Defensive performance thus far

ivanvamp

ivanvamp

captain obvious
Jul 18, 2005
6,104
Defensive rankings:
 
Tot yards per game:  #2 (272.7)
Pass yards per game:  #1 (168.7)
Rush yards per game:  #11 (104.0)
Points per game:  #4 (16.3)
Opp pass completion%:  #2 (56.9%)
Opp yds per pass att:  #1 (5.0)
Pass TD allowed:  #5 (3)
Interceptions:  #1 (6)
Sacks:  #9 (7)
QB rating:  #2 (55.6)
Rush yards per attempt:  #6 (3.0)
Rush TD:  #5 (1)
 
All wonderful statistics and rankings.  But bear in mind that these are the teams they've played so far (and don't forget, these teams' offensive rankings are also influenced by the fact that they played the Patriots):
 
- Miami:  #22 in yards gained, #24 in points scored
- Minnesota:  #29 in yards gained, #28 in points scored
- Oakland:  #32 in yards gained, #32 in points scored
 
So obviously they haven't played any good offenses yet.  So it's still too early to tell, really, how good the Patriots' defense is.  But at least they aren't facing these crappy offenses and getting lit up.
 
IdiotKicker

IdiotKicker

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 21, 2005
11,142
Somerville, MA
Based on what I've seen, I would probably grade them out with a B at this point.  Coverage-wise, they appear to be much better than before, and this isn't just Revis.  Revis has been very good, but not great to this point.  Logan Ryan, a couple plays aside, has been great in coverage this year.  McCourty has tremendous range and instincts, which I think we all knew going into the season.  I think the big improvement has been that Hightower has been much better in coverage, and having a healthy Mayo back has been good too.  Even when guys are catching balls, they aren't getting much in terms of YAC, except in the Miami game, which I chalk up to first week shitshow problems and heat.  Depth is still an issue for a number of positions, but so far, I think they're in good shape to build as they get deeper into the season.
 
FL4WL3SS

FL4WL3SS

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
14,974
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
ivanvamp said:
Defensive rankings:
 
Tot yards per game:  #2 (272.7)
Pass yards per game:  #1 (168.7)
Rush yards per game:  #11 (104.0)
Points per game:  #4 (16.3)
Opp pass completion%:  #2 (56.9%)
Opp yds per pass att:  #1 (5.0)
Pass TD allowed:  #5 (3)
Interceptions:  #1 (6)
Sacks:  #9 (7)
QB rating:  #2 (55.6)
Rush yards per attempt:  #6 (3.0)
Rush TD:  #5 (1)
 
All wonderful statistics and rankings.  But bear in mind that these are the teams they've played so far (and don't forget, these teams' offensive rankings are also influenced by the fact that they played the Patriots):
 
- Miami:  #22 in yards gained, #24 in points scored
- Minnesota:  #29 in yards gained, #28 in points scored
- Oakland:  #32 in yards gained, #32 in points scored
 
So obviously they haven't played any good offenses yet.  So it's still too early to tell, really, how good the Patriots' defense is.  But at least they aren't facing these crappy offenses and getting lit up.
Click to expand...
While I agree they haven't played any good offenses, those numbers are deceiving since they include the games against the Patriots. Chicken and Egg thing.
 
How do they rank in the other 2 games they played? Obviously the sample size is a problem.
 
ivanvamp

ivanvamp

captain obvious
Jul 18, 2005
6,104
FL4WL3SS said:
While I agree they haven't played any good offenses, those numbers are deceiving since they include the games against the Patriots. Chicken and Egg thing.
 
How do they rank in the other 2 games they played? Obviously the sample size is a problem.
Click to expand...
 
Miami:
- vs. NE:  360 yds, 33 points
- vs. other two (avg):  311.0 yds, 12.5 points
 
Minnesota:
- vs. NE:  217 yds, 7 points
- vs. other two (avg):  301.0 yds, 21.5 points
 
Oakland
- vs. NE:  241 yards, 9 points
- vs. other two (avg):  261.0 yds, 14.0 points
 
So Miami hit their season highs against NE (I think a lot of us see this as largely a function of the Miami heat and humidity), but Minnesota and Oakland clearly have performed better against other teams than they did against NE.

Still, we aren't talking about Seattle or Denver here.
 
B

bsartist618

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 5, 2007
850
The impressive thing about those stats is that they are in despite of the offense which tends to leave the defense on the field for long periods of time.  Through week 2, the Patriots' offense had only averaged 23.17 yards per possession.  Good for 31st in the league. (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestats)  I'd be interested to see the updated stats from week 3, but I'm not expecting much improvement.
 
Edit: By my error-prone calculation, NE averaged 27.7 yards per drive in week 3.  Better, but would still be 28th in the league.
 
Once the offense (hopefully) comes around, I think the defense will look even better.
 
j44thor

j44thor

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
11,195
ivanvamp said:
 
Miami:
- vs. NE:  360 yds, 33 points
- vs. other two (avg):  311.0 yds, 12.5 points
 
Minnesota:
- vs. NE:  217 yds, 7 points
- vs. other two (avg):  301.0 yds, 21.5 points
 
Oakland
- vs. NE:  241 yards, 9 points
- vs. other two (avg):  261.0 yds, 14.0 points
 
So Miami hit their season highs against NE (I think a lot of us see this as largely a function of the Miami heat and humidity), but Minnesota and Oakland clearly have performed better against other teams than they did against NE.
Still, we aren't talking about Seattle or Denver here.
Click to expand...
 
OAK is the difference of 20yds and a questionable holding call.  MN don't forget had to deactivate their offense less than 24 hours before kickoff and OAK was also starting DMC instead of the slightly less awful MJD.
 
Perhaps most worrisome is that MIA rolled up 33pts despite 3 turnovers.
 
I'd say the biggest issue right now is that there is zero interior pass rush.  Chandler has been fine off the edge but if the QB can step up and throw he can make plays against this secondary or virtually any secondary in today's NFL.
 
Lets see how this D looks after the Cincy game in a couple weeks.  That will be a good measuring stick game this early in the season.
 
Ed Hillel

Ed Hillel

Wants to be startin somethin
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2007
44,996
Here
FL4WL3SS said:
While I agree they haven't played any good offenses, those numbers are deceiving since they include the games against the Patriots. Chicken and Egg thing.
 
How do they rank in the other 2 games they played? Obviously the sample size is a problem.
Click to expand...
 
Not just that, but they've put up those numbers while having a terrible offense that is putting the defense on the field and in worse situations more often than it should be. They'll also be getting Browner in a couple of weeks. While the offense is scaring the crap out of me, the good part is that if the offense can get it together and jump into the top 10, this team has a real good shot. I'm really interested to see what the unit does in two weeks against Cincy.
 


OAK is the difference of 20yds and a questionable holding call.
Click to expand...
 
Sure, if you ignore the flat out horrible OPI call that put Oakland in that position in the first place. It should have been either 3rd and 17 or, more likely, 4th and 7.
 
SeoulSoxFan

SeoulSoxFan

I Want to Hit the World with Rocket Punch
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jun 27, 2006
22,118
A Scud Away from Hell
ivanvamp said:
Miami:
- vs. NE:  360 yds, 33 points
- vs. other two (avg):  311.0 yds, 12.5 points
 
Minnesota:
- vs. NE:  217 yds, 7 points
- vs. other two (avg):  301.0 yds, 21.5 points
 
Oakland
- vs. NE:  241 yards, 9 points
- vs. other two (avg):  261.0 yds, 14.0 points
Click to expand...
 
Appreciate digging deeper and posting this. Exactly what I was curious about after the first post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom