Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

When you look back on a season, there are a few guys at each position that you simply sit and think, wow did that person and/or unit really do that bad? That, my friends, is where THE UGLY articles originate. Here at the Bruno Boys, we wanted to help point out those who were not only bad, but were downright ugly all season long. As you’ll see, the defenses below not only let you down, but likely did so in such a big way that you were searching all year long for something, anything really to fill the roster spot the defensive team burned for you on draft day.

In the Bruno Boys final installment of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,”, Bruno Boy Greg Warnock takes a look at those defenses that were unmitigated disasters in 2009.

1. New York Giants D/ST — Here is a perfect example of a defense that was an utter disaster. In the preseason, all of us here at the Bruno Boys believed an already solid defense in New York was going to be even better thanks to the addition of Chris Canty and the return from injury of stud defensive end Osi Umenyiora. But, the 3rd ranked defense was terrible in every facet of the game as they scored a mere 83 fantasy points over the course of the season.

This season, the Giants’ defense allowed 324.9 yards per contest and gave up 26.7 points per game, while tallying 32 sacks and 24 turnovers. The biggest problem for New York was the lack of depth in their secondary, especially at safety. The defensive line didn’t get nearly the amount of pressure as in years past, and that meant opposing teams could take the Giants deep, exploiting that weakness at the safety slot. Expect New York to shore up the safety position in the off-season along with picking up a young linebacker who may be able to crack the lineup on day one. The Giants may be one defense that can turn things around in a big way come 2010, but as you saw this season, there is some risk here.

2. Tennessee Titans D/ST — Tennessee was one of those defenses with questions marks heading into the season. The main reason was due to the loss of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who continually received double teams allowing his teammates to do some damage, to free agency. Going into the season, we thought they could recover from that loss due to their exceptional secondary and the talent they possessed along the defensive line and at linebacker. Instead, the Titans defense only scored 95 fantasy points.

On the year, the Titans’ defense gave up 365.6 yards per game and 25.1 points per game while adding 32 sacks 27 turnovers. Injuries really derailed the secondary for Tennessee, and the pressure was simply not there from a year ago. If the Titans can add some youth to their defensive line and add another player to their secondary, they have a chance to turn things around. If you wait to select your defense in the 2010 draft, you may want to think about taking a chance on Tennessee in the late rounds and see if they can return to their 2008 form.

3. Washington Redskins D/ST — The Tennessee Titans’ loss was the Washington Redskins gain in the off-season, with defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth joining what was already a top ten defense from 2008. However, the Redskins defense took a step backwards, as they struggled to produce big games even with their easy schedule to start the year. That’s what led Washington to only score 74 fantasy points on the year.

On the season, the Redskins’ defense allowed 319.7 yards and 21.0 points per game while totaling 40 sacks and 17 turnovers. What Washington will need to turn things around and produce bigger games is an aggressive secondary that can force some turnovers and take them back for touchdowns. Obviously, the offense needs a bit of an overhaul, and while Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder does like to hand out money like candy on Halloween, it’s tough seeing Washington make the necessary moves to make big improvements for 2010.

4. Miami Dolphins D/ST — The thought coming into the season was that the Miami Dolphins’ addressed their secondary (the only main issue for the defense in 2008) in a big way by adding safety Gibril Wilson and drafting cornerback Vontae Davis. Well, those acquisitions did not really work out for the team, as the secondary continued to get picked on, and despite the high sack total for the Dolphins, their lack of turnovers could not make the defense fantasy worthy. This season, Miami scored a total of 93 fantasy points.

On the year, the Dolphins’ defense gave up 349.3 yards and 24.4 points per game while notching 44 sacks and 21 turnovers. More additions to the secondary, plus the development of the younger guys they just drafted could make Miami an appealing defense in 2010. While the ceiling may not be too high, the defense should at least climb back into the top-15 next season.

5. Chicago Bears D/ST — The ranking of the Chicago Bears defense at #10 to start the year may have been a bit optimistic, but we never would have imagined this team losing the heart and soul of their defense in Week 1 in middle linebacker Brian Urlacher. For the Bears’ defense to lose Urlacher, their team captain, is like other teams losing their starting quarterback. He makes all the calls for their defensive unit, and without him, the team was lost at times on the field. That’s the main reason why Chicago only scored 99 fantasy points on the year.

This season, the Bears’ defense allowed 337.8 yards and 23.4 points per game while adding 35 sacks and 28 turnovers. Without any draft choices in the first two rounds for a team who doesn’t tend to spend a lot of money on free agents, its tough seeing Chicago improve its defense immensely for the 2010 season. The return of Urlacher should help, but not enough for you to own a defense that will be a middle of the road squad with not a lot of upside.

6. Seattle Seahawks D/ST — In the preseason, there was a lot to like about the Seattle Seahawks’ defense. They just drafted a ferocious linebacker in Aaron Curry, they traded for defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, and everyone seemed healthy and ready to go. On top of all that, the Seahawks’ offense was getting healthy, which should have resulted in better field position for the defense. However, it was the defense who got hit by injuries, and the team was never able to recover. The result was Seattle only totaling 77 fantasy points.

On the year, the Seahawks’ defense gave up 356.4 yards and 24.4 points while totaling 28 sacks and 23 turnovers. When healthy, the Seattle defense has some talented players that can add a lot of intrigue to the unit. While the offensive line will likely be addressed in the draft, you can expect the Seahawks to add a couple more players to their linebacker corps and secondary. Once again, the Seahawks defense may be a sleeper pick if you wait on picking one in your draft, but it’s tough to peg exactly how well the Seattle defense performs in 2010.

2009 The Good:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  |  DEF

2009 The Bad:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  |  DEF

2009 The Ugly:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K |  DEF

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