Six Two Stack Monster: A Look at the Top DT options for 2014 fantasysharks.com Mon 6/16/14 6:00 AM

If you got the meaning of the title of this article right off the bat, a hearty tip of the cap to you. It is my homage to one of the best football movies ever made in my humble opinion, "All the Right Moves" starring Tom Cruise, Craig T. Nelson and the late Christopher Penn. When faced with the tall task of playing cross-town rival (and undefeated) Walnut Heights, the Ampipe Bulldogs decide to install a drastic defensive game plan. They will employ a version of the goal line defense for the entire game in order to contain the potent rushing attack of their opponents. The defensive call for that alignment was "Six Two Stack Monster" and I could think of no more fitting title for a piece dealing with the defensive tackle position and those big men who battle in the trenches. GENO ATKINS, CINCINNATI This ranking is a bit shaky as of June because there is still not a definitive answer as to if Atkins will be ready for the start of the season. Atkins is approximately six months removed from the torn ACL that ended his 2013 campaign. Before seeing his year come to an end, Atkins had put up six sacks and 20 total tackles in nine games (actually eight full games and 15 snaps during the game he was injured). While Atkins started the season slowly, amassing only a single solo tackle with one sack in the first three weeks, he was picking up the pace and had recorded at least half a sack in five of the next six games. Before injuring his knee, Atkins had a pair of solo tackles and a sack against Miami in Week 9. Injury concerns aside (there is still a lot of optimism that he hits the field for Week 1), Atkins remains the top dog at defensive tackle heading into 2014. New defensive coordinator Paul Guenther figures to utilize Atkins in the same role that former defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer did. As long as the knee heals properly, Atkins remains an explosive force on the interior with the ability to blow up any given play with his gap shooting skills and pure strength. More consistent pressure from the defensive end position would be a bonus for Atkins. That will require more consistent play from Carlos Dunlap , Wallace Gilberry and Robert Geathers . Second-year defensive end Margus Hunt should also make strides as a pass rushing threat, which will benefit Atkins. The gap between Atkins and the rest of the defensive tackle options may not be as large as it was following his standout 2012 season, but there is still no one better. He is the first name ...