Defensive Upgrades

DL Shaun Ellis, NYJ: Ellis has been incredible over the first three games of the season, posting LB type tackle numbers (19 total, 16 solo) while picking up 4 sacks. The 4 sacks match last years total while the 16 solo tackles are over half of what he picked up in 16 games. It's hard to imagine him keeping up this pace (100+ tackles with 21.5 sacks), but he's proven us wrong so far.

DL Willie Whitehead, NO: Whitehead has been very solid while replacing Darren Howard. He didn't pick up a sack this week, his first week without, but he did put in a nice performance with 6 solo tackles raising his season total to 17 tackles (15 solo) and 3 sacks.

DL Adewale Ogunleye, MIA: It's about time that someone from the Miami defensive line woke up. After recording just 3 tackles (2 solo) during the first two weeks, he was very active on Monday night, chasing Drew Bledsoe for a total of 5 tackles (4 solo) and 2 sacks.

LB David Thornton, IND: Tony Dungy and the Colts must've known something when they decided not to offer Mike Peterson a new contract. That wasn't so evident after game one in which he picked up just 4 tackles (2 solo), but with 23 tackles (18 solo) and a sack over the last two weeks, it is now. David Thornton is a star.

LB Robert Thomas, STL: What a turn around for the second year linebacker. He started 11 games on the strongside last year and posted just 37 tackles, not living up to his first round draft pick. Now in the middle, he's picked up 24 tackles (21 solo) and a sack through 3 games. He's also been consistent with 6 or more solos in each game.

LB Dhani Jones, NYG: Like Thomas, Jones has recorded 6 or more solo tackles in each of the first three games. He's well on his way to posting a career year through about 8 games or so. His season totals of 30 tackles (24 solo) and a sack are highly weighted by his spectacular performance during the Monday night game of week 2 in which he tallied 15 tackles and the sack.

LB Andra Davis, CLE: A fifth round pick from a year ago, it looks like the only thing that was holding Davis back from stardom was the opportunity to start. After beating out Barry Gardner for the starting middle linebacker job in preseason, he's certainly lived up to the billing. He's picked up 8 or more solo tackles in each game for a league leading total of 27 on the year (33 total tackles).

LB Willie McGinest, NE: McGinest picked up only 5 solo tackles during week three (9 on the season), but his upgrade comes from Rosevelt Colvin being lost for the year. McGinest will start in Colvin's spot at OLB in New Englands 3-4 defense, moving to defensive end during passing downs, and should see a spike in his stats.

LB Sam Cowart, NYJ: Cowart is definitely looking more like the player he was in Buffalo during 99-01 when he averaged 127 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Now two years removed from an Achilles' injury that forced him to miss all but one game in 01, he leads the league in tackles (37 total, 27 solo) while adding in one sack.

LB Nick Barnett, GB: Yet another young linebacker who looks like an incredible playmaker. Over the last two weeks, Barnett has posted 21 solo tackles with 2 interceptions.

DB Dre Bly, DET: Bly has certainly worked for his hefty contract so far this year, picking up an interception in each game, returning one for a touchdown, along with 10 solo tackles. He also leads the league with 7 passes defended.

DB Reggie Tongue, SEA: Tongues tackles numbers over the first three games (10 solo) have been disappointing, probably affected by the play of rookie Ken Hamlin, but he's made up for that with 3 interceptions, a sack, and four passes defended.

More Upgrades

DL Kevin Carter, TEN: 11 tackles (7 solo), 2.5 sacks through 3 games

DL Leonard Little, STL: 13 tackles (12 solo), 4 sacks through 3 games

DL Aaron Schobel, BUF: Absent during the first 2 weeks, picked up 9 tackles (5 solo) and a sack during week 3

LB Kendrell Bell, PIT: 3 solo tackles and 2 sacks with Joey Porter back in the lineup. Now this is what we expected.

LB Jessie Armstead, WAS: The old man continues to get the job done with 20 tackles (18 solo) and 2 sacks on the year.

LB Julian Peterson, SF: Although he has 17 solo tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception through 3 games, the boxscore doesn't do him justice. He been all over the place. LB Ryan Nece, TB: 7 solo tackles and an interception week 3

LB Terrell Suggs, BAL: No tackles to speak of, but he's picked up 3 sacks and an interception during his first 3 career games.

DB Jay Bellamy, NO: Slowed down a bit last week, but still posted 5 solo tackles to up his total to 23.

DB Ken Hamlin, SEA: He's been very impressive so far. 20 tackles (17 solo), 1 interception and 4 passes defended through 3 games.

DB Brian Russell, MIN: 13 solo tackles and 3 picks one the year, including one in each game.

DB Nick Harper, IND: 3 very solid games to start the year. 17 tackles (16 solo) with 3 interceptions.

Downgrades

DL Hugh Douglas, JAC: It looks like his strong week one performance (5 solo tackles, 1 sack) was a mirage. Two tackles since.

DL Aaron Smith, PIT: Smith has been on the cusp of stardom for the last two seasons and many expected him to approach double digit sacks in 03. It hasn't started off well with only 8 tackles (7 solo) through 3 games.

DL Jason Taylor, MIA: Are you serious? 3 tackles and a half sack so far. So much for being the #1 defensive lineman.

DL Justin Smith, CIN: See Aaron Smith. 9 tackles (4 solo) through 3.

DL Grant Wistrom, STL: Completely shut out during weeks one and three with a total of 3 tackles for the year (no sacks). Must be the hair.

DL Michael Strahan, NYG: During week one, we saw Michael Strahan (4 tackles, 1 sack). Since then, who knows what we're looking at (3 tackles, no sacks).

LB Mike Peterson, JAC: Peterson looked OK during the first two weeks with 13 tackles (10 solo), but he left us wanting more. Last week, facing his old team, there was no way he was going to let us down...right? 2 tackles later, it's obvious that there's something wrong.

LB Rob Morris, IND: Morris ended last season very strong (52 tackles, 3 sacks over final 6 games) and was supposed to carry that into this year. It hasn't happened. 13 tackles (10 solo) through 3.

LB Marcus Washington, IND: I guess it was true. Strongside linebackers do not produce in Tony Dungy's defense. We were supposed to see him rush the passer more this year after spending much of last year in pass coverage. Through three weeks (10 tackles, 5 solo), I'd just like to see him...period.

LB Derrick Brooks, TB: Last year, Brooks started the season with 20 tackles (15 solo) and 3 interceptions through three games. This year, 14 tackles (12 solo). The inconsistency of interceptions and touchdowns had him vastly overrated coming into 03.

LB London Fletcher, BUF: Fletcher leads the team in total tackles with 23, but only 15 of those are solos. It looks like Takeo Spikes (along with the other changes in Buffalo) has cost him around 1.5 solo tackles per game off of his three year average.

LB Edgerton Hartwell, BAL: With Ray Lewis in the lineup, Hartwell is simply not the same playmaker that we saw last year while Lewis was out. While many people drafted him as such, many did not. He'll drop about 30 solo tackles from last years total and have trouble reaching the 3 sacks.

DB Tebucky Jones, NO: 10 tackles (4 solo) through 3 games. Is this all it takes to get a $5 million signing bonus? Sign me up. Everyone knew that Jones wasn't very good, except for the Saints. Now maybe they'll realize that giving up third, fourth and seventh round picks for the right to overpay him was a bad decision.

More Downgrades

DL Dwight Freeney, IND: He's injured, so we'll give him a pass for now, but his 3 tackles through the first two games were very unimpressive.

DL Joe Johnson, GB: Johnson has not picked up the slack from losing Vonnie Holliday and he's far from the dominating all-around end that we knew in New Orleans. 5 solo tackles on the year.

LB Jeff Posey, BUF: The tackles are there, he's on pace to top last years total, but he's yet to record a sack after picking up 8 in Houston.

LB Ronald McKinnon, ARI: McKinnon was bad last year, but not THIS bad. He failed to record a solo tackle on Sunday, something that hasn't happened since, well...ever.

LB Jason Gildon, PIT: The interception this week was nice, but it doesn't hide the fact the he has 5 tackles this year.

LB Charlie Clemons, HOU: If he's not going to give us tackles, he has to get to the quarterback. He hasn't done either. 10 tackles (7 solo)

DB Tony Parrish, SF: Someone forgot to inform Parrish that the preseason was over. After posting 72 tackles, 7 picks and 17 passes defended last year, he's picked up only 9 tackles, 0 picks/PDs through the first three games.