Post 38 - Top 10 Defensive Tackles of 2015
Hello! And welcome to my corner!
In the coming weeks I'll be revealing my top 10 at each position and eventually my top 100 players in the NFL. Unlike the traditional rankings, though, I'm basing these rankings entirely on the 2015 season and the 2015 season only. Not looking further than that and without influence from their name alone.
Earlier this month I got this series underway when I revealed my Top 10 Kickers and Punters of 2015. I've now unveiled the Safeties, Corner, Inside Linebackers, Outside Linebackers, Defensive Ends and I'm now onto the defensive tackles.
Without further ado, then, here are my Top 10 Defensive Tackles from 2015:
Williams is possibly one of the more underrated players in the NFL, partly thanks to the value of the nose tackle position and partly because won't light up the stat sheet, but he was possibly the best player on the Ravens defense and is one of their key players. He is an absolute beast against against the run thanks to his immense strength and leverage. Against the pass he does a great job of collapsing the pocket or freeing up blitzers.
In the coming weeks I'll be revealing my top 10 at each position and eventually my top 100 players in the NFL. Unlike the traditional rankings, though, I'm basing these rankings entirely on the 2015 season and the 2015 season only. Not looking further than that and without influence from their name alone.
Earlier this month I got this series underway when I revealed my Top 10 Kickers and Punters of 2015. I've now unveiled the Safeties, Corner, Inside Linebackers, Outside Linebackers, Defensive Ends and I'm now onto the defensive tackles.
Without further ado, then, here are my Top 10 Defensive Tackles from 2015:
10. Marcell Dareus,
Buffalo Bills
51 Combined tackles (Comb), 2 Sacks (Sck).
Dareus has been one of the positions best for several years now, but he didn't seem like quite the same player this year in Rex Ryan's scheme. Nevertheless, he wasn't exactly bad either and still showed the same skills that have given him the reputation he has. Though his sack number wasn't that high, he was getting after the QB, and he was a force against the run.
51 Combined tackles (Comb), 2 Sacks (Sck).
Dareus has been one of the positions best for several years now, but he didn't seem like quite the same player this year in Rex Ryan's scheme. Nevertheless, he wasn't exactly bad either and still showed the same skills that have given him the reputation he has. Though his sack number wasn't that high, he was getting after the QB, and he was a force against the run.
9. Damon Harrison,
New York Jets
72 Comb, 0.5 Sck, 1 Forced Fumbles (FF).
Nose tackle is one of the worst positions to play if you are looking to rack up numbers and be in the spotlight, and for Damon Harrison it is even harder considering the quality on the Jets d-line. Nevertheless, he excelled. His 72 Comb is great but that isn't the whole story. If he wasn't in on the play, he was taking away at least one blocker and freeing up the other Jets defenders to make plays. That is a similar story for all of the nose tackles on this list.
8. Ndamukong Suh, Miami Dolphins
61 Comb, 6 Sck.
Nose tackle is one of the worst positions to play if you are looking to rack up numbers and be in the spotlight, and for Damon Harrison it is even harder considering the quality on the Jets d-line. Nevertheless, he excelled. His 72 Comb is great but that isn't the whole story. If he wasn't in on the play, he was taking away at least one blocker and freeing up the other Jets defenders to make plays. That is a similar story for all of the nose tackles on this list.
8. Ndamukong Suh, Miami Dolphins
61 Comb, 6 Sck.
Suh started the year slowly, but come midseason he was the same old Suh. He is immensely strong and shows that off on every single play with the way he can dominate in one-on-ones and even when being double teamed. Furthermore, he is great off the ball and can easily win with speed. Though he doesn't need more in his favour, his effort is. He can often be seen chasing down running backs - at least he was later last year.
7. Bennie Logan, Philadelphia Eagles
7. Bennie Logan, Philadelphia Eagles
55 Comb, 1 Sck.
Another nose tackle with plenty of talent around him. Logan was a rock for the Eagles d-line, and though Fletcher Cox gets all of the attention in the media and on box scores, Logan's impact cannot be ignored. His impact mainly comes in the run game, whether he is being used as a space-eater top free up other players or making the play himself, his presence is hard to miss when watching the Eagles.
6. Linval Joseph, Minnesota Vikings
Another nose tackle with plenty of talent around him. Logan was a rock for the Eagles d-line, and though Fletcher Cox gets all of the attention in the media and on box scores, Logan's impact cannot be ignored. His impact mainly comes in the run game, whether he is being used as a space-eater top free up other players or making the play himself, his presence is hard to miss when watching the Eagles.
6. Linval Joseph, Minnesota Vikings
56 Comb, 0.5 Sck, 1 FF.
Certain nose tackles, despite not being in the spotlight, are at least acknowledge to be threats going into the season, but no-one could've predicted Linval Joseph would have the season that he did. Like any nose tackle, he is mainly utilised in the run game, and like the others on this list, he was great in those situations.
5. Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Certain nose tackles, despite not being in the spotlight, are at least acknowledge to be threats going into the season, but no-one could've predicted Linval Joseph would have the season that he did. Like any nose tackle, he is mainly utilised in the run game, and like the others on this list, he was great in those situations.
5. Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
34 Comb, 8.5 Sck.
Amazingly, you could call last year a bit of a down year for McCoy. Despite that though, and playing through a torn rotator cuff and broken hand, McCoy seem to be that same old McCoy. As a pass rusher, he continued to play like one of the most versatile and productive at his position and he was pretty much as good as ever against the run thanks to his combination of speed and power. I can't wait to see what he does fully healthy next year.
3. Kawaan Short, Carolina Panthers
Amazingly, you could call last year a bit of a down year for McCoy. Despite that though, and playing through a torn rotator cuff and broken hand, McCoy seem to be that same old McCoy. As a pass rusher, he continued to play like one of the most versatile and productive at his position and he was pretty much as good as ever against the run thanks to his combination of speed and power. I can't wait to see what he does fully healthy next year.
4. Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
42 Comb, 11 Sck, 1 FF.
Having had a down year following his torn ACL, Atkins seemed to back to being the 'Silent Assassin'. Atkins was once again the heart of the Bengals defense and was involved with everything that they did. in the run game he always took up an extra blocker or found himself in the backfield and he was the same destructive pass rusher as always.
Having had a down year following his torn ACL, Atkins seemed to back to being the 'Silent Assassin'. Atkins was once again the heart of the Bengals defense and was involved with everything that they did. in the run game he always took up an extra blocker or found himself in the backfield and he was the same destructive pass rusher as always.
3. Kawaan Short, Carolina Panthers
55 Comb, 11 Sck, 3 FF, 2 Fumble Recoveries (FR).
Many players on the Panthers team performed at a very high level, but Kawaan Short joined the several players on the Panthers team who were among their positions elite last year. Short was tied for the lead in sacks from the defensive tackle spot and was not exactly a slouch against the run either. Short was the first line of defence for the Panthers and figures to be for the foreseeable future.
Many players on the Panthers team performed at a very high level, but Kawaan Short joined the several players on the Panthers team who were among their positions elite last year. Short was tied for the lead in sacks from the defensive tackle spot and was not exactly a slouch against the run either. Short was the first line of defence for the Panthers and figures to be for the foreseeable future.
2. Brandon Williams,
Baltimore Ravens
53 Comb, 2 Sck, 1 FF.Williams is possibly one of the more underrated players in the NFL, partly thanks to the value of the nose tackle position and partly because won't light up the stat sheet, but he was possibly the best player on the Ravens defense and is one of their key players. He is an absolute beast against against the run thanks to his immense strength and leverage. Against the pass he does a great job of collapsing the pocket or freeing up blitzers.
1. Aaron Donald,
Los Angeles Rams
69 Comb, 11 Sck, 1 FR.
The players on this list are all pretty close, but Aaron Donald stands apart from them. Donald is one of the best players in the NFL and is certainly close to J.J. Watt in how he wrecks offensive gameplans. Every week he'll make a splashy playvor completely kill a drive. On the other plays in the game he is probably being held. He is uncharacteristically fast for a defensive tackle but he is no weaker than any other. He can make a play virtually whenever, however and against whoever and is truly special.
69 Comb, 11 Sck, 1 FR.
The players on this list are all pretty close, but Aaron Donald stands apart from them. Donald is one of the best players in the NFL and is certainly close to J.J. Watt in how he wrecks offensive gameplans. Every week he'll make a splashy playvor completely kill a drive. On the other plays in the game he is probably being held. He is uncharacteristically fast for a defensive tackle but he is no weaker than any other. He can make a play virtually whenever, however and against whoever and is truly special.
There we have it, my Top 10 Defensive Tackles from the 2015 NFL season. What do you think? Think I've got it right or am I completely wrong? Let me know!
Next up? The Top 10 Offensive Lineman of 2015.
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