Jonathan Vilma Mans the Middle of FanHouse All-NFC South Defense

I watched every NFC South game. I am qualified for this.

Here is the All-NFC South defense. Offense was Thursday.

Defensive Line:

Sedrick Ellis, Saints. You could see the improvement in the Saints' run defense early in the season. There was a big difference. Ellis finally looked the part of a first-round pick because he was healthy. Sam Baker, the Falcons' left tackle and teammate at USC, said it was all a matter of Ellis' getting his wheels under him.

John Abraham, Falcons. If Abraham had not rejuvenated his career last offseason with a new workout regimen, I don't know where it would have put the Falcons' defense, which was among the worst on third down in 2009. Atlanta improved on third down this season because Abraham had 13 sacks.

Charles Johnson, Panthers. There is a lot of motor in this guy, and wrestler. Those hands ate people up. He could also get under pads and push. Johnson had 11.5 sacks and his play, along with the play of the defense, was one of the reasons Carolina stayed competitive in some games.

Jonathan Babineaux, Falcons. Atlanta was among the top six in the NFL in run defense during the season until the Falcons started to get dinged up at linebacker. Babineaux was consistent in playing the run and not getting pushed out of the way.

Linebacker:

Jonathan Vilma, Saints. All over the place, as usual. The one playmaker for the Saints at linebacker after Jonathan Casillas went down with an injury. He was a runner at the quarterback on the blitz who created havoc.

Jon Beason, Panthers. He was moved out of the middle this season and teams could scheme around him and take away some production. Still, he was around the ball and was a leader. He is better suited at middle linebacker and might move back there under new coach Ron Rivera.

Curtis Lofton, Falcons. He was OK this season, not as good as 2009, and a knee injury had something to do with it. I still think the Falcons need a little more burst in that position, but Lofton always plays hard in the run game.

Cornerback:

Aqib Talib, Bucs. His season ended early, but he did enough in 13 games (six interceptions) to easily get a spot here. The thing about Talib was his run defense. He did not come into the NFL with the reputation as a physical corner, but he sure looked like one getting underneath the down-field blocker and coming down hard on the outside run

Brent Grimes, Falcons. He swiped five passes this season. One of the reasons was he was a frequent target and had plenty of chances. Opponents came after him. Why not, he was the undrafted rookie several years ago. Grimes' athletic ability and savvy helped make up for lack of size.

Safety:

Malcolm Jenkins, Saints. You saw what happened to the Saints in the playoffs against the Seahawks. Now you know how much New Orleans missed him in the postseason when he was out with the injury. His play-of-the-season was running down Cowboys' receiver Roy Williams on Thanksgiving Day and stripping the ball and saving a touchdown.... and a win.

William Moore, Falcons. It was a spectacular rise for the second-year safety out of Missouri. The second week of the season he was on the practice field being screamed at by coach Mike Smith for not paying attention to detail. Who knew how fast Moore might come along. He got better and better. He's a missile coming up in run support and showed some instincts with one interception this season where he jumped a curl route.