Rate defensive talent position by position in terms of a SB team...
 

Consider the position-by-position talent on the defense. Rate each player according to their proven ability right now. Do not consider age unless you think their age is affecting their play THIS season. Do not consider FUTURE potential. Here are the rating catagories:

Class 1: This player would be a star on a SB roster. A good chance to be a Hall of Famer with a long enough career.

Class 2: This player would be solid on a SB roster; a very reliable starter with no meed to upgrade on an elite team.

Class 3: This player would be marginal on a SB roster. You could win a SB despite having this player filling the spot.

Class 4: This player would prevent you from winning a SB if he were playing.

Ok....I see some people got 1's here...honest question a 1 is an elite all pro type player....how is DJ a 1....for that matter how are the ends 1's?

They aren't Jason Taylor or Julius Peppers...

They let some of us sleep with their girlfriends. Maybe someday when you get laid you'll lighten up on some of our players.

That doesn't mean I think they suck, but to me a 1 is an elite pro bowl top 2-3 at his position in the league, he has HOF up there in the description....

I just fail to see how those guys are 1's, none of our defenders are top 3 in the league at their spot, that doesn't mean their bad though.

I was going by the OP's criteria, not yours.

Class 1: This player would be a star on a SB roster. A good chance to be a Hall of Famer with a long enough career.

That means you are an elite player, they don't put pretty good players in the Hall...

I went all 2s and 3s on this one.

2s: Allen, Boone, Hali, D. Edwards, Johnson, Surtain.

3s: R. Edwards, N. Harris, Law, Pollard, Page

I probably went a little easy on Edwards and was a little tough on Harris. Call them both 2.5s.

If I'm building a SB team, I'm shooting for 1s and 2s at every position. I'll end up having a few 3s, but right now KC has way too many.

I should add that I have no problem playing Pollard and Page right now. They are young, have potential for improvement, and no one on the roster is significantly better.

The thing we are missing most on the D is a bonafide Class 1.

A #1 rating is a really, really high bar. I think Derrick Johnson could be there, and I think Tamba and Jared Allen are not that far off, but it's hard to put anyone in the "potential hall of famer" category at this point.

That said, I love this defense. We've got a great mix of wily veterans and very talented youth. Allen, Hali, Johnson, and possibly Donnie Edwards are all legitimate game-changers, and in the playoffs you could probably add Ty Law to that list.

The thing that really thrills me too is that we're trying to cause turnovers, which has been my stroke-inducing rage since Marty left. In this game, our guys were trying to get to the ball, whether it was Hali making a sack, Jared Allen pulling the runner's arm, and so on. That is VITAL to a strong defense, and it almost seemed to me that they were coaching guys not to do that for several years.

I repeat: I love this defense.

I'd like to get a few more opinions in the poll, then in the next day or two I will compile a position by position breakdown of how we stand.

Jared Allen is the man and has taken over games before: class 1

Donnie Edwards is class 1 IMO on any team. His coverage skills are top notch for a LB

DJ has played like a class 1 so far this year

I put Ty Law as a class 1 because of his performances in big games is huge.

I gave Jared Allen a Class 1 because I'm assuming that if he keeps up his pace "with a long enough career".....he would be THAT good.