Ranking The Defensive Lines

Well, sorry to my fans out there, but my 17-day hiatus was due to my journey back home to dial-up land. I lacked the patience to put up with the slower internet, and didn't keep up on my blogging. But, I'm back, and here are the defensive live rankings.


1. Minnesota Vikings --- Arguably the best line in football. They were a top 5 line even before they traded for DE Jared Allen. Allen comes to the Vikes after leading the NFL in sacks last year, despite missing 2 games due to a suspension. Allen says he has re-committed himself to the game, and should be a dominant force. Huge DTs Kevin and Pat Williams (no relation) continue to scare interior offensive lineman across the league. Both are huge run stuffers, and Kevin can even rush the passer. With Erasmus James gone, the Vikes have to choose between Ray Edwards, Brian Robison and oft-injured Kenechi Udeze.
2. New York Giants --- Even without Big 'ol Michael Strahan, the Gaints boast a great D-line. Osi Umenyiora comes back off a huge year, and looks to become a more consistan player. Justin Tuck will slide into the other DE slot. Tuck was a huge part of the Super Bowl run, but needs to improve his run stopping. Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins and Jay Alford provide a great rotation at DT. The wild card is Mathias Kiwanuka. Kiwanuka is slated to start at LB, but could move up to the front four on passing downs. This could help an already dangerous pass rush.
3. New England Patriots --- The Pats D-lineman are great at what they do. They stuff the run like none other, which is the goal of the 3-4 defence. Ty Warren could have been a Pro Bowler last year, but doesn't get the sacks needed. Massive DT Vince Wilfork has developed into a great starter, and can clog the line like no other. To be at top form, the Pats need Richard Seymour to stay healthy. Seymour was once a dominant player who commanded double-teams, but injuries have derailed a great career. He needs to re-gain his dominant form or the line could struggle. Reserve DE Jarvis Green led the team with 6.5 sacks.
4. Green Bay Packers --- Yikes, this line is scary, and underrated. DE Aaron Kampman has become a fixture in Honolulu, and continues to improve. They were so confident in their DTs that they let Corey Williams leave. Johnny Jolly, Justin Harrell and Ryan Pickett will form a great rotation in the middle, in the hopes of taking pressure off the DEs. Cullen Jenkins regressed a bit last year, but could improve over time. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has found his niche as a situational pass rusher, and he tallied 9.5 sacks.
5. San Diego Chargers --- Another unit that is underrated due to the fact that they play the 3-4 defence. DE Luis Castillo has struggled with injuries, but is a force againt both the run and pass when healthy. Igor Olshansky is a beast, who uses his amazing strength to get to the ball. Jamal Williams isn't as good as he once was, but is still a great player at the NT position. Jacques Cesaire, Ryon Bingham and Brandon McKinney proved great depth.
6. Chicago Bears --- When healthy, this may be the best line in football. But, injuries have slowed down DT Tommie Harris. He is a dominant pass rusher who has greatly improved his play against the run over the past few years. Few teams have two good pass rushers on the outside, let alone three. Adawale Ogunleye, Alex Brown and Mark Anderson are all very good. Brown and Anderson's numbers fell off a bit last year, but the line was plauged by injuries. Dusty Dvoracek and Anthony Adams will battle for the other DT spot.
7. New Orleans Saints --- The Saints already boasted a great tandem of DEs in Charles Grant and Will Smith. Than, they went out and drafted highly touted DT Sederick Ellis. Combine those three sith huge veteran DT Hollis Thomas, and you have a very good D-line. Grant has garnered more attention from off-the-field troubles, but is a force on it. Smith has turned into an elite end, and earned a huge contract extension as a result of his play. Ellis may have been the best DT to come out this year, and could draw attention away from the DEs. Thomas has been a force for a long time, but is getting up there in years.
8. Washington Redskins --- Were an average line until they traded for DE Jason Taylor. Taylor brings great speed off the edge, and teams need to focus on him at all times. His presence should help fellow DE Andre Carter, who had a resurgence last year with 10.5 sacks. DTs Cornelius Griffin and Anthony Montgomery are both solid, but Montgomery's status is unclear. The Skins also went out and signed former Viking DE Erasmus James, but he is coming back from an injury and his status in uncertain.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers --- This rank is more for their amazing depth than the actual unit. Starting DTs Chris Hovan and Jovan Haye are great at what they do, and the team drafted undersized DT Dre Moore to rotate in. The ends are manned by about four players, with Andre Carter, Marques Douglas, Greg White and last year's first rounder Gaines Adams all figuring into the mix. Carter is getting up there, but is still a force against the run. Adams only had 6 sacks, but looks to improve drastically in year two.
10. Tennessee Titans --- Many thought DT Albert Hayneworth should have been the Defensive Player of the Year last season, and he should provide much of the same. He is a monster who does what is needed to make the big play. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch continued to be a force off the outside, notching 12.5 sacks last year. The Titans brought back former Titan Jevon Kearse, in the hopes that he can regain his "Freak" form that he once possessed. Unheralded DT Tony Brown rounds out the starting unit.
11. Buffalo Bills --- Vastly improved thier line by trading for DT Marcus Stroud. If he can stay healthy and regain his Pro Bowl form, the Bills will be higher up on this list next year. DE Aaron Schobel didn't notch as many sacks as usual, but he did improve greatly against the run. The tandem of Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay combined for only 3.5 sacks a year ago, and need to improve if they want to stay around. The Bills are counting on third-year-pro John McCargo to step up and man the second DT slot this year. McCargo is a former first rounder who has great size and strength.
12. Indianapolis Colts --- This unit's strength is Dwight Freeney, and he has been in a funk the last two seasons. Freeney is a freak rusher off the edge, and possesses the best spin move in the game. He has also struggled with injuries in recent years, and needs to improve in that area. On the other side is Robert Mathis. His pass rushing has fell off a bit, but he is still a force in the running game. DTs Raheem Brock and Ed Johnson are underrated, and Johnson could be a great.
13. St Louis Rams --- Some may not agree, but this line could be lethal. It all starts with DE Leonard Little. Little's skills have dropped off a bit as he has aged, but he is still a great player. On the other side will be second overall pick Chris Long. He is big, strong and fast, and the Rams have to hope he turns out to be as good as his father Howie. The DTs are second year player Adam Carriker, who is expected to improve greatly this year, and veteran La'Roi Glover.
14. Dallas Cowboys --- The Cowboys D-line hasn't been as good as expected, but it has successfully made the change to a full-time 3-4 defence. DE Marcus Spears might be in his last year with Dallas, but he has all the skills to be a great. Felt he didn't fit with former Coach Bill Parcells scheme, and looks to improve in year two with Wade Phillips. On the other side, Chris Canty has turned into a solid starter. The Cowboys boast a great tandem at the NT position, with Tank Johnson and up-and-comer Jay Ratliff splitting the duties.
15. Seattle Seahawks --- Patrick Kerney is a beast. He had 14.5 sacks a year ago, and says he want to improve even more. He combines good speed and strength to form a great pass rusher. Darryl Tapp is a decent starter, but will be pushed for time by rookie Lawrence Jackson. At DT, they have a solid top three with Brandon Mebane, Rocky Bernard, and underacheiver Marcus Tubbs. They also drafted Red Bryant to steal some time from those three.
16. Oakland Raiders
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
18. Carolina Panthers
19. Cleveland Browns
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
21. Philadelphia Eagles
22. Baltimore Ravens
23. Houston Texans
24. Arizona Cardinals
25. Denver Broncos
26. New York Jets
27. Cincinnati Bengals
28. Detroit Lions
29. Atlanta Falcons
30. Miami Dolphins
31. San Francisco 49ers
32. Kansas City Chiefs --- Because any team that lets Jared Allen go should be last.