The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - Predicting the top-10 defenses for the 2023 NFL season

Episode Date: August 7, 2023

Robert Mays and Nate Tice wrapped up last week by predicting the coming season's top-10 offenses. They start this week by flipping to the other side of the ball to predict the top-10 defenses on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Follow Robert on Twitter: @robertmaysFollow Nate on Twitter: @Nate_TiceSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeThe Football 100, the definitive ranking of the NFL’s best 100 players of all time, goes on sale this fall. Pre-order it here.Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/mays. Go to shopify.com/mays to take your business to the next level today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Athletic Football Show. Welcome to the Athletic Football Show. I'm Robert Mays. Joining me today. It's my good friend, Nate Tyson. How you doing, buddy? I'm doing very well. Back home, back from Laguna Beach.

And I had a moment where I felt very old manish. And I'm walking through, and Lagoon Beach is just gorgeous. And just everybody's happy. Everybody's in such great shape. I feel just like Andre the Giant out there. Like I just feel so tall and so big out there. I lived in LA for five years, man. Oh, I felt like that way in the Bay Area at Laguna Beach.

I was like, I haven't seen anyone else over six feet tall. And I'm just towering over everybody. But I had such a bitter moment. I'm watching just these happy people go through and they're just having their coffee and they're with their kids who have their surfboards. They're about the, they just finished their morning stuff. And I was like, you guys got to go through one Minnesota winter. Like I just, this is too much happiness.

You guys are way too happy. You have not gone through what I went through. There was soft people. Yes. It was like, you guys are too perfectly tanned. Everything's evenly tanned. Everyone's happy. Too many smiles.

I see too many teeth. But I am doing very well. It was a great way to start out my training camp by going to a beautiful area. And see you a couple fun practices over there too. I'm in Indianapolis, Indiana right now. And I have two bits of news for you that are very important. I'm excited. One, Anthony Richardson apparently looks great.

He had another really good practice today when I was there. They had a scrimmage last night under the lights. he apparently was awesome. So things are trending in a pretty good direction about as well as they could for him right now. I'm very excited about getting to watch him this fall. The other piece of information I thought you might find relevant, guess what's going on in Indianapolis right now? The National Board Game Convention is happening right now in Indianapolis, Gen Con.

Gen Con, yes, yes. I actually had a tab open of GenCon preview of games to watch for. earlier today. That's hilarious. I didn't want to tell you because I kind of felt guilty that I figure you wish you were here. I know. That's a missed opportunity. That could have been a perfect live show opportunity. We could have been playing a game while doing a show and talk about Anthony Richardson and Alec Pierce for a day. Indianapolis is a very big convention town. And so it's always interesting that there are only two times a year really when I'm here. One is Combine and that's the convention that's in town. And then the other one is during training camp. And there's always

something here. And last year, I'm pretty sure it was like a monster truck rally. So last year it was the monster truck rally. And then this year, it's the board game convention. That's perfect. I think it's there every year too. It's, uh, yeah, that I'm actually kind of jealous though. I figured you would be. There's a couple games I'm actually interested in. Yeah. Yeah, uh, yeah, very, very interested. There's about three people who noticed one, but the ticket to ride legacy game that I'm very interested in. I noticed that they're previewing this week. I listen, I wish I was here longer and I could have gotten some Re- Sample some recon for you.

Some food and board game reviews. That's the four pictures that you tweet. It's just the four board games that you got to try out. That'd be perfect. That's what the people want. All right. Here's what we're doing today. We're doing our top 10 defenses, predicting our top 10 defenses. We did the offenses last week. Had a great time. Very excited about doing

the defenses. Defense is different. It's harder. In my opinion, defense is more volatile from season to season. We have reams and reams of data over the years that tell us. that so a couple of the teams I have on here are pretty weird I threw some very strange ones on because why the hell not and I just thought it was an excuse to talk about them I've got some pretty surprising ones off so we can dig into this let's talk about the first couple who were off your list that you figure are notable uh number one I would say so this team is ranked 11th I guess

this one was really tough but as I started diving in more still think it's going to be a good defense but maybe not the top 10 and really when it sticks is the bangles I actually thought I would have them in the top 10 to start this. I still respect this defense, but I just don't think it's that overwhelming unit, even if it's nice pieces and Luan Arumo is still there and all that, returning a lot of players. The back end has me a little cautious with them. That's really the number one reason why I kept them off.

I love the front seven, love the coaching staff, but that back end and the changes that are going on there makes me think there might be some ups and downs because of how much they ask of those safeties, especially and how intelligent those guys have been the last few years. So that changing of the guard has me a little worried. That's the exact same thought process. I did not have them on and that was the reason. And some teams, when you switch out a couple of safeties, maybe you can weather it.

They, what they ask their safeties to do and just how chameleon like they were on the back end because of the communication that can happen there. So now you have Nick Scott who they're excited about as sort of a point guard back there and being able to get guys in the right direction. But this is his first year in the defense. then the other spot, it sounds like it's down to Dax Hill where they drafted in the first round later in Jordan Battle, who they took in the third round.

So no matter how it shakes out, there's going to be a lot of changes back there. And I just feel like the communication and how shape-shifting like they were on the back end was really important to who they were defensively. I think the front seven has a chance to be the best it's been after drafting Miles Murphy in the first round. O'Sai coming along.

It could be a little healthier at front with DJ Reader missing a couple games last year. But the back end is where I have pause. Yeah. And I like that. I also sorry, is I like what the Bengals are doing. too, like extending Tray Hendrickson and Logan Wilson and kind of, they're signaling some stuff, which I think is really cool as an organizational sense. I know we're just talking about defenses

on field stuff, but also just that organizational signaling has been cool to see from the Bengals franchise. I think the Bengals are decidedly one of the best teams in the NFL. If they're second in offense and 11th on defense, they will fight to win a Super Bowl. That was my number of note. I go, hey, Bengals fans, don't get upset with this. I said, third ranked offense and 12th rank defense. Yeah, you're going to be okay. That is a contender right there. my first one off, I had the Eagles. They are another one that I kept off as well. They were 12th in defensive success rate last season.

They had 70 sacks last year, 70. No other team in the league had more than 54. The gap between them and the Cowboys in EPA on Sacks was bigger than the Cowboys, was bigger than the Cowboys number two, was bigger than the gap between the Cowboys and the Saints at number 20. It was worth 38 points. So even if they got 54 sacks this year, the gap is 38 points. It's five touchdowns over the course of the year. And you combine that with a coordinator change, a lot of changes on the back end.

I just felt like there were enough moving parts. They lose Javon Hargrave. So again, I think that there will be a solid defense, a top half of the league defense, but I did not have them in my top 10. I did not have them in my top 10 either. Everything you laid out, I said the, kind of the shifting of the spine and kind of figuring out the spine of the defense. That's what has me most concerned is what you said,

Hargrave, what were you say? And the linebackers, too, but did you see the volume you were shooting at linebacker today? Yeah. They signed Miles Jack and Zach Cunningham, just giving themselves as enough bites of the apples possible. Exactly. And that actually, too, is like, okay, that's some signaling that, okay, we're figuring

out this spot right now. And also, like you said, the safeties, but having that kind of all that shifting in the middle, especially for a type of defense that asks a lot from their guys in the middle at all three levels. That has me a little concerned, new defense coordinator and also just their underlying numbers. Like, weren't, they kind of faded as the year went along and they also just got maybe, I would say exposed, but one hole that they had last year, which was their run defense was meh, you know, got exposed by the chiefs in the Super Bowl especially. And so I think just there, there's still, they're going to be, I think, a good solid, like a solid defense, but not that top

10 type unit like you said at the beginning. I agree. A couple other teams I had off. I didn't have Washington on there. Oh, I have them on there. Which I totally understand. We can get into them. We'll save the Washington conversation.

I didn't have the saints on mine. I did not have the saints on mine either. Aging, a lot of replacements on the front seven. And if you look at some of the underlying numbers last year, they were fantastic in the second half of the season. They're sack rate. I think that they were top seven or seventh in the league in salary. They were like 26th in the NFL and pressure rate last year.

Yeah, they had some weird. They also, I don't think got a lot of like TFLs and run stuff. Like they weren't like disruptive. It was truly like a very bendy, but don't break defense. But maybe just a very physical one. So yeah, I think that they were fantastic down the stretch. They still have a lot of pieces. But I'm just worried this might be the first year.

We see them take a step back. It's the changing of the front was the that caused my hesitation. But yeah, they kept a lot of pieces at different levels. but it was like losing three guys, three legit starter types is that's significant, no matter how you shake it. Carl Granderson right now is slated to start opposite Cam Jordan. And they drafted Isaiah Voski in the second round. Brian Briseu, Brisei, Brisei.

Perse. Perse. Perse. Whatever you pronounce it. They drafted him in the first round. But again, these are younger players. They probably deserve the benefit of the out. But I just, again, I had enough questions where I kept them off.

And the last team I wanted to mention, I don't think it's surprising that I kept them off, but I almost put them on, was the, the Panthers. Okay. They were my honorable mention, but I kept them off. I have one that's kind of like I almost had them as my 10th team, but bumped this team off. It was the Chiefs, actually. The Chief's defense was, I was kind of, I was tempted to throw them on this list,

but I want to give them an honorable mention because they're going to be a fun defense this year. I think so too. And I probably should have mentioned them in some capacity. But I think the Panthers have a chance to be really good on defense. They signed Justin Houston today, and that was always going to happen. Their next edge rusher was going to come off the veteran market. They did not have that guy on the roster. you have Brian Burns, Derek Brown,

they went out and got shy Tuttle in free agency. They have Frankie Louvo and Shaq Thompson at linebacker, J.C. Horn, Jeremy Chin, I think he's going to play the nickel for them. They signed Von Bell in free agency. And then also, it's your ever coming in there after the job he did in Denver last year. If they ended up in the top 10, I would not be surprised at all. It would not surprise me. Same.

I was bullish on a few months ago, some of those signings they made and also just the change is the defense coordinator as well. So same thing. Just as you said, if they finish eighth, would not be shocked. at all because they have some fun pieces and a guy that also how they got used in the second half of last year will make it an easier transition to what I think ever will do some of the simulated pressures and all that so I think it's going to be a very overall the Panthers are just going to be a very intriguing team totally just because of all the pieces they have and plus

the number one picks so definitely keep an eye on them but I kept them off my list. You want me to start? Sure. I have a very weird team at number 10. That's fine. I think I have one truly weird one on my list, maybe two, one and a half, I'll say. I have like one and a half. This one's pretty out there.

Okay. I have the Texans. Okay. The last team of my like work list was I threw in the Texas. But I want to hear your case because they did come along the second half of the year last year. One of the reasons they came along is they were getting a lot of pressure in the second half of last season. And some of the component parts of that are no longer on the roster. Like Obokonko was on the bronze.

now, which the Browns are another team that could take another big step. It's worth probably mentioning them as well. They have the talent with Jim Schwartz there. So even the areas that they improved in in the second half of last season, you can pull holes in why that improvement would stick based on this position group. This is a bet on Dimeco Ryan's and a bet on the young underlying talent that they have on that defense and the draft picks that they've pumped into it. Jalen Petrie in year two, Derek Stingley in year two.

I think the rest of their secondary is kind of intriguing. The pieces that they have there, Tavier Thomas at Nickel has played really solid. And I think he's been a reliable player. Desmond King had to bump outside for them last year because of injuries and is a decent corner. Stephen Nelson is still there. And they signed Jimmy Warden Free Agency. So I just think that there are a lot of different outcomes where they have a pretty decent secondary this season, like a workable secondary. So you drop Will Anderson in there.

And I don't know if Will Anderson is going to be a Nick Bowman. a level player in his first season, but I think he has a chance to be really good. And they've got decent pieces on the inside with Sheldon Rankins and Malik Collins. Malik Collins has been really solid for them as an interior rusher. And Jerry Hughes, God love him, is still making some noise. So they don't have a ton of depth, but I do think that there are enough pieces. And one of the guys that I think could really swing this thing one way or the other is Christian Harris, who they drafted in the third round last year.

He was hurt to begin the season. and you could tell he was just swimming as a rookie, which a lot of offball linebackers do. But D'Amico Ryans has been really complimentary of the strides he's made this offseason, and you've seen linebackers thrive within this defense with D'Miko Ryans, and is he the next guy that maybe they can bring along? So it's D'Amico, and it's just some of these younger pieces

that if they all kind of click into place, could this be a much better defense than we expect it to be? It's kind of why I put them on there. Just as a, could they be a lot better than we think? Yeah, fun to talk about because they do have a lot of phone players. I mean, even seeing Derek Stingley go from, I mean, he still stood out as a corner before he kind of got hurt, going from a Levy Smith defense to a Domingo Ryan's defense, which would be more of a fit for his skill set. Because like going into last year for the draft class, sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley, I really thought, and I think a lot of people thought, what A1B? Those guys were both legit.

We saw how sauce was. Stingley was good as well. But it's just, I think that's going to be a boom. He's going to take a big leap forward this year. But I'm glad he brought up all the DBSs because just like he said, it's a lot of those safety nickel types. You know, those like the new, what everyone's kind of getting,

they have several of these guys that can blitz, they can play on the back end, that could play in the slot so they can get creative with them. But I'm glad you mentioned these guys, or mentioned the Texas because I had them kind of my working list. I kept them off, but I do like what they're doing. I do like a lot of the players that they have because they're kind of dynamic.

And you can get creative with them if they wanted. they want to. There's always some random defense that hits into the top 10 every year. And so that was like, what's the random defense that could pop this year? And this is the one that I landed on. There's a chance that they finished 28th in defensive DVOA. If some of this stuff doesn't come together and those young guys don't take a step forward. But I just want it to acknowledge that it just seems like they're one of those teams that's a candidate for this.

Yeah. I can look very stupid three months from now. No, I don't think it is. That's one that I just, I thought would be a fun one to throw out there. No, it's fun. They're going to play with their hair on fire. It's going to be a fun team to watch. Like overall, they, uh, I'm glad we get to acknowledge the Texans again after the last couple seasons.

It's fun, man. It's a nice change. It really is your 10th one. My 10th one is the dolphins. And I, I would have the dolphins maybe a couple spots higher if, you know, the Jaylon Ramsey, uh, injury did not crop up. I do have them a couple spots higher and I probably, I needed to get the Texans and another team on here.

So that's why the dolphins are eight. Yeah. That's like my 10. 98 was pretty funny. It was just, fine. I'll just set it. with this. So it's a bet on Fangio. This defense, the last couple

years under the Brian Flores defenses, I know he wasn't there last year, but still was that Patriot style defense. They've kind of been disruptive and 12, 14th, you know, kind of right outside the top 10. I think Fangio coming in with the pieces that they have, all three levels, is going to really put

them over the top. I think up front, they got some fun, intriguing young players. Jalen Phillips and Christian Wilkins, I mean, both guys, they're probably going to really take a leap for it. Already of half taking a leap forward, but that kind of like cement themselves. That's kind of those real needle movers up front. Just really, David Long, of course, everybody's favorite linebacker by cleaning everything up, though.

But I think that's a good fit too, just bumping up that linebacker core that needed it. And then on the back end, like Jalen Ramsey being hurt and still question mark on when he's coming back is going to be a, that that's kind of a bummer. But I do think this is a defense that can mitigate some of that because of what they have on the back end and also has safeties that I think Fangio is going to really unlock and I agree to use them in different ways that's where it's going to be really fun so and also just even little pieces even though they had some experience before but like a guy like Bradley Chubb is a great fit for this type of defense because just like how he is is kind of that more of a Sam that can drop into coverage that's kind of

your number two rusher so they just have a really really fun pieces all three levels and then Fangio's Fangio and I think this is just a bet on him I think that they can piece that corner spot together together until December. They have a couple of different dice rolls. Kater Kohu was actually pretty good for them last year as an undrafted free agent because he was thrust into action last season because of some dinged up corners. And he was okay. And we'll see how it all shakes out. Nick Needham is their starting nickel. He's hurt right now. So I think Kohu may get a look there. They signed Eli Apple and free agency. So can you just piece that thing together for the first two thirds of the season? That's a lot to ask. And losing Jaylon Ramsey is a huge deal. But I think they have enough

bodies back there. I was talking to people there when I was in Miami. Oh, Cam Smith also, they drafted in the second round. So there's one more kind of potential body to throw it at the problem. Zavian Howard was asked to do things that make it so hard on an aging corner. Just how hard his life was with the amount of man coverage that they played over the last couple years, there was nowhere for him to hide. And when you're a little bit binged up and you're playing hurt like he was for a good chunk of last season, it's just going to be so clear. And in this defense, I think that they're just going to take some of the load off so many of those defensive backs. That's really it.

Yes. And you can't. You know, you can kind of make it easier on him. The hard downs. Coach just talk about that all the time. Who would be given the hard downs to? And in the previous iteration of this defense when they're playing so much man coverage. So last year it was 58.2% man on third down, which was the highest rate in the league.

14% of that was cover zero. I mean, just hold out of your hat. And that's not going to happen anymore. Maybe they bring a little bit of pressure, but the stylistic change, I think, is going to benefit some of these DPs just because their lives are going to be a little bit easier. And I was talking to Javon Holland, who I think is the guy you're referring to with the safety is kind of taking a step. And he was telling me that under Andy Avalos at Boise State, they played a lot of this. And he played the nickel there. So he had to understand a lot of the machinations of a quarters-based defense and a kind of shell-based defense.

So he's really comfortable in this world. And I think he could be one of those guys that, like a Justin Simmons or John Johnson once upon a time, kind of shines. Eddie Jackson is another good example. Really gets a chance to shine in this defense. And that's before you get to the front. And I think that Jalen Phillips took a huge step forward last year. You can make an argument he was one of the most improved players in the entire league last season. I think he's going to take an even bigger step this year.

I wouldn't be surprised if he was like a dozen sack guy this season. and you have all the other pieces there. And the one guy you didn't mention is a personal, I like Zach Seeler. I think Zach Seeler is like a really solid player. So they just have four or five guys up front with Wilkins Seeler, Phillips, Bradley Chubb. Emmanuel Agba would be a bigger piece for a lot of other teams.

So the personnel with Fangio, I just feel good about it. You know, I really do. Yeah, I do too, too. I do too. The J-1 Phillips, too. when we did me, Seth, Galena and Stephen Ruiz did our top 10 edge rushers show. He was the guy kind of the next man up that all of us had as our guy that could crack the top 10 next year.

I think just his arrows pointing up. And Wilkins is just incredible too. Like he just all these fantastic young defensive tackles there in the league right now. He's just another one that's in there. So that's why I have it. I just think these like, I'm glad you kind of brought up that they can find like the bodies to play the corner spots. The Fangio defenses, they can go to the cover six coverages where one corner is in cloud. Yes.

And that's more of a smarter. Don't have to be as physically talented, but a guy just has to have good eyes or be well coach and be physical. That's how you can hide it. And that you have the guy, the coach that knows how to put those guys in the right spot. So it's like that's why I couldn't drop them completely off even with the Ramsey stuff because it's like, look all these other guys that they have.

And they have a guy that knows how to use them. So I'm glad the safety stuff, the discussion right there is getting brought up because that's what's really fun to watch these guys in these defenses, is come down, break down, rotate, late. The sky is every snap. That's where you can really see kind of the flare from these players. So that's why I think this is just like a perfect personnel, perfect coach, kind of perfect time to play this type of defense in that division,

this conference. It really felt like Jalen Phillips last year into year two, his biggest concern in the offseason was getting stronger and bigger. If you see his body, he's crazy. I mean, he is just put together. And talking to him when I was down there, He said this spring it was all about just refinement and technique. He's like for most of my life, I'm winning with athleticism, strength, and effort.

And that was it. And he said even last year, because a lot of the damage he did last year was lined up inside where he's just trying to get after guards. And I think that this year you're going to see him be able to do a little bit more damage around the corner and just be one of the more traditional impactful edge rushers that we see in the league. I'm very excited about him and about Holland. A couple stats I thought were interesting. They were ninth in defensive success rate over the second half of last season.

So that's just, again, maybe an uptake in the second half of the year. They only had 10 interceptions last season, which was down near the bottom of the league. They were seventh and forced fumbles and 25th and fumbles were covered. So bad fumble luck. Just again, just things kind of bouncing your way. So all of that stuff with the fan geo, I feel comfortable betting on them. So I have them at eighth. Number nine, I have the Tennessee Titans.

I also have the Tennessee Titans at number nine. That's hilarious. I did not think that you would have them. I thought I was making a statement putting them at number nine. I can't keep them off, especially just realizing the health luck that this team is about the face. That was the number one thing that kind of really drew me then. It was my first note. Finish dead last and adjusted games lost on defense last year.

The gap between them and the team at 31 was bigger than the gap between the team at 31 and the team at 16. That's how hurt they were on defense last year. They were sixth in defensive success rate last season. And a lot of that is the work they do against the run. They were one of the best rush defenses in the league. They were 24th in passing success rate, but they were 15th over the first half of the year. And this is, I think... They're playing guys off the street for the second half of the year.

And these on-off stats can be touchy, but I thought that this one was particularly telling just in terms of when they had the right guys in the field. When DeNico Autry was on the field last year, their passing success rate would have been the highest in the NFL. And it's a small sample. There's some noise in that, but they were just so much better when they had even like their second wave of defensive players. Harold Landry didn't even play for them last year. And he's the guy they paid.

That's what's so funny. I know that's, they're kind of monsters up front, like Tierra Tar and Jeffrey Simmons. And now that I think they're going to drop in actually just some help luck. Autry just playing most of the games, even if he misses a couple. But like, I mean, just getting to Landry back. And they, I mean, they were feisty and beating up guys, beating up bad offense lines throughout the year. And now they actually get the guy that they paid to get those sacks. So that's where it's scary.

And they signed Art and Key too. So now they have one more piece. Yeah. And that's where it's like, okay, you're taking tart off the field and passing downs. And now you just put Key in the center with Jeffrey Simmons. Now you have all these guys running games for pushing the pocket. It's going to be even the other kind of guy, they swapped out. So they lost David Long, Aziz Al-Share, being him at linebacker, I'm.

very high on them. I think you are too. It's like that is a guy that for a one for one replacement, just kind of like small bucks signing and free agency, that's a pretty damn good one right there. And then having even talked about the DBs yet, they have some intriguing, intriguing pieces there. So it's, it's a unit that you already brought to run defense as well. It's like they have the number one rushing success rate defense. The number nine since 2013. So it's a legit top 10 run defense in the last decade. And now just some health luck on the past game. So even if they have some regression there, It's a bunch of ass kickers. They're well-coached.

They're putting good spots and they play hard week in, week out. Couple concerns. There's a chance this team just doesn't stay healthy. The way they practice, the way that they approach things. Because consistently this is a problem for them. On both sides of the ball, they lose guys. So maybe this is just a consistent issue for them. And better health.

They'll be healthier because they almost have to be. But maybe health will once again be a concern. And there are a couple spots where they are, extremely thin. If they lose Christian Fulton for like any stretch of time, they don't have anybody behind him and McCreary. Caleb Farley has not been able to play for them. They just haven't stacked up the options at those spots.

And we'll see what happens at the nickel. You know, they went and got Sean Murphy bunting. He's been really up and down. Elijah Molden was hurt for them last year. It seems like they aren't really relying on him to play that spot anymore. It's why they went out and got Murphy Bunting. So I think some questions, but better health luck. players in the front seven.

And this is also a bet on Shane Bowen. I just think that he's a really good defensive coordinator. And I think a lot of the stuff they do makes a ton of sense and is very sound. And when you put the right players in those spots, they have a chance to be good. They were eighth in weighted

defensive DVOA in 2021 before they just got totally decimated. So I do think with the right breaks, they have the pieces and the guy in charge to just be a really stout defense again. that's what and there's a month last year when they're going through the injuries and they're just like still playing hard and like that's the thing it's like yes you don't want to just do though like oh well now they have their players healthy but here I actually go like if their players are healthy there are going to get that natural uptick because just how well how well coached they are and I can't get over that enough because just what who they were playing last year and they're just able to at least be in good spots even if there's games like Trevor Lawrence is like you know throwing it right over the stripe of a guy's helmet and everything. game, the Eagles game, they were a mess.

I mean, they're in the right spot. Yeah. And but, but I mean, I'm glad you brought up a career to Roger McCreary. He was kind of a very, a nice bright spot, a second round corner that was actually looked like a solid starter as a rookie. They only got to stay healthy for them last year. I did right. I know.

Just naturally because he got so many reps probably in practice too. He's getting 100 reps of practice a day. But I, that's another guy just for anybody that doesn't know his Titan's defense. That's a guy to keep an eye on this year because he's, I think he's going to be a fun player for a while. Yeah, and the safeties, you know, they've committed to those guys. You know, Kevin Byer, I think is get a little older. They asked him to take a pay cut.

So that's something to consider. But Monty Hooker has been a solid player for them in the past. So I just think they got a lot of decent guys at the right spots and they're well coached. But they're one injury away from Trey Avery playing corner for them again. And you go back and you watch that Eagles game and that's just not something you want for any stretch of time. So the margins are thin for them. But I just think that if they get a couple breaks, they have a chance. to be really good on that side of the ball.

Absolutely. So I had the dolphins at eight. So who do you have at eight? I have the bills at eight. I kept them on here. I have them higher than that. You have them higher? Okay.

I kind of, I almost had them higher, but they kind of just dropped them off. This was one for me is that they faded, they faded the last couple of seasons maybe, especially last year, especially after the Von Miller injury. So I think maybe there's a little inverse here,

whereas Von Miller comes back from injury, is going to give them, them the boost for the second half of the year. So that's, that's my head cannon story. But really just getting into it is much like the Bill's offense that I've kind of gushed about and kind of maybe these singles and doubles that they've added to the defense or to their offense. I kind of like that for their defense as well. I agree. Puna Fords and the Leonard Floyds of the world. And those guys are rotational guys like that. I like that. Taylor Rap is another good example for me where they played nickel to everything for the last like four years. I mean,

Essentially, since McDermick got there. And so now having just a little bit more flexibility. If we want to play three safeties, because we just think it gives us a better look here. If we want to slide one of those guys down and have to play linebacker in the right scenario, because now Tremade Edmonds isn't there. Maybe we want to have a dime linebacker, just some buttons they couldn't push over the last couple of years. Yeah, which is the story of their offense, too. I think it's really funny.

I think they were like, okay, on both sides of the ball, this franchise was like, okay, we hit a limit of this version of ourselves. So it start tweaking and adding layers. Turn into this Frankenstein's monster on both sides of the ball. And like even getting a full season of Trey White, you know, he came, it didn't play until the end of the last year. And he was fine as a starter when he came back. It wasn't like, oh, God, he's not even playable anymore. It's no, he's still a fine starter, still good. So it's like now you get a whole season to him. And this, so we brought up injury luck and we're talking about, you know, just other teams that face the injury luck, uh, uh, the Titans being 32nd. The bills were 31st or they faced the second most. So,

amount of injuries. So that is significant. That's why they had the tail end, or they fell off at the tail end of the season last year. So I think this another well-coached team. I think last year they're, you know, they changed out. Leslie Frazier's no longer there. Sean McDurman's kind of taken overplay calling again. But last year, you can kind of see some tweaks happening, especially on third down. So again, just like the offense, I think this Bill's team is just adding. And I like the additions that they made personnel-wise, but I also think scheme-wise this year. So I think it's just going to be another very good unit, just like they have in the last couple seasons. I was talking to a coach about this recently.

We were going through the Bill's roster and looking through their recent drafts. And they just haven't found stars. They haven't found needle-moving players in the early rounds of the draft, essentially since the Josh Allen draft. I mean, Gabe Davis was supposed to take a huge leap last year. That didn't happen. Greg Russo took a step forward, but when Von Miller wasn't on the field, he wasn't as effective. We've talked about at Oliver, who got extended, but he's not that game.

wrecking defensive player that they hope they were getting in the top 10. And this extends to last year's draft. It sounds like Dane Jackson's getting the starting reps at corner opposite Trey White. And they drafted Kyrie Elam in the first round. So eventually that starts to pile up. And that would be my main concern. And I have them higher than that on the slit. I have them higher because I just for a lot of reasons.

But my main concern is do they have that many true difference making stars on that side of the ball? That's it. Right. No, I think that's our number one thing that's been talking about the bill's defense. It's like, oh, yeah, at first where they kind of were really coming on to the scene as like an elite team was, oh, man, look how many guys they can rotate. Look, look at all those guys. Oh, man, they go eight deep at defense aligned. But now it's like when you need a bucket, do they have that guy to get a bucket?

That's why they signed Von Miller. But then, you know, you're relying on 35-year-old Von Miller now, 34-year-old von Miller. That's just, that's just not perfect. And that's why I kept them eighth. I originally, when I first did the list, I think I had them fourth. I have them fifth. Yeah. Fifth?

Okay. And I gave them a little. As I kind of look at the depth chart, you know, and also some question marks at linebacker along with Matt Milano. So it's like you just don't know what happens there, the depth that linebacker if they do want to stay in a lot of nickel as opposed to other teams we're going to talk about that's live and dime. So like that, you know, that's one little question mark I had that maybe I didn't want

to put them as a top five unit, but I still think this is an easy top 10 unit. The depth that they added at a bunch of different positions are, why I had them a little higher. The injuries and them getting better health luck, just because they can sustain an injury really at any position. And there's almost no team in the league that you feel that way about. If they lose a safety, Taylor Rap can come in and play. If they lose a corner, they have a guy that drafted in the first round last year.

And Christian Benford played for them last year. Right. If so many guys who's gotten snaps for them on the defensive line, they can essentially lose anybody but Von Miller and sustain it. And there aren't that many defenses who can say that. So they finished fourth in defensive DUA last season. For all the concerns we have about it, they finished fourth. And then a couple numbers I thought were interesting.

One, that's a strike against them. They were third in EPA generated on interceptions last year. So they did a lot of damage with turnovers. And if that falls back to Earth a little bit, what does that do to their defense? Are they not as impactful as we think they are, not as good as we think that? Was it swayed a little bit by turnover luck? That's one. But one in their favor, when Von Miller was on the field last season,

they had a 37.5% pressure rate. That would have been third in the NFL behind the Cowboys and the Eagles. They finished 14th on the season. He was hugely important to having it all fall into place for that defensive line. So if they can get 14 games out of him, 15 games out of him, with all the other depth that they have and Sean McDermott coming in and maybe breathing a little bit of life into that defense now as the play caller, that's why I was just comfortable betting on them in the top five.

I have them fifth. Just there's a reminder. Okay. Yeah. I think with the Von Miller stuff, it's like, okay, if he says he's going to be ready week one, but say he's not is, I actually think it's going to be nice is that they all during camp and maybe the first couple weeks of September that they have to live without them.

So they're not just relying on. Hey, Vaugh, go do something funny, man. Like, go help. Hey, get us a sack of here right here on third down in the fourth quarter. So I always kind of like that they have to win. They have to find a way to live without. him and then you just drop him in and ease him back in. So it's just like I actually like that kind of timeline. Again, this is my head canon how I picture it in my brain as a as a season.

You know, NFL seasons are so predictable. But that's how I picture in my head. So again, that's why I'm a little bullish on them, even if I do have him eighth. And I do want to have them higher. But I felt like this was a safe spot. It's tough, man. AJ Ep and this in the second round in 2020, boogie bash him in the second round in 2021. Just guys that since they were drafted, they've been trying to replace. Yep. Essentially. They've been trying to upgrade on them continuously since they were drafted.

And when you have players, and even the past catchers, I know we're talking about defense, but you have Gabe Davis is supposed to be this next big thing last year. And then they have to trade up for Dalton Kincaid in the draft. Right. They plateau. And then all of it's like, oh, man. That's the thing is that it's not, the arrow doesn't always point up. Some of these guys just stagnate.

And it's just like, oh, the second round pick that's like, well, he was the second round pick. And it's, yeah, he's your fifth best rusher now. That's just the reality sometimes like set in. At least they at least seem to be active about it as opposed to a lot of teams. They're just like, no, no, I swear this is the year. I swear this is the year. And I respect that. They try to problem solve as much as they can.

Especially teams with their own draft picks, usually are like, no, no, no, he's a pretty little guy. Like he's going to be fine. He's going to be perfect. And it's like, no. And then it ends up getting them fired. So I do like that being and the rest of their staff are very active with this. Who do you have at seven? I have the Ravens at seventh.

Okay, I have the Ravens at six. Okay, okay, so we're getting into the same range right now. Yes. My number one stat with the Ravens is, I think I've talked about this before, but it was after the Roquant Smith trade, the Ravens ranked third in DVOA, and they went from 25th in success rate before, so weeks one through eight to 11th. So I know that's not top 10, but it is still up there. And this is while also ranking fourth and adjusted games lost. So this team is the second half of the year This was a tale of two cities for this entire defense

And so watching the defense It's almost you have to throw out the first couple months Of what you watched that season of last season Because now when you watch Roquan Smith The booster effect he had on the rest of the defense It makes me feel really optimistic About what they're doing this next year I agree but it's also they were throwing a lot of shit against the wall

During the first half of last year Everything at the beginning of the year It was the first year of Mike McDonald's their defense defensive court. Yeah. And they lived in that wink world for so many years where we're blitzing and we're playing man and we're holding on for dear life. And they underwent such a dramatic schematic shift last season that I think it took everyone

a while to kind of settle into what they were going to be. But by the end of last year, I thought they were just humming. Yeah. Maybe I'm putting too much stock in that Bengals game, that Bengals playoff game. But I don't think it's an accident that I think the best game they played defensively last season was the last time we saw them play. Yeah. You go watch that game and it's beautiful.

It's some beautiful mind shit on the back end. The rotations are perfect and they're matching routes really well. And I just, they're lined up in man, but then they play cover two. Yeah. Or it's stuff that it's not creative. It's not just confusing for confusing sake. It's not just crazy stuff where you're having guys run from the line of scrimmage into the deep, into the posts like the lions were doing at times last year. It makes sense.

It's all in service of having like a sound defense. And so I just think that Mike McDonald did a really good job last year. And I still think they have enough players to warrant this type of ranking. I had them six. I do have a couple questions, though. Yeah, it was probably with the front. But real quick, is what you're talking about is all that disguised and stuff really you could see in the last month. I'm Mr.

I'm tooting their horn every show about the Falcons offense. The Ravens defense made the Falcons offense look rough. Like they were one team. They couldn't pass the ball against them. It was rough. So it's and so that's one, they go against that yet. Then they go against Burrow twice and the Bengals offense. Couldn't get two more drastic differences of offenses and they make them both tough,

tough sledding against them. So having that versatility and the changing, I love that you bring up the disguise stuff because that was what made so tough and what made Burrow kind of hesitate at times was they changed the picture every snap. And that's what just, just caused a half second hesitation. So it's really cool to see that. Even things like now,

Kyle Hamilton was in the slot, they're going to move him around. I know this year. But it's like just those little tweaks of putting the guys in the right spots really helped out with this whole defense. And okay, at first in the year, they're blitzing on third down.

They're like, okay, let's stop that. We're getting gashed when we do that. It just showed that it was a defensive coordinator, defensive staff that was like, okay, we got a self-evaluate and self-scout week in,

and figure out what we're doing. I don't know. It makes you very bullish on what they're doing because now the pieces are a little bit better to see. I'm with you. I just think that you could see the growth. You could see the tangible growth over the course of the season. And it really was. I mean, again, it's just there was one play where, you know, Tyas Bowser like popped into the flat and they just played cover three behind it.

It was a simulated pressure. And just when you watch it all unfold, it's just beautiful defense. And it's all done, again, in service of this is the best way to attack this team. And I think that's why it all just makes sense in my head. So the two areas where I would be concerned, one, this team was not disruptive rushing the pass for last season at all. And that's with Justin Houston, who's not there anymore, and Clayus Campbell. So this is a big bet from them on O'Dafi O'Way taking another stuff forward and on David

Ojabo coming in and creating some noise in his first full season. If that doesn't happen, even with all the funky simulated pressure shit that they do, and they were the best defense in football when they didn't get pressure last year, just because of how good their coverage players are. But that's a dangerous way to live over long stretches of time. So if they can't find a way

to create pressure up front, I'm concerned. So I'm choosing to take the optimistic view of the young edge rushers. And the other side of this, Kyle Hamilton was awesome in the slot last year. Now you're moving them back. So I, again, I think that he can be really good, But it's a role change.

So if you're moving him into the back, now you got Arthur Millett and Damarian Williams, who was a fourth round pick, kind of fighting out that nickel spot, and Brandon Stevens is in the mix for that. So it's kind of unsettled back there. And maybe you get to a place where Gino Stone,

who's played a lot of snaps for this team over the last few years, he was a seventh round pick in 2020. Maybe your best bet eventually is him popping back to safety and Hamilton playing the nickel again. But those roles are not settled because of losing Chuck Hark and some of the other movements they've had at those positions. And when you have a defense like that,

then maybe start thrall down pressures, and you're playing in the freaking AFC and just think of all the quarterbacks you have to play against once December and January hit. And now you have to play these dudes. The Burroughs, the Josh Allen, them homes, the herberts, if you want to make that next step, even if playing Aaron Rogers of the world, the Jets offense,

is if you're disguising, and if they get a beat on what you're, doing and you're not getting pressure. Oh, then you got guys with their backs turn as they're trying to hide cover three and go to cover two, that leads the gashes because it's just like a blitz where guys running from one spot all the way to the opposite spot. But if you don't get that pressure of the confusion, that's where the gashes happen. So that is why what I'm saying is that just dovetailing what you're saying off of what

you're saying is that is hugely important that some of these guys make a step up. Even if Travis Jones of the world, defensive tackle they took from Yukon last year, it's like he flashed last year, but they need pressure somewhere. Some of these guys, I love Justin Maddibuque. I've hyped him up for about three years now. I was like, he's going to break out one of these times, but he's more of a super role player. But it's like they need three or four of these guys to be super role players. I wonder if they don't have that.

I wonder if they do. And a lot of those guys are gone now. Justin used to went to Carolina. Yoniken Gakwe's off the market. Ironically, two guys that have played for this team in the past. So our may may be like as we get closer to week one, they just look at you Devi and clowning and be like, fuck it. We just need one more body. It's the type of move they would make. You know, they signed JPP deep into the end of the season last year. They're always kind of

searching. So I wouldn't be shocked if they went out and got a Melvin Ingram or somebody like that, just as one more potential solution. But that's where I would have concern. I think they'll figure it out on the back end. I just have faith in what that defense has done over the last couple years. But the past rush, I'd be a little bit worried. And, you know, some of the confusion on the back end, that helps your pass rush. If you can have the quarterback, hold it for half a beat. That's what you're betting on. But again, it's hard to be a good defense in the NFL consistently if you're not affecting the quarterback consistently. And that's my only worry about them. But they were playing so well at the end of last year. I just, they were so much fun. I'm just giving the benefit of

doubt. I am. No, I get it. I get it. I'm high on this unit, even if I do have the question marks with the pass rush. But I just, I like a lot of things that they were doing, especially in December. I at number seven for me so I had the Ravens at six I have the Pittsburgh Steelers I have the Steelers at six okay so there you go just just flipped yep I just I mean they're there's some bad asses on this team every single time I want to be like hey you know maybe this is the end of the run for Tomlin and for the defense and it felt like that in the first half of last season like man they just are what is going on over there they've finished 10th and weighted defensive DVOA.

When T.J. Watt was on the field last year, they had a 63.5 defensive success rate. They would have been the highest in the league for the course of the season by a ton. They were sixth in the NFL and success rate over the second half of the year. They just always figure it out. And I don't think this is giving them too much credit because it's not like they don't have guys. Right. They have guys. True stars.

Yeah. They're defensive front. This is a really good, really deep group. Obviously, T.J. Watt. Alex Highsmith was really good for them last season. Cam Hayward is still here. Larry Ogunjobie. They have Marcus Golden now as a rotational rusher who's a good piece.

They drafted Keanu Bend in the second round. Make her big. This is, and who knows what they'll get from the rookies, but they don't need to get anything from the rookies. Anything would be a bonus. So those guys up front and Minka and. And I just, I think that they have a chance to be really good again. I do too.

I say, I just, my first knowledge is just, I really, really like this defense. I like, man, even if they're starting a second round rookie and an AARP member at Corner, like I still like in my, I still like optimistic about this defense because if there's one staff that knows out of high corners, it's been to Steelers for years. It's so true. It's a really good point. And that's why it's like most staffs, but they didn't vest. You know, they did take a second round of Joey Porter Jr.

And everything. But it's also just, they know how to hide their weaknesses. Year in, year out, beltwere been to pass and Tomlin and that they had Flores last year. But just no matter who was on that defensive staff with Tomlin is they will find the best ways to make their guys look good. They just know how to unlock it. There's just little twists that they do every single year. So that's why even if I have some question marks, okay, Cole Holmkeme got my linebacker, I like him. You know, it's like, okay, linebacker, but it's like their front is just awesome.

And then they got Mika Fitzpatrick on the back end. That makes me just like, it could be a really exciting unit. I make a Fitzpatrick, I think is the best safety in the game. Also won just the best pieces at any position about how they use them. They let them truly be an old school monster back that just reads the game. And then now they have five dudes hanging it after the passer. It's a cool unit that's, I think it's going to be really aggressive. And I think I have them at six.

And I had a fight tonight. even put them at the top five because I'm very bullish on this on this they could easily be better the only thing that's giving me pause is uh is like the question at corner is like one of the corner spots and what do you think about Patrick Peterson potentially moving to the slot because it sounds like that's possible and I would like that they're so they're working a bunch of guys out in those spots yeah it seems like a good next step for him and that seems like the best way to use him at this stage of his career yeah especially if they're not they don't live in man much anymore. So like that's a, and he's, that's the thing Patrick Pearson's, he can stick on, even his athletic

and his road is because he's smart. So like that's put him in a slot, let him use his eyes. I like that. I didn't, I didn't seen that rumor at all. So they're using him all over the place. Okay. So they're, they've got guys that been out of the lineup. I think that Keanu Neal is not practicing. And then I know Demontica Casey is a little banged up too. So they, they've even been using him at safety a little bit, Peterson. Okay. And then, uh, Arthur Mollette, who is their nickel last year is now on the Ravens. Think about that with him, like transitioning his career. That makes a lot of sense, actually. I actually liked it a lot.

It's camp time. So they're just like, fuck it. Like just let's let's have everybody play everything and see what works. But if it shakes out where Joey Porter Jr., who they drafted in the second round with the pick that they traded for Chase Claypool at the top of the second round. I was wondering if you're going to include that little piece of information there. If he wins that job at one of those outside corner spots and Levi Wallace is on the other side, which they're. They always have the 78 overall outside corner. A market this team is cornered.

It was Stephen Nelson for a couple of years. Now it's Levi Wallace. So that's one spot. And then if Joey Porter Jr. can step in at the other one. And then Peterson. And then they have that chance to play some dime with Neil and Casey together, just running back like the 2019 Falcon safeties. And so I just, I really do think there are so many interesting kind of permutations of the

personnel and they're consistently well coached. Terrell Austin is the defensive coordinator for this team. I feel like it's worth mentioning his name because he never gets talked about because of Tomlin. But they do they do such a good job. I wouldn't be surprised if they finish number one. You know, they easily could. Easily could. It's they just,

any units just has that kind of different. We talk about receiver rooms just having like the basketball lineup. I love any defense that has the pass rushers like that or defense of front that has the basketball line up. Just the freaks and the ass. kickers and the mallers, just all different types. We talk about the Titans kind of have just a bunch of glorified pocket pushers or the Patriots or anything like that.

Or the 49ers are a bunch of banshees. It's like what's cool about the Steelers front is that they got kind of brawn brains and athleticism. Like they just got a little bit of everything. And it's really fun. I'm glad he brought up Marcus Golden too because he's kind of always been a underlying metric darling as far as a pass rusher. And it's now he's your fourth, fifth, best pass rusher.

Just consistently. is effective. Always. You pay him like, I bet they're paying them less than $5 million a year. What do you think

Marcus Golden's making in 20203? 4.8. 6.2. Marcus Golden has a $1.1 million cap and he's making the minimum. How does Marcus Golden

getting the minimum? I don't know. Just film-wise, he's been, he's been a legit pressure guy. Like, film or metrics-wise, he's like just a guy that's always shirt on.

I mean, that's probably the only reason he's got that cardinal sting on. That's a very real thing. He's not a old Legion of Boom defensive back. Like, ooh, this guy's going to be great for us. Plop will take him out. So one thing I think is worth mentioning. We know Patrick Peterson's age. If he doesn't play, then maybe they piece that spot together.

Cam Hayward is going to be 34 years old. And he has played at least 15 games every single year since 2000. 2017. Every single year. The only year of his career where he's played less than 15 games is 2016. He played seven. Every other year, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 15, 16, 15, 17, 17, 17. I'm just just a monster.

And he runs down the ball every snap. So if the play, the run goes the opposite of his side, he still chases the ball down to the sideline. Like his effort at this age is at that size. It's rare, rare, rare. Like that's a leader you want when you got your gray-haired, big-ass defensive alignment running the ball down 30 yards down the field. That sets the tone for an entire unit. Did you see the clips of Kenyon Green playing fullback on Twitter this weekend?

Yes, I did. Yes, I did. So for people who haven't seen it, Kenyon Green, who they, Steelers drafted as an offensive lineman is getting snaps for at fullback slash like H-back tight end and catching passes. The element of those videos that I didn't see people talking about as much, they're tackling to the ground. Yeah.

Steelers camp is crazy. Like the physicality. It's the fury road. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, that's exactly what it feels like. Mike Tomlin, they walked down the hill. They walked down this long hill to get to practice.

And Mike Tomlin might as well be the duff warrior with the guitar as he walks down that hill every single day. And the reason I wanted to mention that is I remember being there last year. and Cam Hayward and I can't remember who else it was. It might have been Minka. They were just talking unbelievable amounts of shit to like Deontay Johnson. It took so much shit at those practices ever since I was there. He's 33 years old and he's just on the sideline during a random training camp practice on August 9th when it's 88 degrees outside.

Just talking so much shit. And the fact that those are the guys who set your culture, it matters so much. it just matters so much when your best players are wired that way. And I think that that's when you try to figure out why are they just the Teddy KGB thing, just hanging around and hanging around. That's why. It's because of that. And I think that that element plus, again, a lot of the talent that they have just lends

me to bet on them. And it's so much the human element of a, I always say it's an NFLC's a grind. But when you're, oh, wow, we're borderline 500. okay, and it's December and it's week 12 and we're beat up and then your number one captain and the guy that's paid tens of millions of dollars. So like you said, is the first one at practice or the first one to meetings or the first one to the building, always in the training room. And you're some rookie that's like, oh, man, we're not making the playoffs.

And it's like, oh, shit, the highly paid guys like beating me through the office. It's like, yeah, I got, I got to step my game up as well. That is such a real thing. If your number one guys are doing that week and week out, it just, it builds such a level, a baseline of culture. Because then you don't, even the coaches don't, it's, you know, the standard is the standard. They, oh, they did the little Tomlin video, you know, where they do the, it's like the training camp, you know, the staff, you know, the Steelers like social media team where they have a

question. But they said, like, what is your favorite Tomlinism? And a couple of the players said the standard is the standard. Yeah. Yeah. So boom. That's exactly what it is. That's the Steeler way right there and there.

Number five. Who'd you have at five? I had the Patriots at five. I had them higher on this list. I had them at number, I had them at number three. Ooh. I actually almost had it as a top three. And I got to,

I gave him a little slight bump down at the end. But yeah, fun team, fun, fun unit. A lot of, a lot of players I like on this unit. Last year,

last year, they're third and DVOA, first and weighted DVOA. Second, second and success rate. And I think they added their first round pick, even though it's a first round corner. So you only,

you know, take a bit of grain of salt. One of the weaknesses is, had last year was whenever they played receivers with size. And Christian Gonzalez, the corner that they drafted, has some size. It's a very lengthy corner. But on top of it, this is a evolving Belichick defense that does a lot of their staples, but has added a couple new staples or turned some dials than they have in the past.

I've referenced this a few times on the show. But this is the fastest Patriots defense that I can remember as far as athletic. Just this is the most team speed I've seen from this unit. And they've changed their, just, you know, a little less man, a little more quarters, a little more cover two, a little less blitzing. But man, they have so much more team speed than the big pluggers that we see in the past. They still have some of those guys. But just the Josh Uchase, the Kyle Duggers of the world, they have just more team speed. It's a lot of fun to see that type of unit with Bill Belichick.

Those two guys are the perfect two to point out. So Dugger is, he plays safety for them, but he also plays a little bit of everything. He plays some linebacker, he plays in the nickel. And he's just half. We said it last year. He's the modern defender. He's the modern NFL defender. That's what Kyle Dugger is.

And you look at any pre-draft measurements. The guy is just a crazy athlete. I mean, he just drafted out in the second round on Lenore Ryan. Like you have to be to go that high. But that type of player, I mean, they've had some guys in the back end that are like that. But in the middle of their defense, with that kind of size, he just is, again, you're so right that it's just a different type of athleticism. Christian Gonzalez, crazy athlete. I mean, crazy tools now on the outside.

And Uche is, they had all. these pocket pushers for so long, just these big-bodied guys. And Uche, to his credit, they drafted him in the second round in 2020. He was undersized. I think he didn't really know how to affect defensive tackles because he didn't have the power. And now he's definitely put on some strength, but he still was like a bendy, speedy guy. And so having that combined with all the pocket pushers they have, I love the front. Even guys like Dietrich Wise, who's like a rotational piece for them is a really nice player.

obviously Matthew Judon. I think they're deep at those spots. And the flexibility they have on the back end. That'll be tested this year. Devin McCordy is gone. He played 17 games for them last year. So Adrian Phillips, who was kind of a movable piece for them, now steps in potentially as more of a full-time safety.

But they just have so many bodies they can throw at that problem. Jalen Mills is still on this team. They have Gibral Peppers. So I think that they'll still figure it out. And they're going to rely potentially on Christian Godalice. at one of those corner spots because of Jack Jones's legal issues. He was, I think, arrested with multiple firearms at Logan, which is not great. But even if they don't have him this season, potentially having Christian Gonzalez and Marcus

Jones was good for them. And the nickel was a rookie last year. They just have so many guys at every level of this defense. And some of those schematic tweaks that they've made, they played more quarters last year than they ever have. And so it's, again, less hard downs on your defensive backs. they were the best team in the league last year in success rate while playing quarters coverage. And I would be surprised that they played more of it this year because they'd never done it before.

Never done it. Dude, dude, I remember talking to Deonti about that? I was like, dude, I was like, hey, I'm about to tweet something. Do you remember Belichick ever being a quarters guy? He's like, no. No, I was like, okay, good. Because like this is weird when I'm watching this team. They were playing the Bengals is when I was like really noticed it.

I was like, this is not a Belichick defense that I noticed. This is not your father's Belichick defense. They played 2.6% quarters in 2021. They played 10% on early downs last year. So almost five times, four times as much. So in all the underlying metrics, like you mentioned, number one in a way to DVOA, I had them third. That's, again, some of the moving pieces,

no McCordy, got a rookie corner. Those type of concerns, they were really healthy last year. They were the fourth healthiest defense in the league. So you can poke some holes in it, but I just think that the flexibility combined with the personnel at every level. I'm willing to bet on them. It's for me, it's that even if it is a rookie corner, they didn't even have that type of athlete or talent on their roster last year.

So even if he's a 76 overall before they were playing a 55 overall. So it's like even if he's not that player yet, but I think I am high on Gonzalez. I think he's going to be a solid player. But just to even think they like Kyle Dugger is a personal favorite. I named him my all pro team last year, maybe a year early. But I, but just what he can do. And I've called them the tight end eraser.

Just think about the division that they're in. They play the bills who just invested in the tight end in the first round. You know, teams like they also play the dolphins who will do some, you know, they go 21 looks, but they need that versatility because they might be in 21 personnel, the dolphins with a fullback out there, but they're spreading it out and doing different things. So when you on defense can stay in the same personnel and not get dictated by the offense, what have we talked about some of these offenses, these top offenses, finding different identities? the Patriots can just sit and die and they can solve your like whatever problems you present,

they can solve them out of the same personnel grouping. So they don't have that disadvantage. And on top of it, having the speed and that versatility, it's a very, very, very, very fun unit, very well coach and some like really interesting players. Like just interesting is the best word I could have for this team. They played dime at the highest rate in the league last year. Yeah. And the number that I thought was particularly notable.

They played dime on 17% of early down snaps. Because other teams will throw 6 dBs out on third down. A lot of teams do that. So they played 17% of early down snaps with 6 dBs on the field because of what guys like Dugger give them. That was three times the league average. So three times as often as a normal team, they play Dime on early downs because of the bodies that they have back there.

It's so cool. Because they're in dime, quote unquote, and Dugger is what 20 years ago would be a will linebacker. You know, it's like that's what's so cool about it. It's like even if the body types of change, you can still see some of that old school defense there, that old school DNA. That's the perfect kind of like, that's why Dugger is such an important player to talk about. He kind of like epitomizes what this defense is about.

And they took a guy, Mardi Mappu in the third round on a Sacramento state. And every single review or pre-draft profile you read of him is, well, you know, he's a real player, but what position does he play? And he's just going to have a hard time finding a position in the NFL. And a team drafted him, we're like, we don't give a shit. Yep. He's going to do a little bit of every. thing. So you just add one more versatile piece to the mix. And he's a third

round rookie who knows how much he'll even play. But just that sort of mentality is I think what defines this defense. So I had them all the way up at three just because of, I'm going back and watching them for our defensive lessons show, I like them even more than I remember just because of the mentality

they play with the front and then just all the pieces they have at every level. So I had them at three. They're a fun watch. We didn't even mention Judon the entire time. The guy they got like what, 15 sacks last year. Like that, but that's just speaking about how fun this defense is. Yeah, it's a good year. I'm glad you have them high up too because I was like, I had them like three, four and I ended up at five.

But it's a fun, fun unit. All right. So four for me, I have the Niners. And I have a two. You can easily put them higher. Fourth in defensive success rate last year, they did this while actually being, because we think of them as this terrorizing pressure team. They were actually middle of the road last year in pressure rate and they were still

this good on defense. What's another thing, too, is they were low on the TFL's or run stuff stat, too. So it's just, it's not what I expected when I went in to dive into these stats. Two things that out, three, three concerns, I guess, as to why the Niners maybe aren't one or two on my list. They lose Charles Omenahue and Samson Ebo-Cam and Free Agency. And Omenahoon played about 130 snaps inside for them. He did a little bit of everything. and they have the next group of this kind of annual parade of defensive linemen they trot out every single year.

It's a remember that guy? That's what they do. Hey, remember this guy? This is a highly drafted. Every year. It's the Chris Casar Career Abilitation Plan where these agents are smart. If I had a guy with tools that never figured it out with pedigree, I would send him there for a year and see what would happen. And so this year, those guys are Cleland Farrell and Taco Charlton.

are the guys that are in the Chris Casarer Career Abilitation Plan for 2023. But now they're betting on those guys. So you have it's funny because for a while they were better on the edge in terms of depth than they were on the interior because Kinlaw was always hurt. They had to move Armstead inside

because they didn't have enough defensive tackles. And now with Armstead being essentially a full-time interior player, we'll see if that sticks with Hargrave being there now. But now you got Armstead, Hargrave. Now the edge guys, I think, are a little bit weaker because if you, Drake Jackson, who they drafted in the third round, he's like a nominal starter for them now. And so you need a lot out of that group.

And if they take a step back maybe and they're not as effective as the last wave of free agent or, you know, whatever guys they signed, that's a question for me. And then how thin they are in the secondary. That was one hesitation I have more than anything was that. So I keep going. Lenore was good for them last year. He had to step in because Emmanuel mostly got hurt, but now he's the starter from day one. So now if you have that same thing happen and he goes down,

things start to snowball. They just don't have the same amount of depth. And maybe we probably would have said that this time last year. And he came in and played well. So maybe they can keep finding them in the woodwork, but I just think it becomes a little bit more difficult. And then the last thing is we'll see what Steve Wilkes does. Yeah, yep.

They hired from within for Dimeco. and they had some continuity with that staff, and now you have a guy coming in from the outside tasked with overseeing this defense. A lot of the elements of it are similar. If you look at coverage rates, just many things. Front structure is one of the reasons.

A lot of four-man fronts with Carolina that they could kind of carry over. The Panthers blitzed more than the Niners did last year, and the Niners were not good blitzing last season. They were actually bad as a blitzing team. They're in the bottom three in the NFL, an EPA per dropback. If he cranks up the pressure, that I don't love, I doubt he will with the players that they have.

No, and I think even when he was coming in, I think Shanahan and him, I think that just saw a tweet on this. And I want to say it was maybe a David Lombardi blurb. Sorry if I'm misattributing it. But that it was, hey, they met in, they came in, showed what they did on defense before. And they were like, hey, what do you want to bring into? And he's like, okay, this is a good match. So I think they were going in day one, knowing how to blend these defenses together. But I would say exactly what you're saying about the corner depth and everything like that.

I too like it's funny because like Lenore and Ward are actually like a fun corner pairing with some like physicality and like attitude that you don't see how a lot of corner pairings that I like. And I liked Isaiah Oliver that they brought in to replace Jimmy Ward at the slot spot. I thought that was kind of like a fun kind of a little, you know, a little signing there. Like just like kind of like a little flyer that they could take at that spot. But then but then you just bring up, you know, even if they do want to bring more pressures, I love watching Fred Warner. run from the line of scrimmage to go cover somebody. You know, they got a couple of guys in Drey Greenlaw can do that as well. So I totally get some of the, you know, edge, edge kind of depth as well, but I'm betting on

the guys that they do have and put it dropping in the grave digger right in the middle of that and just creating all that chaos. So I am betting on the healthier. That's why I gave him such a high ranking. And it's just like, I watch this defense. And I know Dimeco Rines is not there, but you watch this defense and it's just like, it's, they're like an Omiba. Like, everybody reads each other's minds.

Even if they're playing with their hair on fire and there's so much chaos, guys kind of feel their space together. You know, like a school of fish, they all know. They have like that thing where they can, the magnetic thing where they can know exactly where everybody is. That's exactly what this defense is. So they're all going in together, but nobody gets out of whack or anybody's, you know, I'm going to hear. There's two guys in the same gap and they get gashed. Like, even this defense, as chaotic as they are at what we picture them, but they gave up the lowest amount of explosive runs last year. Yeah.

Only 4% of the run plays that. they face last year were explosive, which is the best since 2017 of any defense. And that would be the argument against the way they play. They get up field and maybe you can catch them because of that. And in my head, I was like, oh, they get gashed. And it's like, nope, that's nope. They're just good. So that, yeah, it's, I'm just bending again, just that chaos I haven't had.

This might be the last iteration of this. This is sort of, you know, some pieces kind of go away. And as things change, money starts getting spent out elsewhere. But I think this defense could stay sticky and stay up there at the top. That's why I have number two. I had them at four. I had the Patriots. Who did you have at four?

I have the Jets at four. Okay. So I had the Jets all the way up at two. So we flipped the diners and the Jets. That's funny. Kind of like the same, but considered the backgrounds of those two teams. I actually almost had the Jets at two.

I swear. I almost had them at two and I ended flopping them with a different team. But they're pretty damn loaded. This is a damn loaded defense from front to back. in a very physical and fast defense from front to back. There are some competing elements of the Jets season last year that I think could talk you into them or make you a little bit more pessimistic about them. They're kind of yanking at each other.

Yeah. They were the healthiest defense in the league last season. I saw that. Important to acknowledge because they're probably not going to be that healthy again. But they were 29th in EPA generated on turnovers. So you assume they're going to create more turnovers. So even if they're a little less healthy and they create more turnovers, those probably are going to maybe even out.

Like theoretically, those would even out. So you look at some of these underlying stats. They were third in defensive success rate. They were first in everything. Everything. Everything. Everything.

They were first in passing success rate when the quarterback wasn't pressured, which I think speaks so well to their secondary and the guys they have back there. even a couple of the other moves that they made, they lose Chuck Clark, who they traded for. And they sign Adrian Amos. And then this guy, Tony Adams, is apparently pushing Amos to be the starter at safety. That's a good thing. It is. Because if Adrian Amos came to play.

Our patchwork guy doesn't have to play. Hell yeah. That's what you want. And they just have so much of that. I mean, they drafted Will McDonald in the first round. He doesn't even have to play for them. Jermaine Johnson played 151 past rush snaps for them last season as a first rounder. he's going to play a lot more.

There's a lot of coverage questions that I have that are good questions. Like, what are they going to do this year? I'll save that for the preview. But I just think personnel-wise, the guys they have, the way that Sauce played last year, they have no defined weaknesses. And it's not like they lived and survived on pressure and turnovers last season. None of it felt lucky. No.

Last year. They dictated a lot of games. They're a bo-a- they squeeze you to death. Yeah. And I mean, just, and they got two legit. legit stars in Quinn and Williams and Soss Gardner along with just awesome super role players and starters all three levels. And I love you bringing up the depth and kind of had the same note that two of their first

round picks were edge players and those guys are rotational guys. That is a good thing. That is a good thing that we're not relying on our rookie, you know, mid-first round pick edge. No, he can be our fourth guy off the bench. That's awesome. That's a good thing. And really my like one liner on this defense is it's a fast dynamic defense that,

essentially returns every key player. That's awesome. And then also you got C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams at linebacker. And I love that pairing. It's like just so many cool players. One of the best corner pairings. I'm off the top of my head, at least a top three corner pairing with DJ Reed and Soss Gardner.

Has to be. And DJ Reed was a nice hit in free agency. I mean, they paid him, but he played really well last season. He's a super number two. Like, and he's physical and he's smart. I know him and Soss have a good pairing together. Yeah, they just, that's nice. It's a nice unit that's just like has a lot of identity to it.

You can feel the Jets defense. And they really dictate a lot of games. And there's nothing that I saw maybe the health luck may regressing on the, in the bad way. But other than that, really nothing I saw that. I'm like, I don't see much dropping off. I actually feel better about it than maybe I did even going into last year. I feel the exact same way.

And again, you look at there's nothing fluky about it. They didn't live on turnovers. They didn't get all these breaks. And so you assume that. they might even be better at getting after the quarterback of this year. They barely didn't blitzed last year. They did. So they had the sixth highest pressure rate in the NFL last season while blitzing at the 29th highest rate in the league.

That's awesome. That's scary. And again, they could be even better up front this year. I loved that they brought Quincy Williams back. And here's why I loved it. It's such a declaration of what kind of team you want to be. Yeah. It would have been easy for them to let him walk after they had signed.

They knew they had to pay Quinn and Williams. obviously Aaron Rogers is coming eventually and they'd have to really spend some money places. Them being like, you know what? This is who we are. That guy with that mentality and you can feel defenses like that. And I think understanding why that's important

is such a sign to me that they know why they're good. If that makes sense, I just love that. And so when they did that, I was like, fuck yeah. That's the type of stuff I want to see. There's certain players on units that are kind of the mascot of the unit. And that's exactly what he is. Like, you know, like back in the Steelers, there's Troy Paul Moller or Harrison or something

like that. But it's just like every unit kind of has their guy that kind of epitomizes their team. Quincy Williams is that because no one, he delivers a spear as good as Goldberg did back in the day. That guy, this guy spears him with the best of him. He looks like edge out there winning the title belt with that spear that he puts on run backs. He does, man.

No one spears a guy over the middle quite like Quincy Williams. You know what it reminded me of? The Niners paying Drake Greenlaw. Yeah. That's what it feels like. And Drake Gleinlaw is that guy for the Niners to me. And he's lived up to it. Like he's, they paid, yes.

And he took another half step forward. And it was like, oh, well, actually, we got them kind of on a discount, actually. So I'm really excited to watch them. And the fact that they have so many bodies to rush the pastor with. And, you know, clearly when they got the dudes that they could really play. And again, a lot of stuff I want to dig into about that. Yeah. We'll save it for the preview.

All right. So I had the Patriots at three. Who did you have a three? I had the commanders. And this was the one that you. Three. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my God. I think the scene is pretty sick.

All right. Okay. I get it, but I still want you to sell me. The front. But no, it's, I say the underlying stats were even better than I assumed. But I watched this defense more when I was watching other teams' offenses go against them and watch them. They didn't really have any dips throughout the season. They made it tough on every offense they played against last year. And I think a lot of those key players, including the front, which is, I mean, they're starting four. Montes, Sweat, Durant Payne, Jonathan Allen, and hopefully a resurgent Chase Young is a pretty badass front four. That is going to be so, so tough. I think linebacker might be the weaknesses unit. I like Cody Barton more than maybe some other people did. He's a functional player. And I think that's a good, like, and they actually, you know, some pedigree with the other linebacker spot being a former first round pick. But I just, I think just this whole defense, starting with the front four, the guys that they added on the back end, their first round pick, and Emmanuel Forbes.

That's interesting to me. Even if he's not like the great spot, I think a lot of these defenses where we talk about too, they can hide some corner woes. And I think we've hinted at that a little bit. I think this is another one. And they're already adding some pedigree there.

So, man, I just think the front is just going to be so, so good. And just so, I know they already got paid and everything, but it's like, man, this front this year is going to be so good. And I hope Chase Young can come back to even 80% of what he showed his rookie year because it could be a very scary.

one as well. Okay. Here's why I didn't put them on there. A couple different reasons. I feel so burned by what happened in 2021, where they were this top 10 defense and that was Cam Carls. I think Cam Curl's rookie year or his second year. And they had all the pieces in the front.

I was like, oh man, this is, let's roll. Like this team is going to be really good defensively. And then they were 28th in defensive DVOA in 2021. And I feel so burned by that. I just don't know how much faith I have in Jack Del Rio to do this two straight years again. I get it. Because of that experience and, okay, now you played this certain way one year and you fell apart the next year when defense has decided this is how we're going to attack you. So in kind of year two of that timeline and that ebbs and flows that we've seen from them, what do they look like again in year two?

So that experience a couple years ago sticks with me. Even if we're excited about Emmanuel Forbes, they're still potentially trotten out two. rookies in the secondary. Right. I totally get that. So that to me is, and it's not like New England where I feel like they have so many pieces that eventually they'll figure it all out. They need those guys to play well for them.

And, you know, Benjamin St. Juist, you know, like, let's say he gets relegated to bench now. They've been good when he's played. So maybe it'll be fine, but that was one area. And then this is another, maybe a quieter one. Chris Harris was their defensive backs coach for the last few years. And he was somebody that I think got a lot of heat because of how well they played defensively last season and some of the strides that the safety's made specifically. And he's now in Tennessee as their passing game coordinator.

So losing that voice and kind of a guy who I think has been a stabilizing force for them on the back end, who knows if it'll end up mattering. But I do think that he is well regarded and his guys have played better than you expected them to play, essentially since he got there. And now they have a totally unproven DB's coach that I've never heard about before. I think it's his first year on the staff. That's, uh, well, credit to him is that also like Derek Forrest was a guy that like stood out to us. Exactly. That's a guy that a fifth round pick that's really turned into a nice solid starter. I get all that and I get relying on rookies, especially at DB.

I think just what it was one of those where it's like as I dove into the numbers, I'm like, man, they ranked that high. They're first and success rate. Number one. Like, number one. And then I kind of like went over my notes, a great awesome capona. of Google Docs as you can search through it. And I was just like, okay, what did I write about the commanders last year? And it's like, they made it tough on the Eagles.

They made it tough on this team. They made it tough on this team. And that's what stuck with me. And then looking at the personnel, seeing what they have up front. And that's my bet was that they were a little bearer, obviously, looking at the underlying numbers, then I even remembered them. And then just going, like, oh, they added this. They added this.

And this guy's another year older. That is what I'm kind of going on and betting on as a top three unit. I wish I had anything to I wish I had a rebuttal I wish I could say anything to refute that I just don't it's a lot of vibes Getting burned before right And I just have this sinking feeling

And again this is just like take bullshit That they could just be a train wreck I know that people are betting That people think they're going to be solid I think that there are plenty of futures Where they are solid And the defense is really good And how is even better than the quarterback play

they've gotten over the last couple years and be enemies decent as an offensive coordinator. I also think that it's possible this is a lame duck year. Everyone knows it and it just turns into a total disaster. I can't get that out of my head. So the Del Rio stuff year over year, that potentiality and just some of the unproven guys in the back end with a new defensive backs coach. Those are my arguments against it. I don't even think they're good arguments, but that's why I ultimately left them off. But what would we talk about?

Defense isn't sticky. These are the variables, secondly to the non-stickiness is the ones that you're just bringing up. And there's all, I totally agree. It's just one, as I talk myself more into it, I can say,

I'm going to bet on, I'm betting on that front. That's really what it came down to you. Not surprised at all. If you look at a lot of the actual landmarks and the signposts to follow, they should probably be in the top five. I just, I don't know.

I for whatever reason. I had to put the Texans on there, so I couldn't put Washington in my top 10. No, my chiefs got bumped. I wanted to throw them, playing a flag on the Chief's defense, but I couldn't get all the way there.

So defense is not sticky from season to season, typically. But both of our number ones, I feel comfortable about them being sticky at the top of the defensive rankings this year. We both have the Dallas Cowboys at number one. We do. All systems go. This could be an awesome unit, man. It's going to be fun.

I honestly wanted to put the Jets because it's different, and they haven't been up near the top like Dallas has been. You know they were top five last year, but this is the year where they solidify themselves. But looking at the Cowboys, I just had no reason to not put them up there. No. I was like, oh, they've been number one the last couple of years. I can't do it again. It's like, I just, I like him even more than I had even going into last year.

All the weaknesses that we've had that we've had with them over the last couple of years, they've answered the bell every time. And we've talked about this a little bit over a couple different shows, but they played man on 34.4% of their early down snaps in 2021. It was the second highest rate in the NFL. They were, they gave the fourth highest rate of explosive plays on early downs. That volatility and the chance taking that really defined that defense, they relied on turnovers.

And I was wondering, how are you going to be as good if you can't live that way? Well, they went from 34% man in early downs, which was second in the NFL, to 20%, which was 16th. and they went from having the fourth highest rate of explosive plays against them to 18th on early downs. And you look at some of the other things they did and the amount of cover two that they were playing and just the right amount of mixing. And you combine that with just really good personnel at every single level. They have the deepest edge rusher group in the league, I think, with Doran's Armstrong, Sam Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Micah Parsons, who's maybe the best defensive player in football after Aaron Donald at the third. this point.

They have no real weaknesses. Maybe linebacker, maybe Desmond Clark, but if you're going to have a weakness. Yes. So they'll just drop Jaron Kirst down and play three safeties. Because they have the bodies to do it. And their biggest weakness last year, in my opinion, was that second corner spot. They traded for Stefan Gilmore. Yep.

Yep. And which one of the real, like an amazing trade for them, like as far as what they gave up and what they needed and time went, everything. Time went to the word of the show. But also the other question mark they had last. year was, you know, nose, nose tackle. And they trade for Jonathan Hankins. I've talked about this on the show, but then they drafted Maisie Smith in the first round from Michigan.

It's so, and those are two different types of noses, even if they are both pluggers, but one is the classic, you know, beef and I'm eating it up. And Maisie Smith is a little more dynamic, even if he's going to kind of eat up some blocks as well. But they needed that because of just how just fast and aggressive the rest of their guys can be. And, I mean, even DeMarcus Lawrence is kind of, some. somehow somewhat underrated as a player, but he's one of the best, like kind of all around D.Ns in the week as far as playing the run and playing the pass. And he's their number two,

because they have Michael Parsons, who's just a freak of all freaks. So it's just all they have. Like, I just love their DB room. Like, you've already mentioned the different body types that they have and they have depth. Like, they even have some interesting kind of role guys behind their starters. And they already play six DBs. So it's, it's just fun, fun person. now, Dan Quinn has already shown twice now that he can answer the bell to any schematic question marks. This is a guy that was known as a cover three, Seattle cover three match and man coverage guy who's now running cover two designs and cover two disguises on all downs. It's, I want to see what the next twists are for this defense and the next evolution of

this defense, especially as they got some more more pieces that are actually like legit good players. So there's nothing that like got me off of the number one defense train. I wanted to find out argument against them, but it's more like, as I went through this process, I was like, no, I'm betting, I'm putting more chips on this being at least a top three, four unit. But it's like, man, I think it's going to be a number one unit, just a truly dynamic one. I had the exact same thought process. I wish it was more interesting than that, but that's where I landed because even the downside cases, let's say Gilmore's just dust, right?

They didn't have them last year. At all. And they were still the number one. They're just spinning the wheel trying to find somebody out there. That's, I know, right. Let's say Duran Bland, who was really good for them as a rookie in the nickel last year, gets hurt. Jordan Lewis is still on the roster. If they lose one of the safeties, they still have an extra safety.

So just so many different versions of this, the one number I thought would be interesting to throw out. So their run defense last year was kind of iffy at times early in the season. With Jonathan Hankins on the field last season, they would have, over the course of the year, their rushing success rate would have been the second highest in the entire league. It's only 78 rushes. It's not a huge sample. think notable. And talking to people there, the Hankins moment when he came in and they realized what it did to their defense, there's a direct correlation between that and them drafting

Mazie Smith in the first round. It had to be. It was a light bulb where they were like, oh, okay, if we have this, this is what we can be. And so I think that those two things are connected. And now Hankins is your second nose. Yes. So just one more layer of depth at every single spot. They've built this thing in an impressive way. And even the other defense attack, Odaizua, Osa Odaizua, like he's a, I think he's going to have a standout year this year, a breakout

year this year. I've been a fan of him the last couple, but I think he's going to take another step forward. But that Hanken's stamp, so I'm telling me, I wrote about it last year, and I was, mine was about Lain Vander Esch originally and about how he shored up the defense and everything. That's what my original article idea

was about to be about. And then I looked up the Hankins numbers, and I was wait a second he actually might be more important than the guy I'm writing the article about so I made sure to talk about him as well as like that it mattered because this defense is plays with their hair on fire that's what the Dan Quinn gets these guys going but the thing was some of these guys go rogue and what the what coaches you say the better be as in you better be right if you're going to do that you that's a better be because you better be right if you're going to go inside on that but they got away with it because they had some freaks but that's when also now you get a plugger that can hold it up and wait for you Vandrish cleans up the stuff. Now you got this nice mix of soundness, a beef of speed. It's, I'm getting excited because it's like, this is a really, really fun unit because of just the style that they play and the speed that they play with. And it's just they short up some of the question marks that we've had the last couple years.

It's going to be a damn good unit. See what happens over the next couple seasons. One of the things they've done so well is they found these pieces who were undervalued elsewhere and they've gotten the most out of them. specifically J. Ron Curse and Malie Cooker, both of whom have signed extensions. Malie Cooker just signed one, not for crazy money. I think it was for $7 million a year, like three years, 21. So they're not going to torpedo you, but these are guys they got off the scrap heap for nothing.

And now they've paid. So I think it's going to be a little harder for them to keep some of these pieces together over time. But this might be the best version of it that we've seen so far because a lot of those extensions haven't kicked in yet. Right. Cowboys live in their own world where it's like, oh, yeah, where do you go, we're you guys at this time. Okay, more Cap Hell. All right, how are we going to figure out this year? That's what it just feels like the Cowboys every office is to figure out how they navigate their next iteration of Cap Hill. This is their version of it now. All right. So for me, one through 10, Cowboys at one, Jets at two, Patriots at three, Niners at four, Bills at five, Ravens at six, Steelers at seven, Dolphins at eight, Titans at nine, Texans at 10.

Okay, Cowboys 1, 49ers 2, commanders 3, all NFC teams. Jets 4, Patriots 5, Steelers 6, Raven 7, Bills 8, Titans 9, Dolphins 10. You're going to look so stupid when the Texans are one of the best defenses in the league. You're going to have egg on your face. Just the Will Anderson project. No, honestly, I'm glad you mentioned them though, because I have, like, how I do these lists is just what comes to my mind. Where are the teams that just got instinct come to mind? And then my very last one I threw in there was Texans question mark.

Like, because I just had a couple of notes just in case you brought them up and you did. So it was perfect. No question mark for me, baby. Full steam ahead. All right. That's all we got. Really appreciate you guys sticking around with us. Fun news.

So we in the past have kind of squeezed our division previews into the final couple weeks before the season. We're not doing that this year. We're going to roll them out over the next. month or so before the season just to give them a little breathing room and we're also wanted to release individual videos for each team so we're going to start them this week we're going to kick it off with the nfc west going to dig into that on tuesday so very excited to get those going please be on the lookout for those also some fun news this week wednesday the first edition of the newly revamped prospects to pros featuring dain brugler

And our good friend Nate Tice. Wait, what? Yes. You have two days to conceive of a podcast with Dan, just to let you know. Okay, okay. All right, Dave, where's your big board at? He's already watched 220 guys, so we'll try and get through the first 10% of every guy he's bought so far. You two nerds together is going to be fantastic.

Awesome. I've been texting each other so much. I'm so looking forward to it. So if you guys love the NFL draft and we're hitting it early, we're going to look back at some second year players. We're going to talk about some guys currently in the league. You know, the draft landscape as we get started here. So please be on the lookout for prospects to pros on Wednesday. But until then, that is all we have for today.

I appreciate you guys listening. We'll talk to you soon. This was The Athletic Football Show.