Quote:NFC's top 10 most dynamic duos
Cam Newton, Steve Smith among top complementary pairings in the NFC
Originally Published: June 29, 2012
By Gary Horton | Scouts Inc.

On Thursday, we began our look at the most dynamic duos in the NFL by ranking the top 10 in the AFC. On Friday, we continue in the NFC.

Again, the key to a truly impressive tandem is a twosome that works better together than they do apart. They cover each other's weaknesses and enhance each other's strengths -- even if their link isn't readily apparent. Some readers raised an eyebrow Thursday about my pairing of punter Shane Lechler and kicker Sebastian Janikowski, believing the two don't relate to one another -- after all, they're not even on the field together. However, it's their complementary skills that earned them my appreciation -- Lechler's big leg gives the Raiders better field position and, combined with Janikowski's range, leads to more field goal opportunities for Oakland.

I suspect you'll find our NFC pairings slightly more conventional, however. Here is my breakdown of the top 10, starting out in San Francisco:

1. ILBs Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers
They are the most dominant inside linebacking duo in the NFL and it is uncanny how they mesh their skills on the field. They look and play the same in the 49ers' 3-4 scheme and not only do they dominate against the run, they both defend the pass and have sideline-to-sideline range. They have become effective blitzers/pass-rushers, and San Francisco is able to bring one of them, drop the other into coverage, without fear that the LB dropping into coverage will be a liability. Combined with San Francisco's strong defensive line, Willis and Bowman make the 49ers' pass rush scary.

2. DEs Trent Cole and Jason Babin, Philadelphia Eagles
These guys really flourished in the Eagles' wide-9 defense in 2011, combining for a staggering 29 sacks from their edge rush positions. The Eagles' defense really stretches the offensive blockers, which leads to good matchups in space where they can simply out-quick the O-line. Both Cole and Babin are relentless rushers, with speed and quickness, and because they are part of a deep defensive-line rotation, they are able to stay fresh. They also can hold up against the run, making both edges of Philadelphia's defense strong.

3. WRs Roddy White and Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
White has been terrific for a long time, but the missing piece in this passing game was a complementary receiver who could take some defensive attention away from White. Jones is now that guy, and a year ago they posted 154 receptions for 2,255 yards and 16 TDs. With a good slot receiver, Harry Douglas, and a Hall of Fame tight end in Tony Gonzalez, there are few opportunities for double coverages by the defense. Both White and Jones have the size to be effective red-zone targets and the speed to get deep. However, both must play with a little better consistency and concentration in 2012.

4. QB Cam Newton and WR Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers
Newton was blessed to have a big-play WR he could depend on as a rookie; Smith filled the role with 79 receptions for 1,394 yards and seven TDs. Smith has excellent vertical speed, great concentration and a fearlessness to go over the middle. Newton doesn't hesitate to look his way -- no matter what the coverage. With other options in the passing game, it's not always easy to roll coverages toward Smith, and these two now have a great feel for how the play will develop. They are on the same page and their ability to make sight reads after the snap will only increase as they play more together.

5. QB Matthew Stafford and WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
The Lions attempted a league-high 702 passes in 2011, and a big reason was the chemistry between those two young stars. Johnson has rare size and deep speed and nobody fights for the ball in the air more effectively. That is why Stafford will throw the jump ball to him even when it looks like he is covered, especially in the red zone, and why Johnson is right at the top of the league in passing targets. Like most great QB-WR duos, they seem to read the defense and coverages the same way, which takes time, preparation and chemistry to perfect.

6. Safeties Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner, 49ers
They may not be household names, but this duo plays at a very high level, and the more film you watch, the more you like them. They are excellent versus the run (combined 126 tackles in 2011), and they really set a physical tone on the back end of this defense. Both rarely miss a tackle in the open field and they take pride in their techniques and ability to read the play and break on the ball. Both are good blitzers and both can play center field, which gives the 49ers tremendous versatility.

7. Safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks
On a defense that is really showing improvement, these guys lead the charge. They combined for 186 tackles with only six interceptions, but they are physical ball hawks with range and don't allow a lot of big plays inside the hashes. They create turnovers, are rarely out of position and with a better pass rush up front in 2012, their production likely will go up. They have a great dynamic: When one of them gambles to make a big play, the other guy is backing him up in center field.

8. RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, Panthers
This has been a dynamic Panthers run game in recent years, and now they even have added a third piece, Mike Tolbert from San Diego, who can make both of them better, working out of the FB position either as a lead blocker or complementary runner. A year ago, Williams and Stewart combined for 1,598 yards and 63 receptions (most of those from Stewart). Williams can give them more outside plays while Stewart is a good power runner between the tackles. With the threat of Smith at WR and the scrambling ability of Newton, it's tough for a defense to overload in the box, which leaves good running lanes for Williams and Stewart.

9. DEs Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck, New York Giants
We know that the Giants have four quality edge type rushers (they call it their NASCAR package), but these two are the toughest one-on-one matchups for offensive blockers. Even though Tuck fought through a lot of nagging injuries in 2011, he is still an elite rusher who can line up outside or inside to get the right matchup. Pierre-Paul had a huge 2011 season, with 16.5 sacks and 86 tackles, and with his first-step quickness he is almost impossible to block individually. Like Tuck, he can play some pass-rush snaps inside. With their versatility, they can even line up on the same side, which equates to a blocking nightmare.

10. QB Drew Brees and TE Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints
Brees has a lot of weapons in this spread offense, but when he needs a big play, Graham is the guy he looks to. Like Stafford and Johnson, they operate off the same page and when you combine Brees' accuracy with Graham's leaping ability, they form one of the most potent passing/receiving duos in the league, particularly when they get near the goal line. Of Graham's 99 receptions, 14 were in the red zone, with nine of those for TDs. Brees will move him all over the formation to get the right matchup, a luxury afforded him by Graham's versatility.

(07-01-2012 01:16 AM)takeitdown Wrote:  I don't think the Falcons are quite as hard to cover as writers seem to hint. If TG were still young/capable of stretching the seam, sure.

But as is, it's really 2 outside receivers, a slow but sure handed TE, a quick slot guy who doesn't have deep speed, and a back who can't catch. When you think of it from that perspective...it's not that hard to defend, and it's easy to see why cover 2 works so well against us. If HD or TG were a bit faster, radical difference...or if they grab a cheap vet outside receiver, so they can put Julio in the slot occasionally...then it's way different.

We need guys in the middle who can really take advantage of safety or LB coverage...and not by getting 6 yards, but by breaking it for a TD. Those guys are fast slots, fast RBs, fast TEs. We're actually so close. I wish they would just get these guys, none of whom are expensive.

(07-01-2012 09:52 AM)Beef Wrote:  I understand your concerns on TG's speed, but HD has 4.4x speed and we've all seen him catch several short slants across the middle, break away from all the defenders, and take it to the house. And TG has a 60" wingspan at 6'5 and can catch anything. He's essentially a possession receiver at this point. Which is just fine considering we have 4 other bona fide receiving options on the field at all times now that can catch the ball then break it open.

Don't forget that Turner, Quizz, and Snelling have been taking TONS of receptions out of the backfield now.

Julio missed 4 games and still had 959 yards & 8 TD's. How you think Roddy + Julio is easily covered when you consider the defense also has to account for receiving threats coming from the slot and the RB's on top of a HoF TE with the best hands to ever play the position, is baffling. I mean there's maybe 2 other teams even remotely close to having the type of receiving corps we have.

We put up 4200 receiving yards last year with Julio missing games, HD being completely under-utilized, and absolutely zero passing game coming out of the backfield. If we're so easy to defend, how did we put up 4200 yards on everyone with such a shitty situation surrounding it? It clearly wasn't "easy" last year, so it sure isn't going to be anywhere close to that this year.

This offense is going to be hard as hell to cover and defend in general. They can't double-cover Roddy, Julio, and TG all at the same time and ignore the running game, screen game, and HD or Meier coming out of the slot. If teams keep going to cover-2 with the new system, they're going to get embarrassed repeatedly.

(07-01-2012 09:52 AM)Beef Wrote:  This offense is going to be hard as hell to cover and defend in general. They can't double-cover Roddy, Julio, and TG all at the same time and ignore the running game, screen game, and HD or Meier coming out of the slot. If teams keep going to cover-2 with the new system, they're going to get embarrassed repeatedly.