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 North
Bears v. Lions
Cornerbacks: (DET 1-0)...the addition of D.J. Reed puts them over the top here.
Def. Tackle: (DET 2-0)...these two teams continue to beef up their DTs. I think the Lions have done it better.
Def. Coordinator: (DET 2-1)...have to give the lean to the experienced, new hire Dennis Allen.
Interior LBs: (DET 3-1)...fairly easy win here for, arguably, the league's top run defense.
Pass Rush: (DET wins 4-1)...assuming Hutchinson is back healthy, this is an easy one for Detroit.
Def. Backs: (DET 5-1)...the Lions have the better CBs and a great SAF combo, all a little better than a very good Bears group.
Backups/Depth: (DET 5-2)...it’s close, but the Bears jumped out at me at first glance and with more looks it was close, so I’m going with my first reaction.
The Lions move on to the NFC North finals.
Packers v. Vikings
Cornerbacks: (GB 1-0)...the Vikings' weakness, but GB isn’t great here either.
Def. Tackle: (1-1 tie)...big offseason upgrade for Minny this year.
Def. Coordinator: (MIN 2-1)...edge to Brian Flores.
Interior LBs: (MIN 3-1)...it’s close but the Vikes win it via depth/options and experience. Quay Walker is a problem for GB.
Pass Rush: (MIN wins 4-1)...easy win here, and thus the overall win.
Def. Backs: (MIN 4-2)...GB has killer safeties and that pushes them over the edge here. Harrison Smith is fading.
Backups/Depth: (MIN 5-2)...the Vikes have very nice depth.
The Vikings move on to face the Lions for the NFC North title.
Vikings v. Lions
Cornerbacks: (DET 1-0)...Lions have the better starters.
Def. Tackle: (1-1 tie)...edge to the new DT group in Minnesota.
Def. Coordinator: (MIN 2-1)...edge to Brian Flores.
Interior LBs: (2-2 tie)...edge to the Lions ILB group. Anzalone and Campbell and interesting 2nd-teamers.
Pass Rush: (MIN 3-2)...slight edge to MIN...a top 5 sack unit from 2024, but now with a mega boost at DT this offseason.
Def. Backs: (3-3 tie)...the Lions have better CBs but definitely better SAFs. Here we go, down to a game seven.
Backups/Depth: (MIN wins 4-3)...I have to give the depth edge to the Vikes. Jalen Redmond is a great depth DT. Eric Wilson, Dallas Turner and Tavierre Thomas are experienced depth Detroit can’t match.
The Vikings join the Rams and Eagles for the NFC Final Four.
