VOTE: Which defensive group is better?

[ZN0rseman]

Which of these defensive groups do you think is the most talented???

Vikings: Pat Williams, Kevin Williams, Jared Allen, Chad Greenway, EJ Henderson, Ben Leber.

Ravens: Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg, Trevor Price, Jarrett Johnson, Bart Scott, Ray Lewis.

[fivas14]

Definitely the Ravens.

[Vbsiena]

You would make a poll that shows who voted for who.

[MMONTERO]

Ravens are slightly better and much more proven.

[McNulty]

proven also means older and a lot of the success of both these units will depend on how the veterans for both these teams (Lewis, McAllister, Reed, Scott etc. for the Ravens and Fat Pat, Sharper, Winfield etc. for the Vikings) are affected by age, because no one can argue that the Ravens D is not what they used to be, they've lost key guys and their cornerstones are aging fast and the infusion of youth in Ngata, Suggs and Landry might not be enough to overcome their age.

McAllister is still a very good CB, but, although he is big and physical, he never had elite speed and he has and will struggle with burners. I agree that the Ravens are still a very good defense, but one has to be careful not to confuse the Ravens of the early 00's with the 2008/2009 Ravens. Lewis appears to be eternal, but it appears quite easy for ILB's to fall from grace (i.e Urlacher and Zach Thomas) and that line between elite and over the hill is very very thin.

[McNulty]

and can we please not underestimate the absolute ****tiness of Samari "Boy" Rolle. Seriously, if you are critiquing Cedric Griffin then can we please talk about Samari, cause from games that I've watched he just gets picked on and abused.

on a positive note though, i love tavares gooden and with the ravens knack for developing LB talent he could be special

[MMONTERO]

and can we please not underestimate the absolute ****tiness of Samari "Boy" Rolle. Seriously, if you are critiquing Cedric Griffin then can we please talk about Samari, cause from games that I've watched he just gets picked on and abused.

Puppy is gonna flip his ****...

That said, I agree.

[Adam Mac]

I had to go with Vikings slightly better. It hurts me to say it but I think you guys win the division this year

[PuppyPuncher]

You left out Suggs and Ray Edwards to give yourself the advantage. I think this has gone too far either way since we are both big time homers and won't be able to sway the other's opinion.

I don't really care about the popular opinion on this forum though, I know that the Ravens front 7 will produce.

[PuppyPuncher]

and can we please not underestimate the absolute ****tiness of Samari "Boy" Rolle. Seriously, if you are critiquing Cedric Griffin then can we please talk about Samari, cause from games that I've watched he just gets picked on and abused.

on a positive note though, i love tavares gooden and with the ravens knack for developing LB talent he could be special

Samari Rolle is a very frustrating player and the only weak link on this team. He doesn't deserve all the blame though since:

1) He's basically on an island and is never given help from Ed Reed. (This is why I think Fabian Washington will be a better fit with his elite recovery speed).

2) Throwing at C-Mac is a rare sight.

[Blazedestin]

Samari Rolle is a very frustrating player and the only weak link on this team. He doesn't deserve all the blame though since:

1) He's basically on an island and is never given help from Ed Reed. (This is why I think Fabian Washington will be a better fit with his elite recovery speed).

2) Throwing at C-Mac is a rare sight.

Whoo! Former Wildcats! I'm convinced Cason will turn out better than McAllister. >_>

On topic, the Vikings front seven is pretty comparable with the Ravens. Vikings have a better D-Line (Only thanks to the acquisition of Jared Allen), but the Ravens may have the best linebacking corps in the league, although Ray Lewis is aging.

[McNulty]

if the Vikings line is as good on the field as it is on paper then they could absolutely dominate. I'm not sure if it was this thread or another where someone was using the fact that Jared Allen isn't elite, because his team blew, say what?!?!?!? that's some ****ed up logic. No position in the NFL can make up for a ****ty team, sure a superstar QB can steal a couple, or a Deion Sanders type (even though he is one in a million) DB can win some with a game-breaking Int. TD and/or amazing special teams play, but no one can turn an awful team (as the Chiefs were) into a great team. And actually weren' they the wild card a couple years back. The fact that Allen piled up those stats with a crappy supporting cast against double and triple teams is a testament to his ability. So yeah i know that the Allen thing should probably be in another thread, but I still think it's relevant. But basically, if Allen and the Williams' are as good as they "should" be, with Pat taking up blockers and Allen attacking the QB, then they could be pretty ****ing dominant, and, I know this is the most overused line in all of sports right now but, the Super Bowl proved that nothing is more important than being able to rush the passer. And no amount of leadership from Murderer/Preacher? Ray Lewis will make the Ravens D superior to the Vikings.

[ZN0rseman]

Personally, I think Ray Lewis is well past his prime and is mostly just a name now. He's like Warren Sapp was a couple of years ago... other than the occasional cheap shot, he only gets his name called a lot by the announcers because of his fame/infame.

Now, I'll break down my vote in more direct terms...

DE Jared Allen > DE Trevor Price
DT Kevin Williams > LB Ray (has been) Lewis
DT Pat Williams > NT Kelly Gregg
DE Ray Edwards < DE Haloti Nagata
CB Antoine Winfield = CB Chris McAllister
CB Cedrick Griffin = CB Samari Rolle
LB EJ Henderson > LB Bart Scott
LB Ben Leber > LB Jarrett Johnson
LB Chad Greenway > LB Terrell Suggs
SS Darren Sharper > SS Dawan Landry
FS Madieu Williams < FS Ed Reed

Minnesota D: 7
Baltimore D: 2

Game over, Minnesota Wins.

$0.02,

--Z

[MMONTERO]

Personally, I think Ray Lewis is well past his prime and is mostly just a name now. He's like Warren Sapp was a couple of years ago... other than the occasional cheap shot, he only gets his name called a lot by the announcers because of his fame/infame.

Now, I'll break down my vote in more direct terms...

DE Jared Allen > DE Trevor Price
DT Kevin Williams > LB Ray (has been) Lewis
DT Pat Williams > NT Kelly Gregg
DE Ray Edwards < DE Haloti Nagata
CB Antoine Winfield = CB Chris McAllister
CB Cedrick Griffin = CB Samari Rolle
LB EJ Henderson > LB Bart Scott
LB Ben Leber > LB Jarrett Johnson
LB Chad Greenway > LB Terrell Suggs
SS Darren Sharper > SS Dawan Landry
FS Madieu Williams < FS Ed Reed

Minnesota D: 7
Baltimore D: 2

Game over, Minnesota Wins.

$0.02,

--Z

Why is Ray Lewis measured against a DT? Makes no sense. And every time people say Ray Lewis is over the hill he shuts their mouth for them. 121 tackles, 2 INTs, 2 FFs hardly seems over the hill for a MLB.

[McWatt]

D-lines - Vikings, no question.
LB - Ravens by a hair
So, Vikings win, by a lil' bit.

I voted according to that since, judging by your player examples, i thought we were thinking front seven. If we include dbacks, Ed Reed scores some major brownie points for the Ravens, but maybe not necessarily enough to be better than the Vikes.