Best and Worst Defenses in 2007

[Jackass]

I started a similar thread for Offense so thought I'd follow up with Defense. It's interesting to look back at the end of the year and see how expectations played out. So who are the best and worst Defenses this year (as measured by points scored against). Feel free to point out teams flying a little under the radar as well.

 

I'll start it off with a top and bottom 5 (not in order):

 

Best

Chicago

Balty

Jags

Pats

San Diego

 

Worst

Detroit

Saints

Rams

Cincy

Zona

[Randall]

Packers are flying way under the radar and the Vikings may be as well. The last 4 games last year Green Bay gave up an average of 10.5 points per game and they want to take over games this season.

 

I put both in the 8-10 spots.

[Bushey]

AZ has the worst pass defense. They give up a ton of long passes which is why nobody in AZ is cheering when we get the lead with 30 or more seconds to go. We always lose those games due to long passes. Just see the chargers win a few days ago.

[Jackass]

Nothing on this topic? The one on offense attracted a lot of attention. Maybe i need to mention the Cowboys

[piratesownninjas]

AZ has the worst pass defense. They give up a ton of long passes which is why nobody in AZ is cheering when we get the lead with 30 or more seconds to go. We always lose those games due to long passes. Just see the chargers win a few days ago.

We?

[piratesownninjas]

I think the Dolphins need to be up there...

The packers front seven is no joke anymore. Al Harris and Woodson are a great tandem.

The Vikings D also gives up nothing against the run... I like both of these teams a lot.

[H8tank]

Miami? Minn?

 

[Outshined]

If the Vikings can improve the pash rush from the front four, they could be top ten. I really don't know what to say about Udeze other than he can't get the job done in passing situations - nothing but a good run stuffer. That Robison guy from texas has a good motor, but needs work with his moves...

[Savage Beatings]

If the Vikings can improve the pash rush from the front four, they could be top ten. I really don't know what to say about Udeze other than he can't get the job done in passing situations - nothing but a good run stuffer. That Robison guy from texas has a good motor, but needs work with his moves...

 

Ray Edwards has been looking like he can rush the QB this pre-season as well.

[Fantasy Jesus]

Miami?

 

 

The sacks will be there with Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Joey Porter, Channing Crowder and Matt Roth.

 

The secondary is another story.

[Savage Beatings]

I think it would be safe to add Cleveland to the Worst list.

[DemonKnight]

I think the Skins have a chance to be a top 10 defense this year. The secondary is healthy and packed with first round talent. Rocky McIntosh and London Fletcher have looked great at LB. There arent many names on the defensive line but they werent the problem last year. They are ranked 2nd in preseason total yards against and 4th in passing yards against. The Huddle has them ranked 32nd, no f'n way are they the worst defense in the league. A little dallas homerism showing through there DMD?

[keggerz]

Nothing on this topic? The one on offense attracted a lot of attention. Maybe i need to mention the Cowboys

the cowboys should be a very good D this yr...BUT i posted an article the other day about Terence Newman being

diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis ....if Dallas were to lose Newman their D would take a hit.

 

This is from the thread i started about it:

 

IRVING – Terence Newman's preseason is over, but Cowboys coach Wade Phillips expects the starting cornerback to be fine for the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the New York Giants.

 

Newman has been bothered for the last two weeks by plantar fasciitis in his right foot and did not play last week vs. Denver. Veteran Aaron Glenn will replace Newman in the starting lineup Saturday at Houston.

 

"It's a little worse than we thought it was," Phillips said.

 

Newman was originally diagnosed with a bruised right heel, but after attempting to practice Tuesday, he was re-examined and it was determined he has plantar fasciitis.

 

"It is something he needs to stay off of," Phillips said, "so that's what we're going to do."

 

Newman is one of three regulars expected to miss the last two preseason games, joining receiver Terry Glenn (knee) and linebacker Greg Ellis (Achilles). The injury could also keep Newman from returning punts against the Giants and affect how many cornerbacks the Cowboys will keep on their 53-man roster.

 

Phillips said backups such as Jacques Reeves, Joey Thomas, Nate Jones and Alan Ball will see more time against the Texans and in the preseason finale against Minnesota.

 

"It just gives the other guys a chance to play and see who should be on the team, really, and who we could count on playing if we have somebody out, whether it's [Newman] or another corner," Phillips said. "We have some competition. I think it's real close between a lot of guys at cornerback. We can play those other guys against good competition."

 

Playing time: The bulk of the starters should play into the third quarter Saturday, but Phillips might hold back receiver Terrell Owens. However, Phillips wants tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo, who only played two series vs. Denver, to play more.

 

"There is a certain amount of work for certain veterans that can play," Phillips said. "They know what to do. They've shown they know what to do, [so] you have to be careful to a certain extent. You can't overplay them. Each guy is an individual. You talk about Flo or Colombo, now they haven't played very much."

 

Kickoff coverage: In the preseason opener vs. Indianapolis, the Cowboys gave up an average of 29 yards per kickoff return. Against Denver, they allowed 22 yards per return.

 

The Cowboys are continuing to look at combinations on the different units before the final cuts, but special teams ace Keith Davis wants whoever is covering kicks to take it seriously.

 

"We've lost some guys, like [Ryan] Fowler from last year, but we've got a lot of guys back," Davis said. "Abe Elam, Miles Austin, Sam Hurd, we've got guys who can cover. We want to keep them under 20 yards on every kick."

 

Briefly: Fullback Oliver Hoyte (stinger) was to undergo a test after Thursday's practice to determine his availability for the Texans game, although Phillips does not believe Hoyte will play Saturday. Tight end Anthony Fasano, who re-injured his right shoulder vs. the Broncos, might also sit out, but he has practiced all week. ... Newly signed running back Arliss Beach is unlikely to play, but with Jackie Battle out with an ankle injury, Beach could see plenty of work Aug. 30 vs. Minnesota.

 

Plantar Fasciitis

...

Treatments

 

Rest is the first treatment for plantar fasciitis. Try to keep weight off your foot until the inflammation goes away. You can also apply ice to the sore area for 20 minutes three or four times a day to relieve your symptoms. Often a doctor will prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. A program of home exercises to stretch your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia are the mainstay of treating the condition and lessening the chance of recurrence.

 

 

In one exercise, you lean forward against a wall with one knee straight and heel on the ground. Your other knee is bent. Your heel cord and foot arch stretch as you lean. Hold for 10 seconds, relax and straighten up. Repeat 20 times for each sore heel.

 

In the second exercise, you lean forward onto a countertop, spreading your feet apart with one foot in front of the other. Flex your knees and squat down, keeping your heels on the ground as long as possible. Your heel cords and foot arches will stretch as the heels come up in the stretch. Hold for 10 seconds, relax and straighten up. Repeat 20 times.

 

 

 

About 90 percent of people with plantar fasciitis improve significantly after two months of initial treatment. You may be advised to use shoes with shock-absorbing soles or fitted with a standard orthotic device like a rubber heel pad. Your foot may be taped into a specific position.

If your plantar fasciitis continues after a few months of conservative treatment, your doctor may inject your heel with steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (corticosteroid). If you still have symptoms, you may need to wear a walking cast for 2-3 weeks or positional splint when you sleep. In a few cases, you might need surgery to release your ligament...

 

 

 

this is the latest I found on Newman: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=A...95006902979F2C5

 

IRVING, Texas - The goals of the preseason have basically been accomplished so far.

 

Figure out who can play and who can't? For the most part, check.

 

Other than the last few spots, find out who will actually make this team? Check.

 

Execute, both on offense and defense, to the point of having confidence entering the regular season? Check.

 

Survive the preseason without major injury? Check?

 

More like, check back on Sept. 9.

 

At this point, injuries are starting to take their toll. The Cowboys haven't had a bad one yet. And that sound you just heard was probably a collective knock on wood coming out of Valley Ranch.

 

But while the Cowboys haven't had any major injuries, there are a few question marks on the injury front surrounding this team with the season opener less than two weeks away.

 

Head coach Wade Phillips seems confident that cornerback Terence Newman and linebackers Greg Ellis and Kevin Burnett can be ready to return for the Giants game on Sept. 9. As for kicker Martin Gramatica, who strained his hamstring in Houston game, it doesn't appear he will be ready for another two weeks, if he even remains on the roster.

 

The Cowboys have been without wide receiver Terry Glenn and rookie offensive tackle Doug Free for most of training camp and the preseason, but Phillips said he expects both to return to practice Saturday.

 

But the injury concerns start with Newman, who has missed the last two preseason games, and won't play Thursday at Minnesota, because of a partial tear in the plantar fascia of his right foot. However, the bigger issue is his status for the Giants game. And according to Newman, he isn't so sure he'll make it back in time.

 

"My foot is about the same, it's not getting better yet," Newman said. "It's something that's probably going to be bothering me all year. But at the same time, there are things we can do that can limit the pain. Right now, the problem I have is there's no way I can plant on my foot."

 

That's an important thing for any player to deal with, especially a cornerback.

 

One player who knows what Newman is feeling is wide receiver Patrick Crayton, who had a similar injury in his rookie season.

 

"It's rough, regardless what position," Crayton said. "It's like every step, every plant I made, it was like a knife on the bottom of my foot. So it hurts."

 

Crayton said rest is "pretty much" the best remedy for the injury, and he was fortunate his occurred during a spring mini-camp.

 

But the Cowboys are running out of time to give Newman too much rest. He won't play Thursday in Minnesota, and will then have a full 10 days to get ready for the opener.

 

If the pain persists for Newman, some of the short-term options would be to give the cornerback a cortisone shot to relieve the pain. He also said that numbing the foot on game-day could also be an option.

 

The question the Cowboys and Newman might have to answer is how important it will be for him to practice, especially early in the season. They must decide whether to have Newman push through the practice days of Wednesday and Thursday, or try to rest the foot for the weekend.

 

"Certainly it's a concern when your corner who you put man-to-man and trust him to cover his guy and help with other people (isn't) in there," Phillips said. "There is not a whole lot I can do about it except work other people and get other people ready. But it's tough to lose a good player and that's what (Newman) is."

 

What's worse, cornerback already is a position that concerns the Cowboys, even if Newman were 100 percent. The Cowboys don't have much depth behind starters Newman and Anthony Henry, and Phillips again told the media on Monday he's hoping someone steps up from the pack.

 

That someone will likely be veteran Aaron Glenn, but that's not even a given anymore. The Cowboys played Glenn, Joey Thomas and Jacques Reeves at left cornerback last week in Houston, all working with the first-team defense.

 

While the depth at cornerback is depleted, it's not much better at outside linebacker.

 

Ellis (sore heel) hasn't practiced since the first day of training camp on July 25, still trying to return from the torn Achilles injury he suffered last November.

 

The Cowboys still consider Ellis day-to-day but sent him to Birmingham, Ala., to see Dr. James Andrews, a renowned orthopedic specialist, for a second opinion.

 

"We should know more and see exactly where he is after seeing this doctor," Phillips said of Ellis' status. "We think it's still a situation where it's a possibility where he'll play in the first ball game."

 

With Ellis out, the Cowboys have played rookie Anthony Spencer at strong-side outside linebacker, and recently moved Bobby Carpenter from inside to outside just in case Ellis isn't ready for the opener.

 

But don't call it a permanent move for Carpenter, who might also be needed inside as well. The Cowboys are hoping that Burnett, who like Carpenter moved from outside to inside in the off-season, will be ready for the first game. Burnett is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday to remove a bone chip from his ankle.

 

The third-year linebacker has been injury prone during his career, undergoing three surgeries his rookie season and missing some time in this year's training camp following a blow to the head.

 

But while the Cowboys have their fingers crossed that Newman, Ellis and Burnett will play against the Giants, it's quite possible Gramatica won't be in that group.

 

The veteran kicker, who might have hurt his chances to win the job over rookie Nick Folk with a missed extra point against Houston, received another setback in the game when he strained his right hamstring.

 

Undoubtedly, the competition between Folk and Gramatica has been the closest position battle for the Cowboys, at least for a starting job. But the club has never insisted that both kickers will make the 53-man roster. In fact, the supposed strengths for each kicker coming into the preseason haven't exactly surfaced.

 

Folk, known for his strong kickoffs, has performed better on field goals, hitting all three attempts, including a 52-yarder against Denver. As for Gramatica, he has performed rather well on kickoffs, aside from a wobbly line drive against Houston, but hasn't been as consistent on field goals and extra points. He is 2-of-3 on field goals and had a PAT miss against the Texans on Saturday.

 

Another aspect of the kicking situation is financial. If Gramatica is on the roster for the opening week of the season, his $800,000 base salary would be guaranteed for the entire season.

 

And since he might not be ready to play for another two weeks, it wouldn't seem likely the Cowboys would rush him back on the field for the first game. The smarter business move might be to go with Folk and release Gramatica. If the rookie kicker struggles early in the season, the Cowboys could always try to bring back Gramatica, or another available veteran kicker.

 

Injuries are a part of the game. Phillips has been around the league long enough to know that. And while he admits concern, he also seems rather confident his team can overcome all of these setbacks.

 

"I don't think any of them are long-term injuries," he said. "It's not like they're going to be out the whole season or half a season. Maybe some of them will be out the first game and I think certainly Ellis is the only question mark. You really don't know. But the rest of them we think, if they don't play against the Giants, will probably play the next game or the next game."

Edited August 28, 2007 by keggerz

[keggerz]

I think the Skins have a chance to be a top 10 defense this year. The secondary is healthy and packed with first round talent. Rocky McIntosh and London Fletcher have looked great at LB. There arent many names on the defensive line but they werent the problem last year. They are ranked 2nd in preseason total yards against and 4th in passing yards against. The Huddle has them ranked 32nd, no f'n way are they the worst defense in the league. A little dallas homerism showing through there DMD?

i agree that washington is ranked far to low...their DLine is going to be their achilies heel but if they can get solid play from them then they could shoot up the rankings

[BOO]

I believe the Saints were either #13 or #11 last year? Either way, they upgraded a few positions (mainly CB as Fred "Toast" Thomas is now a backup), so I'd question them being so low. We now also have a kicker that will get some touchbacks instead of giving up the 30 plus every time.

[FishFreak]

I think the Skins have a chance to be a top 10 defense this year. The secondary is healthy and packed with first round talent. Rocky McIntosh and London Fletcher have looked great at LB. There arent many names on the defensive line but they werent the problem last year. They are ranked 2nd in preseason total yards against and 4th in passing yards against. The Huddle has them ranked 32nd, no f'n way are they the worst defense in the league. A little dallas homerism showing through there DMD?

 

The Skins have NO pass rush at all. There is no way I would consider a D that doesn't get sacks.