Which worst-performing NFL defense from last year will turn it around in 2008?

Question

MIA, STL, HOU, CAR, OAK and WAS had some of the overall worst defenses in the NFL last season. Which of these teams, if any, will turn it around this season, and why? Please be unbiased and don't just pick a team because they are the team for which you root. Please give premises for your arguments.

Answer 1

Def the Eagles, with their turnover rate last year.  They will turn it around now that they have a solid cornerback crew, maybe even the bes in the NFL

Answer 2

washington

Answer 3

da steelers dey had a couple of ppl injured last season... Da Raiders had a hella good Defense well it was average  

Answer 4

Defenses that will improve the most this season:

BUF (31st in 2007) - can be a top 10 defense

SF (25th in 2007) - can be a top 15 defense

OAK (22nd in 2007) - can be a top 10 defense

Answer 5

watch out for the Jets. they got a lot faster and beefed up that d-line. revis,revis, david harris, kerry rhodes, kris jenkins, calvin pase.  thats a lot better than last year  

Answer 6

OAK they got some good defensive players this year and will maybe end up as the #9 best defense of the year

Answer 7

it hurts to say it but, the J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS, looked good, the other night.

Answer 8

Oakland had an off year last year after being #2 the year before. Gibril Wilson and Deangelo Hall are big upgrades in the passing game. Derrick Burgess is healthy, so this unit will be back for vengeance. I admit Terdell Sands is suspect, and Tommy Kelly is unproven (play and health wise) and possible overpaid. Expect more from Jay RIchardson. Thomas Howard and/or Kirk Morrison should make the Pro Bowl this year if not both.

Answer 9

First I have to question why WAS is on your list? They were 4th in rushing defense, 16th in passing defense, and 11th in scoring defense. Hardly the stuff of the other teams dwelling in the defense cellar.

To answer you question, although I think STL is a pretty good candidate to turn it around, I think New Orleans (13th in rushing, 30th in passing, 25th in scoring last year) will be the team to improve the most on D.

New Orleans certainly made D a priority in their draft in 2008, grabbing 2 DT's and a CB with their first three picks. They should get some decent contributions from at least one of those picks this year.

The biggest reason I think they will improve this year though is related to the offense. In '07 the saints were horrible with their run attack, finishing 28th in the league, and this contributed to a very dismal 28:51 average time of possession. Their inability to run the ball and maintain control of the clock put more pressure on the defense then it was prepared to handle.

Most of those struggles on offense were due to injuries to McAllister and Bush, and I expect them to be healthier in '08. The Saints could have counted on that as well, but they didn't and went with the safety net of drafting defensive help. The Saints D is in good position to significantly improve on their 2007 season, and have already showed some promise in their pre season games