According to many of the game’s aficionados, football is “the ultimate team sport.” Fans rave about the individual matchups the game provides, but it’s the factions on the team that make NFL franchises what they are. Corps such as the Los Angeles Rams “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line, the Pittsburgh Steelers “Steel Curtain” linebackers and the Cowboys bulldozing offensive line of the ‘90s contributed mightily toward their team’s success.
To further highlight the importance of group efforts, I’m working on a series entitled Boisterous Brigades. During this sequence, I will rank and breakdown the NFL’s premier duos, corps, tandems and fronts. As the series shifts to the defensive side of the ball, the first position of discussion is the defensive line.
When football minds harp about the idea of “it all starts up front,” they are discussing the importance of a defensive front controlling the line of scrimmage to create issues for opposing offenses. These guys can take immense pressure off the backend if they play up to par. Some defensive lines consist of dominant pass rushers while others specialize in stopping the run. Regardless of the approach, the goal is to be effective enough to disrupt an offense’s flow.
The following front fours (or threes) are ordered on individual production, statistics as a unit, and their respective team’s defensive ranks.
1. Buffalo Bills: Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Jerry Hughes
This unit may not receive much recognition from the casual fan, but this is the best unit in football from top to bottom. The Bills finished second in the NFL with 57 sacks; the defensive line accounted for 41 of those takedowns. This front is led by Pro Bowlers Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, and Marcell Dareus. Playing the right end spot, Mario racked up 13 sacks in 2013. Since coming in from Houston in 2012, he has 23.5 sacks in 32 games. After having a combined 18.5 sacks from 2016-2012, three-time Pro Bowl tackle Kyle Williams had a career-high 10.5 sacks last season. D-tackle Dareus achieved career highs in sacks (7.5) and tackles (71) on the way to his first Pro Bowl. Finally, Jerry Hughes capped off a solid campaign with 10 sacks and 46 tackles (both career highs). Gradually building this line over the past three seasons, the Bills have been rewarded with consistent production. With free safety Jairus Byrd now in New Orleans and middle linebacker Kiko Alonso out for the season, it will be more imperative for this quartet to perform at a high level.
2. St. Louis Rams: Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford
St. Louis finished third in sacks last season with 53, including 41 from the defensive line. The Rams front four arguably features the NFL’s best defensive end tandem in Robert Quinn and Chris Long. Quinn broke out in 2013 with 19 sacks to make his first ever Pro Bowl. Although Long was quiet last year, he has remained a disruptive force with 50.5 sacks in six seasons. Since all of the attention goes to the edge rushers, the Rams tackles get overlooked. Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford combined for 95 tackles and 10.5 sacks in 2013. Struggling in the secondary, St. Louis heavily relies on the pass rush. Now with Sam Bradford missing another season, their front must continue at their top-tier pace.
3. Carolina Panthers: Greg Hardy, Charles Johnson, Star Lotulelei and Colin Cole
Carolina’s defense played phenomenally in 2013. Second overall in rush and total defense, they usurped the average play of the offense and carried the team into the playoffs. Of the league-leading 60 sacks a year ago, 30 went to the front four. After 11 sacks in 2012, Greg Hardy piled up 15 takedowns on his way to Hawaii. On the opposite side, Charles Johnson registered 10 or more sacks for the third time in four seasons. Inside, rookie defensive tackle Star Lotulelei finished a solid campaign with 42 tackles and three sacks. The other d-tackle, Colin Cole, was the quietest of the bunch with only 15 tackles and a sack. The linebacker corps—featuring Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly and veteran Thomas Davis—received much fanfare in 2013, but the front was just as lethal. With the offense undergoing drastic changes in the offseason, more of the same will be asked of the unit.
4. Cincinnati Bengals: Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, Domata Peko and Wallace Gilberry
For much of the past decade, the Steelers and Ravens have represented the defensive mantra for the AFC South. The Cincinnati Bengals have slowly become the class of the division, thanks to tenacious play upfront. Cincy’s line boasted the fifth best rushing defense in the game. Coming back healthy is defensive tackle Geno Atkins. Before missing the second half of last season, Atkins exploded with 53 tackles and 12.5 sacks in his Pro Bowl campaign two years ago. Left end Carlos Dunlap, who has 27.5 sacks in four seasons, has been another productive young rusher for the Bengals. D-tackle Domato Peko has remained reliable throughout his eight-year tenure with the club registering 203 tackles and 12.5 sacks. Opposite of Dunlap is Wallace Gilberry, a veteran with 14 total sacks in two seasons with Cincinnati. The departure of Michael Johnson slightly dropped the Bengals on this list, but on the field they should continue to cause headaches.
5. New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison
There are two things that are constant on a Rex Ryan team: no offense and much defense. As the Jets struggled to score points for a second straight season, the defense once again rose to challenge. Instead of the usual shutouts the secondary pitched in years past, GangGreen got quality production from their front. Third-year defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson went for 10.5 sacks in 2013 after having eight in his first two seasons combined. Sheldon Richardson had 78 tackles and 3.5 sacks to earn Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Also in 2013, defensive tackle Damon Harrison pitched in with 66 tackles to help anchor the NFL’s third-ranked rushing defense. With all three linemen under the age of 26, New York can become an even larger handful against the pass.
Honorable Mention
Detroit Lions: Fans keep their eyes on Calvin Johnson, but Detroit has been one of the most ferocious teams along the line of scrimmage. Led by three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the Lions finished 2013 sixth overall against the run. Rookie end Ezekiel Ansah also played strong with his eight sacks. Despite their success, this defensive line placed outside the top five for two reasons. First off, the front lost edge rushers Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch before last season. Second, and most importantly, the weight gain of defensive tackle Nick Fairley has caused him to slide down the depth chart. Already with a subpar secondary, Detroit can potentially face more defensive issues in 2014.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @WCotchery2. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest in sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for? GO!
Interested in writing for us? Find out more by visiting our “Write for Us” page.
Main Photo:
