This week, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be selecting starting lineups consisting of the best players from each division. In this article, the AFC North all-division team defense is the focus. While the Ravens run a multiple formation defense, and the Bengals run a 4-3, we will fit the players into a 3-4 defense because it is the Steelers and Browns base defense, and the Ravens, until recently, have been a 3-4 team.
2016 AFC North All-Division Team: Defense and Special Teams
Defensive End: Cameron Heyward
Heyward has been emerging as one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL during the past couple years. He has had seven and 7.5 sacks in his past two seasons, respectively. He has been the anchor of the Steelers defense that is revitalizing itself with new young faces.
Nose Tackle: Brandon Williams
As far as a pure nose tackle, there probably is not one better in the NFL than Williams. He will not wow you with sack totals, or even tackles for loss, but that is not really his job. He is an immovable object and in terms of pressures and hurries, he is probably underrated in his pass rushing abilities. It is hard to run up the middle on the Ravens and it is mainly because of Williams and his presence.
Defensive End: Geno Atkins
While Atkins is a defensive tackle in the 4-3 defense, he can slide over with the scheme change and has the skills to lineup with all of these studs. He is probably the best defensive lineman in the AFC North and last season put up 11 sacks while being named to his second first-team All-Pro of his career.
Outside Linebacker: Carlos Dunlap
Dunlap was a defensive end primarily for the Bengals, but is too good of a pass rusher not to throw on the team as an outside edge rusher. With the defense assembled this way, the team could also slide Heyward out to a 4-3 end and have Dunlap strictly rush the passer, which puts Atkins and Dunlap in more familiar positions. It would be a fun front to scheme with. Last year Dunlap exploded beside a revitalized Atkins by putting up 13.5 sacks and improving as a run defender in a major way. There are not many players you would rather have on the edge and chasing a quarterback at this point.
Inside Linebacker: C.J. Mosley
In only two years Mosley has ascended to being one of the best inside linebackers in the entire NFL. As a rookie he was named to the Pro Bowl, and was behind Aaron Donald in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Statistically he declined in 2015, but the defense around him was crumbling due to injuries and a lot more attention was paid to Mosley. Mosley still was able to find the ball and was either able to take up blockers or make the play himself. He is going to need to take another step now in year three, but he has the talent and the abilities to do it and become the core of the Ravens defense.
Inside Linebacker: Vontaze Burfict
When he isn’t being a crazed penalty waiting to happen, Burfict is one of the most feared and talented linebackers in the league. He does have a few legal hits on his resume that give opponents the idea that going over the middle of the field is not an option. Burfict has been sidelined by injury in the past, and will miss three games to start this season due to suspension, but when he is on the field there is no doubting that Burfict is one of the biggest impact players in the division.
Outside Linebacker: Terrell Suggs
Like Steve Smith, Suggs is now past his prime at age 33, and is coming off of an Achilles injury that ended his 2015 after one game. Also like Smith, Suggs is a guy that you do not write off until you see it for yourself. Suggs is coming off of a 2014 beforehand that saw 12 sacks. While you can make a case that another former superstar now past his prime, James Harrison, could make this list because he has been fully healthy this past year, he is 37, which is four years older than Suggs. In his past two years he combined to put up only 10.5 sacks, which Suggs beats from his 2014 season alone.
Cornerback: Adam Jones
Almost exactly in similar fashion to Burfict, it was Jones’ great play that took the Bengals to the playoffs, and it was Jones’ play that ended their season in the first round. Jones took a longer and less traveled road to his ascension but he is now finally living up to his top ten pick status in his thirties. Jones only allowed one touchdown last year and can play the slot, outside, and return punts. As far as an overall package, there are none better in this division.
Free Safety: Mike Mitchell
This was a tough one, and if looking at a career perspective, Eric Weddle wins this position easily after his move to the AFC North this off-season. However, when looking at the projection of 2016, Mitchell should bring more to the table. The Chargers were not just forgetting about their former All-Pro performer when they did not offer him a contract, and that seems to correlate to the fact that during the first week of free agency he was not any team’s top priority. It is because his play really dipped from his 2014 season, and now over the hill in NFL years (at 31), it is unlikely he is going to get better. Mitchell is three years younger, his play in year two with the Steelers was much improved, and with another year in the defense it should only get better. Mitchell already missed less time with injury, had more tackles and interceptions in 2015 than Weddle. With Weddle on the decline and Mitchell on the rise, it should not take long to realize who the better player is in 2016.
Strong Safety: George Iloka
Iloka is pretty underrated in what he brings to the table, and it showed when the Bengals saw him as a priority as a free agent this off-season over free safety Reggie Nelson. Iloka is a guy who brings multiple skills to the table, but is really at his best against the run. Add that to the fact that his competition at this position in the division is Ibraheim Campbell and rookies Sean Davis and Maurice Canady, so there really should be no dispute who the best strong safety is.
Cornerback: Joe Haden
Haden missed most of the 2015 season with a concussion. While the Browns will not be competitive, it would be in Haden’s best interest to have a nice bounce back year. He has all the skills capable of doing so, and while Jimmy Smith and William Gay can make an argument, neither are on the level of a healthy Joe Haden.
Kicker: Justin Tucker
Tucker, like many players in this division, can claim that not only is he the best in the division, he may be the best in football. Tucker was 37-44 last season, but that includes six kicks of 50 yards or longer. Some even were over 60 yards, as the Ravens tried to find points in any way possible last year.
Punter: Andy Lee
Lee was once the hands down top punter in the game in his San Francisco days. Now he is 33, and a bit past his prime, but is still one of the better punters in the league.
Returner: Antonio Brown
As crazy as it may sound, Brown still is a punt returner, which pretty much makes him a lock as the most talented returner in the division. Brown has a touchdown return in each of the past three years and has four total. Brandon Tate, the only other returner in the division with a case to make, only has three return touchdowns since 2011.
Make sure to check out the AFC North All-Division Offense if you missed it.
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