Long and Quinn Among Top 25 Edge Rushers/ NFL.com

[den-the-coach]

Ranking the top 25 NFL edge rushers

By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The League Editor
Published: June 19, 2013 at 08:01 p.m.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000213570/printable/ranking-the-top-25-nfl-edge-rushers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... ge-rushers</a>

We've taken a crack at ranking the best quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers in the NFL this offseason.

Next up: The edge rushers. This is a list of the players we'd want on our team for this season, and this season only.

For the purposes of this list, we are not including interior rushers. So the list does not include great disruptive 4-3 defensive tackles like Geno Atkins or superhuman 3-4 defensive ends like J.J. Watt.
The best of the best

1. Von Miller
2. Clay Matthews
3. Cameron Wake
4. Terrell Suggs
5. DeMarcus Ware
6. Aldon Smith
7. Jason Pierre-Paul

Miller's speed is breathtaking. A lot of guys can run fast in a straight line, but Miller is football fast. He gets around the edge in an instant, and he combines that speed with great smarts and strength. Miller's already the best edge rusher and he might only get better. ... Matthews can be just as disruptive as Miller if fully healthy. He still should have a Defensive MVP season in him. ... Wake is the next most consistent pass rusher. Even when he doesn't get a sack, he's changing the play. ... Ware has declined slightly from his peak, but remains in elite form. ... Aldon Smith racks up sacks but is a little less consistent snap to snap compared to the players above him. ... JPP might have the highest ceiling of the whole group if he recovers well from back surgery and learns more veteran guile.

Next level

8. Chris Long
9. Jared Allen
10. Julius Peppers
11. Mario Williams

Long has slowly, but steadily improved thoughout his five-year career. He only is hitting his peak now. ... Allen's sack totals declined last year, but he was still an effective pass rusher. The same is true for Peppers; he's still great even on the other side of his career arc. ... Bills fans saw in Williams what Texans fans often saw: very good final numbers that masked streaky play.

Knocking on the door

12. Bruce Irvin
13. LaMarr Woodley
14. Charles Johnson
15. Chandler Jones
16. Greg Hardy
17. Justin Houston
18. Robert Mathis
19. Carlos Dunlap
20. Tamba Hali

Irvin remains a little rough around the edges, but he's a pure pass rusher. He could evolve into Seattle's counterpart to Aldon Smith. ... Woodley is coming off a brutal 2012 season, but he's too good and too young (28) to give up on. ... Charles Johnson quietly gets it done year after year in Carolina. His teammate Greg Hardy doesn't do anything quiet, and could pass Johnson as the best pass rusher on the team. Justin Houston and Tamba Hali also remain one of the league's better duos. ... Jones could be New England's most complete pass rusher since Willie McGinest. It wouldn't be a shock if he's a top-five guy before long. ... Dunlap is a fourth-year player we believe can take a significant leap.

Knocking on the door

21. Ryan Kerrigan
22. Robert Quinn
23. Paul Kruger
24. Anthony Spencer
25. Michael Johnson

Kerrigan is the king of the near-sack, which suggests a breakout is around the corner. ... Quinn is part of a dangerous front seven in St. Louis and still hasn't realized his potential. ... Kruger was a part-time player until breaking out last season and cashing in with the Browns. ... Johnson put up most of his production in just a few big games before getting the franchise tag.

Just missed: Cliff Avril, Trent Cole, Elvis Dumervil, Melvin Ingram, Everson Griffen, Brian Robison, Derrick Morgan, Lamarr Houston, Kamerion Wimbley, James Harrison, Dwight Freeney, Whitney Mercilus and Osi Umenyiora.

 

[den-the-coach]

One of the most overused terms lately is "Breakout" getting tired of the word, however, IMO The Mighty Quinn is set for a breakout year and will be moving on up the charts to a deluxe apartment in the sky.

Come all without
Come all within
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn
Come all without
Come all within
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn

Everybody's building ships and boats
Some are building monuments,
others jotting down notes
Everybody's in despair, every girl and boy,
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here,
Everybody's gonna jump for joy.

Come on without
Come on within
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn

I like to go just like the rest,
I like my sugar sweet
But jumping queues and making haste just ain't my cup of meat
Everybody's beneath the trees
feeding pidgeons on a limb
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here,
all the pidgeons gonna run to him.

Come all without
Come all within
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn
Come all without
Come all within
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn

Let me do what I wanna do,
I can't decide 'em all
Just tell me where to put 'em
and I'll tell you who to call
Nobody can get no sleep
there's someone on everyone's toes
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here,
everybody's gonna wanna doze

Come all without(just singin a song)
Come all within(everybody)
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn(I wanna hear you sing!)

Come all without
Come all within (here he comes now)
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn (let's come on and sing)

Come all without (just singin a song)
Come all within (everybody)
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn

Come all without
Come all within
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn

 

[-X-]

Strange that Elvis Dumervil didn't make the cut.

Really strange.

 

[-X-]

[mp3]http://www.lzcenter.com/Music/68_91%20Manfred%20Mann%20-%20The%20Mighty%20Quinn%20(Quinn%20the%20Eskimo).mp3[/mp3]

 

[den-the-coach]

[mp3]http://www.lzcenter.com/Music/68_91%20Manfred%20Mann%20-%20The%20Mighty%20Quinn%20(Quinn%20the%20Eskimo).mp3[/mp3]

Thank you sir, may I have another!

 

[CGI_Ram]

32 Teams x 2 starting DE = 64 starters

We have 2 in the top 22 according to their ranking. Not bad.

I'd probably put Quinn in the top 20, but then again that list is loaded with good players. In addition, Quinn hasn't had that breakout season or stretch of games that will get him more recognition - yet.

 

[iced]

god Aldon Smith is so overrated...

his sacks come from Justin Smith's holding and nothing else - take out Justin Smith, Aldon Smith goes sackless.. a true elite pass rusher isn't leaning on Justin Smith to hold the guards/tackles