Something to Think About When We Want to Light Up the Defense

[Mojouw]

https://www.theringer.com/2020/11/12...g-boom-offense

"Without getting into standard deviations or orders of magnitude or anything math or scientific sounding, I think it’d suffice to say we’re seeing fucking shitload of scoring relative to every other season in the NFL’s history. "

"Punters have been a relative afterthought thanks to the NFL’s record-setting pace for offensive third-down conversions (offenses gained first downs on 42.8 percent of third downs in the first eight weeks, per CBS’s Jonathan Jones, a rate that, should it carry, would represent a new NFL record)..."

So maybe this stat is the only goal that matters in a record setting season...hold down the score? https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/sta...oints-per-game

Ranking in the top 5 might be enough to get it done?

If they can keep this up as well...top 5 in turnover margin -- https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/sta...argin-per-game

[HollywoodSteel]

If I’m not mistaken, we’re number one in sacks and interceptions, just like last year. It’s a pretty impressive thing to do and obviously gives us a great chance in any game. There’s nothing better to get into an opposing QB’s head like putting him in the ground and picking him off.

We’ve had issues defensively on 3rd Downs, but at least it’s comforting to know that the entire NFL has had that same issue this year. I haven’t read any of these articles yet, but I’m wondering why that’s the case. Just better QB play this year? There does seem to be a lot of QBs playing at a particular high level, especially some of the youngsters in the league.

Also WRs seem to be coming into the league and doing incredibly well with less of the usual growing pains. This year’s rookie receiving class is crazy impressive. And fortunately, we got ourselves one of the good ones.

It’s nuts to think that of our top four WRs, Juju is the veteran of the group. And he’s like, what, 16 or 17 years old? Lol

I can’t remember a time when so many first or second year QBs were this impressive. Burrow, Herbert, Murray... these guys can really ball.

[ETL]

There was a time when college football was a different style of football but now all the teams basically play pro-style offenses and so the QBs and WRs can start much quicker

[Craic]

https://www.theringer.com/2020/11/12...g-boom-offense

"Without getting into standard deviations or orders of magnitude or anything math or scientific sounding, I think it’d suffice to say we’re seeing fucking shitload of scoring relative to every other season in the NFL’s history. "

"Punters have been a relative afterthought thanks to the NFL’s record-setting pace for offensive third-down conversions (offenses gained first downs on 42.8 percent of third downs in the first eight weeks, per CBS’s Jonathan Jones, a rate that, should it carry, would represent a new NFL record)..."

So maybe this stat is the only goal that matters in a record setting season...hold down the score? https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/sta...oints-per-game

Ranking in the top 5 might be enough to get it done?

If they can keep this up as well...top 5 in turnover margin -- https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/sta...argin-per-game

I was looking at the stats just the other day and noticed several things about the defense (lower number always better).

• We are number 1 in completion percentage at 56.7 percent. The next best team is the Bears defense at 60.2 percent, and then it climbs 1.7 points from the Bears to the Cowboys. From there, there is no separation more than 1 percent through the end of the list.
• Opposing QBs have the second lowest rating against us by 1.2 points. Colts are first with 78.5, then us with 79.7.
• We are number 6 in 1st down percentages.
• We are tied for 7th best in 40+ yard plays against our defense, only 1 play out from being tied for second place.
• We are in first place in sacks, 4 sacks ahead of the Bucs.
• We're in ninth place in yards per carry against this defense, but only 2 tenths of a yard out of sixth place
• We're tied for 3rd place in rush 1st downs allowed (percent) and tied for sixth in rush fumbles recovered.
• Oh, and here's something that SHOCKED me. We are number 1 in least yards allowed after catch.
• We're tied for 4th place in points allowed, and 1 point out of being tied for third place (total points allowed).
• As for scoring, we are 14th lowest in TDs allowed through the air and tied for first in rush TDs against us.
• We're tied for 4th place in points allowed, and 1 point out of being tied for third place (total points allowed).

The problem is that we have giving up a lot of yards when players do catch the ball, as we're in second to last place in yards per reception.

All of those stats tell me that the NFL has absolutely changed (at least for this year). In all honesty, I thought our defense was looking pedestrian at best with some great individual efforts at different times and key moments (which why we have so many sacks and turnovers on defense). Turns out, I was wrong. This is one of the better if not best defenses in the NFL right now.

[Mojouw]

I was looking at the stats just the other day and noticed several things about the defense (lower number always better).

• We are number 1 in completion percentage at 56.7 percent. The next best team is the Bears defense at 60.2 percent, and then it climbs 1.7 points from the Bears to the Cowboys. From there, there is no separation more than 1 percent through the end of the list.
• Opposing QBs have the second lowest rating against us by 1.2 points. Colts are first with 78.5, then us with 79.7.
• We are number 6 in 1st down percentages.
• We are tied for 7th best in 40+ yard plays against our defense, only 1 play out from being tied for second place.
• We are in first place in sacks, 4 sacks ahead of the Bucs.
• We're in ninth place in yards per carry against this defense, but only 2 tenths of a yard out of sixth place
• We're tied for 3rd place in rush 1st downs allowed (percent) and tied for sixth in rush fumbles recovered.
• Oh, and here's something that SHOCKED me. We are number 1 in least yards allowed after catch.
• We're tied for 4th place in points allowed, and 1 point out of being tied for third place (total points allowed).
• As for scoring, we are 14th lowest in TDs allowed through the air and tied for first in rush TDs against us.
• We're tied for 4th place in points allowed, and 1 point out of being tied for third place (total points allowed).

The problem is that we have giving up a lot of yards when players do catch the ball, as we're in second to last place in yards per reception.

All of those stats tell me that the NFL has absolutely changed (at least for this year). In all honesty, I thought our defense was looking pedestrian at best with some great individual efforts at different times and key moments (which why we have so many sacks and turnovers on defense). Turns out, I was wrong. This is one of the better if not best defenses in the NFL right now.

That is all really interesting. Thanks for putting it together.

I'm starting to think that no one is playing defense like we are used to defining it in 2020.

For one, I am convinced that the ability of the offense to just hear and think coherently is part of it. I also heard one of the former player announcers talking about how offenses are all code worded so who cares if the defense can hear BUT defenses usually are not so offenses are just listening to the adjustments and figuring things out. No idea if this holds any water or explains anything. Just thought it was sorta relevant?

[HollywoodSteel]

Watching Thursday night football and the announcers said that the refs are calling far fewer offensive holding penalties this year, so offenses aren’t in first and twenty or second and long nearly as much as most years. You have to figure that really contributes to 3rd and short.

[tube517]

Also the refs are calling more ticky tack pass interference penalties giving some great field position to the offenses.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Just checking, but Teryl Austin is still part of the Defensive Coaching Staff....correct? Always said he was a real important hire a couple seasons ago that very few noticed.

[Mojouw]

Just checking, but Teryl Austin is still part of the Defensive Coaching Staff....correct? Always said he was a real important hire a couple seasons ago that very few noticed.

Yup. you nailed that one. I remember I had no faith in it because of some team or other and their record...but I was super wrong about that. Austin came over and the secondary began to actually function.

[HollywoodSteel]

Yup. you nailed that one. I remember I had no faith in it because of some team or other and their record...but I was super wrong about that. Austin came over and the secondary began to actually function.

Didn’t he come from the Cowboys? Or am I misremembering?

[tube517]

Didn’t he come from the Cowboys? Or am I misremembering?

Bengals and before that, Lions

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Bengals and before that, Lions

Before that Arizona and before that Seahawks. I can say that while he was in the respective places, the secondary of the Seahawks, Cardinals, Lions were really top units in the NFL. The guy is well respected as a DB coach and defensive mind.