scary good in 05. Don't sleep on Lance Mitchell either. Mitchell is a guy that looked like a first rounder until tearing his ACL and having a sub-par 04. He's close to 100% and Dennis Green absolutely loves him.
Didn't know a lot of that - thanks.
Vikings should be the most improved because of all the FA additions. Who knows if it will translate on the field, just ask the Redskins.Dallas Cowboys - If they can get to the QB, they should be very dangerous. The Rooks have to work out and fill in the holes. If they are as fast as they are graded to be, they should be able to contribute enough to challenge the Birds for the East.
GRIDIRON ASSASSIN
Footballguy
I'm not sold on defenses getting an influx of talent all at once being 'better' - it takes them time for their chemistry to jel and become a cohesive unit, rather than several 'big name players'Look at Washington over the past several years..... Darrell Green, Prime Time and Champ Bailey - Arrington and Trotter got them where? Nowhere.I think the Bears will be a top 10 defense just based upon the fact that Tommie Harris has a year under his belt, Ogunleye won't be playing on one leg, Urlacher and Mike Brown will be healthy and Peanut Tillman will play in most of the games. Lance Briggs, Jerry Azumah and Alex Brown are above average players as well.They're upgrading without any 'new players' really joining the team.....and other than RW McQuarters, they haven't really lost anybody - and I think Nathan Vasher is a supreme ballhawk compared to McQuarters.Then you factor in Green Bay's and Minnesota's offenses taking a hit in the offseason (GB's guards and Moss gone)
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Donnybrook
Footballguy
Who are you and what have you done with Bob?
Ok, I was expecting at least 700 words. I like what SF has done so far. I don't know if they are the most improved but they certainly have the most room for improvement.
FFFIEND
Footballguy
This ARTICLE has the fantasy D schedule broken down for 2005.Based on their easy schedule and terrible finish last season, the 49ers will be much better than last year. However, they probably still won't be draftable in most leagues.
I like the Vikings to make major gains in 2005 as well. They have Easy schedule + solid additions on D.
I think the Raiders D will still suck. They have a terrible fantasy D schedule in 2005 and haven't done a whole lot to help things out on that side of the ball. On the bright side, it appears Al Davis is trying to make fantasy football fans very happy with lots of points scored in Oakland's games.
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
i was inhabited by a concise, terse presence... its gone... i went out for a little exorciseWho are you and what have you done with Bob?
...MIN, DAL & KC are clear examples of teams that helped themselves both through free agency & the draft.SF is good example of team that should improve through other factors... internal improvement (julian peterson, ahmad plummer & mike rumph missed large parts of last season) & coaching/system change.
i don't know if their turnaround will be as dramatic as above three (i think jamie winborn could be a key piece to the puzzle if he can stay healthy... 30-40% chance of that... also tony parrish is talented & could be poor man's ed reed for ex-ravens DC nolan), but they could potentially be in the top half... maybe top 10 in another season, contingent on drafts & more FA acqs (they were until recently notorious cheapskates, but the owner wife read riot act to skinflint husband & made him break the piggybank). the problem is their offense will almost certainly the worst of any of the teams i cited above & will below. that could put tremendous field position pressure on the defense early & often. they could get worn out in-game & over grind of season if a lot of three & outs leads to them being on field disproportionate amount of snaps.
i almost mentioned CAR. peppers is a monster who is mutating into an alternate football life form in front of our eyes. last year was the year the light went on... he should redefine the position like deacon jones & reggie white did in their generation. jenkins is a pivotal player because he helps peppers & rucker (bounceback year?) get more pressure on QB by collapsing pocket... & by implication this helps everybody in secondary, morgan could lead the league in tackles if he ever plays close to a full slate of games (he was pacing to shatter his former record before missing about third of season... AGAIN), witherspoon quietly put up takeo spikes-like numbers, they added ken lucas & with chris gamble could be one of the best CB duos in NFL after BAL & MIN... & SS/OLB/rover thomas davis is a BEAST... by himself he will be an impact player, as will my co-favorite for defensive ROY... former georgia teammate odell thurman for CIN.
they could be greatly improved (about #26 against run last season) with another GA teammate, david pollack & the potential improvement of massive talent madieu williams.
though not on the same scale, if bob sanders can stay healthy & marlin jackson is as good as advertised, the colts will have a better overall defense in run support as well as coverage.
i think the rams could be better if jimmy kennedy builds on end of last season, little & hargove approach 20 sacks between them, claiborne/tino/coakley mesh at LB, travis fisher stays healthy & comprises underrated duo with jerametrius butler & somebody clicks at SS with archuleta... i hope atogwe.
CHI will be better... o-gun, uhrlacher, mike brown & peanut tillman missed a lot of time... STL led NFL with 46 takeaways lovie smith's last season as DC with rams in '03...
i think NO could be improved but know i am contrarian... grant, smith & howard have to be best DE threesome in NFL, courtney watson could be a good one at MLB or WLB (i like the latter to get fincher on field), the team didn't give up less than 20 first 12 games or more than 18 in last four... that coincided with stronger CB play from in-season FA mike mckenzie & the anonymous fakhir brown... dwight smith was an underrated but potentially high impact FA acq, rookie safety josh bullocks has looked good in coverage & will be useful in nickle & dime packages.
ATL was already good (led nfl in sacks)... coleman hopefully won't flip his car in-season, 2nd rounder babineaux led big 10 in sacks & was among national leaders in TFL... i think he will be one of best DTs from class along with patterson... ed hartwell & d-mo are upgrades at two of three LB positions, hall could be elite cover CB... they need bryan scott to get through his shoulder rehab by the start of the season.
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Donnybrook
Footballguy
Bob you crack me up. Your last post was 715 words at least according to Microsoft Word. I think I like the precise, terse Bob better? 
Thanks guys, lots of good info here.IND is a DEF that has been improving, and I wondered whether they are likely to take the next step.I think CHI will be better for the reasons said by GRID, although Detroit might improve by as much as GB offense gets worse. I am also intrigued by the CAR suggestion. That might be a nice choice.
Post Corner
Footballguy
Nice thread. 
bump.
bump.
GRIDIRON ASSASSIN
Footballguy
Not too bad of a prediction back in June. Did I even mention Vasher was a ballhawk? Hot damn!
newlycreated
Footballguy
fridayfrenzy
Footballguy
Chicago and Seahawks
mad sweeney
Footballguy
Leading the league in sacks puts us in the top 5! Wasn't one guy, but the team got it done. A much improved rush D as well as the absence of Rhodes (2 small strokes) in the DC position puts Seattle in the lead for most improved, IMO.
GRIDIRON ASSASSIN
Footballguy
Seattle's defense has quietly had an impressive season.All I hope for in the Super Bowl is a competitive game this year.Thankfully the Colts have lost a bit of their luster, and I know longer think they can 'run away and hide' with the Super Bowl trophy.I'm chompin' at the bit to get the playoffs started, as Week 17 is meaningless for most of the NFL, other than Pittsburgh, KC, Tampa, Carolina, NY Giants (for the division title), Dallas and Washington
Man in the yellow hat
Footballguy
Jim Bates is a miracle worker. That is all.
