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.
========================
Eagles v. Rams
Cornerbacks: (LAR 1-0)...it’s Quinyon vs. the Rams collective, to me. I have to lean Rams. The Eagles good pass defense is more from their defensive front, not coverage people.
Def. Tackle: (1-1 tie)...it’s close, but you have to give it to the front that was already good vs. the run and were pass disruptors.
Def. Coordinator: (PHI 2-1)...Vic Fangio, tough to beat.
Interior LBs: (PHI 3-1)...the Rams weakness, a Philly strength.
Pass Rush: (PHI wins 4-1)...the Eagles had more sacks than the Rams last year, so they deserve the win because most of both defenses are back.
Def. Backs: (PHI 4-2)...slight edge to the Rams, maybe.
Backups/Depth: (PHI 5-2)...Eagles have the big edge here.
The Eagles cruise past the Rams to advance to the NFC Finals.
Vikings v. Bucs
Cornerbacks: (TB 1-0)...Close call on the starters matchup, but edge to the depth and young talent for TB.
Def. Tackle: (TB 2-0)...the Vikings definitely upgraded, but TB was already great with Vea and Kancey leading the way. C.J. Brewer is unheralded to checkmate unheralded Jalen Redmond for MIN.
Def. Coordinator: (TB 2-1)...I will lean the Vikes staff over the Bowles team.
Interior LBs: (TB 3-1)...TB has the best two LBs, if we were having a draft...so...
Pass Rush: (TB 3-2)...The Vikes had a touch more sacks last season but then added Hargrave-Allen to bolster it at a key spot (DT).
Def. Backs: (TB wins 4-2)...I’m shocked, but this is why I am going through the exercise. If you look too hard at last year for guidance, you must note that TB was all banged up in the secondary. TB’s pass D was coming on later season. I really thought MIN would win this.
Backups/Depth: (TB 4-3)...edge to the Vikings, but it’s close.
The Bucs shockingly (to me) advance to the NFC Finals vs. Philly.
Bucs v. Eagles
Cornerbacks: (PHI 1-0)...going to lean it to Philly, even though this has been a weak spot for them in the tourney. TB is deep, but don’t have a #1 like Quinyon to make up ground. It’s close, but lean Philly.
Def. Tackle: (1-1 tie)...I’ll take Vea-Kancey over Davis-Carter. PFF and ESPN and every mainstream site would have an aneurysm over this call.
Def. Coordinator: (PHI 2-1)...hard to beat Vic Fangio.
Interior LBs: (PHI 3-1)...Philly better or equal evaluating the starters, but then Philly is much deeper here.
Pass Rush: (PHI wins 4-1)...the Eagles are much more menacing here, it’s not even close.
Def. Backs: (PHI 4-2)...I’ll give TB some charity here with their much better SAFs.
Backups/Depth: (PHI 5-2)...both teams have a lot of depth and young talent, but edge to Philly with their youth + experience. TB is more youth.
The Eagles go to the finals to face Denver for the title.
