5- Pittsburgh- They've been among the best defenses if not the best throughout Mike Tomlin's tenure, leading the league last season in rushing defense, points allowed, and sacks. The addition of Cameron Heyward will help that great pass rush as well.
4- New Orleans- The 4th best defense in 2010 coming off a Super Bowl season, should be even better in 2011
3- Philadelphia- The 12th-best pass-rush should improve with the acquisition of Cullen Jenkins, but the real story is that great secondary, that features 3 pro-bowlers.
2- Green Bay- The League's fifth best defense won the Super Bowl after an injury-hampered season, it should be interesting to see what they can do at full-strength.
1- Baltimore- The League's fifth best pass-rush in 2010 remains intact, and the secondary (21st in NFL against pass), should improve with Ed Reed and Dominique Foxworth remaining healthy, as well as stud rookie Jimmy Smith, taken in the first round out of Colorado.
Top 5 Teams to Avoid
5- Detroit- The very talented young defense in Detroit still needs a little bit of work, being the 21st-ranked defense in the NFL.
4- Indianapolis- The once-fearful defense continues to get older and slower as the years go on.
3- Oakland- The loss of Asomugha burns a black hole in that secondary, and only 3 teams were worse than them against the rush in 2010.
2- San Francisco- Will be very good up front, but the loss of Nate Clements will hurt what was already the 25th ranked pass defense in the league. There will also need to be an adjustment period to the system that will be run by new coach Jim Harbaugh.
1- NY Giants- With Osi Umienyiora out for at least the first few weeks and a tough offseason in which they lost out on the Asomugha sweepstakes to rival Philadelphia.
Top 5 Steals
5- Denver- The NFL's worst defense in 2010 will get a good defensive head-coach in Jon Fox, to go along with a strong core of LBs and Elvis Dumervil, the 2009 NFL sack leader, who missed all of 2010 with a torn pectoral muscle.
4- Houston- Wade Phillips comes into the 3rd-worst defense in 2010 with quite a bit of talent, and was helped in the draft, with 6 of the 8 picks being defensive players.
3- Jacksonville- The additions of Matt Roth, Paul Posluszny, and Dawan Landry should help the 28th-ranked defense from 2010.
2- New England- A defense that in the words of Bart Scott, "couldn't stop a nosebleed", added Albert Haynesworth, Andre Carter, and Shaun Ellis to go along with many other young, exciting players.
1- Dallas- The talent is there, all they've needed is the coaching. Rob Ryan should fill that ever-needed void.
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