So in my last posting, I put my sports analyst skills to the test and talked a little bit about the first half of the 2007 NFL season, mostly who I thought were the top offensive performers. In this part of the midseason report, I'll go onto the defensive side of the ball, and go through who I though were the all-pro defensive players from the first half.
Lets start with the d-line. For the AFC, there have been a few standout guys , but the two that I feel have had the largest impact for their teams are Jared Allen of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Elvis Dumervil of the Denver Broncos. Allen, the anchor for the Chiefs D-line, is also the league leader in sacks, with 9.5 at weeks end, and Dumervil is second on the AFC with 8.0. Dumervil has also tacked on 4 pass deflections and 1 interception to the stat sheet, as well as 3 fumbles forced, while Allen has 2 forced fumbles. (Other Notables: Jason Taylor, Paul Spicer, Robert Mathis)
As for the NFC, there are defintly some new faces that are shining in the league this year in terms of the front four on defense. I think the most outstanding new star is Trent Cole of the Philadelphia Eagles, who all deserves a lot of the credit for any of the success Philly has had on D this year. His athletic ability and constant pressure on the QB has given him an NFC leading 9.0 sacks at weeks end, and he has also posted 48 total tackles, which is well above average for a d-end. For the other NFC defensive end, I have been extremely impressed with New York Giant Osi Umenyiora, who has finally pushed passed Michael Strahan as the best defensive end on the team, and possibly in the conference. He is tied with Cole and Aaron Kampman for the NFC lead in sacks with 9.0, having 6.0 of them come in the game against the Eagles, an NFL record. Umenyiora has also posted 29 tackles, has 3 forced fumbles, 2 recovered, one of them for a touchdown. (Other Notables: Darryl Tapp, Aaron Kampman, Andre Carter)
Now onto the anchor for the defensive line, the defensive tackle. The AFC has a few defensive tackles that have been standouts for the past few years, and they have continued to do the same the first half of this season. Albert Haynesworth has rebounded from the incident when he stepped on Cowboys offensive lineman Andre Gurode, and has returned to being the dominant D-tackle he was drafted to be when he was picked 15th overall by the Titans back in 2002. He has 30 total tackles and 5.0 sacks at weeks end. (Other Notables: Marcus Stroud, John Henderson, Amobi Okoye)
The NFC is stacked with amazing talent in the middle of the d-line, and it was impossible to pick just one standout player for this position. I'm giving a three way tie to Darnell Dockett, Shaun Rogers, and Tommie Harris, of the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears, respectively. Dockett is leading all NFL DT's with 8.0 sacks, and also has 39 tackles and 2 forced and recovered fumbles at weeks end. Shaun Rogers showed his amazing athletic talents by taking an interception back 66 yards the other week, something unheard-of for a defensive tackle. He also has 4.5 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries so far. Lastly, Tommie Harris has been a forced to be reckoned with for the Chicago Bears. This has been a constant theme since he came into the league, and he has tacked on 23 tackles and 7.0 sacks to the stat sheet so far this year. (Other Notables: Jovan Haye, Kevin Williams)
On to the beasts on the second level, the linebackers. I would have liked to keep it to just two outside and one inside linebacker here, but I cannot keep one of these outside backers out. The first being James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers. His 6.5 sacks is good enough for second in the NFC for linebackers, only behind my next candidate, Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots, who has 8.5. Harrison also has 6 forced fumbles, 3 recovered, 57 tackles, and 1 pick. The last outside linebacker is Thomas Howard of the Oakland Raiders. Arguably the best coverage linebacker in the NFL, Howard has 12 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, 2 of those returned for touchdowns, and he has also made 60 tackles and 1.0 sack. Those numbers right there are good enough to get him into the probowl. For my AFC inside linebacker, I gotta go with DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans. Although he is only in his 2nd NFL season, he has already established himself as one of the top linebackers in the NFL. His 74 tackles is good for fourth in the AFC, and he has also added 2.0 sacks, 1 pick, 3 fumble recoveries, one of them which he returned for a touchdown. (Other Notables: Ray Lewis, DJ Williams, Shawn Merriman)
The NFC is oozing with playmakers at the linebacker position, some of them young and some of them old. Starting off with the old, London Fletcher, the D III product of the Washington Redskins, was among the leaders in tackles at weeks end with 84. He has also picked off 2 passes, returning one of them for a touchdown. Patrick Willis, the rookie sensation drafted out of Ole Miss, is leads the NFL in tackles with 88 at weeks end, and has lived up to his top ten draft selection. Two surprising rising stars who have played outstanding are Michael Boley of the Atlanta Falcons, who has 72 tackles along with 8 pass deflections and 2 picks, and Rocky McIntosh of the Redskins, who has 71 tackles and 3.0 sacks. (Other Notables: DeMarcus Ware, Julian Peterson, Karlos Dansby)
Finishing up with the defensive backs, I'll list 2 corners and 2 safetys from each conference that I feel have had outstanding first halves. Starting with the AFC, I've got to give it up to my man Antonio Cromartie of the San Diego Chargers. He has established himself not only as one of the most athletic players in the NFL after this half of the season, but also as an upcoming shutdown corner. His 6 interceptions is good for tops in the NFL, as are his 18 pass deflections. He also has 2 touchdowns this season, both in the same game, and one being a record setting play for the longer play in the history if the game, when he returned a missed field goal 109 yards from the back of one endzone to the front of the other. My other AFC corner has got to be Asante Samuel, a guy that has established himself as maybe the best corner in the NFL. He has lead the Patriots d-backs all season with his play, and he has posted 18 tackles, along with 16 pass deflections, and 4 picks. Quarterbacks just do not wanna throw to him. My AFC safetys are two of the most intimidating and ferocious players in the league. Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens and Bob Sanders of the Indianapolis Colts. Reed has posted 22 tackles, along with 13 pass deflections and 5 interceptions, while Sanders has collected 49 tackles, along with 2.5 sacks, and 1 pick. The numbers are there, but the real thing with these guys is that they bring it every play of every game, and are among the top safetys year in and year out. (Other Notables: Terrence McGee, Clinton Hart, Champ Bailey)
My NFC picks go to some vets who have really played well this year, and have all been leaders on their respective defenses. My corners are Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers, and Marcus Trufant, of the Seattle Seahawks. Woodson has returned to his shutdown capabilities, those of which he had at Michigan and his good years with the Raiders. Having Al Harris back their with him also helps, who is another guy having a great year. Woodson's 42 tackles, 3 picks, and 1 td are solid numbers that have helped his team to their 8-1 record. Trufant also has 3 picks, along with 11 pass deflections and 44 tackles, 41 of them being solo. For my safety picks I'm going with Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins, and Adrian Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals. Taylor is tied for the NFC lead for interceptions with 5, and along with his 42 tackles and 14 pass deflections, he is known as one of the hardest hitters in the league. Wilson, maybe the NFLs most athleticly gifted player, has 44 tackles and 2 interceptions, not staggering numbers, but he is the heart and soul of that Arizona defense. (Other Notables: Anthony Henry, Ken Hamlin, Sheldon Brown)
As for the NFC, there are defintly some new faces that are shining in the league this year in terms of the front four on defense. I think the most outstanding new star is Trent Cole of the Philadelphia Eagles, who all deserves a lot of the credit for any of the success Philly has had on D this year. His athletic ability and constant pressure on the QB has given him an NFC leading 9.0 sacks at weeks end, and he has also posted 48 total tackles, which is well above average for a d-end. For the other NFC defensive end, I have been extremely impressed with New York Giant Osi Umenyiora, who has finally pushed passed Michael Strahan as the best defensive end on the team, and possibly in the conference. He is tied with Cole and Aaron Kampman for the NFC lead in sacks with 9.0, having 6.0 of them come in the game against the Eagles, an NFL record. Umenyiora has also posted 29 tackles, has 3 forced fumbles, 2 recovered, one of them for a touchdown. (Other Notables: Darryl Tapp, Aaron Kampman, Andre Carter)
Now onto the anchor for the defensive line, the defensive tackle. The AFC has a few defensive tackles that have been standouts for the past few years, and they have continued to do the same the first half of this season. Albert Haynesworth has rebounded from the incident when he stepped on Cowboys offensive lineman Andre Gurode, and has returned to being the dominant D-tackle he was drafted to be when he was picked 15th overall by the Titans back in 2002. He has 30 total tackles and 5.0 sacks at weeks end. (Other Notables: Marcus Stroud, John Henderson, Amobi Okoye)
The NFC is stacked with amazing talent in the middle of the d-line, and it was impossible to pick just one standout player for this position. I'm giving a three way tie to Darnell Dockett, Shaun Rogers, and Tommie Harris, of the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears, respectively. Dockett is leading all NFL DT's with 8.0 sacks, and also has 39 tackles and 2 forced and recovered fumbles at weeks end. Shaun Rogers showed his amazing athletic talents by taking an interception back 66 yards the other week, something unheard-of for a defensive tackle. He also has 4.5 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries so far. Lastly, Tommie Harris has been a forced to be reckoned with for the Chicago Bears. This has been a constant theme since he came into the league, and he has tacked on 23 tackles and 7.0 sacks to the stat sheet so far this year. (Other Notables: Jovan Haye, Kevin Williams)
On to the beasts on the second level, the linebackers. I would have liked to keep it to just two outside and one inside linebacker here, but I cannot keep one of these outside backers out. The first being James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers. His 6.5 sacks is good enough for second in the NFC for linebackers, only behind my next candidate, Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots, who has 8.5. Harrison also has 6 forced fumbles, 3 recovered, 57 tackles, and 1 pick. The last outside linebacker is Thomas Howard of the Oakland Raiders. Arguably the best coverage linebacker in the NFL, Howard has 12 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, 2 of those returned for touchdowns, and he has also made 60 tackles and 1.0 sack. Those numbers right there are good enough to get him into the probowl. For my AFC inside linebacker, I gotta go with DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans. Although he is only in his 2nd NFL season, he has already established himself as one of the top linebackers in the NFL. His 74 tackles is good for fourth in the AFC, and he has also added 2.0 sacks, 1 pick, 3 fumble recoveries, one of them which he returned for a touchdown. (Other Notables: Ray Lewis, DJ Williams, Shawn Merriman)
The NFC is oozing with playmakers at the linebacker position, some of them young and some of them old. Starting off with the old, London Fletcher, the D III product of the Washington Redskins, was among the leaders in tackles at weeks end with 84. He has also picked off 2 passes, returning one of them for a touchdown. Patrick Willis, the rookie sensation drafted out of Ole Miss, is leads the NFL in tackles with 88 at weeks end, and has lived up to his top ten draft selection. Two surprising rising stars who have played outstanding are Michael Boley of the Atlanta Falcons, who has 72 tackles along with 8 pass deflections and 2 picks, and Rocky McIntosh of the Redskins, who has 71 tackles and 3.0 sacks. (Other Notables: DeMarcus Ware, Julian Peterson, Karlos Dansby)
Finishing up with the defensive backs, I'll list 2 corners and 2 safetys from each conference that I feel have had outstanding first halves. Starting with the AFC, I've got to give it up to my man Antonio Cromartie of the San Diego Chargers. He has established himself not only as one of the most athletic players in the NFL after this half of the season, but also as an upcoming shutdown corner. His 6 interceptions is good for tops in the NFL, as are his 18 pass deflections. He also has 2 touchdowns this season, both in the same game, and one being a record setting play for the longer play in the history if the game, when he returned a missed field goal 109 yards from the back of one endzone to the front of the other. My other AFC corner has got to be Asante Samuel, a guy that has established himself as maybe the best corner in the NFL. He has lead the Patriots d-backs all season with his play, and he has posted 18 tackles, along with 16 pass deflections, and 4 picks. Quarterbacks just do not wanna throw to him. My AFC safetys are two of the most intimidating and ferocious players in the league. Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens and Bob Sanders of the Indianapolis Colts. Reed has posted 22 tackles, along with 13 pass deflections and 5 interceptions, while Sanders has collected 49 tackles, along with 2.5 sacks, and 1 pick. The numbers are there, but the real thing with these guys is that they bring it every play of every game, and are among the top safetys year in and year out. (Other Notables: Terrence McGee, Clinton Hart, Champ Bailey)
My NFC picks go to some vets who have really played well this year, and have all been leaders on their respective defenses. My corners are Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers, and Marcus Trufant, of the Seattle Seahawks. Woodson has returned to his shutdown capabilities, those of which he had at Michigan and his good years with the Raiders. Having Al Harris back their with him also helps, who is another guy having a great year. Woodson's 42 tackles, 3 picks, and 1 td are solid numbers that have helped his team to their 8-1 record. Trufant also has 3 picks, along with 11 pass deflections and 44 tackles, 41 of them being solo. For my safety picks I'm going with Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins, and Adrian Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals. Taylor is tied for the NFC lead for interceptions with 5, and along with his 42 tackles and 14 pass deflections, he is known as one of the hardest hitters in the league. Wilson, maybe the NFLs most athleticly gifted player, has 44 tackles and 2 interceptions, not staggering numbers, but he is the heart and soul of that Arizona defense. (Other Notables: Anthony Henry, Ken Hamlin, Sheldon Brown)
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