He is the heart of the 49ers' defense, and the other 10 defensive players on the field look to him for leadership.

"He is the heart and soul of their defense."

A driving layup through the heart of the Pacers' defense.

He is the heart of the 49ers' defense, a coach on the field who demands excellence from his peers and even more from himself.

He has been the heart of the Giants' defense for 12 seasons.

Now he was looking to pass yet again, to pierce the heart of the Jets' defense.

The Giants have been forced to rebuild the heart of their defense.

"Have I been paying particular attention to the heart of our defense, the linebackers out there?"

The questions and answers cut to the heart of Microsoft's key defense.

Pierce is the heart of the Giants' defense, its undisputed leader.