Twitter can be a difficult place sometimes, like almost any social media outlet. There can be vitrol and abuse, there can be arguments that never seem to end, and there can be moments where you wonder just why in the world you spend so much time on the bird app.
However, Twitter also can provide some great ideas for content. A prime example is this tweet from Matt Miller, who covers the NFL draft incredibly well for Bleacher Report:
This tweet also makes my life easier.
We can dispense with the suspense, as Mr. Donald is certainly the player atop this list. Even the best debaters in the would might have difficulty making a case for anyone else atop the interior defensive line rankings in the league today. But there are some fascinating names to consider for the remaining ten spots, and as always there are difficult choices ahead.
Best Interior Defensive Line Unit
When you place a pair of players on a list like this, you are in good shape. The Philadelphia Eagles sport a very solid group up front, starting with Fletcher Cox. but they gave him quite the running mate when the organization added Javon Hargrave in free agency. When you have those two on the inside, and players such as Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham on the outside, you are truly cooking with gas.
But there are some other talented duos in the league. The Buffalo Bills have a nice 1-2 punch of Ed Loiver and Star Lotulelei, while the Cincinnati Bengals also have a great combo with Geno Atkins and the recently acquired D.J. Reader. Finally, do not forget about the Dallas Cowboys. They added Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe this offseason, and have solid depth behind them in Trysten Hill and third-round pick Neville Gallimore.
Honorable Mentions
As with every position group, there are players who just missed the cut who merit both consideration and accolades, and interior defensive line is no exception to that rule. Tampa Bay Buccaneer Vita Vea is – perhaps quietly – living up to his pre-draft expectations, and last year he notched career highs in pressures, tackles and quarterback hurries. Tennessee Titans’ defensive lineman DaQuan Jones is another very solid player, and interestingly enough he led all interior defensive linemen with 14 pass coverage snaps, according to charting data from Pro Football Focus. Veteran Steve McLendon with the New York Jets had a very solid season, posting a career-high of 18 pressures. Finally, both Dalvin Tomlinson and Dexter Lawrence had good years with the New York Giants.
Now, the Top 11.
11. Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
Geno Atkins may be winding down his career, but despite his longevity – or perhaps because of it – he still merits consideration as one of the league’s top interior defensive lineman. He logged 689 snaps last season at one of Cincinnati’s defensive tackle spots, and posted and impressive 53 total pressures and 29 total tackles, to go with 28 “stops” as charted by PFF.
What stands out about his level of play, even at this point in his career, is his strength, his lower-body anchor, and his effort. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 Atkins had one of his best performances of the season, with six total pressures, a tackle and four assists. One of those assists came on this running play. Watch as Atkins controls both the right guard and the right tackle – keeping the second level defenders clean – but fights his way to the ball-carrier:
With D.J. Reader now alongside him, Atkins should continue his high level of play into 2020.
10. Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles
Nose tackles are a bit of a dying breed in today’s NFL, with so many defenses moving to a four-man front in a base 4-2-5 package. But there are players with the talent to transcend such a movement, and Hargrave is certainly among them. 2019 was a career year for the fifth-year defender out of South Carolina State, as he tallied career-high numbers in quarterback pressures (49), tackles (35) and quarterback hurries (43, far surpassing his previous career-high mark of 23 set his rookie season).
What makes Hargrave more than a nose tackle is his ability to play along the defensive front. He can align as a defensive tackle or even a defensive end in a three-man front, and this flexibility gives the Steelers – and now the Eagles – a variety of options defensively. On this sack of Lamar Jackson, Hargrave actually aligns as a 3 (or a 4i technique) defensive tackle as part of a four-man front, and then shows the upper body and hand strength to disengage for a sack of the Ravens’ quarterback:
This sack came late in the game and helped the Steelers hold Baltimore to a field goal, keeping them out of the end zone for what could have been a game winning touchdown. Instead, the game went to overtime.
Now in Philadelphia, with Fletcher Cox to run with, Hargrave is a great position to continue his elite level of play.
9. D.J. Reader, Cincinnati Bengals
D.J. Reader has been steadily improving every season in the NFL, since being selected in the fifth round of the 2016 draft by the Houston Texans. Last season was a stellar year for Reader, who parlayed his on-the-field success into a new contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on the open market. Reader set new career-high marks in quarterback pressures (36), quarterback hits (11), quarterback hurries (22), tackles (41) and “stops,” with 35.
His ability to help against the run is a selling point for many, but it is what Reader can do pushing the pocket from the interior that will make a difference in today’s NFL. On a Sunday night against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, Reader was a force on the interior against the veteran quarterback. That night he had a season-high five quarterback pressures and four quarterback hits, ad this play is just one example of how he wins on the inside:
Bear in mind that Reader is working against Joe Thuney, one of the league’s top guards. But let’s talk about why this play is impressive from the defensive tackle. Due to the late motion Reader actually gets a late jump on this snap, as he is trying to shift as the ball is snapped (begging the question as to why teams don’t use motion at the snap more often). Reader then uses a speed rush move on Thuney, and the guard looks in good position. Brady, however, does not, and tries to slide around Reader’s initial penetration upfield. That is when the DT responds with foot quickness and strength, cutting underneath Thuney to pressure Brady and force a throw under duress.
Quick interior pressure is one of the things that works best to throw off the timing of passing plays, and Reader can bring that in bunches. Now, with Geno Atkins alongside him, he’ll be able to do that for the Bengals.
8. Calais Campbell, Baltimore Ravens
Another veteran playing at an extremely high level deep into his career is Calais Campbell. 2019 was his 12th year in the NFL, but he played some of his best football in what would be his final season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Campbell notched 71 quarterback pressures and 46 quarterback hurries, some of his best numbers to date, to go with his 41 total tackles. While his sack numbers dropped out of the double-digits for the first and only time during his stop in Jacksonville, those pressure numbers are nothing to scoff at.
If you want to get a sense of what he brings to Baltimore as a pass rusher, watch his Week 3 game against the Tennessee Titans. He was in the Titans’ backfield almost all night, racking up 10 pressures, a season-high three sacks, and five quarterback hurries. If you want a textbook example of upfield quickness from a defensive tackle, watch this play:
This is supposed to be a tunnel screen. Quarterbacks should not get sacked on tunnel screens. But Campbell gets upfield in the blink of an eye with a quick rip move, and stops this play before Marcus Mariota has a chance.
But if you want to see what probably brought him to Baltimore, the final play of the first quarter that night is probably the reason:
Remember. Derrick Henry put almost two hundred on the Ravens in the Division Round. Here, Campbell gets the running back for a loss of five yards on this outside zone play, slicing into the A Gap and beating the reach block attempt of the center. If Campbell can help the Ravens with both pass rush and run defense, watch out.
7. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
Continuing our run of players moving teams, DeForest Buckner has a new home of his own, after being traded to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a first-round pick. After what some considered to be a down rookie season, calling into question the wisdom of drafting him seventh-overall, Buckner rounded into form his second year in the league. Last season, his fourth in the NFL, was another great year of play from him, as he showed the ability to both get after the passer and help against the run.
Buckner was a big part of the San Francisco 49ers’ defense and their run to the Super Bowl. He was a force as a pass rusher, stringing together 66 total quarterback pressures and 46 quarterback hurries, both career-high numbers. His sack totals were down from 2018, but it was his second-straight year of double-digit sacks with 11. Better still is his versatility. He saw the bulk of his snaps in the interior, with 305 at left defensive tackle and another 392 at right defensive tackle, but he also saw 46 at left defensive end and 159 at right defensive end. That allowed Robert Saleh to play with his matchups up front, and put opposing passers in some precarious situations.
Buckner notched a pair of sacks in the season’s final game, getting to Patrick Mahomes twice. It was his only multiple-sack game of the year, and if you want a glossary-style example of a swim move, watch what he does to the left guard on this play:
Even more impressive than the pass rushing move itself – which is what the kids call “teaching tape” – is the balance. Buckner loses his feet as he gets tangled up with the left tackle, but stays upright (while changing direction mind you) and gets to Mahomes for the sack.
His other sack that night was also a thing of beauty, coming from the other side of the line:
Obviously the Colts are going to expect big things from him, given his tape the past few seasons and the cost of acquiring him. But with his ability to collapse pockets from the inside, and his positional flexibility, the price is going to be worth it for Indianapolis.
6. Grady Jarrett, Atlanta Falcons
D.J. Reader is not the only fifth-round pick out of Clemson University to make this list. Joining him is his former teammate with the Tigers, Grady Jarrett, who was picked in the fifth round a season before Reader, back in 2015. While Jarrett played in a limited role as a rookie, playing just 266 snaps and notching 16 tackles, he took on a bigger part for the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 during their run to the Super Bowl. That season Jarrett logged 763 snaps, racking up 36 tackles and 47 quarterback pressures.
Over the past two years, Jarrett has grown into an elite player on the interior of Atlanta’s defense. While the Falcons struggled on that side of the football a year ago, you could not fault Jarrett. He set a career-high with eight sacks, and also added 43 tackles, another career-high mark. In a win over the hated New Orleans Saints back in Week 10, Jarrett played a massive role. he pressured Drew Brees seven times, getting to him three for a season-high in sacks.
“Power to speed” is a phrase that comes to mind with Jarrett, and this sack of Brees that he splits with Vic Beasley is a prime example. Watch as he drives the left guard back into the pocket, and then runs the arc akin to a defense end, knifing towards the QB:
With additions such as Marlon Davidson in the draft and Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency, the Falcons defense should be in better shape in 2020. Having Jarrett patrolling the interior will certainly help.
5. Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
Drafted in the first round of the 2012 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Fletcher Cox has certainly lived up to the expectations that come with an early selection. If you want productive pressure from a defensive lineman, Cox is your man. In 2018 he put together one of the best seasons you will see from a pass rusher from the interior, as he notched 101 total pressures, 11 sacks and 65 quarterback hurries. His 2019 numbers – while incredible as well – seem almost pedestrian by comparison. Last season Cox got home four times to go with 60 pressures and 30 hurries. Still tremendous production from an interior defensive lineman.
How does he do it? With a combination of athleticism and technique you would love to see from an EDGE defender. We have discussed some technique already, but watch this picture-perfect rip move he implements on the right guard to get to Josh Allen:
And now, the power against the left guard to strip Dak Prescott:
I left the celebratory jig in there for good measure.
This season, he’ll have Javon Hargrave to run with on the inside, along with the usual suspects of Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett on the outside, Is another three-digit pressure campaign in store? Odds are in his favor.
4. Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers
I remember the exact moment I first heard the name Kenny Clark. It was back in 2015, and I was writing a preview of a September matchup between Arizona and UCLA during the halcyon days of Inside the Pylon. While studying the Bruins’ defense, I came across this play from a nose tackle, highlighted by the white box pre-snap:
Since that moment, I’ve been a fan.
Clark has lived up to the expectations I, and the Green Bay Packers, had for him when the Packers drafted him in the first round of the 2016 draft. 2019 might have been his best season yet, as he saw a career-high 971 snaps and made the most of them. Clark tallied career-high numbers in pressures (69), sacks (9), hurries (58), tackles (46) and stops (45).
It is rare to see sideline-to-sideline ability from an interior defensive lineman, but Clark brings that to the table, along with great awareness for the position. But you also have to take note of his strength, power and leverage. Watch what he does here on this running play from the Carolina Panthers. Off the snap he drives his left arm into the right shoulder of the center on this zone running play, driving the center back. Once he gets control of the blocker his hands are fast enough that he can flare out his left arm to control the ball-carrier, while using his right arm and shoulder to maintain leverage over the center:
With Clark on the inside and the dueling Smiths on the outside, the Packers defense is in solid shape up front heading into 2020.
3. Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Another former first-round pick who enjoyed a great campaign in 2019 is Cameron Heyward with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Heyward was selected by the organization near the end of the first round back in 2011, and has been a presence up front for the Steelers almost since his rookie season. He had a breakout year in 2013, when he played 836 snaps – which was a career-high to that point – and notched six sacks.
But the past three seasons in Pittsburgh have seen some of the best football he has to offer. 2019 marked his third-straight season of double-digit sacks, as he took down the opposing passer ten times. But he also set career high numbers in tackles with 52 and “stops” with 44. He was also impressive in coverage, as it were, as he was actually targeted one time in pass coverage and he broke up the attempt.
To be considered the best you have to beat the best, and Heyward did that in Week 9. In a game that has gotten a lot of attention on the timeline recently, Heyward had a great outing against the Indianapolis Colts and their impressive guard Quentin Nelson. That day Heyward notched five pressures, four hurries and four tackles, while often working against the talented guard.
For example, watch the push-pull move he puts on Nelson on this running play:
Not only does Heyward have the power and technique to shed the guard on this play, but he then finishes the rep by tracking Marlon Mack down along the line of scrimmage and making the tackle for a loss.
Sure, Javon Hargrave is on to new ventures in Philadelphia, but Heyward’s talent, technique and effort make him a force to be reckoned with on the inside of the Steelers’ defensive line.
2. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Picking the second player behind Aaron Donald was no easy task, and you could make a case for any of the players on this list. I’m riding with Chris Jones, who has been an imposing force inside for the Kansas City Chiefs virtually since entering the league in 2016. His best year in the league was likely the 2018 campaign, when he recorded a career-high 16 sacks, but last year was nothing to scoff at. During the Chiefs’ run to a Super Bowl title, Jones notched nine sacks to go with his 64 quarterback pressures, and also set a career-high with 23 tackles. Even more impressive is when you remember that he played in just 13 games while dealing with a calf injury.
Versatility is also a calling card of his. Jones notched 236 snaps at left defensive tackle, 181 snaps at right defensive tackle, 79 snaps at left defensive end, and 97 snaps at right defensive end. He also saw a handful of snaps at inside linebacker.
For a look at how he excels, watch how he single-handedly destroys the Tennessee Titans on this play:
Jones beats the double-team and explodes towards Ryan Tannehill, for the strip-sack. The Chiefs recover and would put a field goal on the board with their ensuing possession.
Obviously there is a contractual situation to play out in Kansas City, as Jones is facing playing under the franchise tag. The organization has until July 15th to work out an extension, otherwise he will play under the one-year deal.
He’s worth the long term deal, friends.
1. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Lists such as these often generate angst and controversy, but this should be a universally-accepted selection. To that end, as evidence for making Aaron Donald the top interior defensive lineman in the game, I’ll just link this lengthy Twitter film study I did of him before Super Bowl LIII.
In which I refer to him as a destroyer of worlds.
Sure, it’s from two seasons ago, but this is who Donald is. A destroyer of worlds, and the top guy at his position.
