QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Aug 14, 2005 -> 01:17 PM)
The Bears could never, ever begin to approach the Elite 4.
New England
Jacksonville
Buffalo
Carolina
Let's take a look at this more closely. I will only list players who are above average (aka solid) or better. If you're merely adequate, you represent a hole as far as I'm concerned.
First off, one of the deepest defensive squads in the history of the NFL:
New England
FS: Eugene Wilson (All-Pro Caliber)
SS: Rodney Harrison (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Duane Starks (Solid), Randall Gay (Solid)
CB: Asante Samuel (Solid), Tyrone Poole (Solid)
OLB: Willie McGinnest (Solid), Rosey Colvin (Solid)
ILB: Ted Johnson (Solid)
ILB: Chad Brown (Solid), Monty Beisel (Solid)
OLB: Mike Vrabel (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Richard Seymour (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Vince Wilfork (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Ty Warren (All-Pro Caliber), Jarvis Green (Solid)
I'm counting 16 guys who are solid (aka above average) or better. There is not one hole on this defense.
It's New England, and then the following 3 teams:
Jacksonville
FS: Deon Grant (Solid)
SS: Donovan Darius (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Rashean Mathis (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Kiwaukee Thomas (Solid)
OLB: Akin Oyodele (Solid)
MLB: Mike Peterson (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: Daryl Smith (Solid), Greg Favors (Solid)
DE: Paul Spicer (Solid)
DT: Marcus Stroud (All-Pro Caliber), Tony Williams (Solid)
DT: John Henderson (All-Pro Caliber), Rob Meier (Solid)
DE: Reggie Hayward (All-Pro Caliber), Bobby McCray (Solid)
Buffalo
FS: Troy Vincent (Solid)
SS: Lawyer Milloy (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Nate Clements (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Terrence McGee (Solid)
OLB: Jeff Posey (Solid)
MLB: London Fletcher (Solid)
OLB: Takeo Spikes (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Chris Kelsay (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: HOLE
DT: Sam Adams (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Aaron Schobel (All-Pro Caliber)
Carolina
FS: HOLE
SS: Mike Minter (Solid)
CB: Ken Lucas (Solid), Ricky Manning (Solid)
CB: Chris Gamble (Solid)
OLB: Thomas Davis (Solid)
MLB: Dan Morgan (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: Will Witherspoon (Solid)
DE: Julius Peppers (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Brentson Buckner (Solid)
DT: Kris Jenkins (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Mike Rucker (All-Pro Caliber)
Now that we have the elite 4 out of the way, we have the teams ranked 5 through 13 IMO in no particular order because it's too tough to call at this point. Those teams:
Chicago
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Denver
Dallas
Washington
Tampa Bay
San Diego
Now, let's take a closer look. As I have said, I won't even attempt to put these teams in any particular order. I'll also have a 14-22 bracket for teams that are middle-of-the-road. Some might wonder why I don't have the NY Jets or Atlanta in the Top 13, but I'll go on to explain later. They'd round out the Top 15 IMO.
Chicago
FS: Mike Green (Solid)
SS: Mike Brown (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Charles Tillman (Solid)
CB: HOLE
OLB: Lance Briggs (Solid)
MLB: Brian Urlacher (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: HOLE
DE: Alex Brown (Solid)
DT: HOLE
DT: Tommie Harris (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Adawale Ogunleye (All-Pro Caliber)
Now, scroll back up real quick and compare the elite 4 with the Bears. We just can't f*** with those teams.
Philadelphia
FS: Brian Dawkins (All-Pro Caliber)
SS: Mike Lewis (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Sheldon Brown (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Lito Shepherd (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
MLB: Jeremiah Trotter (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
DE: Jevon Kearse (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: HOLE
DT: Corey Simon (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: HOLE
Pittsburgh
FS: Chris Hope (Solid)
SS: Troy Polamalu (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Deshea Townsend (Solid)
CB: HOLE
OLB: Joey Porter (All-Pro Caliber)
ILB: James Farrior (All-Pro Caliber)
ILB: HOLE
OLB: HOLE
DE: Kimo Von Oelhoffen (Solid)
DT: Casey Hampton (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Aaron Smith (All-Pro Caliber)
Baltimore
FS: Ed Reed (All-Pro Caliber)
SS: HOLE
CB: Chris McAllister (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Samari Rolle (Solid)
OLB: Adalius Thomas (All-Pro Caliber)
MLB: Ray Lewis (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: HOLE
DE: Terrell Suggs (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: HOLE
DT: HOLE
DE: Anthony Weaver (Solid)
Tampa Bay
FS: HOLE
SS: Jermaine Phillips (Solid)
CB: Brian Kelly (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Ronde Barber (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: HOLE
MLB: Sheldon Quarles (Solid)
OLB: Derrick Brooks (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Greg Spires (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Anthony McFarland (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Chris Hovan (Solid), Ellis Wyms (Solid)
DE: Simeon Rice (All-Pro Caliber), Dewayne White (Solid)
Dallas
FS: HOLE
SS: Roy Williams (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Terrence Newman (Solid), Aaron Glenn (Solid)
CB: Anthony Henry (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
MLB: Dat Nguyen (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
DE: Greg Ellis (Solid)
DT: Laroi Glover (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Jason Ferguson (Solid)
DE: Demarcus Ware (Solid), Marcus Spears (Solid)
Washington
FS: Sean Taylor (All-Pro Caliber)
SS: HOLE
CB: Shawn Springs (Solid)
CB: Walt Harris (Solid, Carlos Rogers (Solid)
OLB: Lavar Arrington (All-Pro Caliber)
MLB: Lemar Marshall (Solid)
OLB: Marcus Washington (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Renaldo Wynn (Solid)
DT: Brandon Noble (Solid)
DT: Cornelius Griffin (Solid)
DE: HOLE
Denver
FS: John Lynch (Solid)
SS: HOLE
CB: Champ Bailey (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: HOLE
OLB: DJ Williams (All-Pro Caliber)
MLB: Al Wilson (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: Ian Gold (Solid)
DE: Trevor Pryce (All-Pro Caliber), Ebenezer Ekuban (Solid)
DT: Gerard Warren (Solid)
DT: Monsanto Pope (Solid)
DE: Courtney Brown (Solid)
San Diego
FS: Bhawoh Jue (Solid)
SS: Terrence Kiel (Solid)
CB: Quentin Jammer (Solid)
CB: Drayton Florence (Solid)
OLB: Shawne Merriman (Solid)
ILB: Randall Godfrey (Solid)
ILB: Donnie Edwards (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: Steve Foley (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: HOLE
DT: Jamal Williams (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Igor Olshansky (Solid)
Now, here are the teams I have in the 14-22 bracket, in no particular order with the exception of the Top 2 in Atlanta and the NY Jets (the teams rounding out the Top 15)
Atlanta
FS: Bryan Scott (Solid)
SS: HOLE
CB: DeAngelo Hall (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: HOLE
OLB: Demorrio Williams (Solid), Ike Reese (Solid)
MLB: Ed Hartwell (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: Keith Brooking (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Patrick Kerney (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Rod Coleman (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: HOLE
DE: Brady Smith (Solid)
New York Jets
FS: Erik Coleman (Solid)
SS: HOLE
CB: Ty Law (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: David Barnett (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
MLB: Jonathan Vilma (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: HOLE
DE: Shaun Ellis (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Dewayne Robertson (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: HOLE
DE: John Abraham (All-Pro Caliber)
Minnesota
FS: Darren Sharper (All-Pro Caliber)
SS: Corey Chavous (Solid)
CB: Antoine Winfield (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Fred Smoot (All-Pro Caliber), Brian Williams (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
MLB: HOLE
OLB: HOLE
DE: Kenechi Udeze (Solid), Lance Johnstone (Solid)
DT: Kevin Williams (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Pat Williams (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: Erasmus Jones (Solid)
Tennessee
FS: Lamont Thompson (Solid)
SS: Tank Williams (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Andre Woolfolk (Solid)
CB: Pacman Jones (Solid)
OLB: Peter Sirmon (Solid), Rocky Boiman (Solid)
MLB: Brad Kassell (Solid), Rocky Calmus (Solid)
OLB: Keith Bullock (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: HOLE
DT: Albert Haynesworth (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Rien Long (Solid), Randy Starks (Solid)
DE: HOLE
Cleveland
FS: Brian Russell (Solid), Brodney Pool (Solid)
SS: Sean Jones (Solid)
CB: Gary Baxter (Solid)
CB Daylon McCutcheon (Solid)
OLB: Matt Stewart (Solid)
ILB: Andra Davis (All-Pro Caliber)
ILB: HOLE
OLB: Chaun Thompson (Solid)
DE: Orpheus Roye (Solid)
DT: Jason Fisk (Solid)
DE: Alvin McKinley (Solid), Kenard Lang (Solid)
New York Giants
FS: Gibril Wilson (Solid)
SS: HOLE
CB: Will Allen (Solid)
CB: Will Peterson (Solid)
OLB: Carlos Emmons (Solid)
MLB: Antonio Pierce (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
DE: Michael Strahan (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Will Joseph (Solid)
DT: Fred Robbins (Solid)
DE: Osi Unemenyiora (Solid)
Houston
FS: Marcus Coleman (Solid)
SS: HOLE
CB: Phillip Buchanan (Solid)
CB: Dunta Robinson (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: HOLE
ILB: Kailee Wong (Solid)
ILB: Morlon Greenwood (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
DE: Gary Walker (Solid), Travis Johnson (Solid)
DT: Seth Payne (Solid)
DE: Robaire Smith (Solid)
Arizona
FS: Robert Friffith (Solid)
SS: Adrian Wilson (Solid)
CB: Antrel Rolle (Solid)
CB: HOLE
OLB: Karlos Dansby (Solid)
MLB: HOLE
OLB: Orlando Huff (Solid), James Darling (Solid)
DE: Chike Okeafor (Solid)
DT: Russell Davis (Solid)
DT: Darnell Dockett (Solid)
DE: Bertrand Barry (All-Pro Caliber)
St. Louis
FS: HOLE
SS: Adam Archuletta (Solid)
CB: Jerametrius Butler (Solid)
CB: Travis Fisher (Solid)
OLB: Dexter Coakley (Solid)
MLB: Chris Claiborne (Solid)
OLB: Pisa Tinoisomua (Solid)
DE: Leonard Little (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: Ryan Pickett (Solid)
DT: Jimmy Kennedy (Solid)
DE: HOLE
And now, I present to you the absolute worst defensive teams in the NFL. Miami and Cincinatti would be the best of the worst.
Miami
FS: HOLE
SS: HOLE
CB: Sam Madison (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: HOLE
OLB: Junior Seau (Solid)
MLB: Zach Thomas (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
DE: Kevin Carter (Solid), Vonnie Holliday (Solid)
DT: Tim Bowens (Solid)
DT: Larry Chester (Solid)
DE: Jason Taylor (All-Pro Caliber)
Cincinatti
FS: Madieu Williams (Solid)
SS: HOLE
CB: Tory James (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Keiwan Ratliff (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
MLB: HOLE
OLB: Brian Simmons (Solid)
DE: Duane Clemons (Solid), Robert Geathers (Solid)
DT: John Thornton (Solid)
DT: HOLE
DE: Justin Smith (All-Pro Caliber)
Detroit
FS: HOLE
SS: Kenoy Kennedy (Solid)
CB: Fernando Bryant (Solid)
CB: Dre Bly (Solid)
OLB: Boss Bailey (Solid)
MLB: HOLE
OLB: HOLE
DE: HOLE
DT: Marcus Bell (Solid)
DT: Shaun Rogers (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: James Hall (Solid)
Oakland
FS: HOLE
SS: HOLE
CB: Charles Woodson (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: HOLE
OLB: HOLE
MLB: Danny Clark (Solid)
OLB: Travian Smith (Solid)
DE: Bobby Hamilton (Solid)
DT: Warren Sapp (Solid)
DT: Ted Washington (Solid)
DE: Tyler Brayton (Solid), Derrick Burgess (Solid)
Indianapolis
FS: Bob Sanders (Solid)
SS: Mike Doss (Solid)
CB: Marlin Jackson (Solid)
CB: HOLE
OLB: David Thornton (Solid)
MLB: HOLE
OLB: HOLE
DE: Robert Mathis (Solid)
DT: Montae Reagor (Solid)
DT: HOLE
DE: Dwight Freeney (All-Pro Caliber)
New Orleans
FS: Dwight Smith (Solid)
SS: Jay Bellamy (Solid)
CB: Mike McKenzie (Solid)
CB: Jason Craft (Solid)
OLB: HOLE
MLB: HOLE
OLB: HOLE
DE: Charles Grant (All-Pro Caliber)
DT: HOLE
DT: HOLE
DE: Darren Howard (All-Pro Caliber), Will Smith (Solid)
Seattle
FS: Ken Hamlin (Solid)
SS: Michael Boulware (Solid)
CB: Marcus Trufant (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Andre Dyson (Solid)
OLB: Jamie Sharper (Solid)
MLB: HOLE
OLB: HOLE
DE: HOLE
DT: HOLE
DT: Marcus Stubbs (Solid)
DE: Grant Wistrom (Solid)
San Francisco
FS: HOLE
SS: Tony Parrish (Solid)
CB: HOLE
CB: HOLE
OLB: Julian Peterson (All-Pro Caliber)
ILB: Derek Smith (Solid)
ILB: Jeff Ulbrich (Solid), Jamie Winborn (Solid)
OLB: Andre Carter (Solid)
DE: HOLE
DT: HOLE
DE: Marques Douglas (Solid)
Kansas City
FS: HOLE
SS: HOLE
CB: Patrick Surtain (All-Pro Caliber)
CB: Erik Warfield (Solid)
OLB: Derrick Johnson (Solid)
MLB: Shawn Barber (Solid)
OLB: Kendrell Bell (All-Pro Caliber)
DE: HOLE
DT: HOLE
DT: Lional Dalton (Solid)
DE: Jared Allen (Solid)
Green Bay
FS: HOLE
SS: HOLE
CB: Al Harris (Solid)
CB: HOLE
OLB: Nail Diggs (Solid)
MLB: Nick Barnett (All-Pro Caliber)
OLB: HOLE
DE: Aaron Kampman (Solid)
DT: Grady Jackson (Solid)
DT: HOLE
DE: Kabaar Biamila (Solid)
Sorry for the long post. Can you tell that I'm in football mode?
Props to you for taking the time to write that whole thing out.