B/R ranking of best 4-3 DEs for 2015.

[KB_fan]

Yes, I'll add this to my compilation of the entire B/R NFL 1000 series for 2015, but this is too interesting to bury there, and deserves a stand alone post.

How would you rank our 2015 DEs?  I was REALLY surprised at the order in which Bleacher Report ranked them....

Here's B/R's post on the top 40 4-3 DEs:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2623988-br-nfl-1000-ranking-the-top-40-4-3-defensive-ends-from-2015/

Before you click the link, it would be fun to see how Huddlers rank our DEs from this past season.  Go ahead and post your comments first, then come back and read the B/R write ups for our players. 

I'll post the write ups for each ranked Panther below.

[KB_fan]

For the record,  here's how I would vote to rank our DEs:

#38  Ryan Delaire

#33  Jared Allen

#26  Charles Johnson

#22  Mario Addison

#12  Kony Ealy

[KB_fan]

I know his production was nothing like his prior seasons, but it was great to have Jared Allen as a Panther for most of the season.  I'm thrilled B/R did not leave him off the list.... he just squeaked by at #39:

39. Jared Allen, Carolina Panthers

 

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Pass Rush

38/50

One of the most feared and dominant pass-rushers of his generation, Jared Allen wound up with two sacks and his first Super Bowl appearance in his final NFL season. He wasn't nearly as predominant of a pass-rusher since leaving the Minnesota Vikings after the 2013 season, but he still played with an amazing amount of effort and heart. Allen retires tied with Julius Peppers for ninth all-time in career sacks with 136.

Run Defense

25/40

Age and a declining skill set made it difficult for Allen to be adequate against the run this past season. He was used primarily in pass-rushing situations but is a superb tackler who wraps up, dragging guys to the ground. His 25 combined tackles were exceptional for a part-time defender against the run.

Position Value

10/10

Overall

73/100

[KB_fan]

CJ is next.... only two notches higher than Allen, at #37.   If you give some extra weight to his post-season performance when he was healthy again, I think he should be a bit higher, maybe 27 - 29 ish - at least within the top #32.

37. Charles Johnson, Carolina Panthers

 

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Pass Rush

37/50

A hamstring injury forced Charles Johnson to miss seven games in the middle of the season, which led to a drop in his production. He recorded his one and only sack in the very first game of the year and then had to fight for playing time after returning from his injury in Week 11. Upon his return, Johnson wasn’t able to be the physical presence we have come to expect from him over the past several seasons. His inability to explode off the snap made it difficult for him to get pressure on the quarterback. With an entire offseason to heal and get his body right, he should be able to have a bounce-back season next year.

Run Defense

27/40

Johnson has always concentrated more on rushing the passer than stopping the run, and this past season was no exception. At times, he is so focused on getting to the quarterback that he takes himself out of position to stop the run. When he plays with discipline, he has the power to hold his ground and the quick hands to release from getting blocked. Even though he was injured for part of the season, his nine tackles are far too few for a player of his caliber.

Position Value

10/10

Overall

74/100

[KB_fan]

I was actually somewhat surprised that Delaire made this list given his relatively limited number of snaps.  #34. Really??? Ranking him above BOTH Allen & CJ?  That's a huge surprise....  I hope B/R is on to something in seeing promise in this kid...

 

34. Ryan Delaire, Carolina Panthers

 

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Pass Rush

40/50

Ryan Delaire is the kind of no-nonsense player every NFL team needs rotating along its defensive line. In his nine appearances in 2015, he was a solid reserve on a defensive line that loves to rotate defensive ends. And at 6’4” and 254 pounds, he’s one of Carolina’s smaller rushers, which allows him to kick outside the tackle and use his speed to blow past offensive tackles who have been beaten into submission all game by the 275-pounders the Panthers like to use at end.

Run Defense

25/40

Delaire routinely subbed in on passing downs; in fact, he only saw 68 snaps against the run throughout the regular season. With his sleek frame and first-step quickness, he’s better suited to playing fast and loose on the edge and not working one-on-one against tackles when the run is coming his way.

Position Value

10/10

Overall

75/100

[KB_fan]

Next we jump up ten places to #24.  I would have expected this to be Addison, but no, it's KONY EALY.  I think Kony should have easily been in the top 20, maybe top 15, but of course, the last we saw him was when he balled out in the Super Bowl, so I'm sure that's over inflating my memory of how well he played....

 

24. Kony Ealy, Carolina Panthers

 

Al Bello/Getty Images

Pass Rush

38/50

If we only took into account the playoffs for the NFL 1000 series, Kony Ealy would be a top-10 defensive end. As for the regular season, he had an up-and-down year. He has all of the physical tools you look for in a dominant pass-rusher: a quick first step, speed around the edge and the ability to convert that speed into power. He had a stretch during the middle of the season where he recorded a sack in five straight games. On the downside, those were the only sacks he recorded until the playoffs.

Run Defense

31/40

This is an area where Ealy needs to improve if he wants to be recognized as one of the league's best. He lacks the overall awareness to diagnose plays on a consistent basis and will overrun plays that will take him out of position. When he is focused on stopping the run, he does a nice job of setting the edge and forcing runners back to the inside. Twenty-five tackles is not nearly enough for someone who played as many snaps as he did this past year.

Position Value

10/10

Overall

79/100

[stratopanther]

Delaire witch project

[KB_fan]

So, if Kony Ealy is #24, we're done, right?  Surely no other Panthers' DEs from last season ranked any higher.  Not so fast....  In a HUGE SURPRISE.... MARIO ADDISON comes in at #13.  SWEET.  Nice to see a rotational player get this kind of recognition.  I forgot he had 6 sacks. 

13. Mario Addison, Carolina Panthers

 

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Pass Rush

45/50

With Charles Johnson trailing off and Kony Ealy struggling with consistency, Mario Addison became the Panthers’ most productive outside rusher in 2015. The 6’3”, 260-pounder didn’t start a game in 2015, but he provided a huge boost as a rotational end. With six sacks and 30 hurries on the year, Addison used his first-step quickness and leverage skills to beat blockers off the line and to get underneath their pads and jack-knife them as he pushed into the backfield.

Run Defense

30/40

Addison played on fewer than 40 percent of the Panthers’ snaps in 2015, and many of the snaps he missed were on rushing downs. He doesn’t have the strength to hold up as a strong-side defensive end against the run and is much better off playing on the left side of the line. Addison’s quickness is impressive, but he lacks the strength to anchor at the point of attack.

Position Value

10/10

Overall

85/100

 

[KB_fan]

So, no really flashy rankings...., though Addison being close to the top 10 is a pretty nice deal.   I've yet to look to see how our DEs ranked last year (2014).  But still, having 5 DEs in the top 40 is pretty decent.  Solid but not flashy...   It would be really NICE to add a big flashy pass rusher though.  Hope DG finds a gem in the draft!!!  And lets hope & pray Kony Ealy continues to show us the kind of skills & game he had in SB 50.  That would be AWESOME.

[KB_fan]

Other notable rankings

#10  Greg Hardy, Dallas....  sigh.

#5   Cliff Avril, Seahawks

#4  Chandler Jones, Patriots

#3  Ezekial Ansah, Detroit.   I don't think I watched a Lions game all season.  Confess I've never heard of him!

#2  Olivier Vernon, Miami

#1  Michael Bennett, Seahawks

[t96]

Let's be honest. Our DE's were not good during the regular season at all. Allen was solid throughout the season since we got him but didn't have much left. CJ was pretty bad after coming back from injury until stepping it up big time in the playoffs (I think that week off helped give him some rest and healing up). Ealy was inconsistent as they come. Addison was great in his role but hard to rank him high considering he's a pure pass rushing rotational end. Delaire didn't have enough snaps to warrant a ranking IMO.

 

8 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Other notable rankings

#10  Greg Hardy, Dallas....  sigh.

#5   Cliff Avril, Seahawks

#4  Chandler Jones, Patriots

#3  Ezekial Ansah, Detroit.   I don't think I watched a Lions game all season.  Confess I've never heard of him!

#2  Olivier Vernon, Miami

#1  Michael Bennett, Seahawks

Hardy was and still is a beast and we should bring him back (but obviously won't, unfortunately).

Ansah is a complete monster and if we were to sign a big free agent at any time in the next couple years Ansah is #1 on my list if he even hits the open market (never will sign a big free agent like him though, and he won't hit the market so point is moot).

Bennett being #1 is a joke. He's a great all around player and is top 10 but was not the best 4-3 end last year.

 

Basically, my take away from this is... B/R is a joke as always.

[TheSpecialJuan]

Great stuff

[arbnranger]

KB_Fan steady doing work as always! 

Analyzing numbers, crunching data, generating spreadsheets, posting stats. 

Typing, winning. 

Seriously, thanks. Always good stuff. 

[The Huddler]

11 hours ago, KB_fan said:

Other notable rankings

#10  Greg Hardy, Dallas....  sigh.

#5   Cliff Avril, Seahawks

#4  Chandler Jones, Patriots

#3  Ezekial Ansah, Detroit.   I don't think I watched a Lions game all season.  Confess I've never heard of him!

#2  Olivier Vernon, Miami

#1  Michael Bennett, Seahawks

ansah was a big time top draft pick.  where were ya??