We’re going to do a ‘best NFL defense’ tournament to determine who are the top NFL defenses (not top defenses/DSTs for FF)...and it’s a way for me to go back through the personnel and coaching, etc., to see who we might be missing, good or bad, hiding in the weeds.
We’ll do a division per day, then the Final Four/Conference finals ending with the Super Bowl/finals. An 11-day series that carries us though the end of the month.
We have 7 categories for a ‘Best of 7’ style process...with a lean towards the importance of the two key positions on a defense: The CB group and the DT group.
The seven categories are...
Cornerbacks: The most critical spot, in our estimations.
Def. Tackle: The 2nd most critical spot.
Def. Coordinator: Management is key here.
Interior LBs: The non-pass rush LBs.
Pass Rush: Judging the pass rush as a whole, the front 7.
Def. Backs: Judging the CBs and SAFs.
Backups/Depth: The overall depth, judging the 2nd and 3rd team defenses for the team.
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AFC West
Raiders v. Chiefs
Cornerbacks: (KC 1-0)...the Chiefs have some sketchy outside CBs, but the Raiders’ group are more sketchy.
Def. Tackle: (KC 2-0)...having Chris Jones is almost an instant win.
Def. Coordinator: (KC 3-0)...Spags over a very good Patrick Graham.
Interior LBs: (KC wins 4-0)...man, the Raiders LBs are weak.
Pass Rush: (KC 5-0)...both of these teams have nice pass rushers, but KC has so many/depth.
Def. Backs: (KC 6-0)...LV has better SAFs, but KC has the CBs.
Backups/Depth: (KC 7-0)...a clean sweep.
KC moves on to the AFC West finals.
Broncos v. Chargers
Cornerbacks: (DEN 1-0)...easy win for Denver, maybe the best CB trio in the game.
Def. Tackle: (1-1 tie)...a slight tilt to the LAC group.
Def. Coordinator: (DEN 2-1)...Vance Joseph wins.
Interior LBs: (DEN 3-1)...getting Dre Greenlaw puts DEN over the top.
Pass Rush: (DEN wins 4-1)...the Broncos pass rush is as good as there is.
Def. Backs: (DEN 5-1)...Derwin James closed some of the gap, but Denver is deep at all spots.
Backups/Depth: (DEN 6-1)...both teams have good depth, but Denver is tough to beat in this tourney.
Denver is going on to face KC in the AFC West finals.
Broncos v. Chiefs
Cornerbacks: (DEN 1-0)...easy win for Denver.
Def. Tackle: (1-1 tie)...Chris Jones is a wrecking ball in this tourney.
Def. Coordinator: (DEN 2-1)...I know Spagnolo has won titles, but it wasn’t led by the defense type of title run. And I think Vance Joseph has done some near-great things in Denver and in Arizona prior to that.
Interior LBs: (DEN 3-1)...the Greenlaw get is huge, and Singleton is back.
Pass Rush: (DEN wins 4-1)...all of these have been close for Denver in the division matchups, but Denver is just so good. Nik Bonitto is so underappreciated.
Def. Backs: (DEN 5-1)...this one was easy for Denver.
Backups/Depth: (DEN 5-2)...KC is very deep.
The Broncos head onto the AFC Final Four, along with New England who has already advanced.
