It’s hard for any team to field a defensive duo as dominant as the one that just helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl. That didn’t stop many teams from trying this offseason. The Seahawks’ safeties, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, still reign as a 1-2 punch for now, but they have a lot more competition.
Several contenders were aggressive in going after big-name veterans to complement young studs. A couple made wholesale changes to form their fresh, exciting pairings. One team, meanwhile, drafted a bookend to the best defensive player in the NFL.
Looking at this impressive six-pack, however, a new duo in Denver still easily rises above the rest:
DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller, end and outside linebacker, Broncos
Don’t be fooled that for different reasons, neither premier pass rush hit double-digit sacks last season. Ware was settling into 4-3 end for the first time his illustrious career in Dallas, and didn’t get much help from his teammates. Miller’s off-field issues limited him to nine games at outside linebacker.
This year, we’ll see the best of both while they work together to give Denver the AFC’s best front seven. Miller will help rejuvenate Ware, while Ware’s mentoring will help Miller produce at a high level all-around. The effects will be good enough to trickle down to improve the Broncos’ other starting end and outside linebacker, Derek Wolfe and Danny Trevathan.
Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, cornerbacks, Patriots
It didn’t take long for New England to find an upgrade after Aqib Talib left for the Broncos. Revis, fresh off his fully healthy stint with the Buccaneers, remains better at shutting down receivers than anyone in the league. Browner will try to redeem himself after a troubling end to his stay in the Seahawks’ secondary. Opposite Revis, where he can just use his big body to press possession-type receivers outside, is the ideal position to do just that.
Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro, safeties, Saints
Thomas and Chancellor have the attributes every team wants in its safeties — a freelancing big playmaker to go with an extra linebacker-like thumper. The Saints, after seeing Vaccaro’s potential as the latter type last season, surprised many in getting the former. They didn’t have much free-agent money to spend, but got creative and targeted Byrd. With the Bills he flew all over the field, and he’ll do the same for Rob Ryan once he fully recovers from offseason back surgery. That will allow the Saints to unleash Vaccaro more upfield with his heavy hitting.
Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, outside linebackers, Packers
Matthews is one of the league’s most relentless players, capable of wreaking havoc even when he’s not quite finishing off quarterbacks. Peppers, signed from the rival Bears, tends to save his older body’s energy for big-game situations. Those styles mesh well as Green Bay now has the luxury of Peppers being the complementary guy, and his move from 4-3 end will give him more room to work off the edge. Youngster Nick Perry will help keep them both fresh to get after the passer and will benefit well knowing he’ll play off either Matthews or Peppers.
J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, ends, Texans
This is a very similar 3-4 combination to Mathews and Peppers in terms of style, with two significant differences. One, Watt and Clowney are base ends. Two, there are far fewer miles combined on two younger guys. The Texans already know they get limitless energy from Watt in every aspect the game. They have every right, highest draft status included, to expect Clowney not just to absorb that, but re-create some of it with his own special brand of athleticism.
Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen, ends, Bears
Houston was an excellent run-stopper and sound all-around while with Oakland, but the Bears would not have been willing to break the bank on him if he didn’t have the potential to blossom as a pass rusher. Allen is a change from Peppers with his Matthews and Watt-like motor, although he has a little less in the tank overall. Either way, for a radical front changeup that included letting Peppers go and moving Shea McClellin to linebacker, a Houston-Allen duo is a nice way to rebound.
