WilsonTheVolleyball
Footballguy
Some weeks ago, a few people have expressed interest in a defense matchup grid in a topic I started with a similar matchup grid for quarterbacks. Thanks to everyone who participated in that discussion. I've been busy lately with other things and have just gotten around to the defenses. I'll put my attention back on the quarterback thread soon because there are a few points I'd like to bring up.
With that said, here is the defensive grid:
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/2838/defense2013gridpage001.jpg
Please let me know if you see any errors or have trouble viewing the grid.
As with the quarterbacks, I have color coded this grid with red games (bad) and green games (good). In all honesty, I deem ALL red games to be must-sits, and all green games to be must-starts, but that's just me. Byes are gray.
I decided the criteria for green games and red games to be on the opposing quarterback. I'm not going to break any secrets here by saying the NFL has obviously become a passing league. A good amount of scoring will come from the hands of the quarterbacks. By contrast, a significant amount of turnovers and inability to move the offense is going to fall on the quarterback. So with that in mind, I listed the following:
Green Games
Jacksonville
Cleveland
New York Jets
Tennessee
Minnesota
Red Games
Green Bay
New Orleans
New England
Denver
Atlanta
I think there's no denying the fact that the five green game teams are led by poor passers. It is my opinion that these five teams have the worst quarterback situations in the league. Even more so, all five of them have the biggest chance of seeing a carosel of quarterback changes as the season goes on.
As for the red games, there's no question as to who the top 4 quarterbacks in the league are. My choice of Matt Ryan was admittedly a tough one. There are honestly a lot of great quarterbacks that can be substituted for Ryan at five, such as Romo, Stafford, Cam, Kaep, RGIII, and on and on. Ultimately, I went with Matt Ryan because he is, I feel, the most consistent of the rest while leading an offense that has weapons at every position. Ryan is also an amazing home quarterback which helps. Ryan simply isn't prone to costly turnovers and stays relatively healthy week in and week out.
So, based on my criteria, here's how it shaped up for defenses with regards to green games to red games
Best
Steelers: 5 green; 2 red
Colts: 4 green; 1 red
Bengals: 4 green; 2 red
Texans: 4 green; 2 red
Titans: 3 green; 1 red
Jaguars: 3 green; 1 red
Packers: 3 green; 1 red
Worst
Buccaneers: 1 green; 5 red
Panthers: 2 green; 5 red
Jets: 2 green; 4 red
Falcons: 1 green; 4 red
Redskins: 1 green; 3 red
Saints: 1 green; 3 red
It seems that the Steelers have an opportunity to once again become a top 5 NFL defense. The issue is staying healthy obviously, but you gotta love that ratio. The Colts and Bengals make for an interesting sleeper defense.
The Buccaneers are getting a lot of hoopla and ballyhoo for their off-season acqusitions. We have to remember that these guys are facing Brees and Ryan twice a year, respectively. They also get Brady in week 3. When I did my quarterback grid, a lot of people seemed puzzled by the fact that I listed the Buccaneers as a green game (meaning bottom 5 passing defense). As I said, I think they'll be better, but their passing defense was historically bad and even worse than the Saints. I say I want to see it on the field before I believe it. We'll get a real good look at them because they face the Saints and Patriots within the first three weeks of the season. I'd stay away until after week 3.
For the first three weeks, no team has more than 2 green games. As I just stated, the Bucs have 2 red games in that same span. The Steelers have a very nice first-half of the season schedule wise. Their first red game isn't until week 9, but they have 3 green games before then. The only thing to note is that they do play Green Bay in week 16, so keep that in mind if you draft Pittsburgh.
The Bengals have no red games after week 5, and they play Christian Ponder in week 16 (green game).
In the last 4 weeks of the season, no team has more than 2 green games. Carolina has the worst end of the schedule BY FAR. From weeks 14-17, they have 3 red games to just 1 green. They won't even get a look from me.
As far as pairs, I like the Steelers and the Bills. As of right now, you can stream them for eight green games to zero red. Just remember that Pittsburgh has a red game in the important week 16. But with defenses, you can readily pick one up on the waivers if you're that concerned about it.
The Bengals and the Bills are also a good pair for the 3/4th's of the season. Problem is both teams have their bye in week 12, so you'll be faced with the situation of needing to drop one should you go that route.
Thanks to all for reading. Any questions or comments, please discuss.
With that said, here is the defensive grid:
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/2838/defense2013gridpage001.jpg
Please let me know if you see any errors or have trouble viewing the grid.
As with the quarterbacks, I have color coded this grid with red games (bad) and green games (good). In all honesty, I deem ALL red games to be must-sits, and all green games to be must-starts, but that's just me. Byes are gray.
I decided the criteria for green games and red games to be on the opposing quarterback. I'm not going to break any secrets here by saying the NFL has obviously become a passing league. A good amount of scoring will come from the hands of the quarterbacks. By contrast, a significant amount of turnovers and inability to move the offense is going to fall on the quarterback. So with that in mind, I listed the following:
Green Games
Jacksonville
Cleveland
New York Jets
Tennessee
Minnesota
Red Games
Green Bay
New Orleans
New England
Denver
Atlanta
I think there's no denying the fact that the five green game teams are led by poor passers. It is my opinion that these five teams have the worst quarterback situations in the league. Even more so, all five of them have the biggest chance of seeing a carosel of quarterback changes as the season goes on.
As for the red games, there's no question as to who the top 4 quarterbacks in the league are. My choice of Matt Ryan was admittedly a tough one. There are honestly a lot of great quarterbacks that can be substituted for Ryan at five, such as Romo, Stafford, Cam, Kaep, RGIII, and on and on. Ultimately, I went with Matt Ryan because he is, I feel, the most consistent of the rest while leading an offense that has weapons at every position. Ryan is also an amazing home quarterback which helps. Ryan simply isn't prone to costly turnovers and stays relatively healthy week in and week out.
So, based on my criteria, here's how it shaped up for defenses with regards to green games to red games
Best
Steelers: 5 green; 2 red
Colts: 4 green; 1 red
Bengals: 4 green; 2 red
Texans: 4 green; 2 red
Titans: 3 green; 1 red
Jaguars: 3 green; 1 red
Packers: 3 green; 1 red
Worst
Buccaneers: 1 green; 5 red
Panthers: 2 green; 5 red
Jets: 2 green; 4 red
Falcons: 1 green; 4 red
Redskins: 1 green; 3 red
Saints: 1 green; 3 red
It seems that the Steelers have an opportunity to once again become a top 5 NFL defense. The issue is staying healthy obviously, but you gotta love that ratio. The Colts and Bengals make for an interesting sleeper defense.
The Buccaneers are getting a lot of hoopla and ballyhoo for their off-season acqusitions. We have to remember that these guys are facing Brees and Ryan twice a year, respectively. They also get Brady in week 3. When I did my quarterback grid, a lot of people seemed puzzled by the fact that I listed the Buccaneers as a green game (meaning bottom 5 passing defense). As I said, I think they'll be better, but their passing defense was historically bad and even worse than the Saints. I say I want to see it on the field before I believe it. We'll get a real good look at them because they face the Saints and Patriots within the first three weeks of the season. I'd stay away until after week 3.
For the first three weeks, no team has more than 2 green games. As I just stated, the Bucs have 2 red games in that same span. The Steelers have a very nice first-half of the season schedule wise. Their first red game isn't until week 9, but they have 3 green games before then. The only thing to note is that they do play Green Bay in week 16, so keep that in mind if you draft Pittsburgh.
The Bengals have no red games after week 5, and they play Christian Ponder in week 16 (green game).
In the last 4 weeks of the season, no team has more than 2 green games. Carolina has the worst end of the schedule BY FAR. From weeks 14-17, they have 3 red games to just 1 green. They won't even get a look from me.
As far as pairs, I like the Steelers and the Bills. As of right now, you can stream them for eight green games to zero red. Just remember that Pittsburgh has a red game in the important week 16. But with defenses, you can readily pick one up on the waivers if you're that concerned about it.
The Bengals and the Bills are also a good pair for the 3/4th's of the season. Problem is both teams have their bye in week 12, so you'll be faced with the situation of needing to drop one should you go that route.
Thanks to all for reading. Any questions or comments, please discuss.
