Raiders #3 Team D? (1 Viewer)

[The Ref]

I was wondering Maurile would give us some insight into ranking the Raiders as the #3 D this year?

 

[PahtyTom]

I have them at #2 FWIW. Schedule, talent, better offense will help.

 

[SSOG]

Their defense was super-studly last season, it just wasn't reflected as much because the offense was so horrible. Thanks to all those sacks and INTs the defense was constantly defending a short field, which inflated the points allowed stat (18th in points allowed, but an awesome 3rd in yards allowed). If the offense stops coughing up the ball all the time, I could easily see Oakland's defense finishing 3rd. The only reason I don't have them anywhere near that high is because I don't expect the offense to stop coughing up the ball.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Their defense was super-studly last season, it just wasn't reflected as much because the offense was so horrible. Thanks to all those sacks and INTs the defense was constantly defending a short field, which inflated the points allowed stat (18th in points allowed, but an awesome 3rd in yards allowed). If the offense stops coughing up the ball all the time, I could easily see Oakland's defense finishing 3rd. The only reason I don't have them anywhere near that high is because I don't expect the offense to stop coughing up the ball.

Not to nitpick here but...Don't these two go hand in hand? If you're constantly defending a short field, you will be at a big advantage compared to other teams in the yards allowed stat.

FO says their D was pretty good last year, but not studly. My own system suggest the same, although we reached the opposite conclusion on breakdown of pass v run D.

 

[shadyridr]

FFI had an interesting point when it came to team defenses. They said usually teams that stop the run put up alot of fantasy points because their opponents have to pass more often. In the Raiders case, their run defense was horrible (and Im not sure it has improved much this year). That should keep the Raiders fantasy defense more low scoring than it should be.

 

[SSOG]

Their defense was super-studly last season, it just wasn't reflected as much because the offense was so horrible. Thanks to all those sacks and INTs the defense was constantly defending a short field, which inflated the points allowed stat (18th in points allowed, but an awesome 3rd in yards allowed). If the offense stops coughing up the ball all the time, I could easily see Oakland's defense finishing 3rd. The only reason I don't have them anywhere near that high is because I don't expect the offense to stop coughing up the ball.

Not to nitpick here but...Don't these two go hand in hand? If you're constantly defending a short field, you will be at a big advantage compared to other teams in the yards allowed stat.

To some extent, but the difference is really pretty minimal. The Oakland Raiders had the worst defensive starting field position in the league- the average drive against them started at the 35.04 yard line. Meanwhile, Baltimore was #1 in the league- the average drive against them started at the 28.17 yard line. That's a difference of 6.87 yards per drive, and since the average drive against Oakland only went 25 yards, anyway, the field position wouldn't have had much of an impact on that stat. Some, but not nearly as much of an impact as it has on the points allowed stat.

 

[massraider]

FFI had an interesting point when it came to team defenses. They said usually teams that stop the run put up alot of fantasy points because their opponents have to pass more often. In the Raiders case, their run defense was horrible (and Im not sure it has improved much this year). That should keep the Raiders fantasy defense more low scoring than it should be.

The run defense wasn't horrible, it just wilted under the pressure of constant attack. Their passing ranking is skewed because teams didn't need to pass, they were constantly protecting a lead, and there was really no reason to throw the ball vs. the Raiders, there was no need to take the extra risk. So the passing ranking is puffed up because of that. But the rush D ranking doesn't tell the entire stoy either. They weren't as bad against the run as their ranking suggested, teams were conastantly handing the ball off, and after 3 and outs, or worse, by their offense every series, it takes its toll.

The Raiders have a problem with the inside run, more than anything, but the emergence of Terdell Sands last year hopefully will preclude the use of Tommy Kelly and Sapp side-by-side.

As to the D improving or not, with Kirk Morrison, Sam Williams, Thomas Howard, Michael Huff all coming off their first years as starters at their respective position, I think improvement is almost a given. This was a very young defense last year, right down the middle. Aside from Sapp, every player on thie D last year is on the ascent.

 

[Big Score]

FFI had an interesting point when it came to team defenses. They said usually teams that stop the run put up alot of fantasy points because their opponents have to pass more often. In the Raiders case, their run defense was horrible (and Im not sure it has improved much this year). That should keep the Raiders fantasy defense more low scoring than it should be.

The run defense wasn't horrible, it just wilted under the pressure of constant attack. Their passing ranking is skewed because teams didn't need to pass, they were constantly protecting a lead, and there was really no reason to throw the ball vs. the Raiders, there was no need to take the extra risk. So the passing ranking is puffed up because of that. But the rush D ranking doesn't tell the entire stoy either. They weren't as bad against the run as their ranking suggested, teams were conastantly handing the ball off, and after 3 and outs, or worse, by their offense every series, it takes its toll.

The Raiders have a problem with the inside run, more than anything, but the emergence of Terdell Sands last year hopefully will preclude the use of Tommy Kelly and Sapp side-by-side.

As to the D improving or not, with Kirk Morrison, Sam Williams, Thomas Howard, Michael Huff all coming off their first years as starters at their respective position, I think improvement is almost a given. This was a very young defense last year, right down the middle. Aside from Sapp, every player on thie D last year is on the ascent.

Agreed massraider. The Raiders Run D was not that bad really. They were the NFL's most rushed against team, yet held opponents to a very respectable 3.96 ypa.

 

[OCC]

FFI had an interesting point when it came to team defenses. They said usually teams that stop the run put up alot of fantasy points because their opponents have to pass more often. In the Raiders case, their run defense was horrible (and Im not sure it has improved much this year). That should keep the Raiders fantasy defense more low scoring than it should be.

The run defense wasn't horrible, it just wilted under the pressure of constant attack. Their passing ranking is skewed because teams didn't need to pass, they were constantly protecting a lead, and there was really no reason to throw the ball vs. the Raiders, there was no need to take the extra risk. So the passing ranking is puffed up because of that. But the rush D ranking doesn't tell the entire stoy either. They weren't as bad against the run as their ranking suggested, teams were conastantly handing the ball off, and after 3 and outs, or worse, by their offense every series, it takes its toll.

The Raiders have a problem with the inside run, more than anything, but the emergence of Terdell Sands last year hopefully will preclude the use of Tommy Kelly and Sapp side-by-side.

As to the D improving or not, with Kirk Morrison, Sam Williams, Thomas Howard, Michael Huff all coming off their first years as starters at their respective position, I think improvement is almost a given. This was a very young defense last year, right down the middle. Aside from Sapp, every player on thie D last year is on the ascent.

Agreed. Raiders gave up the same ypc as the Bears. They just had an insane number of rush attempts against them. Regardless, this is a very good defense, that is getting better.

 

[John Mamula]

Their defense was super-studly last season, it just wasn't reflected as much because the offense was so horrible. Thanks to all those sacks and INTs the defense was constantly defending a short field, which inflated the points allowed stat (18th in points allowed, but an awesome 3rd in yards allowed). If the offense stops coughing up the ball all the time, I could easily see Oakland's defense finishing 3rd. The only reason I don't have them anywhere near that high is because I don't expect the offense to stop coughing up the ball.

Not to nitpick here but...Don't these two go hand in hand? If you're constantly defending a short field, you will be at a big advantage compared to other teams in the yards allowed stat.

exactly.if you have a short field by definition your yards allowed will be inflated.