The Ultimate Football Blog Christmas List: Defensive Efficiency

The other day on the blog, we took a look at who the NFL's most efficient offensive players were thus far in the 2014-15 NFL season. Today, we will take a look at who the most efficient defensive players in the NFL are so far. There is still plenty of football left, but these guys are the outstanding defensive players of the NFL this season....



(Credit goes to ProFootballFocus.com and their advanced stats for helping with this column)



The Ultimate Football Blog Christmas List: Defensive Efficiency 



Top 10 Most Efficient Pass Rushing 4-3 Defensive End's

1. Cameron Wake (Miami Dolphins)

2. Robert Ayers (New York Giants)

3. Junior Galette (New Orleans Saints)

4. Robert Quinn (St. Louis Rams)

5. Michael Bennett (Seattle Seahawks)

6. Cliff Avril (Seattle Seahawks)

7. Olivier Vernon (Miami Dolphins)

8. Mario Williams (Buffalo Bills)

9. Jeremy Mincey (Dallas Cowboys)

10. Malik Jackson (Denver Broncos)



Top 10 Most Efficient Run Stopping 4-3 Defensive End's:


1. Jason Pierre Paul (New York Giants)

2. Derek Wolfe (Denver Broncos)

3. Michael Bennett (Seattle Seahawks)

4. Red Bryant (Jacksonville Jaguars)

5. Everson Griffen (Minnesota Vikings)

6. Malik Jackson (Denver Broncos)

7. Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints)

8. William Hayes (St. Louis Rams)

9. Ezekiel Ansah (Detroit Lions)

10. Olivier Vernon (Miami Dolphins)



Top 10 Most Efficient Pass Rushing 3-4 Defensive End's


1. J.J. Watt (Houston Texans)

2. Jason Hatcher (Washington Redskins)

3. Antonio Smith (Oakland Raiders)

4. Jurrell Casey (Tennessee Titans)

5. Sheldon Richardson (New York Jets)

6. Justin Tuck (Oakland Raiders)

7. Haloti Ngata (Baltimore Ravens)

8. Muhammad Wilkerson (New York Jets)

9. Vinny Curry (Philadelphia Eagles)

10. Calais Campbell (Arizona Cardinals)



Top 10 Most Efficient Run Stopping 3-4 Defensive End's


1. Muhammad Wilkerson (New York Jets)

2. Sheldon Richardson (New York Jets)

3. Justin Smith (San Francisco 49ers)

4. Fletcher Cox (Philadelphia Eagles)

5. Mike Daniels (Green Bay Packers)

6. J.J. Watt (Houston Texans)

7. Calais Campbell (Arizona Cardinals)

8. Vince Wilfork (New England Patriots)

9. Ray McDonald (San Francisco 49ers)

10. Haloti Ngata (Baltimore Ravens)



Top 10 Most Efficient Pass Rushing Defensive Tackle's


1. Gerald McCoy (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

2. Henry Melton (Dallas Cowboys)

3. Kyle Williams (Buffalo Bills)

4. Ryan Davis (Jacksonville Jaguars)

5. Ndamukong Suh (Detroit Lions)

6. Stephen Paea (Chicago Bears)

7. Johnathan Hankins (New York Giants)

8. Tyrone Crawford (Dallas Cowboys)

9. Sen'Derrick Marks (Jacksonville Jaguars)

10. Geno Atkins (Cincinnati Bengals)



Top 10 Most Efficient Run Stopping Defensive Tackle's


1. Ndamukong Suh (Detroit Lions)

2. Aaron Donald (St. Louis Rams)

3. Damon Harrison (New York Jets)

4. Marcell Dareus (Buffalo Bills)

5. Shariff Floyd (Buffalo Bills)

6. Dan Williams (Arizona Cardinals)

7. Brandon Williams (Baltimore Ravens)

8. Johnathan Hankins (New York Giants)

9. Terrance Knighton (Denver Broncos)

10. Kawann Short (Carolina Panthers)



Top 10 Most Efficient Pass Rushing 4-3 Outside Linebacker's


1. Von Miller (Denver Broncos)

2. Anthony Barr (Minnesota Vikings)

3. DeAndre Levy (Detroit Lions)

4. Thomas Davis (Carolina Panthers)

5. Nigel Bradham (Buffalo Bills)

6. Brandon Marshall (Denver Broncos)

7. Alec Ogletree (St. Louis Rams)

8. Chad Greenway (Minnesota Vikings)

9. Bruce Carter (Dallas Cowboys)

10. Philip Wheeler (Miami Dolphins)



Top 10 Most Efficient Run Stopping 4-3 Outside Linebacker's


1. DeAndre Levy (Detroit Lions)

2. Von Miller (Denver Broncos)

3. Parys Haralson (New Orleans Saints)

4. Lance Briggs (Chicago Bears)

5. Nigel Bradham (Buffalo Bills)

6. Lavonte David (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

7. Philip Wheeler (Miami Dolphins)

8. Bruce Irvin (Seattle Seahawks)

9. Shea McClellin (Chicago Bears)

10. K.J. Wright (Seattle Seahawks)



Top 10 Most Efficient Pass Rushing 3-4 Outside Linebacker's


1. Justin Houston (Kansas City Chiefs)

2. Pernell McPhee (Baltimore Ravens)

3. Elvis Dumervil (Baltimore Ravens)

4. Trent Cole (Philadelphia Eagles)

5. Derrick Morgan (Tennessee Titans)

6. Terrell Suggs (Baltimore Ravens)

7. Brandon Graham (Philadelphia Eagles)

8. Julius Peppers (Green Bay Packers)

9. Connor Barwin (Philadelphia Eagles)

10. Dwight Freeney (San Diego Chargers)



Top 10 Most Efficient Run Stopping 3-4 Outside Linebacker's


1. Khalil Mack (Oakland Raiders)

2. Barkevious Mingo (Cleveland Browns)

3. Terrell Suggs (Baltimore Ravens)

4. Trent Murphy (Washington Redskins)

5. Jabaal Sheard (Cleveland Browns)

6. Jarrett Johnson (San Diego Chargers)

7. Brandon Graham (Philadelphia Eagles)

8. Jason Babin (New York Jets)

9. Justin Houston (Kansas City Chiefs)

10. Sam Acho (Arizona Cardinals)



Top 10 Most Efficient Pass Rushing Inside Linebacker's


1. Mychal Kendricks (Philadelphia Eagles)

2. Dont'a Hightower (New England Patriots)

3. Jamie Collins (New England Patriots)

4. Koa Misi (Miami Dolphins)

5. C.J. Mosley (Baltimore Ravens)

6. Wesley Woodyard (Tennessee Titans)

7. Keenan Robinson (Washington Redskins)

8. Chris Borland (San Francisco 49ers)

9. Daryl Smith (Baltimore Ravens)

10. Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks)



Top 10 Most Efficient Pass Coverage Inside Linebacker's


1. Luke Kuechly (Carolina Panthers)

2. Karlos Dansby (Cleveland Browns)

3. Dont'a Hightower (New England Patriots)

4. Jerrell Freeman (Indianapolis Colts)

5. Mychal Kendricks (Philadelphia Eagles)

6. Chris Kirksey (Cleveland Browns)

7. Craig Robertson (Cleveland Browns)

8. Mike Mohamed (Houston Texans)

9. Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks)

10. Rolando McClain (Dallas Cowboys)



Top 10 Most Efficient Run Stopping Inside Linebacker's


1. C.J. Mosley (Baltimore Ravens)

2. Lawrence Timmons (Pittsburgh Steelers)

3. Chris Borland (San Francisco 49ers)

4. Demario Davis (New York Jets)

5. Luke Kuechly (Carolina Panthers)

6. Dont'a Hightower (New England Patriots)

7. Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks)

8. Nate Irving (Denver Broncos)

9. Tahir Whitehead (Detroit Lions)

10. Rolando McClain (Dallas Cowboys)



Top 10 Most Efficient Pass Coverage Cornerback's


1. Chris Harris (Denver Broncos)

2. Vontae Davis (Indianapolis Colts)

3. Antonio Cromartie (Arizona Cardinals)

4. Brandon Flowers (San Diego Chargers)

5. Darrelle Revis (New England Patriots)

6. Richard Sherman (Seattle Seahawks)

7. Orlando Scandrick (Dallas Cowboys)

8. Sean Smith (Kansas City Chiefs)

9. K'Wuan Williams (Cleveland Browns)

10. Desmond Trufant (Atlanta Falcons)



Top 10 Most Efficient Run Stopping Cornerback's


1. Alterraun Verner (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

2. Antoine Cason (Carolina Panthers)

3. Tim Jennings (Chicago Bears)

4. Darrelle Revis (New England Patriots)

5. Richard Sherman (Seattle Seahawks)

6. Bradley Fletcher (Philadelphia Eagles)

7. Aqib Talib (Denver Broncos)

8. Lamarcus Joyner (St. Louis Rams)

9. Casey Heyward (Green Bay Packers)

10. Alan Ball (Jacksonville Jaguars)




Top 10 Most Efficient Pass Coverage Safeties



1. Eric Weddle (San Diego Chargers)

2. Antoine Bethea (San Francisco 49ers)

3. Tashaun Gipson (Cleveland Browns)

4. Mike Adams (Indianapolis Colts)

5. Husain Abdullah (Kansas City Chiefs)

6. Tyrann Mathieu (Arizona Cardinals)

7. Malcolm Jenkins (Philadelphia Eagles)

8. Glover Quin (Detroit Lions)

9. James Ihedigbo (Detroit Lions)

10. Earl Thomas (Seattle Seahawks)



Top 10 Most Efficient Run Stopping Safeties


1. Donte Whitner (Cleveland Browns)

2. Harrison Smith (Minnesota Vikings)

3. Patrick Chung (New England Patriots)

4. Dawan Landry (New York Jets)

5. Eric Weddle (San Diego Chargers)

6. Morgan Burnett (Green Bay Packers)

7. Tony Jefferson (Arizona Cardinals)

8. Robert Blanton (Minnesota Vikings)

9. Calvin Pryor (New York Jets)

10. Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers)