Adam Schein's 9 most indispensable defensive players

[RolandDeschain]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... ers_schein

Clocking in at #5...Our own Richard Sherman. Congrats, Sherm!

5) Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks: Sherman is the best player in the best defensive backfield in the NFL. "The Legion of Boom" has a knack for making plays. The physical Sherman posted a league-high 24 pass breakups for the fourth-best defense in the league.

And of course, if you're not sure how indispensable Sherman is, just ask him. He'll be happy to fill you in.

 

[JSeahawks]

I love me some Ringworm Sherm but personally I think Earl Thomas is more valuable to our defense and would be a bigger loss.

 

[DavidSeven]

Sherman was the best CB in football in 2012. Probably on my shortlist for DPOY. But at the same time, I don't know if he's the best fit for this particular list, especially after the author makes it a point to put in Cushing over J.J. Watt. I only say that because the team is so talented at CB and has such great safety coverage. If Sherm was out, we'd definitely feel his absence, but I think guys like Lane, a healthy Thurmond, Winfield and obviously BB would be able to fill in admirably. I think you could make the case that someone like Clem or a rushing 3T was more indespensible last year due to how thin we were at that position. Our entire defense looked different when Clem and Jason Jones were unavailable.

 

[FlyingGreg]

I love me some Ringworm Sherm but personally I think Earl Thomas is more valuable to our defense and would be a bigger loss.

Agreed. I love Sherman...but Earl is the glue. His range and instinct really helps the defense.

Both RGIII and Matt Ryan learned that the hard way trying to throw those long, floaty passes during the playoffs.

 

[hawkfan68]

I love me some Ringworm Sherm but personally I think Earl Thomas is more valuable to our defense and would be a bigger loss.

I agree, JSeahawks. It's because of Earl Thomas that Sherman and Browner are regarded as top tier. Thomas elevates the play of those around him and makes them better (i.e. Michael Jordan like from a football perspective). He would be a more significant loss.

 

[Seahwkgal]

I love me some Ringworm Sherm but personally I think Earl Thomas is more valuable to our defense and would be a bigger loss.

I love Sherm too and totally co-sign with this comment.

 

[RolandDeschain]

I agree about Thomas, but unfortunately his real value doesn't show up on the stat sheet, and he's boring as hell from a media perspective. Quiet, unassuming, etc. It'll be tough for Thomas to get the respect he deserves because of that.

Sherman, on the other hand, has done more to make the Seahawks a "known" entity to the rest of the country than anyone else on the team, including Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson.

 

[chris98251]

All Earl needs is a few decapatating clean up hits, QB's know his value also, they stopped throwing that seam route when it appears he's on the other hash mark after his rookie season.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

I think I agree with most everbody else Sherman is the man but I think he is more replacable than Earl Thomas. There just isn't anybody else like him and he is the one that sets the tone for the defense (or more exactly what can or cannot be done against the defense). Either way it's a minor quibble and I can definitely live with the Sherman pick. Surprisingly the list itself is very solid and reasonable.

 

[NinerBuff]

From an opposing fan's perspective, the most important defense pieces are...

1) Earl Thomas, he brings up the level of play from everyone in the secondary and gives a boost to the pass rush
2) Chris Clemons, consistent pass rush threat
3) Richard Sherman, shutdown corner
4) Bobby Wagner, very good ILB with no apparent weaknesses
5) Kam Chancellor, enforcer and good in coverage

 

[DavidSeven]

From an opposing fan's perspective, the most important defense pieces are...

1) Earl Thomas, he brings up the level of play from everyone in the secondary and gives a boost to the pass rush
2) Chris Clemons, consistent pass rush threat
3) Richard Sherman, shutdown corner
4) Bobby Wagner, very good ILB with no apparent weaknesses
5) Kam Chancellor, enforcer and good in coverage

Not bad.

 

[Sarlacc83]

From an opposing fan's perspective, the most important defense pieces are...

1) Earl Thomas, he brings up the level of play from everyone in the secondary and gives a boost to the pass rush
2) Chris Clemons, consistent pass rush threat
3) Richard Sherman, shutdown corner
4) Bobby Wagner, very good ILB with no apparent weaknesses
5) Kam Chancellor, enforcer and good in coverage

Pretty good list. I'd switch out 5 for Mebane, though.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

I'm not sure if there's really a pecking order here. I think losing either of Thomas or Sherman would leave the defense high and dry.

 

[grizbob]

I'm not sure if there's really a pecking order here. I think losing either of Thomas or Sherman would leave the defense high and dry.

X ...

 

[hawker84]

I love me some Ringworm Sherm but personally I think Earl Thomas is more valuable to our defense and would be a bigger loss.

I love Sherm too and totally co-sign with this comment.

i think they're both equally as important, and we'd be screwed without either one of them...


by the way, where is JJ watt on that list?

 

[hawker84]

From an opposing fan's perspective, the most important defense pieces are...

1) Earl Thomas, he brings up the level of play from everyone in the secondary and gives a boost to the pass rush
2) Chris Clemons, consistent pass rush threat
3) Richard Sherman, shutdown corner
4) Bobby Wagner, very good ILB with no apparent weaknesses
5) Kam Chancellor, enforcer and good in coverage

incorrect... Sherman #1
Clemons #2
Thomas #3
Wagner #4
Red Bryant #5

Chancellor is a great enforcer and one of our best tacklers, but he is not very good in coverage, or at least he wasn't last year...

 

[Seahawker86]

ET is my favorite player. Hence why I have his Custom Authentic Home Jersey indispensable defensive players? For sure he takes down the #1 spot, but Sherm makes a good argument. Our defense wasn't as dominate until he broke out on the seen. He can match up against any #1 WR in the league. Something that is hard to come by. Just saying

 

[Veilside]

I love me some Ringworm Sherm but personally I think Earl Thomas is more valuable to our defense and would be a bigger loss.

I love Sherm too and totally co-sign with this comment.

i think they're both equally as important, and we'd be screwed without either one of them...


by the way, where is JJ watt on that list?

I don't think we'd be screwed without Sherman. However, I can't say the same for Thomas. It would take a massive improvement in pass rush to make up for Thomas not being on the field.

 

[Veilside]

From an opposing fan's perspective, the most important defense pieces are...

1) Earl Thomas, he brings up the level of play from everyone in the secondary and gives a boost to the pass rush
2) Chris Clemons, consistent pass rush threat
3) Richard Sherman, shutdown corner
4) Bobby Wagner, very good ILB with no apparent weaknesses
5) Kam Chancellor, enforcer and good in coverage

incorrect... Sherman #1
Clemons #2
Thomas #3
Wagner #4
Red Bryant #5

Chancellor is a great enforcer and one of our best tacklers, but he is not very good in coverage, or at least he wasn't last year...

I'd say...
#1 Thomas (easily)
#2 Clemons (our only source for constant pass rush so far)
#3 Sherman
#4 Wagner (After next season he may be #2 or #3)
#5 Mebane

 

[kearly]

The thing about Thomas is that we don't actually know how irreplaceable he truly is because he's never missed a game. Chris Maragos runs in the 4.4s and if he replaced Thomas all we'd ask him to do is cover ground, he could probably manage that just fine, though not quite as well as Thomas would. Thomas plays a lynchpin position, but there is a chance that Maragos could handle it and be far from a disaster.

On the other hand, when Seattle lost Clemons last year our defense broke in half. The switch to Irvin appeared to create a domino effect in the front seven, and we realized just how important Clemons is to our defense.

So for me (in terms of being "irreplaceable"):

#1: Clemons
#2: Thomas
#3: Sherman