Defense wins championships, and fully entertains me along the way!!
2. Ravens. Hell, I am scared of Gnata, I will admit it. This is a passionate defense led by Ray Ray. And Ed Reed is beast in the secondary picking balls straight outta the air and don’t let a loose ball anywhere near him. Other than the  loss of to the Jets, I think the Ravens will remain one of the top defenses in the League. Can’t. Wait. To. Kick. Some. Purple. Bird. Ass. Yeah, I said it, but it’s my blog, I can
1. Steelers. With virtunally nothing on the defense changing – they still will be number one. Losing Foote to the Lions is the only starter role that’s lost, yet Timmons was already subbing in last year on specific downs so should not affect the play. There’s depth on corner and with a healthy Troy the secondary will be outstanding – and likely once again underrated. With Woodley and Deebo coming off the edges, I foresee another sack fest for opposing QBs. I love my team, and I love watching the defense do what it does. All hail the great Dick LeBeau.
I can’t tell you how many times I rearranged this order…the last 5 were pretty difficult to predict. But I am sticking with this order. Agreeing with @DYMilkshake, it’s hard to rate the Vikings with both Williams out for four games each but with them, they are a good, solid D.
I didnt include the Pats though Johnny_S over at Behind The Steel Curtain did – my reasoning is that while they have a strong front with 3 veterans, they have weaknesses both in the linebacker corps and their secondary. The Pats strength has been offensive scoring, despite Belichick’s strength in defense. I just don’t see them in the top 10 going into 2009.
The one team I went back and forth about including and probably should knock the Vikings out to include are the Cowboys. Demarcus Ware is a beast and will always be a beast. I’m wavering now as I type this, but I am going to leave as is and we can talk about it later in the season. Â I might kick myself.
Steelroots86 also over at Behind The Steel Curtain also had San Diego Chargers on his list. Â I don’t think Cromartie can reach his 2007 level and I think there are gaps which is why I didn’t include them. Â However, before training camp and pre-season, it’s hard to predict how these teams will untimately gel.
One thing is for certain, I’ll continue to love and hate the Steelers-Ravens match ups, sit on the floor rocking and biting my nails during the ALWAYS nasty defensive games of the year. This year, there might be a few surprises and I look forward to the debate moving forward.
Open for comments as always.
Page 2 of 2 | Previous page
The NFL Chick:
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:04 am
I can’t argue with this list really. I think I would have shifted some slots around (Vikings higher, Skins lower, maybe take off Colts), but overall I agree that these teams to be the top 10.
Fang's Bites:
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:09 am
I’m not going to argue on the upcoming season as it hasn’t happened yet, but I will argue with the NFL Network. Steel Curtain’s D was tremendous, but that 1985 Bears D should have been #1. Until offensive coordinators found a way to pick it apart, the 46 Defense totally intimidated QB’s, WR’s running down the middle and made mincemeat out of O-Lines. Steel Curtain did not have to deal with the wide open offenses that the Bears did.
And the Steelers-Ravens matchups are like the old NFC Central Black ‘n Blue Division matchups. Someone is always bound to get hurt.
Planning our future » Blog Archive » Quick Roundup:
June 22nd, 2009 at 5:48 am
[...] http://steelergurl.com/2009/06/22/defense-wins-championships-and-fully-entertains-me-along-the-way/The 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 7. Ravens circa 2000. 6. New York Giants during the 1950’s. 5. Atlanta Falcons “grits blitzâ€. 4. 1969 Kansas City Chiefs. 3. Lombardi’s SEO Company India Packers. 2. 1985 Chicago Bears. 1. Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain … [...]
drinkyourmilkshake:
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Looks pretty good to me; a lot of folk sleep on how good the Redskins defense was last season with virtually NO pass rush. And that statement comes from a Skins’ Hater.
Pigskinlovinglady:
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
No arguments here. I hope my Bills are reading and step up to the plate this year!!
drinkyourmilkshake:
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:25 pm
The Bills were somebody I considered putting up there, I think they are an under the radar team that nobody is talking about…I always have a soft spot for them since I grew up in Bills country…
steelergurl:
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 am
I actually was really considering adding the Bills and I didn’t give them honorable mention because I was lazy and tired. But seriously, I think our boy Aaron Maybin will be a beast for them. The thing that’s cool right now about the Bills is to watch them rebuild. I think TO will be good there this year (I know that’s not D, but just sayin”) I think they are rebuilding and no one should sleep on them. I like what they did in the off season and with their draft. Jos will cover Maybin more in depth on her blog later.
(www.pigskinlovinglady.com)
Bruce Allen:
June 26th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Patriots defense might surprise you this year. The secondary is completely overhauled. Linebackers, well, that’s probably the area of uncertainty, at least the one outside spot that Mike Vrabel had held for so many years. Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable – one of those two will likely be the starter or Woods will play the rushing downs and Crable the passing downs. But I see this defense getting better as the season wears on, which is a Belichick trademark.
As a Patriots fan, (www.patriotsdaily.com) I can’t take the Jets seriously. Ever. The rest of your list is solid.
I agree though, that the Steelers are the best. They’re the champs, and will be tough to beat.