Kickers and Defenses
August 23, 2005
Prior to the weekly rankings, here is the fifth in a series of pre-season rankings for the 2005 season. The schedule for the remaining positions would be:
Quarterbacks -- Thursday, Aug. 18
Running Backs -- Friday, Aug. 19
Wide Receivers -- Saturday, Aug. 20
Tight Ends -- Monday, Aug. 22
Kickers and Defenses -- Tuesday, Aug. 23
Individual Defensive Players -- Wednesday, Aug. 24
Kickers
1 Mike Vanderjagt, IND -- The best kicker in the league.
2 David Akers, PHI -- Explosive offense, accurate kicker with distance (17 FGs 40+).
3 Adam Vinatieri, NE -- Steady, clutch kicker with a solid offense and tough defense; plenty of opportunities.
4 Jason Elam, DEN -- Elam hits 85% of his FGs year-in, year-out; with the potent Bronco offense, Elam will continue to be a top-five K.
5 Jeff Wilkins, STL -- Solid; dome kicker, potent offense.
6 Sebastian Janikowski, OAK -- Janikowski hit 90% of his FG and has shown steady improvement despite working with poor offenses. The Raiders' offense is improved and Janikowski is ready to move into the top five.
7 Ryan Longwell, GB -- Hit 8-of-11 from 40+ (24-of-28 overall); offense should kick it up a notch, which means more opportunities.
8 Matt Stover, BAL -- Steady starter; offense upgraded some in off-season.
9 Josh Brown, SEA -- A solid starter -- hit all 40 XPM and 23-of-25 FGs.
10 Jeff Reed, PIT -- Great season in a tough stadium (28-of-33 FGs); conservative offense and strong defense leads to extra FGs.
11 Shayne Graham, CIN -- Cincy can move the ball, but inconsistently, in a division of tough defenses; results in a good number of FG opportunities. Hit 87% of FGs.
12 Nate Kaeding, SD -- Kaeding had a decent rookie season, and a healthy WR corps should make him a borderline fantasy starter.
13 Mike Nugent, NYJ -- Rookie kicker, so he will have rough moments; will get his opportunities, though, and will boot some long FGs.
14 Jason Hanson, DET -- Struggled last season, but a poor offense didn't help; should have more opportunities this season.
15 John Carney, NO -- Steady, had hit 80% of FGs in his career, plus hit seven FGs of 40+ last year.
16 John Kasay, CAR -- Another steady kicker; has hit over 80% of FGs in career.
17 Lawrence Tynes, KC -- The Chiefs' high-scoring offense gives Tynes a lot of opportunities. But he only has decent FG range.
18 Paul Edinger, MIN -- The Vikings' kicking dilemma may have finally been decided, due Aaron Elling having injured his hip in warm-ups prior to the San Diego game; Edinger responded by hitting all four FG attempts.
19 Todd Peterson, ATL -- Peterson is the new guy in ATL, and will be an improvement, but not a strong starter.
20 Rian Lindell, BUF -- Hit 24-of-28 FGs, but only 1-of-3 from 40+; emergency use only.
21 Neil Rackers, ARI
22 Jay Feely, NYG
23 Kris Brown, HOU
24 Josh Scobee, JAX
25 Phil Dawson, CLE
26 Olindo Mare, MIA
27 John Hall, WAS
28 Matt Bryant, TB
29 Jose Cortez, DAL
30 Doug Brien, CHI
31 Joe Nedney, SF
32 Rob Bironas, TEN
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Defenses
1 Baltimore Ravens -- Still one of the top units, but they are starting show their age and have changed to a 4-3; not a shoo-in anymore for No. 1
2 Buffalo Bills -- Primed to take over the No. 1 spot; had 41 takeaways and 45 sacks in 2004.
3 New England Patriots -- A top-notch defensive unit that can produce defensive TDs almost at will; still top three despite losing Bruschi and Law; always reloads.
4 Pittsburgh Steelers -- Power offense helps keep the other offense off the field, keeping the defense fresh and strong; totaled 41 sacks, 19 INTs and 13 fumble recovered.
5 Philadelphia Eagles -- Eagles were middle-of-the-road in most stats, but allowed the second-fewest points and made the second-highest number of sacks in the league.
6 Carolina Panthers -- Powerful unit; recovered 23 fumbles and made 26 INTs.
7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Not the dominant crew they once were; still stingy in yards and points, but weak in takeaways.
8 Atlanta Falcons -- Stars abound on DL and LB; but DBs are weak; starting rookie DB.
9 New York Jets -- Not a big-play squad, but allowed the fourth-fewest points and seventh-fewest yards in the league; returns most of the team this season.
10 Washington Redskins -- Led the league in total defense last season, but were kept on the field due to a horrible offense. Solid, stingy starting squad, though.
11 Jacksonville Jaguars -- Allowed seventh-fewest points in the league, but ranked low in INTs and sacks.
12 Dallas Cowboys -- Borderline starting squad that allowed the fifth-most points in the league.
13 Minnesota Vikings -- A lot of stars brought in; needs chemistry; worst last season in yardage allowed, and only had 22 takeaways.
14 Chicago Bears -- Successful last season (35 sacks, 12 fumble recoveries and 17 INTs) with six return TDs; have the parts to be a dominant D, but needs a consistent offense so the defense will feel free to play more aggressively. With that, they would improve from this spot quite rapidly.
15 San Diego Chargers -- Mediocre overall, the Chargers are tough to score on. A top defensive backup; average otherwise.
16 Denver Broncos -- Denver restocked its DBs with its first three picks of this year's draft. That will hopefully upgrade a defense that boasts a top, athletic LB corps that has excellent speed, and a rebuilt DL made of former Browns.
17 Indianapolis Colts -- Defense sees a lot of time on the field because the offense scores so quickly and often; if the offense is more deliberate, it will make their job easier; showing a lot of improvement and may be a starting squad by year’s end.
18 Miami Dolphins -- Good DL, so-so LB, weak DB; a rebuilding year under Saban
19 Cincinnati Bengals -- An aggressive unit with a lot of young, impressive players; starts two rookies.
20 Arizona Cardinals -- Arizona won't be as strong as in 2004; will start two rookie DBs.
21 Seattle Seahawks
22 New York Giants
23 Detroit Lions
24 Houston Texans
25 Kansas City Chiefs
26 New Orleans Saints
27 Cleveland Browns
28 St. Louis Rams
29 Tennessee Titans
30 Green Bay Packers
31 Oakland Raiders
32 San Francisco 49ers
Fantasy Football 
There are a few small tics up and down, but here are the bigger ones:
UP:
Jose Cortez, DAL -- Replaced the injured Billy Cundiff.
Matt Bryant, TB -- Bryant gaining slight edge over France.
Rob Bironas, TEN -- Kirmin released; now battling Jay Taylor.
DOWN:
Lawrence Tynes, KC -- Word is that the Chiefs are scanning the FA wire for a replacement.
DROPPED OUT:
Billy Cundiff, DAL -- Injured and released..
Ola Kirmin, TEN -- Released.
There are a few small tics up and down:
UP:
Paul Edinger, MIN -- The Vikings' kicking dilemma may have finally been decided, due Aaron Elling having injured his hip in warm-ups prior to the San Diego game; Edinger responded by hitting all four FG attempts.
There are a few small tics up and down, but here are the bigger ones:
UP:
Paul Edinger, MIN -- Won the job outright over Aaron Elling.
Matt Bryant, TB -- Won the job outright over Todd France.
DROPPED OUT:
Aaron Elling, FA -- Released.
Todd France, FA -- Released.