10. Tennessee Titans- This team had 22 interceptions last year, second most in the league. Much of this was assisted by a very good defensive line, much of which they’ve lost, which is why they’re down at 10. They should still be a very good unit this year though. Nick Harper and Cortland Finnegan are both fast cover corners who aren’t afraid to play press and run. Their safety tandem is good too, with veteran Chris Hope and young Michael Griffin who is quick enough to play corner on some teams.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers- The Steelers gave up less than 6 yards per pass last year because of their ability to keep the play in front of them. They also had a completion against percentage of less than 30 on first down. That’s putting your defense in a good position on second and third. The corners aren’t all word but they are good enough. Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend are both veterans who play to their ability every week. Ryan Clark was a nice upgrade at safety last year and really played well as almost a nickelback on some plays. I think Troy Polamalu is overrated. He makes plays yes, but he is caught out of position far too often. That being said, he is superior against the run.

8. Indianapolis Colts- They gave up less than six yards per pass, only 16 passing touchdowns and had 22 interceptions. All of this, despite the fact that their defensive line had a down year. The reason is incredible speed. Hughes, Hayden and Jackson may be the fastest corner trio in the league and that makes them a perfect fit for the Tampa 2 defense. Same for Bob Sanders who is terrific against the run and adequate against the pass. Antoine Bethea at times looks like a weak link but started to come into his own late in the season.

7. Baltimore Ravens- In years past I would have definitely ranked this team in the top 3. Samari Rolle is a little long in the tooth at this point and they could certainly stand to upgrade at the nickelback position. The rest of the unit are ball hawks though. Chris McAllister can get beat but he will also get 6-8 picks per year. Dawan Landry really came on last year and is proving to be a top safety in the league. Ed Reed is a little older also but he may still be the best all-around safety in the NFL.

6. San Diego Chargers- They may have been the best secondary in the league last year, especially with the arrival of Antonio Cromartie at cornerback. A ballhawk with blazing quick return speed. The interceptions will likely go down this year though, as teams have more video of him and are less likely to go his way. Quentin Jammer is a solid number two cornerback but not as likely to scare anybody. They lost Marlon McCree at safety which will hurt them this year. They go with the young Eric Weddle as his replacement. Clinton Hart is decent on the otherside.

5. Philadelphia Eagles- If this team could work things out with Lito Shepperd I’d make them number 1 or 2. I don’t understand why they don’t just keep all three and use them in a rotation. Why would the corners mind either, they wouldn’t be stuck on an island as often. Oh well, as it is they are still top five. Asante Samuel was probably the number one free agent on the market. Sheldon Brown is another pro bowl caliber corner on the other side. Brian Dawkins is older and probably in the last couple years of his career. That being said, when healthy I’m not sure he’s not just as good as the much more hyped Bob Sanders. If Sean Considine becomes a better tackler and/or they work out a way to keep Lito, this should be a spectacular secondary.

4. New York Jets- May seem like a stretch to some given their record last year but make no mistake this is an excellent secondary. The Jets were not a terrible defense last year and these guys were the main reason. Darrelle Revis and Justin Miller are outstanding cornerbacks. If the front seven can create pressure this year they will set the league on fire. Kerry Rhodes is a very good safety who could easily be a cornerback with his skill set. Abram Elam and Artrell Hawkins are the options at free safety and either should be able to excel in this system.

3. Oakland Raiders- Even the raiderhater has to give this unit props. Nnamdi Asomugha is the best draft pick the Raiders have made in a decade and an excellent cornerback who with one more good year could even be considered lock-down. DeAngelo Hall is way overrated, but as a number two corner he is an excellent option. Michael Huff moves to strong safety this year and should fit in there very nicely. Free safety is a little more up in the air, but Gibril Wilson should get that job and he was good enough to win a Super Bowl last year.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- A veteran group who are all pro-bowl worthy at their position. They only gave up 170 passing yards per game last year and that was in spite of the fact that they were very good against the run as well. Ronde Barber is great and has fantastic return skills. Philip Buchanon is as good a number two as their is. Jermaine Phillips and Tanard Jackson are as good a safety tandem as you’ll see playing both the pass and run.

1. Denver Broncos- There is no greater gap between number 1 and 2 at any position than there is between Champ Bailey and the number 2 corner in the league. Champ is a hall-of-famer and arguably the greatest corner in the history of the game. This is not bias. I do not proclaim every Bronco to be the best. I am an educated fan of the game and have watched the sport for 25 years…there was never a corner who could play the pass and run as well as Champ Bailey. Dre Bly had some trouble last year but most of that can be contributed to the lack of pass rush in Denver last year. Domonique Foxworth is a very good nickel. They have experience and depth at safety with John Lynch, Hamza Abdullah, Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel. If Denver’s front seven can get at the passer no quarterback will succeed against this unit.

- raiderhater, Senior Contributer and Owner of raiderhater.wordpress.com

Editor’s Note: This is not raiderhater’s fault that it was posted as Ryan Clady being the number one left tackle. It’s my job to correct mistakes. It’s not his fault because I didn’t catch it.

#10 Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings – O-Line Rank: #1

In his sophomore season last year, Tarvaris started to come into his own as a quarterback for the Vikings. He certainly is not a Top 10 QB in the NFL, and he certainly isn’t the best in this class either. But he is a very good up-and-coming QB, and his prime is ahead of him. Barring a career-ending or career-changing injury, I see him as a Pro Bowler within these next five NFL seasons.

#9 Eli Manning, New York Giants – O-Line Rank: #4

Eli was a star in the Super Bowl. Scrambling, breaking tackles and showing off his rocket arm along the way to the biggest upset in Super Bowl history. But, before the playoffs, Eli was a model of inconsistency for the Giants. He sported close to what was a 1:1 TD-Interception Ratio. But, if Eli plays like he did in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. He’s up there close to Big Brother Peyton.

#8 Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos – O-Line Rank: #9

Cutler’s good production level in 2007 was not so much to his credit as to the line and the emerging of B-Marsh. Cutler was diagnosed with diabetes this offseason – Doctors as well as Cutler and Team Officials say it won’t affect his career- but will continue to play.

#7 Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers – O-Line Rank: #7

Phillip has the same rank as his O-Line, number seven. The young gunslinger played through on a torn ACL during the AFC Championship…while L.T and Antonio Gates were watching from the sidelines. Phillip is a very accurate passer and is fairly mobile. But more often than not, he makes young QB mistakes, as well as not getting enough zip on his throws. I think Rivers will be fine though.

#6 Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles – O-Line Rank: #8

I think most people would agree with me when I say McNabb could be higher on this list, as well as a Hall-of-Famer had he avoided injuries. Let’s face it: McNabb is as brittle as your grandmother. Even this offseason, he injured his shoulder during Voluntary OTAs. McNabb is a very, very good QB, but he just can’t avoid injuries.

#5 Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns – O-Line Rank: #10

Derek Anderson was the surprise QB of 2007. He led the Browns to a 10-6 record (but they didn’t make the playoffs) in 2007. With the help of his Top 10 O-Line, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow – Anderson was a Top 10 QB last year throughout the NFL. Despite what Brady Quinn thinks, there is no competition this season for the QB job in Cleveland.

#4 David Garrard, Jacksonvile Jaguars – O-Line Rank: #2

Let’s be honest: the running game is the main attraction in Jacksonville. But, David Garrard succeeded as the starter last year despite having no clear-cut #1 wideouts. However, this offseason the Jags have added Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson, to add oomph to the passing game. Garrard’s production numbers will SOAR this season because of it.

#3 Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers – O-Line Rank: #3

Big Ben is King in the Steel City. He got a fat new contract, and his fat (big) target he wanted. Even though Pro-Bowler Alan Faneca was lost in free agency. Raiderhater still likes the Steelers’ line (he put them at number three) and I like the Steelers offense even more. But, Big Ben is still the main reason for their success.

#2 Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts – O-Line Rank: #6

#1 Tom Brady, New England Patriots – O-Line Rank: #5

- eneffell, Admin/Editor/Contributer and Owner of iform.wordpress.com

#10 – Cleveland Browns (AFC North)

What a difference a year makes. The Browns were one of the worst offensive lines in the league between 2004 and 2006. One very good offseason later I have the Browns in the top 10. The Browns ran for 118 yards per game last year and allowed only 19 sacks. They could easily be ranked much higher but with this whole team I am taking a cautious stance. I gotta see it twice. They are set up though. Kevin Shaffer hasn’t missed a game at right tackle in four years. Hank Fraley is a former pro-bowler and a starter since 2001 at center. Eric Steinbach has missed one game in four years. Joe Thomas could easily have been rookie of the year if only left tackle were a more glory filled position. The one question mark may be Ryan Tucker at right-guard as he has never started a full season. If these guys play to their potential the Browns offense should continue to grow.

#9 Denver Broncos (AFC West)

As much as many people feel the Denver running game has taken a step back, they ran for more than four and a half yards per carry and over 122 yards per game. The line also allowed less than two sacks per game. The Broncos defense is far more to blame for the lack of rhythm and production in Denver than the offensive line or the system. Which is why they are ranked this high. From center to right tackle all three guys started every game last year. Casey Wiegmann did so for the Chiefs. Between there and Chicago he has started 163 straight games. Tom Nalen could still start at center if healthy, and many feel he is a future Hall-of-Famer. Ben Hamilton returns from injury at left guard, where he is a long time Bronco Fave. Ryan Clady was the first Left Tackle taken in the 2008 draft. The Broncos will miss Matt Lepsis at left tackle as he is another future Hall-of-Famer who retired in the off-season.

#8 Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East)

This is arguably the strength of the Eagles offensive squadron. The tackle positions probably need to get younger in the future, but for now William Thomas and Jon Runyan are one of the better tackle combos in the league. Shawn Andrews and Jamaal Jackson are young and very good at Right Guard and Center respectively. Todd Herremans needs to play better at the left guard position but there is upward mobility there. The Eagles O-Line will look very good as long as Winston Justice doesn’t have to play the Giants.

#7 San Diego Chargers (AFC West)

Just look at Madden 2008. They’re all over 90 OVR. More to the point, they allowed only 24 sacks last year and ran for over 127 yards per game. They’re all back too, which is the main reason the Chargers are one of the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. McNeill, Hardwick, Dielman and Goff are all proven pro-bowl caliber players. Jeromey Clary at the Right Tackle is probably the biggest wild card, but showed very good potential last season.

#6 Indianapolis Colts (AFC South)

The Colts have given up fewer sacks than anybody in the league over the past five years. This is because they are excellent at drafting. Ugoh, Lilja, Saturday, Johnson and Diem are all home grown talents. Everytime they need somebody to step in and do the job, they have that guy ready. Ugoh was the best example of this last year. You can’t put up the kind of numbers the Colts have for nearly a decade now without solid O-Line work.

#5 New England Patriots (AFC East)

Some people are gonna have a problem with this. I understand their point. You can’t break every NFL offensive record imaginable without having a special offensive line. This team is proven to do one thing really well and that is pass block. I’m not so convinced that they are a great run blocking team. I would think Bill Belichick may agree with me. Why else did he become so pass happy last year? They only ranked 13th in the league in rushing per game. That is not entirely on the line because they weren’t asked to run block. If they prove more balanced this year I would consider myself proven wrong.

#4 New York Giants (NFC East)

This unit was one of the more surprising of the 2007 season and one of the biggest reasons the Giants won the Super Bowl. The Giants ran for nearly 130 yards per game and gave up less than 30 sacks despite having one of the most sackable quarterbacks in the league. David Diehl came into the season very heavily scrutinized and finally proved he was worthy of being a starting left tackle in the league. Seubert, O’Hara and Snee also vastly over-performed what many thought they were capable of. Kareem McKenzie is the veteran of the group and clearly had a very calming influence over his less experienced brethren. Not bad considering no first round picks, two undrafted free agents and one coach’s son in law.

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North)

Alan Faneca is going to be a huge loss. Yet, I think the Steelers should continue to do what they do best, excel in the trenches. There’s not a big name on the list but the Steelers have always excelled at filling their holes on the offensive line and I suspect this year will be no different. Smith, Hartwig and Simmons are reliable starters in the league. I think Willie Colon and Sean Mahey will fit into the Steelers running system perfectly. Pass blocking is a bigger worry, but Big Ben makes that pretty easy for his front guys.

David Garrard had a great season last year. Fred Taylor had a great season last year. Maurice

#2 Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South)

Jones-Drew had a great season last year. You can’t have all of these guys excel without the blockers being special. This team won a playoff game last year and still only had a pro-bowler because Willie Parker’s injury allowed Taylor to get in. So if I list the names Barnes,Manuwai,Meester,Williams and Pashos I won’t be too surprised if they don’t really register with many. This group is big,mean and physical and represent a throw back to the way football used to be played between the numbers. They dominated the Steelers front seven for much of the playoff game and held up well against the Patriots. This team is missing something but it is not on the line.

#1 Minnesota Vikings (NFC North)

It’s hard to judge their pass blocking because their quarterback is so inexperienced and at times inept. This team wants it’s identity to be the running game and no line in the league is even close to the Vikings at doing that. They are the only team in the NFL to run for more than five yards per carry  and had nearly a half yard more per run than any other team in the league. They had nearly 20 more yards per game than the other teams. Maybe the best left tackle in the league in Bryant McKinnie. Maybe the best left guard in the league in Steve Hutchinson. Maybe the best center in the league in Matt Birk. If they can continue to dominate and Jackson improves at QB this is a legitimate threat in the NFC.

- raiderhater, Senior Contributer at 3rd & Short and Owner of raiderhater.wordpress.com

Giants- Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress are both unhappy and sitting out of mandatory mini-camp, despite both being on the premises at the time of practice. Osi Umenyiora isn’t happy either, but he’s practicing. Resign Osi. With Strahan out you have to solidify the strength of your team, the DL. He’s worth the money and still has a big upside. Let Plax sit out. He excelled last year without practicing so how much could this hurt him? He’ll play at the start of the year, then get him a contract if possible. Trade or release Shockey. This team played much better without him crying on the field late last year. He is a distraction and a poor teammate who drops as many touchdowns as he catches. Let him go elsewhere and get much attention for little production.

Bengals- Trade Chad Johnson. I know you don’t want to do it but I think you have to. Yeah, he showed up for camp, but now’s he’s come up with about a dozen different reasons why he may not be able to contribute this off-season anyway. Ocho-Cinco (what a retarded nickname) is a very good but not great receiver. He is probably no better than TJ on the otherside. Get something for him while you can and work on changing the image of this team. I know Chad has not been one of the Bengals in legal trouble, but as a vocal leader he has done nothing to help the matter either.

Bears- Give Urlacher what he wants. Urlacher may or may not be the best middle linebacker in the business. What he is though is the face of your suddenly fledgling franchise and, unlike Chad Johnson that is a positive, thing. Urlachers defensive teammates refer to him as the gas that starts the car. Be more careful with Tommie Harris. It doesn’t take much for Drew Rosenhaus to think his guy is worth more. Make sure he is by convincing him to start the season, if possible, then work on negotiations during the season.

These are the biggest issues but certainly more will rise. Hopefully by training camp we can start focusing on the guys on the field instead of in the negotiation room.

- raiderhater, Senior Contributer and Owner of raiderhater.wordpress.com

 Shaun Alexander

Information

Age: 30

Years Pro: 9

Resume: 2005 NFL MVP

Reason Released: Alexander’s toughness was questioned by Seattle.

Turn-On: Alexander is an experienced runner who will run over guys in the open field.

Turn-Off: Alexander is far past his prime, and his age, injury problems, and his soft running style will hold him back as a free agent.

Possibly Interested Teams: Chicago Bears, Houston Texans.

Chance of Being Signed: 15%

 Cedric Benson

Information

Age: 25

Years Pro: 3

Resume: 4th Overall pick in 2005 NFL Draft.

Reason Released: Benson had two alcohol related arrests with Austin, Texas police in a month.

Turn-On: He is still very young and has lots of potential.

Turn-Off: His alcohol-related problems and he was an under-achiever in Chicago

Possibly Interested Teams: Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans

Chances of Being Signed: 70%

 Travis Henry

Information

Age: 29

Years Pro: 8

Resume: Pretty Good RB

Reason Released: Henry had substance policy problems with the NFL. And in addition to that, injury problems and commitment issues.

Turn-On: He’s a good overall running back that is elusive, yet has good power and vision.

Turn-Off: Injury Problems, Commitment Issues, and Substance Abuse issues.

Possibly Interested Teams: Chicago Bears

- eneffell, Admin/Editor/Contributer of 3rd & Short and owner of iform.wordpress.com

Chances of Being Signed: 35%

Oakland Raiders

The motto ‘Commitment to Excellence’ is no longer abided by in Oakland. But, after a 3-13 season, you can’t get worse can you? (Oops, sorry Miami) But, with D-Mac in Oakland this year, and arguably the best job in the free agent market in recent years by Al Davis; the Raiders should greatly improve this year.

The Verdict: On charges of going to be a terrible team in 2008, I find the defendant, NOT GUILTY.

Oakland reaches respectability and pulls very close to going to the playoffs in 2009. They miss the playoffs, but greatly improve with an 8-8 record.

Detroit Lions

They’ve never, ever won a championship, and probably never will. Even though Jon Kitna says, Quote “A disappointment if the Lions don’t win ten games this year.” Either Kitna’s smoking pot, or he’s trying to get his own stand-up on Comedy Central (if it’s the latter, it’s working)

The Verdict: On charges of going to be a terrible team in 2008, I find the defendant, GUILTY.

The Lions have never won an NFL Championship, and aren’t going to anytime soon. Especially with Matt Millen running the show in Motor City.

Houston Texans

Houston was 8-8 this year, the first time they haven’t had a losing record since they became an expansion team in the ’90s. Mario Williams – who was the #1 pick in the 2006 Draft – will probably make his first Pro Bowl in ’08. And in addition to that, the G.M in Houston did the right things in the offseason. And, keep in mind, they play in a tough, tough, TOUGH AFC South division (Peyton Manning, Jaguars, Vince Young, OH MY!) 

The Verdict: On charges of going to be a terrible team in 2008, I find the defendant NOT GUILTY.

A plus 500 record in this upcoming NFL season for the first time in the Texans’ history! They got plagued by injuries last year and they improved the RB situation. Congrats to the Houston Texans climbing out of the gutter.

San Francisco 49ers

Linebacker Patrick Willis was the NFL Rookie of the Year in ’07 with 172 tackles as a rookie. And, the ‘niners upgraded the offense significantly as well as parts of the defense. If Alex Smith proves that he was worth the top pick in oh-five (2005) the 49ers will be alright

The Verdict: On charges of being a terrible team in 2008, I find the defendant, NOT GUILTY.

After going 5-11 in ’07, San Fran’ will reach .500 in 2008 led by second-year LB Patrick Willis on D’ and fourth-year QB Alex Smith on the offensive side of the ball. If they continue up the right path they are on now, the 49ers will re-live the glory days of the ’80s soon after 2013.

- eneffell, Senior Contributer on 3rd & Short and his main blog is iform.wordpress.com

Contact eneffell at georgiabulldog4life@yahoo.com