3 defenses that could reach elite status in 2016
The Denver Broncos' defense ascended from being great in 2014, to one of the best units of all time en route to capturing Super Bowl 50 last season.
Denver finished first in total defense, passing defense, and Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), cementing its place in the annals of history.
The NFL is a copycat league, so several teams will look to replicate the Broncos' model of success in 2016. Here are three teams that boast the personnel to thrive defensively:
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona finished seventh in defensive DVOA, seventh in scoring defense, and eighth in passing defense last season. These statistics belie the incredible talent the squad holds. Tyrann Mathieu established himself as the best defensive back in the NFL last year, while Patrick Peterson returned to first-team All-Pro form after a mediocre 2014 campaign. Mathieu, along with linebacker/safety Deone Bucannon excel at disguising blitzes, and the Cardinals' secondary presents more post-snap conundrums for offenses than any other team in the NFL.
It's somewhat surprising that the Cardinals ranked 20th in the NFL with 36 sacks last season, and general manager Steve Keim diligently alleviated the team's pass-rushing woes this spring. Arizona acquired Pro Bowl defensive end Chandler Jones from the New England Patriots, who recorded 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2015. Paired with the perpetually underrated Calais Campbell, the Cardinals will present a series of mismatches along the edge. They drafted Robert Nkemdiche with their first-round pick, and the former Ole Miss standout excelled during minicamp, leading some to believe he'll contend for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
It wouldn't be surprising if the Cardinals reach elite status in 2016 and become a leading Super Bowl contender as a result.
Minnesota Vikings
It's time for the Vikings to capitalize on their immense capital, with a number of young, prolific players entering their prime.
The Vikings hold one of the best front sevens in the NFL, with defensive tackle Linval Joseph and defensive end Everson Griffen leading a unit that recorded 43 sacks last season. Both players, along with defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, are approximating their apexes, which should make the unit better in 2016. Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks both possess outstanding lateral quickness, and few duos can clamp down ball carries as well as they can with their sideline-to-sideline speed. They were teammates at UCLA, and have an innate chemistry that'll continue to translate.
Harrison Smith is one of the NFL's premier safeties and the leader of a talented group that's shown continual growth over the past two seasons. Known as "Harry the Hitman," Smith's ability to disrupt the running game lightens the load for the team's front seven, and the Pro Bowler is equally adept as a center fielder. Xavier Rhodes is an erratic player; he was one of the NFL's worst cornerbacks in the first half of 2015, and one of the best in the second half. If Rhodes, along with 2015 first-round pick Trae Waynes and 2016 second-rounder Mackensie Alexander continue to develop, quarterbacks beware.
Los Angeles Rams
In their first year in Los Angeles, the Rams will need to prove they're as good as the sum of their parts. Aaron Donald is arguably the second-best defensive player in the NFL, and was ranked as Pro Football Focus' top player in 2015. Donald, along with Robert Quinn, Michael Brockers, William Hayes, Quinton Coples, and Dominique Easley are all brimming with talent, and should rise from 11th in sacks to the top three in 2016.
The Rams have two players in their secondary who could be the breakout stars of 2016. Trumaine Johnson is the NFL's best-kept secret, allowing a sparkling 55.3 passer rating in 2015, which is second only to Josh Norman. Johnson recorded seven interceptions and showed the lockdown ability of Richard Sherman last year, without all the hype. T.J. McDonald quietly developed into an upper-echelon safety before going on season-ending injured reserve in December.
The Rams boast all the talent they need to become an elite defense. Whether they can actualize their individual talents into a cohesive group is the only question that remains.