Defensive Line All-Stars: A look back at Week 8's standouts

After a Week 8 filled with sacks, stops and stuffs, let's review the best performances by defensive linemen around the league.

Defensive Lineman of the Week: Dee Ford, Kansas City Chiefs

While he's often overshadowed by higher-profile teammates, Dee Ford's been excellent for the Kansas City Chiefs this season, accumulating eight sacks in eight games to date. And Ford was at his best against the division rival Denver Broncos on Sunday, recording four tackles, three sacks, three quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles.

At 6-foot-2 and 252 pounds, Ford leverages his short stature and blazing speed off the edge to skate around offensive tackles. His first sack of Denver quarterback Case Keenum is a great example:

On this play, Ford's in a wide alignment over the Broncos' tight end, and he demonstrates incredible burst out of a two-point stance when the ball is snapped. Once Ford reaches the apex of the quarterback’s drop, he uses his lower-body pliability to turn a tight corner while maintaining his balance and momentum to finish the play.

Ford’s second sack of Keenum was much of the same, although he also showed off his ability to bend through contact at the top of the arc:

Here, Ford's in a wide alignment to the outside of Denver's left tackle. Once the ball is snapped, he employs his burst to stress the left tackle's pass set, powers through the block, and flattens toward the quarterback for another sack-fumble. The combination of body lean, footwork, and contact balance allows Ford to absorb the blow from the left tackle without being pushed beyond the QB.

After injuries ruined his 2017 season, Ford's bounced back in a big way, showcasing that he's one of the best speed-rushers in the NFL. Sunday was the latest example.

Pass Rush of the Week: Damon Harrison, Detroit Lions

After a surprising trade from the New York Giants to the Detroit Lions last week, Damon Harrison wasted no time making an impact with his new team. Harrison was his usual dominant self against the run in Week 8, consistently dominating his gap and resetting the line of scrimmage. However, his first sack of the season - in which he beat two blocks - was his most impressive play of the day:

On this play, Harrison's aligned over the Seahawks' center (No. 68). Once the ball is snapped, he mirrors the initial movement of the center to maintain his gap responsibility against the run. But once he identifies the pass, Harrison employs a masterful arm-over move to beat the center before using a rip move on D.J Fluker (No. 78) to bully his way into the backfield and sack a scrambling Russell Wilson.

He won't be mistaken for J.J. Watt anytime soon, but it was impressive to watch Harrison, who's not known for his pass-rush prowess (6.5 sacks in 93 career games), sequence his hands against multiple offensive linemen. And it's rare to see any 355-pounder generate pressure as a pass-rusher, let alone defeat two blocks while doing so.

It's unlikely that sacks will be the norm, but Harrison will prove worthy of the fifth-round pick the Lions sent in exchange for him.

Run Defender of the Week: Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins

It must be opposite week - how else can we explain Harrison winning the pass-rush category while an electrifying speed-rusher in Cameron Wake claims run-defender honors?

But against the Texans on Thursday, Wake had six tackles within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage. He consistently set a strong edge versus the run, making it difficult for Houston to bounce the ball outside. He was also strong at the point of attack, showing an improved ability to take on and defeat blocks. This stop is a great example of Wake's efforts against the run:

Here, Wake's aligned with a slight outside shade over the Texans' tight end. Once the ball is snapped, he uses a strong outside arm to create the separation necessary to discard the block and make the tackle.

That superior hand placement also allows Wake to remain disciplined with his eyes, so he can follow the running back’s path and make the tackle.

It was certainly odd to see Wake, who's normally just a pass-rush specialist, using leverage, hand placement, and body positioning to make an impact against the ground game. Perhaps that success will lead to more snaps for the veteran in obvious running situation.

In the Spotlight: Matt Ioannidis, Washington Redskins

Every week it seems like another Washington defensive lineman steals the spotlight. This week, it was Matt Ioannidis' turn, as he posted a career day against the Giants with four tackles, four quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks.

It was surprising to see Ioannidis so effective as a pass-rusher because he's usually best against the run, as his immense play strength and powerful hands allow him to bully opponents at the line of scrimmage.

Against the Giants, Ioannidis leveraged the traits he uses to be a great run defender to generate pressure as a pass-rusher. His sack at the end of the first quarter is a great illustration:

On this play, Ioannidis is aligned across from the Giants' right guard. Once the ball is snapped, he attacks that right guard's edge by employing a long-arm technique with his inside arm. By using perfect hand placement and immense play strength, Ioannidis easily walks the guard back into Eli Manning’s face before discarding the block to make the sack.

Then, on his second sack of the day, Ioannidis leverages his power to get a sack on a stunt:

As seen above, Ioannidis is running a tackle-tackle stunt with Jonathan Allen (No. 93), in which the former is supposed to penetrate while Allen loops around. While this stunt is actually designed for Allen to get home, Ioannidis has other plans, as he's able to reverse pancake the Giants' center on his way to a sack.

Allen and Da'Ron Payne have gotten most of the credit for Washington's improved defensive line this season, but Ioannidis shouldn't be overlooked, as he's in the midst of a career year for the current NFC East leader.

John Owning is a football writer at theScore. He has written for Bleacher Report and Football Insiders. He was also the lead NFL content editor at FanRag Sports. John provides analysis on the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and edits for The Quant Edge. Find him on Twitter @JohnOwning.