Ranking defensive triplets; a growing trend in NFL team-building

Ranking defensive triplets; a growing trend in NFL team-building

By Bucky Brooks

The wild-and-wacky NBA offseason undoubtedly has NFL executives thinking about their own roster-construction plans going forward. Although there are plenty of differences in the successful team-building models of each sport, there is a common denominator between star power and successful title runs.

In basketball, the "Big Three" approach has produced multiple title runs through the years, most recently for the Heat (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh) and Celtics (Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen) before them. And then the Warriors took it to another level, adding Kevin Durant to a unit that already included the "Splash Brothers" (Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson) and Draymond Green. Long story short: Most of the NBA's top teams over the last dozen years have featured multiple headliners on the marquee.

In football, the "Big Three" concept can be applied to both sides of the ball. Offensive triplets, which garner the vast majority of ink and interest, consist of a quarterback, running back and pass catcher. Meanwhile, defensive triplets feature a combination of three standouts from multiple levels of the unit, whether it be a pass rusher, linebacker and defensive back, or a couple of pass rushers and a designated playmaker in the back seven. The top teams have a set of triplets on each side of the ball with the capacity to dominate the game.

Defensively, the top trios not only have the potential to stifle passing games with a ferocious pass rush and/or airtight coverage on the perimeter, but they're capable of wreaking havoc on opponents with their collective speed, quickness and athleticism. Sparked by a triumvirate of dynamic defenders, defensive coordinators freely attack the opposition with a variety of pressure tactics that frustrate quarterbacks, suffocate perimeter playmakers and overwhelm offensive linemen.


4) DT Aaron Donald, LB Dante Fowler Jr. and CB Marcus Peters or S Eric Weddle, Los Angeles Rams: The back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year is arguably the best football player in the league. Donald sets the standard for the Rams' defense with his endless energy and freakish athleticism. He's unstoppable at the point of attack and opponents must account for his whereabouts on every single play. Fowler finally showed flashes of being a top-five draftee when he teamed up with Donald after a midseason trade. Fowler took his game up a notch in the playoffs, as evidenced by his 1.5 sacks and persistent pressure off the edges. Peters didn't bring his A-game in 2018, but still finished with three interceptions to push his career total to 22 picks in just four seasons. Considering the pressure the Rams should be able to generate with Donald and Fowler pushing the pocket, we could see No. 22 swiping passes left and right in 2019. And if Peters doesn't tickle your fancy, how about the savvy six-time Pro Bowl safety L.A. just scooped up in free agency?

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2019 05:31AM by RamBill.