Time to take a spin around the league and see who is best at what they do.  Today we take a look at the best pass rushers in the NFL.  Keep in mind that this is not looking at who is the best at their respective position, but best at getting to the QB in passing situations.  These are the guys that the offensive line makes sure as to where they are lined up before the ball is snapped.  So don’t flip out because you don’t see a certain defensive end or linebacker on this list.  Remember, Simeon Rice was a sackmaster, but was pretty bad at the run.  So if we had done this list 7 years ago, there is a good chance he would have made this list.  Who did qualify?  Let’s take a look at #5.

5.   Justin Tuck, DE Giants - The Notre Dame alum will lineup anywhere he wants along the defensive line when he is expected to get to the QB.  Last year with the departure of Michael Strahan, Tuck was finally given a starting job along the Giants defensive line, even though he totaled 10 sacks the year before as Strahan and Osi Umenyiora’s backup.  His total reached 12 last year, as he had to take on double teams later in the season and battled an array of injuries and illness.  With the loss of Umenyiora last season to a knee injury, and Strahan’s retirement, Tuck played more snaps last year than he did in his previous 3 seasons combined. He became the focal point of Giants relentless pass rush.  With the return of Umenyiora and the signings of Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty, along with Mathias Kiwanuka officially back as a DE only,  Tuck should receive more rest as the season goes on, and see fewer double teams as the Giants terrorize QBs on 3rd and long situations.

4. John Abraham, DE Falcons – For 10 years, John Abraham has been able to do one thing very very well; get to the QB.  With 84 sacks in his career, Abraham has solidified himself as one of the premier pass rushers in the game.  Every 16 game season he has played in, he has recorded double digit sacks. The only thing that has kept him from have more, has been a few seasons where he missed sometime.  His fewest sack total was 4, and that was when he played in only 8 games his first year with Atlanta.   Last season was his best year-to-date, with 16.5 QBs for lunch.  His efforts helped bolster a veteran defense in Atlanta that helped turned the franchise around after a year in turmoil into a playoff team.

3. Julius Peppers, DE Panthers - You would think Peppers would be even higher on this list.  Probably the most gifted athlete of everyone on this list, Peppers has not yet had that eye popping season.   However, he still has averaged 10 sacks a year in his first 7 years in his career.  Like Abraham, Peppers best season was last year when he recorded 14.5 sacks.   We all keep expecting a 20 sack season out of Peppers, but his attitude and desire is left to question at times.  There are times where it seems that Julius may take plays off, even though he is the only monster on the field.  Peppers is wanting a new contract and out of Carolina, so maybe this will be the year that he dominates and jumps up to the number 1 spot.

2. Jared Allen, DE Vikings - Absolute, ape-shit crazy.  Jared Allen would kill on the field if he could.  He isn’t the fastest guy playing at his position, but probably plays it with more tenacity and will than anyone else.  His ability to manhandle offensive tackles is unmatched.  He will bull-rush through anyone standing in his way to get to QB.  Allen didn’t even had the benefit of a halfway decent DE playing opposite of him in Kansas City, where he became a household name.  This forced him to fight through double teams but still put up monster numbers.  When he moved to Minnesota last season, he was given the benefit of having the best DT tandem in the NFL next to him in the Williams boys.  Now Allen can be at his very best, destroying the likes of Stafford, Cutler, and Rodgers.

1. DeMarcus Ware, OLB Cowboys -  Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas and now DeMarcus Ware.  Ware will go down as the next all-time great outside linebacker.   Bill Parcells saw something special when he drafted Ware out of Troy when he was still coaching the Cowboys.  He should know, since he coached Lawrence Taylor at his very best. In only 4 years, Ware has amassed 53.5 sacks, including 20 last year.   Nobody is faster on the edge than Ware.  You can double team him, triple team him, or try a sprint rollout to the other side, it really doesn’t matter because he will chase the QB down.  An OLB to tally 20 sacks in a season is most impressive, especially since he is responsible for outside contain and passing situations.   If anyone will break Derrick Thomas 7 sacks in one game, it will be Ware.  If anyone will break Michael Strahan’s 22.5 sacks in a season record, it will be Ware.  Nobody is better at rushing the QB than DeMarcus Ware.

Notables: Osi Umenyiora, James Harrison, Joey Porter, Mario Williams, Dwight Freeney, Jason Taylor

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