The 25 & Under Team

QB: Matt Ryan (Atlanta)
RB: Chris Johnson (Tennessee)
FB: Le’Ron McClain (Baltimore)
WR: DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia)
WR: Michael Crabtree (San Francisco)
TE: Jermichael Finley (Green Bay)
LT: Ryan Clady (Denver)
LG: Mike Iupati (San Francisco)
OC: Ryan Kalil (Carolina)
RG: Andy Levitre (Buffalo)
RT: Michael Oher (Baltimore)

DE: Calais Campbell (Arizona)
DT: Ndamukong Suh (Detroit)
DT: B.J. Raji (Green Bay)
DE: Mario Williams (Houston)
OLB: LaMarr Woodley (Pittsburgh)
MLB: Patrick Willis (San Francisco)
OLB: Brian Orakpo (Washington)
CB: Darrelle Revis (New York Jets)
S: Jairus Byrd (Buffalo)
S: Louis Delmas (Detroit)
CB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Arizona)

RET: Percy Harvin (Minnesota)

RB Harvey Unga (BYU)
The all-time leading rusher for BYU, Unga was dismissed this past year. He’s received a lot of interest, primarily from the Rams, Dolphins, Chiefs and Steelers. Our friend Dan Kadar of MockingtheDraft.com had this to say about him:

He has a good blend of size (6-foot 3/4, 245 pounds) and agility. By no means is her a speed burner, but he has good lateral agility and can make people miss.

He’s also shown to be a good enough pass receiver. Unga has a tendency to run with too much urgency and can get upright between the tackles. He also has some injury issues. He sat out the 2006 season with a hip injury and a broken hand sidelined him a game in 2009. He’s also has minor ankle issues throughout his career. -Dan Kadar

RB Quentin Castille (Northwestern State)

Castille is a transfer from Nebraska who played a season for Northwestern State. In two years for Nebraska, he ran for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns. In the Gator Bowl against Clemson in 2008, Castille ran for 125 yards. He was to challenge Roy Helu for the starting job at Nebraska before violating team rules. -Dan Kadar

RB Vaness Emokpae (Truman State)

Emokpae led Truman in rushing and receiving last season. He played a variety of positions in college. At 5-foot-11 and 245, he projects as a fullback or H-back in the NFL. -Dan Kadar

DT Joshua Brent-Price (Illinois)

At 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds, he’s a slow-footed plugger in the middle. He started 12 games for Illinois in 2009, totaling 29 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles.

He was ruled academically ineligible for the season. He’s also had some run-ins with the law, including a DUI and a suspended license. -Dan Kadar

NFL football lines will favor the Jets, but do not sleep on the Patriots and Dolphins. Wes Welker looks to be ready to start the season, and the improved offense in Miami will make them a tough play.

What is fairly certain is that the AFC East will be heavily represented in the 2011 playoffs. The Jets look poised to run through the division, with the Patriots and Dolphins both having the look of a playoff contender. While most are counting the Jets as the top dogs in the East, the Patriots have the experience and talent to challenge them at the top. And one last warning, do not sleep on the Dolphins. Chad Henne, Brandon Marshall and co. will be one of the most improved teams in the NFL this season.

Predicted order of finish:
1. New York Jets
2. New England Patriots (wild card)
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Buffalo Bills

While the NFL Draft cannot be considered an exact science where an evaluator can simply put numbers next to a name and build a championship contender based on those scores, there are teams in the league that have come away with some of the top draft classes consistently over the years.  There is no set strategy on how to build a team via the draft, but there are tendencies that go both ways which have aided the process of separating the year in-year out contenders in contrast to the teams that seem to have a top ten selection each April.  I have spent enormous amounts of time examining the past twelve draft classes of arguably the most consistent franchise in the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts.  I have come up with three well-defined, clearly followed draft strategies.  The six-time NFL Executive of the Year is still going strong and coming away with top tier draft classes even with the evolvement of the game because of his will to follow what works and refusing to tweak what has worked for him.

1.  Build Around Your Strengths

In 1998, Polian made the decision between two quarterbacks that have been the main reason for his organization’s success over the past decade.  Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf got the project to rebuild the storied franchise rolling right away.  As good as Manning has been, and my words cannot do justice to just how vital he has been to the Colts consistency, he has not done this alone.  Polian has, from the very beginning, surrounded Manning with some of the best talent the NFL Draft has had to offer since his career began.  Year after year, the Colts have entered the month of April with an already-strong offensive unit.  The experts and analysts were constantly throwing defenders in to the Indianapolis mock draft slots with explanation that with an already potent offense in place, why not build up the weaker side of the ball?  Polian thought otherwise.  In eleven drafts following the Peyton Manning class, here is the breakdown of which positions the Colts drafted with their first selection.

Running Back:  3

Wide Receiver:  2

Tight End:  1

Offensive Line:  1

Defensive Line:  1

Linebacker:  1

Cornerback:  1

Safety:  1

More than half of those eleven selections have not only been spent on the offensive side of the ball, but at the skill positions.  With Marvin Harrison already in place, Polian could have made the effort to improve the struggling defense with first round talent but he opted to put that first round talent next to his franchise player, Peyton Manning.  There may not be a quarterback in the league that has had the consistent flow of talent around him than Manning has, but that does not take away from his status as a top tier signal caller in the least.  However one does have to make a note of this when trying to figure out why the Colts’ offense has been such a consistent force throughout the entire Peyton Manning-led era.  Once he was in place, Polian piled on the talent at the skill positions even though it appeared that these selections were creating a logjam.  Enhancing a team’s strengths can hinder the team’s weaknesses.

2.  Find Players That Fit the System

One of the glaring issues I see among NFL coaches and General Managers is their overconfidence when it comes to changing a player’s ways.  Sure, the fulfillment of taking an off the field wreck and making him a grown man that makes the right decisions is great, but I am talking about on-field ability.  Bill Polian has done a fantastic job of implementing the Colts’ scheme-based needs in to his draft board without sacrificing a ton of value.  They run a Tampa-Cover 2 defense that is based mainly on speed and quickness while overlooking size.  Most outsiders have, for years, discussed the need for a run-plugging, big body at defensive tackle within the interior of that Colts defense.  However Polian stuck with what the scheme demanded and kept on loading up on the quicker linemen and faster linebackers.  Where most evaluators see a “passing down” defensive lineman, Polian sees a piece to the puzzle that strengthens the defense because of the scheme that has been put in place.  The starting offensive line can be used as a prime example.

Manning has been one of the least touched quarterbacks in the league over the past decade and while a lot can be attributed to his uncanny ability to sense pressure from all angles, the offensive line as a unit has been one of the most consistent in the league throughout his tenure.  With such a strong group of blockers up front, one must assume that Polian spent plenty of early picks on offensive linemen, right?  Since 1998, the Colts have spent one selection on an offensive linemen in the first two rounds (Mike Pollak – 2008 – 28^th pick of Round 2).  They have approached the construction of their offensive line with zone blocking scheme in mind.  Up front, that scheme calls for smaller, quicker linemen that can move laterally and reach the second level in a blink.  Where most evaluators saw a blocker that was too small for every down duty Polian saw an important piece to his championship puzzle.  Jake Scott was taken in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft after an impressive career as the starting right tackle for Idaho.  He was projected as a backup at the next level that could be taken off the board late in the draft.  Polian saw the fit within the interior offensive line on his squad and Scott was a starter in year one, giving the Colts a strong and reliable presence inside.  Charlie Johnson has taken over the reigns as Manning’s blind-side protector, but the 2006 6^th round pick was once again viewed as a guy that was too small for the NFL trenches.  Polian once again saw the fit because of his ability to move east-west and the Colts are now sitting pretty with cheap talent at left tackle while teams are shelling out $25+ million in guaranteed money for the position.

Looking at the Colts personnel on the defensive side of the ball only strengthens the notion that Polian implements the Tampa-2 scheme in to his draft board.  He consistently looks past the run pluggers at defensive tackle while going after the smaller gap shooters.  For years, analyst after analyst has been calling for Gary Brackett’s replacement at middle linebacker.  Instead, Polian has aggressively pursued speedy players to put around him.  Phillip Wheeler in 2008, Clint Session in 2007, Freddy Keiaho in 2006.  Those three linebackers could not hack it as every down players in a lot of schemes, but because of the consistent scheme in place, they can play at a high level and lift the others around them.  Size does not deter Polian away from selecting a good football player because the defense feeds off speed and quickness, something each one of these guys possess.

In 2003, The Colts spent the third pick of the round five on a 230 pound defensive linemen that most pegged as a projected undrafted free agent.  Seven years in to his career, Robert Mathis has developed in to one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the NFL.  He won the starting job in 2006 and has notched 37.5 sacks since, giving the Colts one half of the top edge pass rushing tandem in the league.  His lack of size would prevent him from strong every down ability on most teams across the league, but Polian saw the fit within the Colts scheme and this selection ended up being one of the best under his tenure.  Dwight Freeney is a slightly different case, as he was widely considered a top 25 player in the 2002 draft class.  However there were concerns about his ability to hold up against NFL linemen in the trenches, but yet again Polian saw the perfect fit for the system.  Freeney was an explosive edge rusher that showed a knack for stripping the ball out of the quarterback’s hands in the pocket.  When he could not record the sack, Freeney consistently took the best angle towards the ball and he attacked it.  The Colts edge-heavy scheme

3.  Draft the Overachievers

Because the period between the final game and draft day tend to drag on, many evaluators tend to place too much weight on certain measurables rather than actual game ability.  This portion of the Colts drafting strategy is what has set them apart from the rest of the pack every April.

In 2003, The Colts spent the third pick of the round five on a 230 pound defensive linemen that most pegged as a projected undrafted free agent.  Despite the lack of the desired size in a defensive end, Robert Mathis recorded 30.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks his senior season at Alabama A&M.  Seven years in to his career, Mathis has developed in to one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the NFL.  He won the starting job in 2006 and has notched 37.5 sacks since, giving the Colts one half of the top edge pass rushing tandem in the league.  The Colts roster is stacked with stories similar to this one in the sense that they obtain players that get the most out of themselves.

Every year we see and hear discussions that center around a player’s “motor” or “effort”.  Teams will gamble on top tier athletes with the hope that the switch turns on once they sign their name on a dotted line that guarantees them a bundle of cash.  That gamble is something that makes Polian cross a name off the board without hesitation because as important as talent is, football is a game of heart and passion.  Every time Indianapolis is on television, it is easy to see how much fire that team plays with in comparison to their opponent.  Their defense is stacked with players that are not entirely impressive on paper, but nothing on paper can measure their passion.  Examples can be found across the board.

At a position where size is becoming a huge asset, the Colts spent the 12^th pick of the 2^nd round on a 5’9 safety.  Four years in Bob Sanders’ career, he was the recipient of the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.  He was never the biggest player on the field, but his impact was enormous each and every week.  He has more presence in the defensive backfield than anyone on the Iowa roster because of his sheer will to be the best.  Eric Foster out of Rutgers was given the opportunity to play for the Colts despite the popular notion that he lacked the tools to hack it in the NFL trenches.  The 6’1 – 270 pound defensive tackle has become a key component of the Colts attacking defense.  He may very well be the smallest interior lineman in the league, but he excels as a result of the fire he plays with.  Another standout from Rutgers, Gary Brackett, continues to prove the naysayers wrong with each season that passes.  It seems we are all waiting for the 5’11 – 235 pound middle linebacker to fail, but he continues will that defense to wins while recording 100+ tackles and providing top tier coverage ability.  He does not have the size of Brian Urlacher and he does not have speed of Patrick Willis, but he gets the most out of himself and plays on a Pro-Bowl level.

Polian has done a fantastic job of putting together this year-year out Super Bowl contender by sticking with what works every April.  He lets the game tapes and interview sessions make up his draft board while minimizing the importance of workout numbers and weigh-in sessions.  Because that has yet to catch on across the league, the Colts continue to run away with the some of the best results of every draft.

Atlanta Falcons:
Signed CB Dunta Robinson
Re-signed CB Brian Williams, WR Brian Finneran

Baltimore Ravens:
Signed WR Donte Stallworth
Re-signed DT Lamar Divens
Traded for WR Anquan Boldin (ARZ- 2010 3rd and 4th RD)
Lost DE Justin Bannan (DEN)

Buffalo Bills:
Re-signed OLB Bryan Scott
Retired: OT Brad Butler

Carolina Panthers:
Lost QB AJ Feeley (STL), DE Julius Peppers (CHI)
Cut QB Jake Delhomme

Chicago Bears:
Signed DE Julius Peppers (CAR), TE Brandon Manumaleuna (SD), RB Chester Taylor (MIN)
Cut OT Orlando Pace

Cincinnati Bengals:
Cut WR Laveranues Coles

Cleveland Browns:
Signed OT Tony Pashos and LB Scott Fujita
Cut OC Hank Fraley
Retired OG Ryan Tucker

Dallas Cowboys:
Re-signed CB Cletis Gordon

Denver Broncos:
Signed DE Justin Bannan (BAL), SS Nate Jones (MIA)
Re-signed OG Russ Hochstein, WR Brandon Lloyd

Detroit Lions:
Signed WR Nate Burleson (SEA), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (TEN)
Re-signed OT Jon Jansen
Cut DT Grady Jackson, CB Phillip Buchanon
Traded for DT Corey Williams (CLE- 2010 5th RD)

Green Bay Packers:
Re-signed OT Chad Clifton
Lost DE Aaron Kampman (JAC)

Houston Texans:
Re-signed WR Kevin Walter, P Matt Turk
Lost CB Dunta Robinson (ATL)

Indianapolis Colts:
Re-signed LB Gary Brackett
Signed OG Andy Alleman
Cut DE Raheem Brock

Jacksonville Jaguars:
Signed WR Kassim Osgood (SD), DE Aaron Kampman (GB)
Re-signed OG Kynan Forney, DT Atiyyah Ellison, DT Montavius Stanley

Kansas City Chiefs:
Signed: QB Tyler Palko (FA)
Re-signed WR Terrence Copper, RB Jackie Battle, LB Mike Vrabel
Lost: OG Andy Alleman (IND)
Cut: WR Devard Darling, RB Dantrell Savage

Miami Dolphins:
Signed LB Karlos Dansby (MIA)
Re-signed QB Chad Pennigton
Lost SS Nate Jones (DEN)
Cut SS Gibril Wilson, LB Joey Porter, LB Akin Ayodele

Minnesota Vikings:
Lost OG Artis Hicks (WAS), RB Chester Taylor (CHI)

New England Patriots:
Re-signed LB Tully Banta-Cain, DT Vince Wilfork, OG Stephen Neal
Cut TE Chris Baker

New Orleans Saints:
Re-signed OC Nick Leckey, SS Pierson Prioleau
Lost LB Scott Fujita (CLE)
Cut DE Charles Grant, LB Mark Simoneau, OG Jamar Nesbit

New York Giants:
Signed SS Antrel Rolle
Lost QB David Carr (SF)
Cut S Aaron Rouse, LB Londan Fryar, LB Antonio Pierce

New York Jets:
Traded for CB Antonio Cromartie (SD- 2011 pick)
Cut CB Lito Sheppard, CB Donald Strickland, RB Thomas Jones

Oakland Raiders:
Re-signed OT Khalif Barnes, DE Richard Seymour (Franchise), K Sebastian Janikowski
Cut RB Justin Fargas

Philadelphia Eagles:
Re-signed FB Leonard Weaver
Cut RB Brian Westbrook, LB Will Witherspoon

Pittsburgh Steelers:
Re-signed DT Casey Hampton, K Jeff Reed (Franchise)

San Diego Chargers:
Re-signed DE Alfonso Boone
Cut RB LaDainian Tomlinson, RB Michael Bennett, DT Jamal Williams
Lost TE Brandon Manumaleuna (CHI), WR Kassim Osgood (JAC)

San Francisco 49ers:
Signed QB David Carr, DT Aubrayo Franklin (Franchise), LB Matt Wilhelm
Lost OT Tony Pashos (CLE)

Seattle Seahawks:
Re-signed K Olando Mare (Franchise)
Lost WR Nate Burleson (DET)

St. Louis Rams:
Signed QB AJ Feeley (CAR)
Re-signed SS Craig Dahl
Cut TE Derek Fine, DT Claude Wroten

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Cut CB Torrie Cox, P Josh Bidwell, P Dirk Johnson

Tennessee Titans:
Re-signed LB Ken Amato, LB Pago Togafau, S Donnie Nickey
Lost DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (DET)

Washington Redskins:
Re-signed DT Lorenzo Alexander, DE Phillip Daniels, OG Mike Williams
Signed OT Artis Hicks (MIN)
Cut OG Randy Thomas, CB Fred Smoot, DT Cornelius Griffin, RB Rock Cartwright, WR Antwan Randle El, QB Todd Collins, TE Eddie Williams, RB Ladell Betts
Retired OT Chris Samuels

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http://www.newerascouting.com/nfl-draft/2010-nfl-free-agents/

The list will be updated as cuts/signings happen. Players listed by position and team name. Players are not ranked.

1. Teams will be free to spend as much money as they want on free agents.

2. There will be fewer unrestricted free agents.

So what does this mean? It’s going to be a lot tougher for players to change teams this year. Players with less than six years of service will be restricted free agents, in previous years the number was four years of service. This means players like Vincent Jackson, Miles Austin, and Elvis Dumervill will be restricted free agents. In the simplest of terms, a restricted free agent cannot sign freely with any team. Any offer to a restricted free agent can be matched by his previous team and if it goes unmatched compensation must be paid to that team.

We may also see a lot of high priced players cut because there will be no cap penalties to their respective teams. However, these players are not going to be the most desirable players on the market. Also keep in mind that there is the ugly Franchise Tag (and maybe another Transition Tag) that could deplete the free agency market.

Below are our top 5 free agents at each position. Included are restricted and unrestricted free agents. As the mess with the collective bargaining agreement is settled, the rankings will be updated.

**- Restricted unless new agreement is reached.

Quarterbacks

1. Jason Campbell- Washington Redskins- **Restricted free agent

Analysis: Jason Campbell has had an up and down career, to say the least. However, he is still young with good physical skills and has shown he can win football games. Campbell could help a lot of teams in the NFL.

Movement: 40% – This number highly depends on what Coach Shanahan’s final evaluation of Campbell is.

Possible Teams: St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins

2. Kyle Orton- Denver Broncos- **Restricted free agent

Analysis: The term is over used but he is what he is, a game manager. Orton won’t wow anyone with his physical tools but he makes good decisions and will not cost your team the game. He is best suited for a team with a strong defense and running game.

Movement: 20% – The fact of the matter is that the Broncos do not have any other options. They could look to draft a quarterback but starting rookie quarterbacks isn’t always a good option.

Possible Teams: Denver Broncos,  San Francisco 49ers,  St. Louis Rams

3. Tavaris Jackson- Minnesota Vikings-**Restricted free agent

Analysis: Tavaris is 26 years old and has game experience. He also has a lot of physical skills, but needs to put it together with the mental aspect of the game. He might be in-line to regain his starting job in Minnesota if Brett Favre retires. However, there might be several teams interested in a young, talented quarterback with potential.

Movement: 40% – Coach Brad Childress really believes in Jackson, but others in the organization are questioning his ability to carry the team to a Super Bowl. All the other pieces are in place, but can they trust Jackson to lead them?

Possible Teams: St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills

4. Chad Pennington- Miami Dolphins- Unrestricted free agent

Analysis: Coming off yet another injury, Pennington needs to prove his career is not over. Pennington has proven he can win, but at this point he may be nothing more than a babysitter of a team, before a younger quarterback is ready to take the reins.

Movement: 60% – Miami is ready to hand the team over to Chad Henne, so unless Pennington is willing to be a backup he will be moving on. However, there might not be much of a market for Pennington as a starter.

Possible Teams: St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, coaching

5. Matt Moore- Carolina Panthers- Restricted free agent

Analysis: Moore had one of the best passer ratings in the last few weeks of the season. However, nobody is sure if Carolina is ready to go forward with him as the starter. Coach Jim Fox remains on the hot seat and will go with whichever quarterback can win now, even if that jeopardizes the future.

Movement: 30%- Moore is a restricted free agent and probably the best option on the Panthers roster. Unless a team offers him a huge contract, expect him to be back in Carolina.

Possible Teams: St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals

QB: Mark Sanchez – New York Jets

Sanchez has taken to roller coaster route in his rookie season in terms of performance. However he has evened out as of late and even though the 7/15-98 yard performance in Buffalo was not exactly a top notch performance, he played smart football. The color system that was affable to the media at first has put a cap on the reckless throws Sanchez was becoming notorious for. He played a ball control-quarterback on Thursday but still came up with some big throws and scrambles when it mattered most. His deep ball to Braylon Edwards was picture perfect but the inconsistent hands of the number one target failed his team again. Remember that the last time Sanchez played these same Buffalo Bills, he threw 5 interceptions and he responded with zero this time around.

Honorable Mention: Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions

RB: Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos

After a strong Thanksgiving performance, Moreno responded with some more tough nosed running against Kansas City. While Correll Buckhalter came up with the big plays, Moreno was the consistent force that kept moving the chains with his 86 yards on 21 carries. His second touchdown of the day, an 18 yard scamper, in the fourth quarter put an end to thr Chiefs comeback hopes and gave Denver a victory at Arrowhead Stadium, a place that has not treated them well lately. More importantly, Moreno held on to the ball for each of his 21 carries and his fumbling woes seem to be in the past for good.

Honorable Mention: Shonn Greene – New York Jets

WR/TE: Louis Murphy – Oakland Raiders

Louis Murphy has been struggling to adjust to the NFL game following his career in Urban Meyer’s friendly system. However his effort has been there from day one and the consistent hustle and hard nosed attitude has kept him on the field. With just over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Murphy did not have a single reception. However him and Bruce Gradkowski turned it on and hooked up 4 times for a total of 128 yards, including touchdowns of 75 and 11 yards, the latter being a game winning score with 15 seconds left. He competed for the ball as if it was his for the taking every time the ball came his way and he showed some high football IQ against a talented defense in Pittsburgh. It was one of the greatest fourth quarter performances any wide receiver has displayed all season.

Honorable Mention: Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings

OL: Eben Britton – Jacksonville Jaguars

Britton has been a steady presence on the right side this season for the surprising Jaguars, but Sunday was arguably his best game of the season. I noticed that when the tough yards are needed, they all a lot of plays to his side. He doesn’t look pretty from a technique point of view just yet, but he got the job done. He will sometimes be put in at guard because when he pulls and gets going in space, he is a nice lead blocker for Jones-Drew. His balance is night and day different than what it was in September and if that holds true, he’ll be an important factor in the Jaguars playoff run.

Honorable Mention: Michael Oher – Phil Loadholt – Minnesota Vikings
DL: BJ Raji – Green Bay Packers

Raji is becoming a more influential factor in the surging Packers defense as his number of snaps is teadily increasing. He made two tackles on Monday night, both for a loss, but that is not where is impact ended. The Packers were bringing pressure from the outside all night on Joe Flacco, but it was Raji that got the push up the middle that forced Flacco in to some poor decisions. He was in the backfield all night because of his ability to fire out low off the snap and get inside position with his hands. He stood blockers up consistently and played with a lot of strength and power. His use of leverage will make him incredibly difficult to block down the stretch as offensive linemen noticeably lose their sense of technique this time of year because those little nicks and injuries for them really pile up in December.

Honorable Mention: Terrance Knighton – Jacksonville Jaguars
LB: Clay Matthews – Green Bay Packers

There was a lot of concern for the Green Bay defense following the season ending injury to Aaron Kampman but Matthews has responded with some of the best football he has played all season. He is one of the most important players on that defense now because he is the only one that can consistently disrupot the passer off the edge. He is using outstanding technique with his upper body to make himself small to blockers while maintaining separation. His open field speed was put on full display with the final sack of the game, his second of the night, as he chased down a faster-than-you-think Joe Flacco. Not only is his ability as a pass rusher an important piece to the puzzle, but he has become very stout against the run and thins out the lanes for backs to run through outside the tackle.

Honorable Mention: James Lauranaitis – St. Louis Rams
CB: Jerraud Powers – Indianapolis Colts

Powers continues to be an integral component to the defensive success of the Colts. Peyton Manning’s offense has been strong as usual, but it is the defense that has really made the difference this year. Powers broke up another 2 passes and his adjustment on a Kenny Britt double route prevented the rookie receiver out of Rutgers from catching his second touchdown of the day. His veteran savvy has caught the eyes of his opponents week in and week out. He did another fantastic job at playing the shadow of his man all day as he is rarely fooled by any attempt to fake him out.

Honorable Mention: Derek Cox – Jacksonville Jaguars

S: Victor Harris – Philadelphia Eagles

With Matt Ryan and Michael Turner sidelined, it was obvious that the Falcons were going to try and get the ball to tight end Tony Gonzalez all afternoon. However each time Chris Redman looked his way, Harris was right there with him. He shut him down all afternoon, shadowing his every move while maintaining a physical presence against the much bigger Gonzalez. The majority of Gonalez’s 8 receptions were when Harris was off the field but when he was there, Atlanta had to really adjust their approach.

Honorable Mention: Louis Delmas – Detroit Lions