By Joel Hammond
JHammond@pigskinpodcast.com
I've been high on the New Orleans Saints' offseason moves to shore up their defense, and it seems I'm not the only one.
On NFL.com last week, Vic Carucci analyzes the trend of more teams bulking up their defenses, a trend spurred on by the Giants' dominating defensive performance against the New England Patriots in February. As Carucci writes, the Giants were "the ninth team to win a Super Bowl in the last 12 years with a top-10 defense."
Carucci identifies seven teams, including the Saints, who were especially active on that side of the ball this offseason; allow me to take a closer look and grade them.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
2007 rankings: 24th pass, 27th run, 30th overall
Key additions: DT Shaun Rogers, DL Corey Williams, LB Beau Bell, CB Terry Cousin
Comments: Rogers played well Saturday against his former team, but Bell's out for the season and the Browns' secondary seems awfully thin. Cleveland traded former starting cornerback Leigh Bodden for Rogers.
Grade: C+
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
2007 rankings: 15th pass, 11th run, 12th overall
Key additions: DE Derrick Harvey, DE Quentin Groves, CB Drayton Florence
Comments: Now that Harvey has signed, the Jags can breathe a hefty sigh of relief.
Grade: B
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
2007 rankings: Fifth pass, 28th run, 13th overall
Key additions: DT Glenn Dorsey, CB Brandon Flowers, S DaJuan Morgan, LB Demorrio Williams
Comments: Did most of their damage in the draft. This team still has a long way to go, but on paper, this team's front seven looks intimidating.
Grade: B+
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
2007 rankings: 32nd pass, first run, 20th overall
Key additions: DE Jared Allen, S Madieu Williams, S, Michael Boulware, LB J Leman, S Tyrell Johnson, DT LeTroy Guion
Comments: The last three were draftees, and the first three will likely make the most impact. Either way, if the last-ranked pass defense isn't improved, I'd be shocked.
Grade: B+
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
2007 rankings: 30th pass, 13th run, 26th overall
Key additions: LB Jonathan Vilma, CB Randall Gay, DT Sedrick Ellis, DE Bobby McCray, CB Tracy Porter, DE DeMario Pressley
Comments: Vilma, Ellis and McCray should make plenty of difference up front, and Porter, a rookie from Indiana, has already displaced veteran Jason David on the depth chart.
Grade: A-
OAKLAND RAIDERS
2007 rankings: Eighth pass, 31st run, 22ndoverall
Key additions: DL Tommy Kelly, CB DeAngelo Hall, S Gibril Wilson, DE Kalimba Edwards
Comments: They spent a lot of money, but boy, if the first three play to their capabilities -- with returners Michael Huff, Derrick Burgess and others -- the Raiders could be tough on defense.
Grade: A
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
2007 rankings: 22nd pass, 22nd run, 25th overall
Key additions: DE Kentwan Balmer, DB Reggie Smith, DE Justin Smith, LB Takeo Spikes
Comments: Obviously, they needed help around stud linebacker Patrick Willis, but it seems their secondary is still lacking.
Grade: C
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