NFL All-Decade Team: Defense

A Continuation of the NFL All-Decade Team: Offense. Read that article here: NFL All-Decade Team: Offense

RE: J.J. Watt (2011-2015 HOU) 80 G 298 Tkl 74.5 Sk 45 PD 15 FF 4x Pro Bowl 4x All-Pro 3x DPOY

Jason Taylor (1997-2011 MIA/WAS/NYJ) 233 G 525 Tkl 193.5 Sk 77 PD 46 FF 6x Pro Bowl 3x All-Pro

As a Redskins fan, my memories of Jason Taylor are not always bright. Either there was turmoil while Washington employed him, or he created absolute havoc when we played against him.

Though he only has been in the NFL for five years, JJ Watt has as many Defensive Player of the year awards, as his counterpart does All-Pro selections. By the time Watt’s career comes to an end, he may very well be the greatest defensive player to grace the football field.

DT: Kevin Williams (2003-2015 MIN/SEA/NO) 203 G 373 Tkl 63 Sk 71 PD 10 FF 6x Pro Bowl 5x All-Pro

Defensive tackles often do not post eye-catching statistics due to being an entire lineman, but Williams does not follow that trend. Williams posted 63 sacks over his thirteen-year career and also forced ten fumbles.

OLB: DeMarcus Ware (2005-2015 DAL/DEN) 168 G 496 Tkl 134.5 Sk 25 PD 35 FF 9x Pro Bowl 4x All-Pro

Von Miller (2011-2015 DEN) 72 G 210 Tkl 60.0 Sk 10 PD 17 FF 4x Pro Bowl 2x All-Pro

This Broncos would dominate all opposing offensive tackles if the All-Decade team was real. Ware, who is in the twilight of his career, was a force in Dallas and brought down the quarterback 117 times in his nine-year tenure with the Cowboys.

Miller, on the other hand, has been arguably the best outside linebacker in the NFL since 2011. If Miller continues to post his current statistics, by the end of his career he could have over 130 sacks.

ILB: Ray Lewis (1996-2012 BAL) 228 G 1562 Tkl 41.5 Sk 31 INT 81 PD 19 FF 13x Pro Bowl 7x All-Pro 2x DPOY

Luke Kuechly (2012-2015 CAR) 61 G 382 Tkl 7.0 Sk  11 INT 39 PD 3 FF 3x Pro Bowl 3x All-Pro 1x DPOY

Ray Lewis was the most obvious choice on the team. “Sugar” was a force whenever he was between the sidelines and made over 1,500 tackles in his 228 games. The  Associated Press named him Defensive Player of the Year twice, he one of two players to achieve that feat in the past seventeen years.

CB: Charles Woodson (1998-2015 OAK/GB) 254 G 65 INT 155 PD 983 Tkl 20.o Sk 9x Pro Bowl 4x All-Pro 1x DPOY

Champ Bailey (1999-2013 WAS/DEN) 215 G 52 INT 70 PD 812 PD 12x Pro Bowl 5x All-Pro

Father time never caught up with Charles Woodson. Even in his final season, Woodson picked off opposing quarterbacks five times and made the Pro Bowl at age 39.

Champ Bailey leads all defensive backs with twelve Pro Bowl selections and was a lock down corner for over ten years. The former Broncos’ career will come to an end in 2019 when he will most likely be a first ballot Hall of Famer

FS: Ed Reed (2002-2013 BAL/NYJ/HOU) 174 G 64 INT 141 PD 531 Tkl 11 FF 9x Pro Bowl 5x All-Pro

S: Brian Dawkins (1996-2011 PHI-DEN) 224 G 37 INT 120 PD 895 Tkl 26 Sk 36 FF 9x Pro Bowl 4x All-Pro

Ed Reed and Ray Lewis were two of the most feared defenders during the 2000s. Reed  caused 75 turnovers during his time in Baltimore, New York, and Houston.

Fans will remember Brian Dawkins as one of the hardest hitters of the modern era. The statistics back that notion, as he forced 36 fumbles over sixteen years.

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