My Pro Bowl Picks - Defense & Special Teams

I have no problem picking two linebackers from the same team when they're as good as Patrick Willis (52) and Navorro Bowman (53).

The  NFL needs to find a way to add standout players to the Pro Bowl ballot as the season goes along.  I'd love to vote Carlos Dunlap, Jason Pierre-Paul and Kevin Williams on my team, but fans don't even have that option because those players weren't considered starters when voting opened in October.  It's unacceptable that they can be denied this honor because of a logistical issue on the league's website.

I gave you my Pro Bowl offense yesterday, so today I'm rounding my team out with defense and special teams.  Let's get right to it.

DEFENSIVE ENDS

AFC - Andre Carter (NE), Brett Kiesel (PIT), Elvis Dumervil (DEN)  Carter is getting noticed for his 10 sacks this season, but he's also been a top five run-stopping defensive end.  Kiesel is the ideal 3-4 end, bringing a strong pass rush with stout run support.  Dumervil is my frontrunner for Comeback Player of the Year after missing all of 2010 with a torn pectoral muscle.  He has adapted quickly to the Broncos' shift to a 4-3 defense, racking up 7.5 sacks in the process.

NFC - Jared Allen (MIN), Julius Peppers (CHI), Trent Cole (PHI) The field here is stacked and I wish I could find a place for Calais Campbell and John Abraham.  Allen is threatening Michael Strahan's sack record and Peppers' relentless effort creates countless opportunities for his teammates.  It's tough to leave Jason Babin off when he has 15 sacks, but Cole has just as many quarterback pressures while also shining against the run.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

AFC - Geno Atkins (CIN), Sione Pouha (NYJ), Haloti Ngata (BAL)  Vince Wilfork is a mianstay here, but I can't ignore his below average pass rush this season.  Pouha has been the best run stopping tackle and Atkins has been the best pass-rushing tackle in the league.  Ngata is the perfect lineman for the Ravens demanding 3-4 defense.  He can get to the quarterback from the tackle or end spot on one play and then seamlessly drop into coverage on the next.

NFC - Justin Smith (SF), Ray McDonald (SF), Cullen Jenkins (PHI) Smith is the cornerstone of the 49ers' dominating defense and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.  His linemate, McDonald, has played both the pass and run at a very high level this year.  Jenkins is one of the few free agents who paid off for the Eagles.  I'm leaving off B.J. Raji because he's regressed this year on a Packers defense that's given up way too many yards.  As for Ndamukong Suh, I like my tackles to actually contribute against the run.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

AFC - Derrick Johnson (KC), Brian Cushing (HOU)  Johnson leads the league in run stops.  Cushing is equally stellar at rushing quarterbacks, stopping the run, covering tight ends, and scaring any children in the crowd.  The ageless Ray Lewis would be here if an injury hadn't kept him out for the last month.

NFC - Navorro Bowman (SF), Patrick Willis (SF)  Yes, I do realize that I'm putting four 49ers on my NFC defense.  It's not a tough decision when a team's front seven has been as good San Francisco's.  Willis' greatness has been known for some time, but Bowman has actually outshone him this year.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

AFC - Von Miller (DEN), Terrell Suggs (BAL), Kamerion Wimbley (OAK)  If the season ended today, I would have a tough time choosing between Miller and Suggs for Defensive Player of the Year.  Wimbley has been a terror for quarterbacks while holding his own in the run game. 

(NOTE: In the first edition of this post, I accidentally put Daryl Smith (JAX) here as a fourth outside linebacker when you can obviously only vote for three.  It's a shame he can't make it, because I think he's been the most versatile outside linebacker in the league.)

NFC - Clay Matthews (GB), Brian Orakpo (WAS), DeMarcus Ware (DAL)  Looking at Matthews' six sacks, you'd think he was having a down season.  Quite the contrary, as he leads the league with 20 quarterback hits.  I scramble for the mute button whenever Orakpo's awful Geico commercials come on, but he has taken the leap as a pass rusher.  Ware can tack on another elite season to his Hall of Fame resume.

CORNERBACKS

AFC - Darelle Revis (NYJ), Johnathan Joseph (HOU), Cortland Finnegan (TEN)  It's comical how little success quarterbacks have had throwing Revis' way.  Joseph is the biggest reason Houston's secondary has gone from dead-last in the NFL in 2010 to third this season.  Finnegan has always been a solid run defender, but this year he has upped his pass coverage as well.

NFC - Brent Grimes (ATL), Asante Samuel (PHI), Charles Tillman (CHI) Charles Woodson does have seven interceptions, but he's been burned far too often for me to include him here.  Grimes has been playing at a Revis-like level, as he's given up just 229 yards to receivers this season.  Perhaps the Eagles were trying to trade the wrong cornerback this offseason.  Nnamdi Asomugha was supposed to shine in Philadelphia, but Samuel has been the much better player this year.  Tillman has surrendered just one touchdown this season despite being targeted more than any other cornerback in the league.

STRONG SAFETIES

AFC - Troy Polamalu (PIT)  There are a lot of players who get continually get voted to Pro Bowls based on name recognition alone.  Troy Polamalu is not one of those players.

NFC - Adrian Wilson (ARI)  Wilson has given up a mere 146 yards all season, despite playing more snaps than any other safety in the league.  Seattle's Kam Chancellor and San Francisco's Donte Whitner also deserve honorable mentions here.

FREE SAFETIES

AFC - Eric Weddle (SD)  It was tough not to vote for Ed Reed, but Weddle has four more interceptions while surrendering fewer completions and yards.

NFC - Louis Delmas (DET)  I think it's time the NFL combined the two safety positions into one for Pro Bowl voting.  I'd love to see Chancellor or Whitner get in over Delmas, Antrelle Rolle, or whatever other NFC free safety makes it in a weak crop.

KICKERS

AFC - Sebatian Janikowski (OAK)  SeaBass, as he's affectionately known in Oakland, has missed only two field goals this year while tying the record for the longest in history.

NFC -Robbie Gould (CHI)  I nearly went with San Francisco's David Akers, but Gould has been more accurate and is a perfect six-for-six on field goals over 50 yards.

PUNTERS

AFC - Britton Colquitt (DEN)  Colquitt is a huge asset for Denver when Tim Tebow's offense sputters in the first three quarters.  He has the most attempts of any punter in the AFC, yet still leads the conference in net average.

NFC - Andy Lee (SF)  Lee leads the NFL in net average and has pinned his opponent inside the 20-yard line 22 times this year.

KICK RETURNERS

AFC -  Antonio Brown (PIT)  Brown could go to Honolulu for his receiving alone, but he's also top five in the AFC in both punt and kick return average.

 NFC - Patrick Peterson (ARI)  Devin Hester is the bigger name, but Peterson's four punt return touchdowns tied an NFL record and won three games for the Cardinals.

SPECIAL TEAMERS

AFC - Nick Bellore (NYJ)  I'd like to put Curtis Brown from Pittsburgh, who leads the AFC in special teams total tackles and solo tackles, according to TeamRankings.com.  Since he's yet another player not on the ballot, I'll go with Bellore, special teams standout with the Jets.

NFC - John Wendling (DET)  Wendling is second in the league in special teams total tackles  and first in solo tackles.

Now that you've seen my suggestions, get out and vote!

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