Top Defensive Teams in '06 (1 Viewer)

[redman]

putting pressure on the Qb is the key to any coverage. The Skins and Dallas passing O cannot afford to keep the TE in to block. How will they counter then?

What? Gibbs the last two years has repeatedly sacrificed receivers running routes to provide protection for the QB

Yeah, Gibbs all about protecting his QB. He'll almost always go max protect. Gone are the Spurrier days, where Skins QB's were sitting ducks.

I have much respect for Gibbs I just have a hard time seeing their passing O working so well with Cooley staying in(IF). It seems ya can't run 3 WR+enough blockers and still be at 11 so I think it'd be easier for them to get Cooley freed up but am not exactly sure how.

How often do we see Gibbs run 3 WR?Answer...not much.

It was Gibbs' bread n butter in the 80s. They now have 3 capable WRs. I think it'd be foolish to not think he'll use that.

I agree they'll go with 3 WR's more often than they used to. What people forget is that 3 WR's is just a formation; not all necessarily go out into routes. I recall many plays where, Monk in particular, would go in motion, double back, and then help out the tackle in blocking the DE on a given play. Frankly, one of the noteworthy features of the classic "Gibbs offense" was the ability to run any offensive play out of any offensive formation, and Gibbs would often run a 2 TE set back then as well. Saunders, while obviously a different guy now 15 years after Gibbs was at the peak of his innovative powers, still hails from the same Coryell school and shares much of the same offensive "values". If Cooley's going out in a route, there's no doubt that there will be some other provision(s) made for protection. Sellers is a very good blocker for example, and Portis is actually excellent as well which is something he's not recognized for. They also picked up Fauria who is solid.

Again, I'm not worried overall.

 

[sholditch]

anyone who hasn't put the Bears as no 1. is either trying way too hard to be original. They have the best defense and it's not even close, real life and fantasy.

 

[Cookiemonster]

I'm surprised that the Packers aren't being discussed when you talk about the better defensive teams in the league this year.  Now, I'll admit I'm a homer on this, in case you couldn't tell by my user ID, but I still think that an objective look at some key facts here would certainly be enough to make an open-minded person wonder if maybe the Packers wouldn't be one of the better defensive teams this year.  To wit:

  They were the 9th most difficult defense in the league to drive the ball on in 2005.

They were 7th in total defense last year.

They were 9th in 3rd down conversion percentage.

Now, this was accomplished despite being average against the run (4.0 yds/rush) and one of the worst in the league in takeaways (7th worst with 21).  AND they'd had three different defensive schemes in three years.

So....they weren't that bad last year despite being repeatedly put on a shortfield by a league leading 45 turnovers (thank you, Brett).  AND they're operating under the same defensive scheme as last year for the first time in four years....despite having a new defensive coordinator.

But they should be better this year because they've added quite a bit of talent.

Gone is the overweight and out of shape Grady Jackson (who played about 30% of the snaps and he's been replaced by Ryan Pickett.

The Packers drafted AJ Hawk and Abdul Hodge at linebacker, instantly upgrading that unit.  They also added Cleveland starter Ben Taylor in free agency.

They added Charles Woodson and Marquand Manuel to the secondary, along with rookie draft choice Will Blackmon.

So, I think the case can be made that a year of stability in the scheme, the development of some of their young players, the addition of bonafide studs like Hawk.......all will contribute to improving a defense that was already pretty decent in many respects.

With a little better balance in the turnover margin (-24 last year), this defense should rank in the NFL's top ten by most of the important statistical measures this year.

i'm wondering if GB benefited from some heinous offensive play in NFC north last season... not sure about MIN, but i would expect CHI & DET to be better this season... though the addition of hawk could help offset that (unclear how much hodge will play & what his role will be... some scouts thaought he was top MLB/ILB in draft, ahead of d'qwell jackson, though i thought he was second best)... woodson should be an upgrade, too, though imo he has been overrated for a few years...

If Woodson is still healthy mid-October, then pick them up on the waiver-wire before the weather turns cold. Late-season must-start at home. Hawk should be getting comfortable by then too.

 

[Trig2U]

Sure, Da Bears, Steelers, Carolina appear to top the list.

But I think the thing for a lot of us at FBG is that, by the time we get around to drafting a D, those big name teams will be off the board.

That's why I always try to dig a little deeper to find a few aggressive, up and coming D/ST's that fly a little bit lower on the radar screen. This season I'm intrigued by teams like the G Men, Jags. Maybe the Seahawks will still be available if they slip a little.

The Jaguars have a lot of talent, and a number of playmakers like Darius, Stroud, Henderson, Mathis, but that nucleus has been there for the past couple of seasons, and so far it hasn't been translating into big fantasy points. I know they've added a couple of pieces... is there any reason to think that this season the number of sacks and turnovers will increase significantly for Jax?

Similarly, the Giants have Osi and Strahan; and Gabril Wison seems like a great bet to produce a lot of fantasy points. I guess the secondary should be more solid. Maybe the key is LaVar Arrington flipping on the switch and getting back to being a force at LB.

Anybody care to argue for the Giants over the Seahawks and Jags (or vice versa)?

 

[TrueD]

1carolina

2pit

3dallas

4phil

5chic

6ne

7balt

8sea

9wash

10mia

Carolina WILL be the best defense in the league this season IF all the starters stay healthy, but they have a very, very tough schedule to try to be the best "stat" wise at the end of the season.

Look at their defense, I mean DANG!! The front four, with Jenks & Kemo in the middle that’s eight feet of space you can forget about, just forget it!! You ain’t goin in there at all!! Then you got Pepp & Ruck manning the ends, nuff said!

The linebackers are the “question” in this years defense but the biggest question is whether or not MLB Dan Morgan can stay healthy an entire season. Both of our contenders for “weak-side” LB are better than last years Brandon Short and last years rookie Thomas Davis can be as good at the LB position as Witherspoon was, so the linebackers will do just fine behind the D-line their playing behind.

The secondary has become one of the best in the league as well, it’s just not as known as our D-line. Both our starting corners either led , tied for the lead or finished second in the NFC in interceptions the past TWO years. Minter is as good a SS as we need (he could be faster though) and whoever gets the starting FS job between Branch & Williams will get the job done as well (although we all miss McCree)

you put all that together with our defensive minded coaches and you got the best D in the NFL for 2006 (we were in the top 5 all last year and we’re a lot better than last year)

 

[Mooks77]

anyone who hasn't put the Bears as no 1. is either trying way too hard to be original. They have the best defense and it's not even close, real life and fantasy.

In 2004 the Bears were a middle of the road defense and were projected as such going into 2005. Last year things went really well for them. The problem is that defenses fluctuate too much from year to year. Many times it is due to injuries. On paper, the Bears look great.I guarantee that the Bears will not finish as the #1 fantasy defense.

 

[TrueD]

anyone who hasn't put the Bears as no 1. is either trying way too hard to be original. They have the best defense and it's not even close, real life and fantasy.

In 2004 the Bears were a middle of the road defense and were projected as such going into 2005. Last year things went really well for them. The problem is that defenses fluctuate too much from year to year. Many times it is due to injuries. On paper, the Bears look great.I guarantee that the Bears will not finish as the #1 fantasy defense.

they wont finish as the #1 anything defense in 06, they have two Panther back-up's looking to be a starter and a nickle on their D Panther's, they'll have the #1D

the Bucs will have the 2nd

pit will be third

then the bears...