Sunday, December 24, 2006
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
DALLAS -- Randall Godfrey has played 11 NFL seasons and never made the Pro Bowl. But where Godfrey goes, good defense follows.
Godfrey has played for the Cowboys, Titans, Seahawks and Chargers in his career and only in Seattle did he not start in a top-10 defense. But he spent just one season (2003) there.
Godfrey played middle linebacker on Dallas units that ranked in the top 10 three times in his four seasons (1996-99). He played the middle on Tennessee units that ranked in the top 10 twice in his three seasons (2000-02). He's now in his third season at San Diego, and the 12-2 Chargers find themselves in the top 10 in defense as well.
Godfrey led Dallas with 149 tackles in 1997 when the Cowboys finished second in the NFL in defense. He led Tennessee with 169 tackles in 2000 when the Titans finished first in the NFL in defense.
Godfrey has a team runner-up 75 tackles in San Diego on a defense that ranks seventh in the NFL. But he says this is the best unit he's ever played on.
"We've had injuries and other distractions," Godfrey said. "We've had to fill in so many spots. But if we could have kept the group that started the first game together, we'd definitely be on top."
Only tackle Jamal Williams, inside linebacker Donnie Edwards and cornerbacks Quentin Jammer and Drayton Florence have managed to stay healthy and on the field for all 14 games.
Linebacker Shawne Merriman missed four games with an NFL suspension for substance abuse. Ends Luis Castillo has missed four games and Igor Olshansky three with injuries. Outside linebacker Shaun Phillips and safety Marlon McRee have missed two games apiece. Godfrey and safety Terrence Kiel have missed one each.
In only four of San Diego's 14 games has the opening-day defensive lineup been intact. Despite a fluctuating cast, the Chargers rank 11th against the pass, eighth in points allowed, sixth against the run and first in sacks.
LaDainian Tomlinson and the NFL's highest-scoring offense get all of the attention in San Diego -- but a top-10 defense has long been the ticket to a Super Bowl.