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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NFC East
Giants v. Eagles
Cornerbacks: (PHI 1-0)...Yes, Philly has Quinyon Mitchell, but the other side of the field has Kelee Ringo. Banks/Flott-Adebo is not bad, but then I think Dru Phillips is better than DeJean at nickel. NYG is good and fairly deep. It’s close, but lean PHI.
Def. Tackle: (PHI 2-0)...the Philly duo will be pretty hard to beat.
Def. Coordinator: (PHI 3-0)...of course, Vic Fangio.
Interior LBs: (PHI wins 4-0)...easy win for Philly.
Pass Rush: (PHI 4-1)...gotta lean Burns-Carter-Thibodeaux, no?
Def. Backs: (PHI 4-2)...NYG was close at CB but then has better SAFs for sure.
Backups/Depth: (PHI 5-2)...Philly is definitely deeper.
The Eagles move on to the NFC East finals.
Cowboys v. Commanders
Cornerbacks: (WSH 1-0)...a very slight edge to WSH...Amos outlook and Sainstril underrated.
Def. Tackle: (WSH 2-0)...slight lean to WSH with Payne leading the way.
Def. Coordinator: (WSH 2-1)...going to give an edge to Eberflus over HC/DC Dan Quinn.
Interior LBs: (WSH 3-1)...Wagner-Luvu is strong.
Pass Rush: (WSH 3-2)...Dallas definite edge.
Def. Backs: (WSH wins 4-2)...it’s not pretty, but the Commanders edge out the Cowboys.
Backups/Depth: (WSH 4-3)...edge to Wil McClay’s prowess.
The Commanders sneak by to go on to face Philly in the NFC East finals.
Commanders v. Eagles
Cornerbacks: (WSH 1-0)...Philly only really has Quinyon, to me...then a huge drop-off. DeJean is more SAF than CB, to me. This is assuming Lattimore is back/normal.
Def. Tackle: (1-1 tie)...Carter-Davis is a brick wall.
Def. Coordinator: (PHI 2-1)...gotta be Fangio.
Interior LBs: (2-2 tie)...Wagner-Luvu is nice, but it is close vs. Baun-Dean/Campbell.
Pass Rush: (PHI 3-2)...Eagles pretty easily here.
Def. Backs: (3-3 tie)...close but edge to WSH. We’re down to a game 7 matchup!
Backups/Depth: (PHI wins 4-3)...Eagles get this one clean.
Philly moves on to the NFC Final Four.
