PFW Blog: Ranking the NFC East's defensive linemen

WoodysGirl

U.N.I.T.Y
Staff member
Messages
79,278
Reaction score
45,633
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
Posted by Eric Edholm on May 29, 2009 1:24 PM


As I cover the NFC East for PFW, I marveled the other day at how much defensive line depth there is in the division. Wow. It really is stunning. There are at least six and maybe as many as eight Pro Bowl talents at the position among the four teams. No other division can boast that quality and depth.

But ranking the players individually within the division? Tough chore. I decided to choose it anyway, so here goes.

Special thanks to Mike Wilkening, who compiled PFW’s position rankings for our preview magazine (now available) and did a bang-up job of a tough chore. I stayed with him on most of his picks, veering on a few others, but the list stands up to anything I have seen like it.

Onward …

1. Commanders DT Albert Haynesworth

Until further notice, he’s the most destructive force in the division — and he has yet to play a snap for the Commanders. Will he live up to the money he receives? Hmm, doubtful, but he should be a top-tier player for another two or three seasons. Not bad for a contract that amounts to about four years and $48 million. Guess that’s the going rate for destructo defensive tackles these days.

2. Giants DE Justin Tuck
3. Giants DE Osi Umenyiora

Tough call here, as I would have flip-flopped them before Umenyiora’s knee injury. Now, after that, I have to have Tuck first. He had a marvelous season and battled through some really painful and restrictive injuries the second half of the season. His play fell off as they mounted and as opponents slanted protection his way.

I expect Umenyiora to be a difference-maker once more, with perhaps a slight downtick in his sacks with fewer reps per game. That’s as much because of the Giants’ DL depth as it is him coming back from injury.

4. Eagles DE Trent Cole
5. Cowboys NT Jay Ratliff

Another tough call. First of all, it’s nearly impossible to compare the two players because they are so different, other than the fact that they came from relative obscurity (Cole was a fifth-rounder; Ratliff a seventh) to reach Pro Bowl level.

Cole has been perennially underrated, in my opinion. And though he struggles with some top offensive tackles, his motor constantly is running and he has learned to power through his lack of bulk to be a better fourth-quarter player. Playing in a nice rotation in Philly helps, but I think Cole is a blue-chip end whose game has become more well-rounded.

Few people outside Dallas realized just how big Ratliff was last season. He and DeMarcus Ware — who, for all intents and purposes, should be listed here too, but is a de facto linebacker — were the only consistent playmakers on a Dallas defense that alternatively was dominant and curiously bad. (Truthfully, the defense was only bad, per se, four times: the first Commanders game, the Rams game with little help from the offense, the first Giants game and the freakish Ravens debacle.) Ratliff appears a perfect fit in Wade Phillips’ slanting version of the 3-4 and I think can get even better. I only rated him a smidge below Cole because Cole has done it longer.

6. Eagles DT Mike Patterson
7. Eagles DT Brodrick Bunkley

Again, different styles, hard to differentiate. For me, I am putting another slight edge on hustle and consistency. Patterson is a bit squatty and doesn’t have Bunkley’s explosion, but he’s a high-energy mauler who relies as much on guile as he does raw ability. He’s a fun player to watch and (I assume) a coach’s dream.

One of these years Bunkley is going to punish the league’s offensive linemen. I think it might be this season. Watching his final year at Florida State, I thought he was the best penetrating nose or 3-technique I had seen in a long time, and he could play either position. I was stunned he dropped to the middle of the first round. It hasn’t quite panned out to my lofty expectations, but Bunkley shows enough flashes to make one think he’ll be a very good player in short order.

8. Giants DT Chris Canty
9. Giants DE Mathias Kiwanuka

Canty is a converted five-technique who will kick down inside to battle against shorter, stouter guards. You don’t see many 6-foot-7 defensive tackles ever, and I wonder a little bit how Canty, who was never a big playmaker but rather a solid, scheme-fitting point-holder in Dallas, will pan out exactly. I think he’ll be good in Bill Sheridan’s defense, but with other players cleaning up the tackles, you might not hear Canty’s name called a lot this season.

Kiwanuka is a tricky one. I have followed his career since the B.C. days, and I like him a lot. But he wore down even more than Tuck down the stretch and will be relegated (if that’s the word) to third-DE status in New York, and perhaps a few moonlight performances as a stand-up strong-side performer. He’s a pass rusher, and they’re rare, so he gets the nod here. This just might not be his best season.

10. Cowboys DE Marcus Spears

To me, Spears could make a Canty-like jump in the final year of his deal. You can’t teach that frame, and though he has been less than thrilling to date, he also hasn’t had to with Greg Ellis playing over his left shoulder. I feel like Spears' career has taken a bit of a two-steps-forward-one-back progression, with each notch of improvement followed by spells of disappearance. Some 3-4 team, be it Dallas or Miami (Bill Parcells saw star potential when he drafted him), will go after him hard next season in free agency. But so far, I haven’t seen a lot to put him higher than this, and you could argue he might not deserve a top-10 ranking in the division.

Just missed the cut

Cowboys DE Igor Olshansky — Something tells me he will have a very nice season and will keep Ware happy.

Commanders DE-OLB Brian Orakpo — Talent is undeniable, but are the Commanders maybe throwing too much at him right away?

Commanders DE Andre Carter — Hard worker with good edge speed who gets worn down too easily.

Eagles DE Victor Abiamiri — An up-and-comer who could be the breakout player on the list. The Eagles like him a lot.

Giants NT Rocky Bernard — A two-down player on the deepest D-line in football.

Giants DT Fred Robbins — Hard not to see the writing on the wall here with all the additions. Terrific start to last season, but he fell hard and is well-worn.

Commanders DT Cornelius Griffin — If there’s anyone who will benefit from Haynesworth, it’s him. Maybe he has one season left, but the younguns (Kedric Golston, Anthony Montgomery) are pushing hard and fast.

Did I leave anyone out? Let’s hear your feedback.
 

Idgit

Fattening up
Staff member
Messages
58,971
Reaction score
60,826
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
Not going to quibble with the rankings, but there really is a ton of DL talent in the NFCE. Sheesh.
 

RS12

Well-Known Member
Messages
32,523
Reaction score
29,864
I'll be interested to see how Haynesworth plays now that he is not playing for a contract. Too me he was a chronic underachiever until his contract year.
 

gimmesix

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
Messages
39,996
Reaction score
37,141
WoodysGirl;2793359 said:
Posted by Eric Edholm on May 29, 2009 1:24 PM


As I cover the NFC East for PFW, I marveled the other day at how much defensive line depth there is in the division. Wow. It really is stunning. There are at least six and maybe as many as eight Pro Bowl talents at the position among the four teams. No other division can boast that quality and depth.

4. Eagles DE Trent Cole
5. Cowboys NT Jay Ratliff

Another tough call. First of all, it’s nearly impossible to compare the two players because they are so different, other than the fact that they came from relative obscurity (Cole was a fifth-rounder; Ratliff a seventh) to reach Pro Bowl level.

Cole has been perennially underrated, in my opinion. And though he struggles with some top offensive tackles, his motor constantly is running and he has learned to power through his lack of bulk to be a better fourth-quarter player. Playing in a nice rotation in Philly helps, but I think Cole is a blue-chip end whose game has become more well-rounded.

Few people outside Dallas realized just how big Ratliff was last season. He and DeMarcus Ware — who, for all intents and purposes, should be listed here too, but is a de facto linebacker — were the only consistent playmakers on a Dallas defense that alternatively was dominant and curiously bad. (Truthfully, the defense was only bad, per se, four times: the first Commanders game, the Rams game with little help from the offense, the first Giants game and the freakish Ravens debacle.) Ratliff appears a perfect fit in Wade Phillips’ slanting version of the 3-4 and I think can get even better. I only rated him a smidge below Cole because Cole has done it longer.

I can't believe there is a national writer out there who actually understands this. Most just seem to go off rankings or scores to call a team "curiously bad." Edholm seems to actually get the fact that Dallas was pretty good and even dominant at times with just a few really bad games on defense.
 

Bob Sacamano

Benched
Messages
57,084
Reaction score
3
WoodysGirl;2793359 said:
8. Giants DT Chris Canty
Canty, who was never a big playmaker but rather a solid, scheme-fitting point-holder in Dallas, will pan out exactly.

wait, I was told differently
 

Bluefin

Well-Known Member
Messages
8,209
Reaction score
9,677
8. Giants DT Chris Canty

Canty is a converted five-technique who will kick down inside to battle against shorter, stouter guards. You don’t see many 6-foot-7 defensive tackles ever, and I wonder a little bit how Canty, who was never a big playmaker but rather a solid, scheme-fitting point-holder in Dallas, will pan out exactly. I think he’ll be good in Bill Sheridan’s defense, but with other players cleaning up the tackles, you might not hear Canty’s name called a lot this season.

Chris Canty is getting paid to play like a pure stud all the time after only occasionally flashing that ability with the Dallas Cowboys.

I know Canty has the ability to be what the New York Giants want, but will he deliver or continue to tease?

And how long will the Giants keep Canty if he doesn't deliver what they expect?
 

BBWC

New Member
Messages
86
Reaction score
0
Chocolate Lab;2793859 said:
Get him, BBWC!

These rankings are very accurate, Osi and Tuck are where they belong, Canty has the potential but needs to translate it in our scheme before you can rank him any higher, Kiwi is the fourth best DE in the division and he's not even a starter for us, the only thing I would disagree with is his rating of Bernard, who I think is a good player but Robbins deserves the nod over him. Before he suffered 2 broken hands and knee problems he was having as dominant a season as any DT in the division.

And then there is Barry Cofield to contend with, as I've said before, best defensive line in football.
 

pgreptom

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,798
Reaction score
551
Idgit;2793374 said:
Not going to quibble with the rankings, but there really is a ton of DL talent in the NFCE. Sheesh.

There's a ton of LB talent, as well. Used to be a ton of secondary talent.. until Williams went to crap, Taylor(RIP), and Dawkins left.
 

Hoofbite

Well-Known Member
Messages
40,865
Reaction score
11,565
JerryAdvocate;2793498 said:
wait, I was told differently

http://i5.***BLOCKED***/albums/y188/thehoofbite/quote-mining-fundie-quote-mining-fa.jpg

Canty is a converted five-technique who will kick down inside to battle against shorter, stouter guards. You don’t see many 6-foot-7 defensive tackles ever, and I wonder a little bit how Canty, who was never a big playmaker but rather a solid, scheme-fitting point-holder in Dallas, will pan out exactly. I think he’ll be good in Bill Sheridan’s defense, but with other players cleaning up the tackles, you might not hear Canty’s name called a lot this season.
 

Temo

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,946
Reaction score
362
This is a pretty good article. I'll have to add this guy to my list of writers to read regularly.
 

theogt

Surrealist
Messages
45,846
Reaction score
5,912
Temo;2793978 said:
This is a pretty good article. I'll have to add this guy to my list of writers to read regularly.
Agreed. I disagree with the rankings, but it's obvious the guy actually watches the games and reports what he sees.
 
Top