2010 Top 12 defensive units in the country

[Texas Homer]

I expect Alabama's defense to be really good as long as Saban is coaching there.

Ohio st. usually has a stout defense as well.

I'm excited to see Texas Defense again next season. I've heard good things recently about Texas Jr. LB Keenan Robinson. I think he could work himself into a 1st round pick after a couple more seasons.

[Ozzy]

...what?

found this little picture for you

I was speaking about last year and the year before last. Always talk about this is the next great one, but last year they underachieved and never lived up to the hype. Of course they have a history of great safeties but have yet had another one, could even argue Phillips was never as good as everyone thought he could become. We will see, hopefully they develop, one of them at least has to for that defense to become great in my opinion.

bwillie26
True but that is recruiting and who he recruits and who he brings in. If they had players like Greg Jones, Sean Spence, or Michael Morgan you better believe they would be playing a base 4/3, still look at the roster they have no linebackers, mostly because I doubt they focus on recruiting many. But yes that is why they play nickle, of course, to play against the spread.

But if they had better linebackers I bet they would play a 4/3 more often.
Simple question .. if you play against spread teams with constant 3-4 WR sets, what exactly is the point of having 3 LBs on the field so that you are at a disadvantage? You expect them to cover the slot consistently, or are you going to attempt to drop zone coverages all night and allow B12 QBs all day to throw?

Just doesn't work that way, which is why he implements his 'Peso' defense, which I must say worked out pretty well. :)

Now you are entitled to your opinion about our LB core - but it's just irrelevant because we just do not use 3 LB sets, which is my original point. If you are going to judge our defense, at least do it with our correct base. That is all.

I fail to see what again you are arguing, the point is made and I agree with it. As for Nebraska, well I follow all defenses and teams, not just Nebraska so forgive me if everything is not to the T, if you want to speak on those other defenses I would love too. Any local fan can talk about their favorite team, is a lot harder to judge every team in my opinion. But yes I will watch more closely next year and see how often they play that nickle defense, because even in preseason magazines they have them in a basic 4/3.

[Sniper]

Originally Posted by HinesWardJr

No love for Penn State's D? They're consistantly in the top 10 in defense.

Their secondary looks like **** this year.

I would not be surprised if Ohio State ranks as the top defense in the country this year. Their depth is sickening.

[fenikz]

Originally Posted by Ozzy

I was speaking about last year and the year before last. Always talk about this is the next great one, but last year they underachieved and never lived up to the hype

Who is they?

[Ozzy]

Who is they?

Are you kidding? Armstrong was supposed to be the second coming, obviously he was nothing amazing last year. Nicolas at a time was supposed to be a great safety, or considered to be potentially. Reid supposedly is this next great one in line. Telemaque at least came out of no where so guess he had no expectations to live up too, but now he will for this up coming season. That is just this years roster, but odd there are a lot of them, will see what happens, hopefully they can get another great one in there.

[duckseason]

Originally Posted by Ozzy

12)
Should be a fine group, especially if Rowe plays up to his potential as a pass rusher. The linebackers are solid led by Paysinger and Matthews, they got good speed. The defensive backs should be good, Harris will be a star at corner, and Boyett is an experienced young safety. If they fill a few more holes they could be a solid defense.
DE Rowe
DT Bair
DT
DE
OLB Paysinger
ILB Matthews
OLB
CB C. Harris
CB Jackson
SS Boyett
FS

Good to see people are starting to recognize what we're doing defensively. Most people aren't yet aware that we've gone to a mostly one gap 3-4 look with a lot of zone blitzing. Basically a cross between what Dallas and Pittsburgh run.

Boyett is at FS, btw. We moved Eddie Pleasant to SS.

Here's our projected two deep:

DE Rowe/Irvin
DT Bair/Heimuli
DT Clark/Keliikipi
DE Turner/Jordan
OLB Paysinger/Clay
ILB Matthews/Littlejohn
OLB Kaddu/Lokombo
CB Jackson/Gildon
CB Harris/Mitchell
SS Pleasant/Johnson
FS Boyett/Lewis

Like I said though we are running a base 3-4 so you will often see Rowe or Jordan with their hand off the ground or a 4th LB such as Lokombo or Clay. We're going to be putting a lot of heat on QB's this year, but at the same time there are going to be exploitable holes in the gut of our defense. Once again the team most likely to beat us is probably Stanford.

[Hines]

Originally Posted by Sniper

Their secondary looks like **** this year.

I would not be surprised if Ohio State ranks as the top defense in the country this year. Their depth is sickening.

When doesn't Penn State's secondary look like ****?

The PSU corners have a lot of potential, though.

[fenikz]

Originally Posted by Ozzy

Are you kidding? Armstrong was supposed to be the second coming, obviously he was nothing amazing last year. Nicolas at a time was supposed to be a great safety, or considered to be potentially. Reid supposedly is this next great one in line. Telemaque at least came out of no where so guess he had no expectations to live up too, but now he will for this up coming season. That is just this years roster, but odd there are a lot of them, will see what happens, hopefully they can get another great one in there.

So 3 Freshman didn't live up to their potential? And Telemaque was a 4* recruit most everyone knew about him

[YAYareaRB]

Telemaque is gonna be 1st rounder in coming years. put that in the bank

[Cigaro]

Originally Posted by Ozzy

9)
Linebacker is the only group without real stars, have fast linebackers but Jeffery is the only really talented one. They have a lot of solid players and if they pick up their game they could be just great. Good defensive line led by Matthews and Ajiboye, Taylor should be a fine player as well. The defensive backs are outstanding, Gilmore is one of the best corners and Culliver is one of the best safeties, they have great depth at those positions as well. Potentially they could be one of the best defenses in the SEC and that is saying a lot.
DE Matthews
DT Ajiboye
DT Robertson
DE Taylor
OLB Jeffery
ILB Paulk
OLB S. Wilson
CB Gilmore
CB Auguste, Whitlock
SS Holloman
FS Culliver

Paulk is a more than solid linebacker. Possibly All-SEC player. Shaq Wilson is tackling machine. Jeffery plays SPUR, which isn't a linebacker spot, but close enough.

Culliver could be one of the best safeties, but he has clearly chosen not to. Sometimes he's down right horrible.

[Smooth Criminal]

I'm excited as hell about Ohio State's front 7. That group is so talented and deep it's amazing.

The secondary worried me a little bit simply due to lack of experience, but there are some talented players back there as well. As long as we get a consistent pass rush, and we will with that group, the defense will be great.

I am scared of playing Harris and Miami though. Fast QBs always give the Buckeyes problems.

[Ozzy]

Smooth Criminal I am scared of playing Harris and Miami though. Fast QBs always give the Buckeyes problems.

Harris is not a running quarterback for Miami at all really. He is quite a talented passer. It is not like they are playing Robert Griffin here or Michael Vick, let us be honest.

[Sniper]

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

I'm excited as hell about Ohio State's front 7. That group is so talented and deep it's amazing.

The secondary worried me a little bit simply due to lack of experience, but there are some talented players back there as well. As long as we get a consistent pass rush, and we will with that group, the defense will be great.

I am scared of playing Harris and Miami though. Fast QBs always give the Buckeyes problems.

Harris isn't fast. Black=/=fast.

[M.O.T.H.]

Assuming he's good to go, I wouldnt sleep on Rodney Paulk. He's a real talent. As for Shaq, he should excel in his new role, given a lot more blitzing opportunities. I'm liking the LB core...a little on the light side, but I think they'll surprise.

And just an FYI...Culliver is a corner now. Auguste was moved to FS.

[Ozzy]

Assuming he's good to go, I wouldnt sleep on Rodney Paulk. He's a real talent. As for Shaq, he should excel in his new role, given a lot more blitzing opportunities. I'm liking the LB core...a little on the light side, but I think they'll surprise.

And just an FYI...Culliver is a corner now. Auguste was moved to FS.

I saw that in Sporting News, I thought it was a roster error.

Why did they do that? Culliver was a fine safety, what do they really hate Auguste at corner? They also had Whitlock as well, kind of an odd move to me, why move your best safety to corner, not like they have tons of safeties but maybe Hollman improved from last year, I hope. Anyway hopefully this is finally their year as a team to be successful and actually contend. It is about time and they have no excuse now!

[Da Big Harv]

Culliver should be a tremendous corner he has all the physical tools and didn't quite have the smarts for safety I've heard

[LizardState]

If you like watching CB play, tune in Alabama at LSU on November 6th.

Peterson for the Bayou Bengals + Dre Kirkpatrick & Milliner, both freshmen, from Bama.

Everybody will throw at those 2 Tide frosh out there (til they get burned often enough or the Tide pass rush obliterates their QBs) but both of them were #1-ranked corners coming out of HS, & Milliner ran a 4.24 40 in Gadsden HS. Patrick Peterson might look bored by that latter p/o the season, he's a consensus 1st team AA & it looks like he's head & shoulders over all other CBs for the 2011 draft, so teams will avoid him like an airborne bubonic plague virus & throw away from him & at Claiborne on the other side.

[RealityCheck]

UNC-LSU will be great. Little vs. Pat Pete and Toliver vs. Burney.

[phlysac]

How close did Pittsburgh come to making your list?

The only players they lost whom were significant contributors were DT Mick Williams and CB Aaron Berry. Theyv'e improved at every other position.

[YAYareaRB]

Originally Posted by RealityCheck

UNC-LSU will be great. Little vs. Pat Pete and Toliver vs. Burney.

That O-Line vs D-Line battle is gonna be the story of the game, IMO

[thenewfeature06]

Bryn Renner should start for us haha of course I have no idea how he would handle it. I am comfortable knowing LSU has a QB controversy of there own though they are more talented. Yay probably said it but alot of things will play in to the winner.. I like the matchup but RC, Tolliver is huge while Burney is shorter and Pat Peet is a phenom.. :(

Zach Pianalto, our TE might have a day. BTW if this game was in LSU, not a chance we win.

[Ozzy]

Da Big Harv Culliver should be a tremendous corner he has all the physical tools and didn't quite have the smarts for safety I've heard

That is strange, hopefully he can make the transition, however rarely would a move such as this work out at the next level, more often than not he is not fast enough to be a corner or quick enough, that is why he was at safety. He had above average speed and quickness at safety, below average for a corner I would say, hopefully he can make the switch now and at the next level, but I doubt at the next level he will be a corner.

LizardState If you like watching CB play, tune in Alabama at LSU on November 6th.

Peterson for the Bayou Bengals + Dre Kirkpatrick & Milliner, both freshmen, from Bama.

Everybody will throw at those 2 Tide frosh out there (til they get burned often enough or the Tide pass rush obliterates their QBs) but both of them were #1-ranked corners coming out of HS, & Milliner ran a 4.24 40 in Gadsden HS. Patrick Peterson might look bored by that latter p/o the season, he's a consensus 1st team AA & it looks like he's head & shoulders over all other CBs for the 2011 draft, so teams will avoid him like an airborne bubonic plague virus & throw away from him & at Claiborne on the other side.

I am aware for that, I cannot wait to see what Kirkpatrick can do, and based on how Saban coaches up defensive backs I am quite sure both will be just fine.

phlysac How close did Pittsburgh come to making your list?

The only players they lost whom were significant contributors were DT Mick Williams and CB Aaron Berry. Theyv'e improved at every other position.

Like I have said before, their total lack of any real talent in their defensive backfield makes them not on this list. Berry was easily their best corner last year, and even he was not that good. Great front seven, but that defensive back field scares me. If they have developed some guys back there though they could be really good, will have to see it to believe it though. And even if they have success it is just because the Big East is pretty weak this year, not many great teams.

[Da Big Harv]

Millner should get a lot of time in the defensive backfield but for now it looks like Dre "swagmaster" Kirkpatrick and B.J. Scott are going to get the starting nod. There's a lot of speculation that Milliner will end up at safety with his size but, he should get playing time on passing situations for sure with Bama so thin at defensive back only returning one starter (Barron)