Power Rankings: Top Post-Draft Defenses (16-20)

Dec 22, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) is sacked by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley (98) in the end zone for a safety during the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions 7-9
Last Season’s Rankings: #16 Overall Defense (346.6 total yards per game allowed) #23 Passing Defense (246.9 passing yards per game allowed) #6 Rushing Defense (99.8 rushing yards per game allowed)

Many people may not know this, but last season, the Detroit Lions had one of the most dominant rush defenses in the NFL. Their passing game though is kind of what caused their 7-9 record (among other things). Although the Lions lost DE Willie Young (registered 47 total tackles and 3 sacks), they were able to add some real character pieces to their roster during the off-season. The Detroit front seven features DE Jason Jones (18.5 career sacks, 123 tackles and 14 tackles for loss), DT Ndamukong Suh (49 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and six passes defended), DT Nick Fairley (35 tackles, six sacks and three tackles for loss), DE Ezekiel Ansah (32 tackles, eight sacks and two tackles for loss), OLB DeAndre Levy (119 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 15 passes defended and six interceptions), ILB Stephen Tulloch (135 tackles, 3.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss and three passes defended) and OLB Kyle Van Noy (eight sacks and 58.6 tackles during his final three years at BYU). Willie Young is going to be playing for the Bears in 2014 for $9 million (which includes a $2 million signing bonus and $3.95 million in total guaranteed money). Young and DE Israel Idonije both will be joining new teams in 2014. They most certainly will be missed, however other players will surely make up his absence. For example, rookie Caraun Reid will be joining the Lions after being drafted in the later rounds of the draft. Reid is from the Ivy League’s and surely can help these Lions in 2014. But, no player has more potential than OLB Kyle Van Noy out of Brigham Young.

From the outset of the 2013 season, many were predicting Kyle Van Noy to have an amazing junior season and as predicted, he did. But in order for us to understand the entire story, we need to go back to the beginning when Van Noy was first making his start as a BYU Cougar. As a grad of McQueen High School in Reno, Nevada, Van Noy was known not only as an offensive and defensive player in football, but also a track star. During his time at McQueen High, Van Noy was an all-conference and all-area selection as a sophomore and was also an all-league performer in track (4×100, 4×200 and 4×400) to go along with his awesome statistics as a football linebacker and receiver. According to BYU’s website, Van Noy helped McQueen to a “14-0 record and the 4A state championship. He had 35 receptions for 731 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also finished with 79 total tackles (55 solos) and 14 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, six fumbles caused, four fumbles recovered and one interception for a score. He even rushed the ball 10 times for another 121 yards,” all during his senior year. Considering that Van Noy did record 14 sacks and six forced fumbles, one would expect he would have been highly recruited for a prestigious college such as BYU.

As a freshman linebacker, Van Noy impressed early on, recording 36 total tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss even though he only started two games all season. The very next fall for Van Noy would see yet another productive year for the 6-3, 235-pound linebacker out of Nevada. In 2011, Van Noy was able to register 68 total tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and an impressive 10 QB hurries and six sacks. In the end he was named to the Phil Steele, Yahoo! Sports and FBS All-Independent Team in 2011. What was even more impressive was that Van Noy was the only player in the country to record a stat in every single one of these categories: tackle, tackle for loss, sack, interception, pass breakup, quarterback hurry, fumble recovery, forced fumble, blocked kick and touchdown. And although his junior season featured less tackles than in his sophomore season, Van Noy was just as dominating on the gridiron.

In 2012, Van Noy posted his most impressive season of his entire college career, recording 52 total tackles, an amazing 22.0 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, two interceptions, two blocked kicks and six forced fumbles.At the end of the season, Van Noy was voted to the CBSSports.com All-Bowl team (for his incredible Poinsettia Bowl performance where Van Noy recorded 1.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and two defensive touchdowns), a CFPA National Defensive Player of the Year, AP All-America Third Team, SI.com Honorable Mention, CBSSports.com Second Team, Phil Steele Third Team, College Sports Madness Third Team and to the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and Bednarik Award Watch Lists. Taking into perspective those unbelievable stats and awards, it still irks me that Van Noy didn’t go to the NFL Draft earlier. I respect his decision to stay in school and graduate (believe me), however if he is looking for a high draft status, typically you want to get out of college on a high note. Regardless though, Van Noy’s senior season at BYU (if anything), only solidified his high draft status and gave NFL scouts a reason to go to Utah to recruit. As a senior the former Nevada-native was able to throw down 70 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, only four sacks, but at the same time he was able to record 12 QB hits and seven passes defended (both career highs). Because of his outstanding play during his senior year, Van Noy was nominated to the mother lode of off-season nominations. According to BYU’s team site, in the 2013 off-season, Van Noy was either named to four All-America teams: Walter Camp Second Team, Athlon Sports Third Team, CBSSports.com Third Team and Sport and SI.com Honorable Mention, FBS All-Indendent First Team, FBS Independent Defensive Player of the Year, SB Nation Independent Defensive Player of the Year, Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist, Butkus Award semifinalist, Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist, Senior CLASS Award Finalist, Lombardi Award semifinalist, Named Independent Defensive Player of the Year by College Sports Madness, first-team All-Independent honors by College Sports Madness for the third consecutive year, midseason All-America First Team recognition from Yahoo! Sports, Phil Steele, SportsIllustrated.com, NFL.com and CBSSports.com, second in voting for midseason Defensive Player of the Year (CBSSports.com), FBS Independent Defensive Player of the Week (9/29, 10/7), CFPA National Linebacker of the Week (10/7) and Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week (10/17). Yeah, all of those awards and nominations all in one season.

Overall Van Noy is an absolutely outstanding football player, his 6-3, 243-pound build and 4.71 40-yard dash time can attest to that. However, it is Van Noy’s football instincts and reaction abilities that make him such an awesome draft choice for the Lions. He has the capability of going back in pass coverage (which he does very well), or rushing the passer and sneaking by offensive lineman for a tackle for loss or sack. The LB corps consisting of Tulloch, Van Noy and Levy should prove to be lethal next season. Especially with Levy’s six picks, no team is going to want to throw over the middle against the Lions in 2014.

On the flip side of the ball with new safety James Ihedigbo, the Lions will be getting a much needed safety after losing Delmas to the Dolphins. If Ihedigbo can replicate the very productive 101 tackle, three interception season that he had in 2013 with the Ravens, the Lions 23rd-ranked passing defense should be just fine. Delmas was able to defend 24 career passes (intercepting 6) and then recording 331 tackles in his 5 years with the Lions. I think that 2014 should see improvement on behalf of the Detroit passing game. Their front seven is already loaded, all they need now is a solid secondary. I think with the type of line backing corps that they have, the Lions secondary doesn’t have that much pressure on its’ shoulders. CB Darius Slay (34 tackles and five passes defended), FS Glover Quin (57 tackles, eight passes defended and three interceptions) and CB Reshean Mathis (47 tackles and 15 passes defended) will all be returning next season for the Lions. Where I’m excited for the Lions would definitely have to be with Reshean Mathis. Last season he defended 15 passes and is looking for more in 2014. What remains to be seen is the talents of CB Darius Slay. If the Lions can combine their stacked front seven with their average secondary, I believe that 2014 could be a season where Detroit climbs out of the cellar.