Defensive ranking projections?

[izvoodoo]

Its a bit tough projecting right now because we (and all teams really) have a ton of question marks. We still don't really know what our starting lineup will look like, we don't really know who will start at FS, 3rd CB, or how our Dline will look. Will Ngata regain top form, will Suggs be consistant throughout the season, etc are all fair questions. But if i had to guess right now I'd say 8-11, I don't think we are top 5 yet, we have a lot of young guns still developing so we'll be back in top 5 soon enough just not now.

1.Seattle

2.St. Louis (yeah call me crazy but i really like what theyve got over there)

3.San Fran

4.Cincy

5.Carolina

6.New Orleans (added Byrd to an already really good D, look out Ryan has some weapons to play with)

7.Cleveland (yep two AFC North teams ahead of us unfortunately, but if its any consolation Pitt is way below us)

8.Denver

9.Baltimore

10.Houston 

11.Buffalo

The thing about St.Louis as that back end.  but those pass rushers man.

[Ravensfan23]

First off I think people are really underestimating the loss of Zimmer for the Bengals. Yes they have great talent and that's always been the case imo because of high drafting but it was Zimmer who really brought that defense to life. I'm interested in seeing how they respond to that loss.

As for the Ravens, I think the two things that will make this defense good is the pass rush and the offense allowing them to play with a lead. I love the additions we've made over the past two years and think that the majority of those players will really perform well this year. Two young guys I think will really start to take this defense to the next level is CJ and Timmy.

Timmy gives the front 7 that slasher who can generate pressure from a 4 man rush. We haven't had that type guy in a long time and that seems to be really important in Pees' defense. Art started to develop into that guy, but we couldn't keep him. Having a guy that can take pressure of both Suggs and Ngata will be big.

CJ is that new age ILB. Seemingly undersized but fast to the ball. He can run, blitz, cover and really be the type of player to set the defense apart. I'm not saying we're looking at a young Ray Lewis here, but he definitely fits the mold of a Luke kuechly. I really like his potential in the middle of the defense. If our front 7 can perform well, I think this defense could definitely be top 5

[hn68wb4]

The thing about St.Louis as that back end.  but those pass rushers man.

yeah that secondary worries me a bit but if they can pull of a semi decent secondary I'll stick with them as a top 5 defense. That Dline is the best in the league hands down, Quinn, Long, Brockers, and added Donald in the draft, their linebacking corps is one of the best with Laurinitis and Ogletree (who i though may have deserved defensive rookie of the year). Jenkins is a good CB, obviously another CB on their roster needs to step up, Mcdonald is a good SS and they drafted a FS in the 2nd to play along side him. This defense has the potential to be fantastic

[hawkprey]

Last year we started Josh Bynes and Michael Huff week 1. Yeah, I think we'll be better.

[radicals]

On paper, I'd think

1- Seattle

2- Denver

3- Arizona

4- San Fran

5- St. Louis

6- Buffalo

7- Baltimore

8- Cincinatti

9- Cleveland

10- New Orleans

 

I think that Carolina, Houston and KC are overrated, I don't think they'll have top ten defenses.

 

Some teams to watch would be the NYG, Titans and Jaguars. They won't be spectacular, but I think they've improved a lot and could be top 15-20 defenses. 

[RobFuseRaven]

I don't care what the D is ranked if we can get to a Super Bowl.

[JoeyFlex5]

We'll know more when we see ngata

ill just be honest here.. i think its time we stop holding out hope and expecting ngata to return to dominant form. he is now an above average DT with an injury bug and what seems to be just a lack of caring. 

 

anything can happen but ive slowly fell farther off the ngata wagon every year since he signed his contract.

[ellicottraven]

It really depends on 3 factors:

1 - Injury situation

2 - Coaching

3 - Execution of the game plan

Any team that excels in those 3 factors will be a top defense imo. I expect Baltimore to be a top 10 defense this year and trending up moving forward.

[Drew P]

good points but i still think their front 7 is just plain scary and i think it will be enough to put them up near the top, if not top 5 ill say definitely top 10.

 

I agree they are talented but I can see them being the Ravens of the NFC with very little offense and having to carry this team

[Drew P]

On paper, I'd think

1- Seattle

2- Denver

3- Arizona

4- San Fran

5- St. Louis

6- Buffalo

7- Baltimore

8- Cincinatti

9- Cleveland

10- New Orleans

 

I think that Carolina, Houston and KC are overrated, I don't think they'll have top ten defenses.

 

Some teams to watch would be the NYG, Titans and Jaguars. They won't be spectacular, but I think they've improved a lot and could be top 15-20 defenses. 

 

Denver would need a miracle to be # 2 and dont forget somehow someway the chargers snuck up on everyone last year.

[radicals]

Denver would need a miracle to be # 2 and dont forget somehow someway the chargers snuck up on everyone last year.

I think Denver will be pretty solid this year. Just my opinion though. I would've put the Chargers on there for one that should be watched, but they didn't do much to improve over offseason really imo. I feel quite a few teams will be better than them

[gabefergy]

I think Denver will be pretty solid this year. Just my opinion though. I would've put the Chargers on there for one that should be watched, but they didn't do much to improve over offseason really imo. I feel quite a few teams will be better than them

I agree with you about Denver. They are stacked defensively.

SD was pretty bad last year. I think they improved their secondary, but the front 7 is still meh.

[Drew P]

I agree with you about Denver. They are stacked defensively.

SD was pretty bad last year. I think they improved their secondary, but the front 7 is still meh.

 

How is Denver  "stacked"? DWARE is hardly even a one trick pony that he once was and their draft stunk, i just dont see it. The Chargers added Attaochu who can help on third down and remember Freeney was out for the season last year so they get him back.

[SecretAgentMan]

How is Denver "stacked"? DWARE is hardly even a one trick pony that he once was and their draft stunk, i just dont see it. The Chargers added Attaochu who can help on third down and remember Freeney was out for the season last year so they get him back.

Von Miller is coming back

Ware is still a great pass rusher

They got Talib

They got Ward

Chris Harris Jr is coming back

Roby is a good prospect

They get Wolfe back

Williams should break out

[cushrinada1986]

Ravens will be in the top 7.

[Drew P]

Von Miller is coming back

Ware is still a great pass rusher

They got Talib

They got Ward

Chris Harris Jr is coming back

Roby is a good prospect

They get Wolfe back

Williams should break out

 

Case in point not much of anything except a couple of guys whom cant finish a season and some unknown quantities

[52520Andrew]

Von Miller is coming back

Ware is still a great pass rusher

They got Talib

They got Ward

Chris Harris Jr is coming back

Roby is a good prospect

They get Wolfe back

Williams should break out

 

Roby is talented but he is also raw IMO, I don't see him doing all that well his first year. In the future he may but I don't think he will this year.

Wolfe hasn't shown anything so far to make me think he is all that good. I hear a ton of Watt comps with him but what he has done on the field doesn't come close to that level.

[gabefergy]

How is Denver  "stacked"? DWARE is hardly even a one trick pony that he once was and their draft stunk, i just dont see it. The Chargers added Attaochu who can help on third down and remember Freeney was out for the season last year so they get him back.

They have an incredible defensive line. Jackson and Knighton are studs in the middle, and Ware/Miller is one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league.

 

They have a really good secondary with Talib and Harris. Roby was an excellent draft pick and they signed TJ Ward too. 

 

Compared to SD they are way better in terms of talent.

[Drew P]

They have an incredible defensive line. Jackson and Knighton are studs in the middle, and Ware/Miller is one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league.

 

They have a really good secondary with Talib and Harris. Roby was an excellent draft pick and they signed TJ Ward too. 

 

Compared to SD they are way better in terms of talent.

 

 Ware and Miller have zero sacks together as a tandem

[gabefergy]

 Ware and Miller have zero sacks together as a tandem

That's a really intuitive observation.

[52520Andrew]

 Ware and Miller have zero sacks together as a tandem

 

 

Must resist posting madden meme.....must resist posting madden meme...

 

Before last year, Suggs and Doom had 0 sacks together as a tandem. I guess that means they were bad. Houston has no shot of Watt and Clowney being a good tandem together either by that logic.

[Drew P]

That's a really intuitive observation.

 

Yes, someone posted they are one of the best pass rushing duos in the league go figure

[ravensnick]

How is Denver  "stacked"? DWARE is hardly even a one trick pony that he once was and their draft stunk, i just dont see it. The Chargers added Attaochu who can help on third down and remember Freeney was out for the season last year so they get him back.

Talib, Harris, roby, Ward, Moore is lethal in the secondary. Big guys are very good with jackson, Sylvestor Williams and Terrence Knighton. They good some good run stuffers at mlb at Von miller and dware. Maybe the best d is the league. Don't sleep on NE or NO either.

[Drew P]

Must resist posting madden meme.....must resist posting madden meme...

 

Before last year, Suggs and Doom had 0 sacks together as a tandem. I guess that means they were bad. Houston has no shot of Watt and Clowney being a good tandem together either by that logic.

 

expert by madden, got it.

[gabefergy]

Yes, someone posted they are one of the best pass rushing duos in the league go figure

They only have 152 career sacks between them, and one of them has played 2 and half seasons. Let that sink in for a minute.

[Drew P]

Talib, Harris, roby, Ward, Moore is lethal in the secondary. Big guys are very good with jackson, Sylvestor Williams and Terrence Knighton. They good some good run stuffers at mlb at Von miller and dware. Maybe the best d is the league. Don't sleep on NE or NO either.

 

Well if you think they can go from 20th in the league to the "best" then I cant help you

[Drew P]

They only have 152 career sacks between them, and one of them has played 2 and half seasons. Let that sink in for a minute.

wonderful, now if they can do that on the SAME TEAM for a FULL season then thats great until then its just paper

[gabefergy]

Well if you think they can go from 20th in the league to the "best" then I cant help you

They were 2nd in the NFL 2 seasons ago, then they missed some players last year. Once they get healthy with other editions it's pretty easy to see how they could be one of the best defenses, if not the best

wonderful, now if they can do that on the SAME TEAM for a FULL season then thats great until then its just paper

Well since we haven't played any of 2014, everything is on paper. 

[52520Andrew]

expert by madden, got it.

 

Do you even know what a madden meme is? It is making fun of how madden states the obvious like you just did saying that Miller and Ware have no sacks as a tandem. May I ask what the point was in saying that? I stated a couple different examples of that not really being a factor, I really don't know how that influences anything really. If you really think that them not having any sacks as a tandem since they just became teammates means that they aren't a good tandem, that is just a mix of sad and funny.

[TDubbs]

They were 2nd in the NFL 2 seasons ago, then they missed some players last year. Once they get healthy with other editions it's pretty easy to see how they could be one of the best defenses, if not the best

 

Truth. Also factor in that Denver enjoys the benefit of Peyton Manning .. So more often than not, the defense gets to play with a lead. Von and Ware get to pin their ears back and rush; Their sick secondary gets to ball hawk. Definitely a recipe for success.