DEFENSIVE BACKS

ORIGINAL DEFENSIVE BACKS WITH COMMENTARY

TIER ONE: 

1. Eric Weddle, SD

2. Oshiomogho Atogwe, STL

4. Michael Griffin, TEN

4. Erik Coleman, ATL

5. Gibril Wilson, MIA

__________

TIER TWO: 

6. Antoine Winfield, MIN

7. Nick Collins, GB

8. Antrel Rolle, ARI

9. Brandon Meriweather, NE

10. Roman Harper, NO

__________

Tier 3

11. Yeremiah Bell, MIA

12. Kevin Payne, CHI

13. Kenny Phillips, NYG

14. Troy Polamalu, PIT

__________

Tier 4

15. Quintin Mikell, PHI

16. Richard Marshall, CAR

17. Cortland Finnegan, TEN

18. Adrian Wilson, ARI

__________

Tier 5

19. DeAngelo Hall, WAS

20. LaRon Landry, WAS

21. Chris Hope, TEN

22. Kerry Rhodes, NYJ

23. Ed Reed, BAL

24. Bernard Pollard, KC

Dropped out: Jermaine Phillips (position change), Michael Lewis (concussions)

Notes: With Tanard Jackson suspended the first four games of the year, Jermaine Phillips moves back from WLB to the safety position. While Jermaine is still a nice option, the move back to safety will limit his opportunities initially. Keep your eye on this situation though. Once Jackson comes back, if Phillips moves back to WLB, he’ll instantly move back into the rankings. In his place, Kenny Phillips steps in. Working as the strong safety, he’ll have plenty of tackle opportunities.  Michael Lewis drops out until further notice as he sustained a second concussion within a two week period.
 

LINEBACKERS

ORIGINAL LINEBACKERS WITH COMMENTARY

TIER ONE:

1. Patrick Willis, SF

2. Barrett Ruud, TB

3. DeMarcus Ware, DAL

4. DeMeco Ryans, HOU

__________

TIER TWO:

5. Jon Vilma, NO

6. Jerod Mayo, NE

7. Karlos Dansby, ARI

8. Paul Posluszny, BUF

__________

Tier 3

9. David Harris, NYJ

10. DJ Williams, DEN

11. James Harrison, PIT

12. Chad Greenway, MIN

13. D’Qwell Jackson, CLE

14. Ernie Sims, DET

__________

Tier 4

15. Jon Beason, CAR

16. London Fletcher, WAS

17. Lofa Tatupu, SEA

18. Bradie James, DAL

19. AJ Hawk, GB

20. James Laurinaitis, STL

21. Curtis Lofton, ATL

__________

Tier 5

22. Channing Crowder, MIA

23. Ray Lewis, BAL

24. Lance Briggs, CHI

25. Gary Brackett, IND

26. Keith Rivers, CIN

27. EJ Henderson, MIN

28. Brian Urlacher, CHI

__________

Tier 6

29. Justin Durant, JAX

30. Kirk Morrison, OAK

31. Eric Barton, CLE

32. James Farrior. PIT

33. Derrick Johnson, KC

34. Lawrence Timmons, PIT

35. Thomas Davis, CAR

36. Stephen Tulloch, TEN

Dropped out: Nobody drops out, but there is some movement in the rankings. 

Jon Beason sprained his MCL, but reports are that he’ll be back by week 2 at the latest. Provided he comes back sometime before week 3, he should be fine over the long haul. But temper expectations; between a sprained MCL and the loss of DT Maake Kemoeatu, it will be hard for Beason to produce tier one linebacker numbers.
 

DEFENSIVE LINE

ORIGINAL DEFENSIVE LINE WITH COMMENTARY

TIER ONE:

1. Jared Allen, MIN

2. Mario Williams, HOU

3. Trent Cole, PHI

4. Terrell Suggs, BAL

5. Justin Tuck, NYG

__________

TIER TWO:

6. Julius Peppers, CAR

7. John Abraham, ATL

8. Gaines Adams, TB

9. Aaron Kampman, GB

__________

Tier 3

10. Albert Haynesworth, TEN

11. Robert Mathis, IND

12. Justin Smith, SF

13. Adewale Ogunleye, CHI

__________

Tier 4

14. Chris Long, STL

15. Osi Umenyiora, NYG

16. Shaun Rogers, CLE

17. Charles Grant, NO

18. Kevin Williams, MIN

19. Darnell Dockett, ARI

__________

Tier 5

20. Dewayne White, DET

21. Tamba Hali, KC

22. Aaron Smith, PIT

23. Derrick Harvey, JAX

24. Mathias Kiwanuka, NYG

Dropped out:

Notes: Not a lot of movement here, but Umenyiora drops a few notches. Umenyiora skipped practice last week, and even though he’s back in the fold now, you probably should keep your eye on this situation, especially since the Giants have a plethora of options.