Defensive Upgrades/Downgrades by Brian Roberson and Tom Nadratowski Every week, FootballGuys.com's resident Individual Defensive Player (IDP) Gurus - Brian Roberson and Tom Nadratowski- will be providing you with immediate opinions on what players are stepping up their play, which ones are falling down on the job and which players just happened to have a horseshoe in their pocket for one game. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Upgrades Julius Peppers CAROLINA (Nadratowski) - Seeing as how this is our last update of the year, I thought I'd concentrate on young up and coming players to help you get a jump on next year or to help you start to gauge your keepers. I had Peppers rated as the highest DL coming out of the draft. If not for a stupid indiscretion with an over the counter suppliment, he might have surpassed that and not only won defensive rookie of the year honors, but made a bid at MVP. Peppers, right now, is the #1 DL to draft next year. Kalimba Edwards DETROIT (Nadratowski) - I also felt that Edwards would have a good rookie campaign coming out of the draft, due to his talent and Detroit's poor D. He did do well, but it missed my expectations since I thought he would start from day one. Late in the season, when he got the starting RE job, he has performed at a high level. Freeney makes a nice addition for a dynasty/keeper team that can't afford the high price Peppers is likely to command. Dwight Freeney INDIANAPOLIS (Nadratowski) - Coming out of the draft, there were questions surrounding Freeney. Many had him rated as the best pure pass rusher in the draft (he is fast, fast enough to sack Vick four times in one game in college). The questions were about his ability to cover against the run. He got better at this over the course of the season. If anyone can correct these flaws, it's Dungy. Aberrations Shaun Rogers DETROIT (Nadratowski) - Rogers performance was destroyed for most of the year due to a series of injuries that were as maddening to his fantasy owners as they were persistent. Rogers has rebounded nicely and this injury riddled season should stay an aberration for him. Jevon Kearse TENNESSEE (Nadratowski) - Kearse also suffered from an injury plagues campaign. However, I am worried about hi, He hasn't come close to repeating his awesome rookie campaign and still seems to struggle with the run. He has a ton of talent, which is what is saving me from actually downgrading him for next year. I think he has to put it all together at some point, and I think if it doesn't happen next year it won't. Downgrades Michael Strahan NEW YORK GIANTS (Nadratowski) - As I expected, Strahan has returned to a more normal level after his Hall Of Fame 2001. Strahan is getting older, and unless they get him some help, he will stay at 8-10 sacks each year. LINEBACKERS Upgrades Rob Morris INDIANAPOLIS (Nadratowski) - Not only has Coach Dungy improved DL Freeney, he has worked a wonder with Morris. Morris looked like a bust until 2/3 of the way through this season. Then Morris found Dungy's religion and was born again hard. Morris scored a fat 10-3-1 week 14. I think that he has broken through and will be a top 20 LB next year, if not better. Jamie Sharper HOUSTON (Nadratowski) - Sharper should again perform well next season. I don't think that the Texans can solve all their problems in the offseason and get well enough that Sharper won't be a starter for you next season. I think Foreman will do well too, next season, but Sharper has more value for his sack potential. Will Withersponn CAROLINA (Nadratowski) - Witherspoon is very quick, and a year of experience will do him well. I think that when Morgan comes back they'll shift him outside to take advantage of his speed. He'll have a nice amount of tackles then, as well as some sacks. Aberrations Kendrell Bell PITTSBURGH (Nadratowski) - As with DL Rogers, Bell's season was marred by a lingering injury. Bell is young enough, and definitely talented enough, to make a comeback next year and play consistently well enough to start for your team. Downgrades Dan Morgan CAROLINA (Nadratowski) - He's the Fred Taylor of linebackers. This is two years in a row now that the guy has broken down. He's got a lot of talent but it doesn't do you a lot of good when he's on the bench. Either draft Witherspoon, or if you do draft Morgan, make sure you are deep enough to afford his inevitable injuries. Junior Seau SAN DIEGO - The days as a super stud are long gone. And unless this team totally regresses on offense, they will stay that way. Barring that, or an unexpected injury to Donnie Edwards, Seau will only be a low #2 or #3 LB for your team - barely startable. DEFENSIVE BACKS Upgrades Roy Williams DALLAS (Nadratowski) - Some people got on me on our message boards when I didn't have Williams ranked, or ranked higly enough, for a time in my weekly cheatsheets. I did so because of the way he was currently playing, and when it looked like he was playing well again, I ranked him appropriately. What may have been forgotten is that I had Williams ranked as the top rookie DB going into the year. And as of this writing, he is, with 109 points. I see no reason for Williams not to keep playing at a high level next year as well. Adam Archuleta ST. LOUIS (Nadratowski) - Archuleta is on pace for over 100 total tackles on the year. He has freakish ability and speed plus great awareness. This kid should be the next Rodney Harrison. Aberrations Todd Lyght DETROIT (Nadratowski) - Lyght has been helping a lot of fantasy owners this playoff season. But the fact is, he isn't that good anymore. He has lost a step, and a lot of his tackles are made from behind. For fantasy owners, a tckle is a tackle, but I think that Lyght will not be starting next year, for Detroit or any team. Downgrades Rodney Harrison SAN DIEGO (Nadratowski) - Harrison's injury worries me. He responded well, but he'll be 31 going into the next season. I am not positive he can keep up his high level of play. There's only one Rod Woodson, after all. Rod Woodson OAKLAND (Nadratowski) - Speaking of Woodson, he'll be 38 next year. The guy is amazing, and a first ballot lock for the hall. But he can't keep it up forever. A nice vet to build depth around or someone to move for name value.