We are getting some love at the linebacker position

[The Duke]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7053750

# 6 seems like a good rank

[steelpride12]

Its ok but come on i think were like #4 at least geez u got a craft vet. like Farrior and a under the radar tackle machine in Haggans, and mister jump over LT Harrison and Larry Foote who also is a great MLB!

[Jman]

The Cowboys LBs are NOT above the Steelers. Neither are the Seahawks. Sorry FOX, you dropped the ball.

[The Duke]

Seems to me like the pats and fins should be ranked better than that

[Jman]

Originally Posted by The Duke

Seems to me like the pats and fins should be ranked better than that

Pats definitely-can't believe they are not a top 5 selection.

[cornsteeler]

Both teams have age and depth concerns at their lb pos. I love Zach Thomas' play, but is their a mlb on anyother team, besides the cowboys, ranked above them that you would replace with Zach?

[rog]

Lance Briggs could definatly be a game changer for the Bears this year...by not showing up that is.

[Black@Gold Forever32]

Well I like the potential of this group....But I think 6 is to high as of right now......Yea I like James Harrison and think he is a fine player....But he still has to prove he can start for 16 games and produce......As for Haggans is solid nothing great......The ILBs are fine....Both Farrior and Foote make a nice combo....All though it would be nice if Foote made more impact plays.......Plus Farrior's age could start to catch up to him.......The biggest concern if the depth....I like the potential of both Timmons and Woodley but they still are just rookies....which at this point are unknowns....

At ILB there isn't really any depth.....Kreiwaldt is just a special teams guy......Then there is Rian Wallace who hasn't played much since being in the NFL......Potentially I think this group could rank this high but as of right now I wouldn't rank them at 6.....It all depends on Harrison and how he performs as a full time starter and what potential the rooks show this year.....

[CantStop85]

Bengals from 7th last year to 31st this year. woohoo

The Patriots should be higher than where they are...I mean, really...one spot behind the Browns?

The Ravens I believe should be 2nd or 3rd just because of the loss of Adalius Thomas.

[Livinginthe past]

I have doubts about the teams who have an unproven guy stepping up this year.

Ok, the Ravens are probably good enough to justify No.1 spot - even after losing AD to the Patriots - they have 3 other very capable guys and a knack of uncovering defensive talent.

If there is one off-season motto I could ban (apart from 'under the radar'!) it would most likely be the following:

Shawne Merriman led the league in sacks despite missing four games

Its like the 4 games missed were due to a freak injury the way they refer to it as a hinderance - it remains light punishment for blatant cheating, in my book, - those stats are tainted.

If he can reproduce the same this year (and go 20/20 in drug tests) i'll start buying into the 'myth of 'Lights Out' - my abiding memory of the guy is his motormouth leading up to the divisional game and his total domination by Patriots LT Matt Light....he never even got a sniff of Brady all game long.

The Bears only have 3 LBers so they should be knocked down a few spots right of the bat ....well if its good enough for the DL rankings.......()

Wimbley and Andra Davis are obviously good players but I find it difficult to rank the Browns as high as 9....Willie McG is a player the Patriots thought was past it........read that back again.....thats pretty old, right?

Patriots have taken some heat for having fading players - I can't help but think that everyone would have rated them higher if they had lost to San Diego - the Colts 2nd half performance against our 2nd/3rd teamers has everyone convinced that this unit has got old together...and in a hurry.

We consistently rank in the top 5 in terms of run defense, and it was the same story last year - I guess 'character' goes a long way these days.

Props are definitely due to Oakland and Miami - two teams lacking an offense - the pressure to keep producing must be immense when you are on the wrong end of the TOP all of the time.

Dallas is one of those teams that always seems to look great on paper....we'll see of they can justify that lofty ranking this year.