Best defense in the AFC?

[Cadillac]

Best defense in the AFC? I have to go with Baltimore. You can t beat Lewis, Suggs, McAllister, Reed and Boulaware.

Honorable mention: Miami

[Philly_Freak93]

ummmmm pats simply because they have an amazing amazing defensive coach who has the best plays, hes flat out amazing at calling and making plays

[Bucs40etrain]

Best defense that plays or best defense with skilled
players? I agree with dawk on this one. For best defense
that plays based on coaching and scheme patroits take
the cake. But if you are basing it on skill players with
talent its baltimore.

[TheBeef]

In performance, its certainly the Patriots, thier defense has won 2 championship with a less than stellar offense....on paper, the Dolphins are the best....too bad we cant play the games on paper

[Pats37]

I won't even get started but all I have to say is check out the BLING on belichick's hand. The guy is a GENIUS and whoever is finally smart enough to hire romeo crennel will have another great defensive minded coach. and by the way you can beat them remeber? 1 and done baby.

[TheBeef]

The question is how much the Patriots D will be hurt if the NFL follows through with thier current movement to focus on defensive holding and interference penalties....the 2 teams that will be effected the most are NE and Miami, but how much does it hurt them?

[Steelerfan_2005]

The life of any good defense or offense is about 2 years. Why do I say that? It takes 1 to 2 years for teams to figure out how to beat a team. (typically) Belicheck is good because he always adds new wrinkles, so give him an extra year on the dominance. I say teams figure out the Pats this season and their defense slides a little bit.

Last season, it was hands down New England. This season, I'm going with Baltimore or Jacksonville. I think the Jags could be very scary once the offense and defense mature.

[Bearsfan1]

i think i am going to say that i think miami's defensive is the best, however, if there offense plays badly it wont seem that way. I think that is why NE is so good on D is because offense does not turn over ball and does not put them in bad position often, not to say that they would not be top 3 anyway, i just think they work best as a team, not as unit.

[Pats37]

wait a minute SF if your 1 to two years is right and your gonna add a year for us then we would have another two years of dominence because two seasons ago we were shredded which lead to a 9-7 season and a no playoff appearence.

But seriously belichick is a GREAT mind and his eevr changing def will be hit or miss, but it seems to be more hit than miss so I'm not gonna worry about our def going away to soon.

[Bucs40etrain]

I dont know man a team that wins what 17
games in row is doing something right. Mostly
due to there defense. This defense makes the
best qbs in the nfl look awful.

[Cadillac]

With the recent signing of Ray Buchanon, Warren Sapp and Ted Washington, i wouldn t be surprised if the Raiders had the best defense in the AFC next year.

[TheBeef]

Oldest maybe, I dont know about best....Can you imagine the number of early bird dinners that Washington and Sapp will be eating at the local Oakland Lenny's....I mean Denny's?? Even with thier AARP discounts, its still gonna be expensive....

[Steelerfan_2005]

Uh oh... I can feel the Return of the Raider coming..........

[Bucs40etrain]

Dont know beef, if they play both big ted and warren
ted could be doubled and this leaves sapp open to
take pops at qbs. He still has the speed to get there
and no full back is gonna stop him from getting to
any qb. I dont know about the best defense.

Lots of teams can improve in this area.

baltimore,pitt,indy,new england.

Arent the phins old themselfs im curious?

[TheBeef]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bucs40etrain)</div><div class='quotemain'>Arent the phins old themselfs im curious?</div>



Ill give you the facts and let you make the decision on how old they are....

The following is a list of the Dolphins starters and thier ages as of opening day of the upcoming season:

THE OFFENSE

QB A.J. Feeley 26
HB Ricky Williams 27
FB Rob Konrad 27
WR Cris Chambers 26
WR David Boston 25
TE Randy McMichael 25
LT Wade Smith 23
LG Jeno James 27
C Seth McKinney 25
RG Taylor Whitley 24
RT John St Clair 27

the avg is just under 26 years....Rob Konrad is the oldest and the only player on the unit born before 1977

THE DEFENSE

DE Adewale Ogunleye 27
DT Tim Bowens 31
DT Larry Chester 28
DE Jason Taylor 30
OLB Marlon Greenwood 26
MLB Zach Thomas 31
OLB Junior Seau 35
CB Patrick Surtain 28
CB Sam Madison 30
FS Auturo Freeman 27
SS Sammy Knight 29

avging 29.27 years old on opening day, not what I would call old, but certainly getting there as the years pass....


the avg age for a Dolphin starter is 27.45 years, I would imagine thats in the top 5 youngest teams in the league, if not the youngest....so, your opinion, are they old?

[Steelerfan_2005]

Did someone mention Pittsburgh? I was waiting because I didn't want to be the one to say it. With Lebeau back the Steelers could improve on defense. It looks like it's going to be:

DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen
DT Casey Hampton
DE Aaron Smith
ROLB Joey Porter
RILB James Farrior
LILB Kendrell Bell
LOLB Clark Haggans
CB Chad Scott
CB Ike Taylor / Deshea Townsend (or draft)
FS Mike Logan
SS Troy Polamalu

With the right coaching decisions, the Steelers could reascend to the top... Of course this is just wishful thinking as of now.... but there are some truly amazing players in that defense.

[Steelerfan_2005]

Doing this out of my own curiousity.

DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen - 33
DT Casey Hampton - 26
DE Aaron Smith - 28
ROLB Joey Porter - 27
RILB James Farrior - 29
LILB Kendrell Bell - 23
LOLB Clark Haggans - 27
CB Chad Scott - 29
CB Ike Taylor / Deshea Townsend (or draft) - 28 (Townsend)
FS Mike Logan - 29
SS Troy Polamalu - 22

Avg age was 27 years 4 months. Von Oelhoffen is 33 and could lose his job this year which would bring the avg down a year. Nice and young.

[Bucs40etrain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bucs40etrain)</div><div class='quotemain'>Arent the phins old themselfs im curious?</div>



Ill give you the facts and let you make the decision on how old they are....

The following is a list of the Dolphins starters and thier ages as of opening day of the upcoming season:

THE OFFENSE

QB A.J. Feeley 26
HB Ricky Williams 27
FB Rob Konrad 27
WR Cris Chambers 26
WR David Boston 25
TE Randy McMichael 25
LT Wade Smith 23
LG Jeno James 27
C Seth McKinney 25
RG Taylor Whitley 24
RT John St Clair 27

the avg is just under 26 years....Rob Konrad is the oldest and the only player on the unit born before 1977

THE DEFENSE

DE Adewale Ogunleye 27
DT Tim Bowens 31
DT Larry Chester 28
DE Jason Taylor 30
OLB Marlon Greenwood 26
MLB Zach Thomas 31
OLB Junior Seau 35
CB Patrick Surtain 28
CB Sam Madison 30
FS Auturo Freeman 27
SS Sammy Knight 29

avging 29.27 years old on opening day, not what I would call old, but certainly getting there as the years pass....


the avg age for a Dolphin starter is 27.45 years, I would imagine thats in the top 5 youngest teams in the league, if not the youngest....so, your opinion, are they old?</div>

I wasnt talking about your offense, however you answered
the question, then count the flippers in on that bunch of
good d's.

[Bucs40etrain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steelerfan_2003)</div><div class='quotemain'>Did someone mention Pittsburgh? I was waiting because I didn't want to be the one to say it. With Lebeau back the Steelers could improve on defense. It looks like it's going to be:

DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen
DT Casey Hampton
DE Aaron Smith
ROLB Joey Porter
RILB James Farrior
LILB Kendrell Bell
LOLB Clark Haggans
CB Chad Scott
CB Ike Taylor / Deshea Townsend (or draft)
FS Mike Logan
SS Troy Polamalu

With the right coaching decisions, the Steelers could reascend to the top... Of course this is just wishful thinking as of now.... but there are some truly amazing players in that defense.</div>

Sf, that was me of course who mentioned the steelers
d and i havent forgoten them. One bad year doesnt
make that team d forgoten in my mind. The talents
still there and i do remember the butt whooping we
were handed by the curtan. Going from guys getting
there healthy and not so much caos in pitt things
will be back to normal, cohwer loves his defense
and im sure porter wont have slug in his ass. it was
porter right? lol

[Steelerfan_2005]

I'm hoping that the Steelers really make some good decisions in the draft. I'm crossing my fingers that they take D'Angelo Hall with their first pick. I hope they don't get cute and take Rivers. They really need to get a CB, OT, DE, and then maybe a QB. I wouldn't even bother. I would just go best available talent/athelete. All of that aside, I think Lebeau will bring them back into good defensive form. There's enough talent, but is there enough discipline? And will it be used to potential?

[TheBeef]

If Rivers is on the bard and the Steelers pass on him, I woulf be shocked....

[Steelerfan_2005]

That's what the draft guru's are saying, but I don't buy it. The Steelers need other things more pressing to win now than a QB that wasn't even 1st round material until Dec/Jan.