Best Defense - Page 2

keylime_5 · 07-14-2008, 10:46 AM

This isn't last season, Cincinnati has the worst defense on paper going into '08 in this division. I like CIncy's young DBs, but their front seven isn't too hot. Odom is solid and Rivers will be pretty good but he's still a rookie. Cleveland's defense was missing a D-Line last year, this year they have it with Robaire Smith, Corey Williams, Shaun Rogers, and Shaun Smith in rotation. Wimbley and Peek will provide the pass rush, D'Qwell Jackson and Wimbley will have huge years with some big bodies up front. Beau Bell, Andra Davis, Leon Willliams, and Willie McGinest is a good group of role players in our front seven too, I think Bell could be a steal since some in the organization expect him to start as a rookie this year.

Our DBs won't be an issue if no one gets hurt and/or if the pass rush is as good as it should be with Williams and Rogers to keep guards from double teaming Wimbley, and Antwan Peek will be healthy and look like he did last preseason and this spring.

Hines · 07-14-2008, 10:51 AM

The Browns have the pieces on paper, but I want to seee Rogers actually try for a whole season. I really like Williams, but I wonder how he will adapt in a 34. Your starting corners are really good, and I like them a lot. But if teams start to spread them out, I have wonders. I like your linebacking corps, but I dont think Peek is scary, so teams will dictate their plan on stopping Wimbley again. It all looks good, and the pieces are there, but I have doubts for the unit as a whole.

keylime_5 · 07-15-2008, 03:20 PM

I hope Rogers can play well this year, and so should he I hear b/c they say that if he doesn't play up to his contract he won't get his $5Million roster bonus next spring and he'll be looking for work. Shaun Smith is adequate insurance at NT too. I'm not too worried about our D-Line with the Smiths and the two new guys we traded for, I'm too busy being a little worried about our pass defense and whether or not we can have an effective pass rush and coverage unit.

Smooth Criminal · 07-19-2008, 09:23 AM

The pass defense for the Browns does look fairly weak. Wimbley can get to the QB we know that but if Peek can't also create pressure it'll be fairly easy to block Wimbley.

And the dbs don't look like a strong unit at all. Wright looked good at corner but other than that it is a very weak unit.

DeathbyStat · 07-22-2008, 05:20 PM

Pittsburgh is the best but we are one or two injuries from falling off like we did at the end of the year last year

BengalMedic · 07-23-2008, 01:12 PM

Agree and that could be said about any defense in this Division. Let one or two starters go down and it will dramatically change said defense. What happens in Baltimore without Ed Reed ?? In Cleveland without Wimbley ?? In Pittsburgh without Hampton ?? In Cincinnati without, um, without, er... Well, we are still looking for that guy, but you get my point... Hell look at our LB corps that was wiped out last year.

INJURIES SUCK BALLS !!!

Smooth Criminal · 07-24-2008, 08:22 PM

Pittsburgh is fine without Hampton. Back to 2004 when we went 15-1 with Hoke at NT.

The only guys we cant afford to lose are Ryan Clark and Aaron Smith. As weird of a pairing as that is we simply don't have anyone on the roster that can play DE or FS anywhere near as well as these 2 do.

Not saying theyre the best players on our defense, just the hardest to overcome losing.

BengalMedic · 07-25-2008, 07:41 AM

Gotcha Smooth and I'm sure other team fans would be able to put it in the terms I was getting at. That's exactly what I was trying to say. It applies to any team...

ChezPower4 · 08-01-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinslowEdwards19

Cincy above Cleveland? You're a moron

Cleveland's D is going to be ok this year and It's safe to say that they will be better than the Bengal's , who year in and year out have a terrible defense. The Bengal's have not added enough talent to vastly improve this offseason and I suspect that they'll be just as good as they were last year

America · 08-02-2008, 01:33 PM

Baltimore suffered an amazing amount of injuries last year and still managed to be a tough defense, not to mention they were always on the field because the offense was atrocious. Go back to 2006 when they were healthy and there wasn't any debate that they were the best in the league. Not saying they still are now, but I think the PIT vs BAL debate is closer than people make it seem. Fabian Washington is a competent nickel back, something that hasn't been in Baltimore for a while. Dawan had a disappointing sophomore season and all indications throughout camp point to him becoming a leader in the secondary and returning to his freshman ballhawk ways. And we have better depth in the secondary overall, which killed us last year. Pryce was hurt mostly every game last year, and he's a big part of the D (team leading 13 sacks in 06). Ngata is ready to emerge, and even if he doesn't become one of the best, he's still a player to watch out for. Antwan Barnes (2 sacks in limited PT 07) is going to be used a lot more in his second season. Everything points to the Raven's D returning back to dominant form next year.

ChezPower4 · 08-02-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by America

Baltimore suffered an amazing amount of injuries last year and still managed to be a tough defense, not to mention they were always on the field because the offense was atrocious. Go back to 2006 when they were healthy and there wasn't any debate that they were the best in the league. Not saying they still are now, but I think the PIT vs BAL debate is closer than people make it seem. Fabian Washington is a competent nickel back, something that hasn't been in Baltimore for a while. Dawan had a disappointing sophomore season and all indications throughout camp point to him becoming a leader in the secondary and returning to his freshman ballhawk ways. And we have better depth in the secondary overall, which killed us last year. Pryce was hurt mostly every game last year, and he's a big part of the D (team leading 13 sacks in 06). Ngata is ready to emerge, and even if he doesn't become one of the best, he's still a player to watch out for. Antwan Barnes (2 sacks in limited PT 07) is going to be used a lot more in his second season. Everything points to the Raven's D returning back to dominant form next year.

That's a good point but some of your key players are getting older (Role, mcalister, Lewis and Gregg). Your defense will be good as it always is but i don't think it will be better than the Steelers.

Also I don't know if Antwan Barnes 2 sacks is worth getting excited about maybe 5 or 6 but 2.... come on

Aftermath · 08-02-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChezPower4

Cleveland's D is going to be ok this year and It's safe to say that they will be better than the Bengal's , who year in and year out have a terrible defense. The Bengal's have not added enough talent to vastly improve this offseason and I suspect that they'll be just as good as they were last year

We added a defensive coordinator that actually knows what he's doing.

PalmerToCJ · 08-03-2008, 12:30 AM

Generally, I've always thought our problem on defense was with scheme and injuries. We seem to always get killed on defense in terms of injuries and Bresh always played really conservative defense. The very few times he turned up the heat (see Baltimore week 1 last season), our defense plays well.

Obviously the Ravens/Steelers will be better as usual. Cleveland (statistically) was worse than our defense last year. We'll see what Zimmer does for the defense. Things sound great, I like his style but doesn't mean it remains to be seen what it'll do on the field.

I - like Browns fans - am more optimistic this season than years past that our defense won't suck. I'm not much into BSing "what-ifs" so if Browns fans are confident their D will be better, works for me.

America · 08-03-2008, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChezPower4

That's a good point but some of your key players are getting older (Role, mcalister, Lewis and Gregg). Your defense will be good as it always is but i don't think it will be better than the Steelers.

Also I don't know if Antwan Barnes 2 sacks is worth getting excited about maybe 5 or 6 but 2.... come on

It's not his 2 sacks that's exciting. He's a ridiculous athlete (4.4 speed) and he didn't get to play much last year but this year he's going to have a lot of opportunities to play.

Mr. Stiller · 08-04-2008, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by America

It's not his 2 sacks that's exciting. He's a ridiculous athlete (4.4 speed) and he didn't get to play much last year but this year he's going to have a lot of opportunities to play.

Woodley had 6 while playing a dismal amount of downs. Not to mention the fact that he was injured 3 games.

Watch out for Timmons, Woodley and Harrison this year.. they're going to be extremely Dangerous.

No OL, TE, Back has been able to block any of the 3 of them.

Smooth Criminal · 08-04-2008, 08:09 AM

That is our OL though. Shouldn't be hard for teams with a real O-Line.

Mr. Stiller · 08-04-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

That is our OL though. Shouldn't be hard for teams with a real O-Line.

You'd be surprised our offensive line is actually looking really good considering the fact that we have the #1 defense in the league.

Just wait until the season starts. They won't be the best, but they won't be the worst either.

Kevin Greene is working with the Linebackers and they are getting just nasty.

BengalMedic · 08-04-2008, 09:30 AM

Once again, I think it is easy to look at what you have on paper and put a ton of stock in what happens in camp and turn around and say, "this is looking pretty good". It's still a crap shoot though...

That being said, I would expect any fan of any team would look at their own team and think they made improvements and should be better this upcoming season. For as sh*tty as the Bengals have been, minus one year, I constantly look for improvement heading into a season and can find good reason to have that opinion. However, once they get on the pads and take the field, things can take on a whole new perspective.

Bottomline is all teams in the AFC North have reason to be optimistic, but it will all shake out when the games start...

steelersfan43 · 08-07-2008, 02:56 AM

This is a joke, Its clearly the steelers...

#1 D last year, Didnt lose anyone important, gaining two studs in woodley and timmons..

Ravens are old and slowing down,
Browns and bengals just suck.

Hines · 08-07-2008, 11:08 AM

Browns dont suck. They have the pieces, but they are unproven yet. I like their starting corner tandem, but they have no depth. Their safties are good, and their linebackers are good. The dline has a shot to be really good, but we have to see how well Rogers is motivated, and how good Williams adapts to the 34 defense.

steelersfan43 · 08-07-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yung Flippa

Who's got the best defense in the division?

Not trying to be a homer, but IMO Baltimore has the best.

1) Baltimore
2) Pittsburgh
3) Cleveland
4) Cincinnati

Are you being serious? Its obviously the steelers, we raped everyone last year and our d has gotten better this year and we havent lost anyone. The ravens Are old and are even older this year, their d is a joke.

ChezPower4 · 08-09-2008, 12:18 PM

Just saw the steelers against the Eagles and the steelers defense looks like it's going to be better than it was last year. It is just a preseason game though.

Bengalsrocket · 08-09-2008, 01:25 PM

I think the Steelers have the best D by far, but if people seriously think the Ravens D is getting to old to play then you put to much stock into age. Some of their greatest players have more than 2 years left to be great. I'm not saying they're full of youth, but being old does not mean you're automatically terrible.

BengalMedic · 08-11-2008, 01:14 PM

I just love how everyone makes a sweeping statement like, "They suck" as if said team has no chance of improvement. If the players honestly felt that way each Sunday, they would get their butt handed to them overlooking someone.

Yes, the Steelers have to be considered the best D, but it's just not that simple. An injury or two changes everything and teams will find a way to get better at some point.

terribletowel39 · 11-07-2008, 05:29 PM

Just curious to see what everyone thought now?? Mainly curious to see who people think is better between the Ravens and Steelers and who is worst between the Bengals and Browns??