Tampa BayAs long as Derrick Brooks and Monte Kiffen are in Tampa Bay don&rsquot expect this defense to fall off

Tampa BayAs long as Derrick Brooks and Monte Kiffen are in Tampa Bay don’t expect this defense to fall off. Gaines Adams and Barrett Rudd continue to show promise and their secondary is a solid unit. The only thing to beware of is that the champion of the NFC South the last 4 years have all taken a nose-dive the year after. 10. JacksonvilleUnder Jack Del Rio Jacksonville’s defense has been big, mean, fast, and physical; don’t expect that to change. Losing Marcus Stroud certainly does not help but having John Henderson should lighten the impact.

If one of their de’s drafted can become an effective pass rusher at the defensive end position this defense could be scary. If this Jaguars team didn’t play in the immensely tough AFC South I’d put them higher Solid InvestmentsNew York Giants BaltimorePittsburgh Sleepers OaklandThe Raiders defensive play of the last two years has been tainted by their dreadful offense. Yet look for that to improve with a more solid ground attack under Fargas and McFadden, the addition of Javon Walker, and the play of JaMarcus Russell. More importantly their off-season acquisitions of Gibril Wilson and DeAngelo Hall along side Michael Huff, Nnamdi Asomuhga, give the Raiders the best secondary in the league. Add that to an exceptional linebacking corp., a good edge rusher in Derrick Burgess, and you can expect the Raiders to return to their defensive days of old. ClevelandMark my words: If Clevelandcan find a way to get Shaun Rogers to play 100% the entire season, the trade with Detroitwill go down in lopsided infamy. Moreover Romeo Crennel has acquired the linebackers necessary for a formidable 3-4 defense in Andra Davis, Kamerion Wimbley, Willie Mcginest, and D’Qwell Jackson.  The addition of Corey Williams alongside Robaire Smith and Shaun Rogers should give them the freedom to wreak havoc.

Although they’ve got serviceable safeties in Brodney Pool and Sean Jones, I see a glaring weakness at the starting cornerback positions. However this can be offset but an effective front seven; as Romeo Crennel did in New England during the 2004 season. Other Notables: Buffalo, New York Jets, Cardinals Potential BustsWashington  I believe the Redskins defense is still reeling from the loss of Sean Taylor; who was without a doubt the best player on their team. While they have very solid corners and an emerging star in Laron Landry, their linebackers are getting old, and their front four is unable to generate the type of pressure to make their secondary as effective as it could be. Playing in the NFC East doesn’t help either. CarolinaUnder John Fox the Carolina Panthers have been known for their athletically gifted and at-times dominating defense. However this year they won’t be able to make up for key losses to their unit.

The loss of Kris Jenkins and Mike Rucker will leave opposing offenses free to double and triple team Julius Peppers. While Jon Beason can replace the loss of Dan Morgan, he and Thomas Davis will be busy fighting off blockers that Jenkins used to eat up. They’re also very thin at the safety position. Breakout YearHoustonWith the youngest defense in the league Houstonwas able to make big strides last year, carrying the team to an 8-8 record despite injuries to Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and Dunta Robinson. They have the cornerstones of a great defense in Mario Williams, Demeco Ryans, and Amobi Okoye Fred Bennett is also emerging into a legitimate #1 corner. If they can get Dunta Robinson back to his pre-injury performance and continue to gel, their defense should pose a big problem for offensive coordinators.

Also given the fact that their defense could go un-drafted in many leagues, it could be a high-value free agent or late-round pick-up. KICKERSRob Bironas Mason Crosby Josh Brown Nick FolkAdam VinatieriKris Brown Robbie GouldPhil DawsonJason ElamStephen Gostkowski   . Zahorchak.”To date, more than half ofScotland’s 270 students have begun making plans to enroll in new schools nextyear, and fully half of those already have enrolled in their new schools.”The outreach efforts, which have included direct contact with Scotlandstudents and families as well as extending application deadlines and thescheduling of open house events especially for Scotland families, willsignificantly ease the transition for students and families as Scotland Schoolenters its final weeks of operation, the secretary said.The Milton Hershey School has planned two events to reach out the Scotlandstudents and families: an information session to be held from 10 a.m. to noonthis Saturday, April 25, at the School District of Philadelphia offices, 444N. Broad St., Philadelphia, followed by an open house the following weekend onthe campus of the Milton Hershey School.”This is exactly the type of outreach that is so important to ease thetransition for Scotland students and families,” Zahorchak said.”We applaudHershey’s efforts to offer this special consideration, and we encourageScotland students and families to attend one or both sessions.”Faced with a $2.3 billion state budget deficit that requires cuts across theboard, and recognizing that the core functions of state government do not -and should not – include running a boarding school, Governor Edward G. Rendellconcluded in February that Scotland School, located in Franklin County nearChambersburg, must be closed.The proposed closure will save state taxpayers$10.5 million annually.Per-student, school-related, non-residential spending at Scotland School is$28,000 per year, more than any school district in the state. To date, the district hasreached out to 168 Scotland students to discuss placement options for nextyear and beyond, and the majority of these students have made plans to enrollin a Philadelphia school next fall.