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.
AFC South
Titans v. Texans
Cornerbacks: (HOU 1-0)...lean Houston, especially if Sneed is still bogged down with injury.
Def. Tackle: (1-1 tie)...The Titans have a killer duo with Simmons-Sweat.
Def. Coordinator: (HOU 2-1)...Demeco Ryans is the real D-C, and he wins it easy here.
Interior LBs: (HOU 3-1)...HOU better and deeper.
Pass Rush: (HOU wins 4-1)...Anderson-Hunter edge rushers is a strong lead punch.
Def. Backs: (HOU 5-1)...The Texans are better and deeper.
Backups/Depth: (HOU 6-1)...the better 2nd and 3rd-teams.
The Texans move on to the AFC South finals.
Jags v. Colts
Cornerbacks: (IND 1-0)...the Colts invested in their secondary and got the win vs. the shaky Jags, with an unknown Hunter snap count.
Def. Tackle: (IND 2-0)...easy win for Indy with Buckner-Stewart.
Def. Coordinator: (IND 3-0)...I like Lou Anarumo. The Jags have an unknown/new D-C.
Interior LBs: (IND 3-1)...slightest edge to the Jags.
Pass Rush: (IND wins 4-1)...I like the Colts entire front more than the Jags, who have stronger EDGEs maybe.
Def. Backs: (IND 5-1)...Slightly better CBs but definitely better SAFs.
Backups/Depth: (IND 5-2)...I like the Jags depth...the Jags have potential...might be the better defense in the end.
The Colts move on to the AFC South finals to face the Texans.
Colts v. Texans
Cornerbacks: (HOU 1-0)...lean Texans here.
Def. Tackle: (1-1 tie)...the Colts strong DT duo wins easy.
Def. Coordinator: (2-1 HOU)...edge to DeMeco Ryans, the real D-C here.
Interior LBs: (HOU 3-1)...the Texans have the edge and depth.
Pass Rush: (HOU wins 4-1)...the Texas were top 5 in sacks last year, and everyone is back essentially. Indy was bottom 10 last year, and everyone is back essentially.
Def. Backs: (HOU 5-1)...edge to the Texans with the starters and depth but it’s very close.
Backups/Depth: (HOU 6-1)...the Texans have an experienced 2nd/3rd team and the Colts have more a young, hopeful one...and it’s not bad...but can’t win over the Texans right now.
The Texans move on to the AFC Final Four with Pittsburgh, New England and Denver, who have already advanced.
