Dr. Lecter
06-24-2010, 08:08 AM
I think we can all accept the fact that the NFL is a passing league. In the Super Bowl last year there were 84 pass attempts for 621 yards and just 37 rushing plays for 150 yards. Despite all of those passing attempts, the game featured only one sack. The smart teams are building up their secondary even when they already have a solid unit. The Jets had a top-flight secondary last year, and still traded for Antonio Cromartie and drafted Kyle Wilson in the first round.
Defensive backs are tricky to evaluate. There are only four on the field during the early downs in the base defense, but the defense can shift to the nickel, featuring five defensive backs, at any time. In fact, the nickel back is a primary starter more than you would think in the modern game. When an offense goes to four wide receivers or employs its hurry-up offense, the secondary can even go to six players on the field.
Given the importance of the defensive backfield, I thought I would try to rank the top five secondaries for 2010 based on the following criteria:
1. Prerformance in 2009. This was based on how opposing passers performed against them in terms of yards per pass attempt, completion percentage, passes attempted, number of 20-plus yard pass plays, 40-plus yard pass plays, sacks and passer rating.
2. Additions and subtractions in the offseason.
3. Production of the starting cornerbacks.
4. Are the safeties interchangeable?
5. The quality of the nickel back.
6. The depth to build a dime defense.
7. The presence of a lockdown corner.
8. The presence of an elite safety.
Based on the above criteria, here are the top eight secondaries from last season: Jets, Bills, Bengals, Packers, Saints, Eagles, Panthers, and Broncos.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d818c4908&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
Defensive backs are tricky to evaluate. There are only four on the field during the early downs in the base defense, but the defense can shift to the nickel, featuring five defensive backs, at any time. In fact, the nickel back is a primary starter more than you would think in the modern game. When an offense goes to four wide receivers or employs its hurry-up offense, the secondary can even go to six players on the field.
Given the importance of the defensive backfield, I thought I would try to rank the top five secondaries for 2010 based on the following criteria:
1. Prerformance in 2009. This was based on how opposing passers performed against them in terms of yards per pass attempt, completion percentage, passes attempted, number of 20-plus yard pass plays, 40-plus yard pass plays, sacks and passer rating.
2. Additions and subtractions in the offseason.
3. Production of the starting cornerbacks.
4. Are the safeties interchangeable?
5. The quality of the nickel back.
6. The depth to build a dime defense.
7. The presence of a lockdown corner.
8. The presence of an elite safety.
Based on the above criteria, here are the top eight secondaries from last season: Jets, Bills, Bengals, Packers, Saints, Eagles, Panthers, and Broncos.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d818c4908&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true