- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
NFL Analysis: Legion of Boom best DB group
By Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-analysis-legion-doom-best-144051942--nfl.html
When it comes to determining the best defensive secondary in the NFL, there is little reason for discussion. The title belongs to the Seattle Seahawks' Legion of Boom.
Still, Legion leader Richard Sherman will be happy to discuss the issue -- or any issue -- including why he should be considered the best cornerback in the league, which he may well be, although Arizona's Patrick Peterson begs to differ and New England's vagabond Darrelle Revis insists he still has game.
The Seahawks' rough, ready and rowdy group features two first team All-Pros in Sherman as the monstrous mugger (listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds but admits to being well over 200) at left corner and Earl Thomas as the free safety who hoards more real estate than Donald Trump. Add hard hitting strong safety Kam Chancellor and right corner Byron Maxwell and you have the key to a defense that led the league in scoring defense and gave up only 203.1 yards passing per game.
Maxwell, the newcomer on the Legion, which adopted that name in 2012, played so well last season that the Seahawks were comfortable enough to let former starter Brandon Browner and nickel back Walter Thurmond go in the offseason. Jeremy Lane is expected to fill the nickel back position.
Those who somehow didn't know about Sherman before last year's NFC Championship Game, certainly remember he was the guy involved in breaking up the San Francisco 49ers' last-chance pass to Michael Crabtree and then ranted about the play on national television.
But as much as he talks -- which is considerable -- Sherman backs it up with his play on the field.
At some point during all the raving about Sherman in the offseason, Peterson, the multi-talented cornerback at Arizona, claimed that he is better because he covers the best opposing receiver regardless of where that receiver lines up, whereas Sherman stays on the defensive left side. Revis, of Revis Island fame, says ditto.
After being considered the best corner in the game before blowing out his knee with the New York Jets in 2012, Revis played close to his best last year at Tampa Bay before jumping to the Patriots this year, where he will team with one of the league's top safeties, Devin McCourty.
Here is a closer look and analysis of every defensive secondary unit by Sports Xchange reporters who cover each team:
ST. LOUIS RAMS
--DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Trumaine Johnson, SS T.J. McDonald, FS Rodney McLeod. Backups - CB Brandon McGee, CB Lamarcus Joyner, CB E.J. Gaines, CB Darren Woodard, CB Greg Reid, CB Jarrid Bryant, CB Marcus Roberson, S Cody Davis, S Matt Daniels, S Maurice Alexander, S Christian Bryant, S Avery Cunningham.
How young is this entire group? Add them all up, and there is only a combined 11 years of experience in the NFL. No one has played more than two seasons. Jenkins didn't have as many big plays in 2013 as he did during his rookie season, but he was asked to do more. Johnson has played well at times and competes, so he should also improve. The battle for the first nickel-back spot should be furious between McGee, Joyner and perhaps Gaines. McGee struggled in the one game he had significant playing time last season, but coaches like his upside. Joyner, the team's second-round pick, is a versatile player that is expected to contribute in a variety of ways as either a cornerback or safety. It will be tough to keep him off the field. Gaines was a big-time producer at Missouri, and will be in the hunt as a sixth-round pick. Roberson is out to prove it was a mistake that no one drafted him, while Reid hasn't played since 2011 at Florida State. McDonald played just 10 games as a rookie because of injury, but is expected to make big strides this season. McLeod is the wild card. An undrafted free agent in 2012, he is somewhat undersized (5-foot-10, 195), but he had 87 tackles and the team didn't pursue a veteran to replace him. Both McDonald and McLeod have to make more big plays: They combined for three interceptions, 11 passes defensed and one forced fumble last season. Daniels has talent, but has been star-crossed since making the roster as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Injured reserve is where he ended both seasons, and he has played a total of just six games in two years. Davis was promoted from the practice squad last year. Two rookies, Alexander (fourth round) and Bryant (seventh), might be compromised by injuries. Bryant is still recovering from a foot injury that ended his 2013 season at Ohio State after five games, while Alexander underwent arthroscopic knee surgery after suffering an injury in OTAs.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
--DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Richard Sherman, RCB Byron Maxwell, FS Earl Thomas, SS Kam Chancellor. Backups -- CB Jeremy Lane, CB/S Deshawn Shead, CB Tharold Simon, CB Phillip Adams, CB A.J. Jefferson, CB Akeem Auguste, CB Chandler Fenner, SS Jeron Johnson, SS Dion Bailey, FS Terrance Parks, FS Eric Pinkins.
One of the Seahawks' major offseason objectives was to extend Sherman and Thomas. Mission accomplished, and Seattle now has the bulk of the Legion of Boom -- Sherman, Thomas and Chancellor -- under contract through 2017. Those three also rank as among the best at their positions in the NFL and the strength of the Seattle defense. Thomas has rare speed and awareness to play deeper than many safeties, and makes it hard for offenses to get big plays on the Seahawks. Sherman has shown he can back up all his talk. Chancellor doesn't talk much, but speaks loudly on the field, as Denver's Demaryius Thomas found out when he was laid out early by a Chancellor hit that set the tone for the Super Bowl. Seattle let Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner go in the offseason but wasn't worried due to the late-season emergence of Maxwell, whose 6-foot-1, 207-pound size fits the Seattle big-corner prototype. Lane projects as the starting nickel to replace Thurmond, who signed with the Giants. Lane played extensively down the stretch, quelling any fears about his readiness to step into a major role this season. Simon, a fifth-round pick in 2013 who sat out last year due to injuries, was one of the offseason stars and could become the backup outside corner. The team is also high on Jefferson, who spent the last four years with the Vikings and could also help in the return game. Shead is valued for his versatility, which could earn him a roster spot as a backup at just about every spot. Johnson projects as the backup to Chancellor, but needs to stay healthy. Parks was a revelation during the offseason and could also become a backup safety. Pinkins, the team's sixth-round pick in 2014, was drafted as a corner but is playing now at safety.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
--DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - CB Patrick Peterson, CB Antonio Cromartie, FS Tyrann Mathieu, SS Deone Bucannon. Backups -- S Rashad Johnson, S Curtis Taylor, S Tony Jefferson, CB Jerraud Powers, CB Justin Bethel, CB Bryan McCann.
Peterson covered the best receiver every week. He's an elite player but he can improve. Signing Cromartie gives coordinator Bowles the option of keeping each of his corners on one side of the field. Powers is smart and physical and will be the nickel corner until Mathieu returns from a knee injury. Johnson lost his job to Mathieu midway through the season. Mathieu is instinctive and makes a lot of plays. Johnson is smart and does a nice job of getting teammates lined up correctly. There won't be much of a drop-off is he is the starter while Mathieu is out. Bucannon, the first-round pick, has a reputation as a big hitter. Coverage is his biggest question.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
--DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - FS Eric Reid, SS Antoine Bethea, CB Tramaine Brock, CB Chris Culliver. Backups - S Jimmie Ward, CB Chris Cook, CB Dontae Johnson, CB Perrish Cox, CB Darryl Morris, CB Keith Reaser, CB Kenneth Acker, S Craig Dahl, S D.J. Campbell, S James McCray, S C.J. Spillman, S Bubba Ventrone.
The 49ers are likely to start the year with three different starters from a season ago. For the first time, Brock and Culliver are the projected starters joining newcomer Bethea, who signed to replace Donte Whitner. The only returning starter is second-year player Reid, who made the Pro Bowl after being taken in the first round out of LSU last year. For the second year in a row, San Francisco used a first-round pick on a strong safety when they took Ward - who they will start off as a nickel back while being groomed to play behind Bethea, who turns 30 in July. The team lost starting CBs Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers to the Oakland Raiders, making cornerback one of the more intriguing positions to watch during training camp. Cook, another free agent, has the size and speed the team likes but will have to improve drastically from his poor four seasons in Minnesota after being an early second-round pick in 2010.
By Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-analysis-legion-doom-best-144051942--nfl.html
When it comes to determining the best defensive secondary in the NFL, there is little reason for discussion. The title belongs to the Seattle Seahawks' Legion of Boom.
Still, Legion leader Richard Sherman will be happy to discuss the issue -- or any issue -- including why he should be considered the best cornerback in the league, which he may well be, although Arizona's Patrick Peterson begs to differ and New England's vagabond Darrelle Revis insists he still has game.
The Seahawks' rough, ready and rowdy group features two first team All-Pros in Sherman as the monstrous mugger (listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds but admits to being well over 200) at left corner and Earl Thomas as the free safety who hoards more real estate than Donald Trump. Add hard hitting strong safety Kam Chancellor and right corner Byron Maxwell and you have the key to a defense that led the league in scoring defense and gave up only 203.1 yards passing per game.
Maxwell, the newcomer on the Legion, which adopted that name in 2012, played so well last season that the Seahawks were comfortable enough to let former starter Brandon Browner and nickel back Walter Thurmond go in the offseason. Jeremy Lane is expected to fill the nickel back position.
Those who somehow didn't know about Sherman before last year's NFC Championship Game, certainly remember he was the guy involved in breaking up the San Francisco 49ers' last-chance pass to Michael Crabtree and then ranted about the play on national television.
But as much as he talks -- which is considerable -- Sherman backs it up with his play on the field.
At some point during all the raving about Sherman in the offseason, Peterson, the multi-talented cornerback at Arizona, claimed that he is better because he covers the best opposing receiver regardless of where that receiver lines up, whereas Sherman stays on the defensive left side. Revis, of Revis Island fame, says ditto.
After being considered the best corner in the game before blowing out his knee with the New York Jets in 2012, Revis played close to his best last year at Tampa Bay before jumping to the Patriots this year, where he will team with one of the league's top safeties, Devin McCourty.
Here is a closer look and analysis of every defensive secondary unit by Sports Xchange reporters who cover each team:
ST. LOUIS RAMS
--DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Trumaine Johnson, SS T.J. McDonald, FS Rodney McLeod. Backups - CB Brandon McGee, CB Lamarcus Joyner, CB E.J. Gaines, CB Darren Woodard, CB Greg Reid, CB Jarrid Bryant, CB Marcus Roberson, S Cody Davis, S Matt Daniels, S Maurice Alexander, S Christian Bryant, S Avery Cunningham.
How young is this entire group? Add them all up, and there is only a combined 11 years of experience in the NFL. No one has played more than two seasons. Jenkins didn't have as many big plays in 2013 as he did during his rookie season, but he was asked to do more. Johnson has played well at times and competes, so he should also improve. The battle for the first nickel-back spot should be furious between McGee, Joyner and perhaps Gaines. McGee struggled in the one game he had significant playing time last season, but coaches like his upside. Joyner, the team's second-round pick, is a versatile player that is expected to contribute in a variety of ways as either a cornerback or safety. It will be tough to keep him off the field. Gaines was a big-time producer at Missouri, and will be in the hunt as a sixth-round pick. Roberson is out to prove it was a mistake that no one drafted him, while Reid hasn't played since 2011 at Florida State. McDonald played just 10 games as a rookie because of injury, but is expected to make big strides this season. McLeod is the wild card. An undrafted free agent in 2012, he is somewhat undersized (5-foot-10, 195), but he had 87 tackles and the team didn't pursue a veteran to replace him. Both McDonald and McLeod have to make more big plays: They combined for three interceptions, 11 passes defensed and one forced fumble last season. Daniels has talent, but has been star-crossed since making the roster as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Injured reserve is where he ended both seasons, and he has played a total of just six games in two years. Davis was promoted from the practice squad last year. Two rookies, Alexander (fourth round) and Bryant (seventh), might be compromised by injuries. Bryant is still recovering from a foot injury that ended his 2013 season at Ohio State after five games, while Alexander underwent arthroscopic knee surgery after suffering an injury in OTAs.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
--DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Richard Sherman, RCB Byron Maxwell, FS Earl Thomas, SS Kam Chancellor. Backups -- CB Jeremy Lane, CB/S Deshawn Shead, CB Tharold Simon, CB Phillip Adams, CB A.J. Jefferson, CB Akeem Auguste, CB Chandler Fenner, SS Jeron Johnson, SS Dion Bailey, FS Terrance Parks, FS Eric Pinkins.
One of the Seahawks' major offseason objectives was to extend Sherman and Thomas. Mission accomplished, and Seattle now has the bulk of the Legion of Boom -- Sherman, Thomas and Chancellor -- under contract through 2017. Those three also rank as among the best at their positions in the NFL and the strength of the Seattle defense. Thomas has rare speed and awareness to play deeper than many safeties, and makes it hard for offenses to get big plays on the Seahawks. Sherman has shown he can back up all his talk. Chancellor doesn't talk much, but speaks loudly on the field, as Denver's Demaryius Thomas found out when he was laid out early by a Chancellor hit that set the tone for the Super Bowl. Seattle let Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner go in the offseason but wasn't worried due to the late-season emergence of Maxwell, whose 6-foot-1, 207-pound size fits the Seattle big-corner prototype. Lane projects as the starting nickel to replace Thurmond, who signed with the Giants. Lane played extensively down the stretch, quelling any fears about his readiness to step into a major role this season. Simon, a fifth-round pick in 2013 who sat out last year due to injuries, was one of the offseason stars and could become the backup outside corner. The team is also high on Jefferson, who spent the last four years with the Vikings and could also help in the return game. Shead is valued for his versatility, which could earn him a roster spot as a backup at just about every spot. Johnson projects as the backup to Chancellor, but needs to stay healthy. Parks was a revelation during the offseason and could also become a backup safety. Pinkins, the team's sixth-round pick in 2014, was drafted as a corner but is playing now at safety.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
--DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - CB Patrick Peterson, CB Antonio Cromartie, FS Tyrann Mathieu, SS Deone Bucannon. Backups -- S Rashad Johnson, S Curtis Taylor, S Tony Jefferson, CB Jerraud Powers, CB Justin Bethel, CB Bryan McCann.
Peterson covered the best receiver every week. He's an elite player but he can improve. Signing Cromartie gives coordinator Bowles the option of keeping each of his corners on one side of the field. Powers is smart and physical and will be the nickel corner until Mathieu returns from a knee injury. Johnson lost his job to Mathieu midway through the season. Mathieu is instinctive and makes a lot of plays. Johnson is smart and does a nice job of getting teammates lined up correctly. There won't be much of a drop-off is he is the starter while Mathieu is out. Bucannon, the first-round pick, has a reputation as a big hitter. Coverage is his biggest question.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
--DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - FS Eric Reid, SS Antoine Bethea, CB Tramaine Brock, CB Chris Culliver. Backups - S Jimmie Ward, CB Chris Cook, CB Dontae Johnson, CB Perrish Cox, CB Darryl Morris, CB Keith Reaser, CB Kenneth Acker, S Craig Dahl, S D.J. Campbell, S James McCray, S C.J. Spillman, S Bubba Ventrone.
The 49ers are likely to start the year with three different starters from a season ago. For the first time, Brock and Culliver are the projected starters joining newcomer Bethea, who signed to replace Donte Whitner. The only returning starter is second-year player Reid, who made the Pro Bowl after being taken in the first round out of LSU last year. For the second year in a row, San Francisco used a first-round pick on a strong safety when they took Ward - who they will start off as a nickel back while being groomed to play behind Bethea, who turns 30 in July. The team lost starting CBs Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers to the Oakland Raiders, making cornerback one of the more intriguing positions to watch during training camp. Cook, another free agent, has the size and speed the team likes but will have to improve drastically from his poor four seasons in Minnesota after being an early second-round pick in 2010.
