- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Don't undersell nickel, dime defenses
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11088618/there-big-money-nickel-dime-defenses-clayton-mailbag
The "nickel" and "dime" defenses in the NFL are now misnamed. There is too much money going into the pass-defense packages to label them as pocket change.
The Seattle Seahawks are the gold standard. Last year, the Seahawks paid defensive ends Cliff Avril $6.5 million and Michael Bennett $4.8 million and only started them a combined total of five times. Their mission was to lock down the line in pass defense, and they earned every penny.
The Seahawks' "subpackage" gave up only 4.4 yards per play, allowed only nine touchdowns and limited quarterbacks to 5.25 yards per passing attempt. Several players from the Seattle defense cashed in this offseason. The Seahawks gave Bennett a four-year deal worth $28.5 million, Earl Thomas $10 million a year and Richard Sherman $14 million a year. Defensive tackle Clinton McDonald left for Tampa Bay and got $3 million a year. Cornerbacks Brandon Browner ($4.1 million a year, New England) and Walter Thurmond ($3 million, New York Giants) moved to different teams for raises. Defensive end Chris Clemons was cut by the Seahawks and signed a four-year, $17.5 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Just because a defender is on the field for first downs at the beginning of games no longer means he is a first-stringer. The pass-defense packages could be on the field for 60 to 70 percent of the defensive snaps. The Cincinnati Bengals were in pass-defense mode 71.9 percent of the time this past season.
With that in mind, let's look at five subpackages that could show dramatic improvement this season.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Opposing quarterbacks completed 66.2 percent of their throws for 7.71 yards per attempt in 2013, despite the Bucs' additions of Dashon Goldson and Darrelle Revis to the secondary. The problem was up front. Tampa Bay had only 23 sacks in the 408 times opposing quarterbacks dropped back to throw against the Bucs' subpackage. Lovie Smith should fix that with former Bengal Michael Johnson rushing from defensive end and McDonald as an inside tackle. Those two additions should take some blocking pressure off Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers, who can rotate at end on the other side of Johnson.
2. Houston Texans: The Texans drafted Jadeveon Clowney, but he needed sports hernia surgery that will sideline him until training camp. He should be ready for the regular season. The worst-case scenario is that he starts just in the subpackage. Houston will ask for more from its pass-defense unit this year than it did in 2013. The Texans' subpackage was on the field for only 392 snaps the past season, the lowest total in the league. Even without Clowney, the Texans have pass-rush options. J.J. Watt is one of the most dominating defenders in football and was flanked at tackle by Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus. The Texans have to find another inside presence next to Watt to replace Antonio Smith, who went to Oakland.
3. Oakland Raiders: Defensive tackle Pat Sims is Oakland's only returning subdefender who plays with his hand on the ground. Although it was tough to lose Lamarr Houston, the Raiders signed Smith, LaMarr Woodley and Justin Tuck. Their rush will be needed. The Raiders gave up a staggering 6.6 yards per play when they were in their subpackage -- 0.8 yards above the league average. Their subpackage also gave up a league-high 34 touchdowns.
4. St. Louis Rams: The Rams already were loaded with talent in their subpackage with Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford. Now they can put first-round choice Aaron Donald in for Langford. Donald has the look of a 3-technique tackle who can get six to nine sacks as a rookie. Opposing quarterbacks completed 69.7 percent of their passes against the Rams' pass-defense package and averaged 7.94 yards per attempt. The Rams got the sacks (38) last year, but this year they should get more stops.
5. Washington Redskins: Jason Hatcher was a productive inside pass-rusher for Dallas last year. This year, he'll bolster the Redskins' inside rush and complement outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. The 2013 Redskins gave up 6.14 yards per play and 7.94 yards per attempt in their subpackages.
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11088618/there-big-money-nickel-dime-defenses-clayton-mailbag
The "nickel" and "dime" defenses in the NFL are now misnamed. There is too much money going into the pass-defense packages to label them as pocket change.
The Seattle Seahawks are the gold standard. Last year, the Seahawks paid defensive ends Cliff Avril $6.5 million and Michael Bennett $4.8 million and only started them a combined total of five times. Their mission was to lock down the line in pass defense, and they earned every penny.
The Seahawks' "subpackage" gave up only 4.4 yards per play, allowed only nine touchdowns and limited quarterbacks to 5.25 yards per passing attempt. Several players from the Seattle defense cashed in this offseason. The Seahawks gave Bennett a four-year deal worth $28.5 million, Earl Thomas $10 million a year and Richard Sherman $14 million a year. Defensive tackle Clinton McDonald left for Tampa Bay and got $3 million a year. Cornerbacks Brandon Browner ($4.1 million a year, New England) and Walter Thurmond ($3 million, New York Giants) moved to different teams for raises. Defensive end Chris Clemons was cut by the Seahawks and signed a four-year, $17.5 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Just because a defender is on the field for first downs at the beginning of games no longer means he is a first-stringer. The pass-defense packages could be on the field for 60 to 70 percent of the defensive snaps. The Cincinnati Bengals were in pass-defense mode 71.9 percent of the time this past season.
With that in mind, let's look at five subpackages that could show dramatic improvement this season.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Opposing quarterbacks completed 66.2 percent of their throws for 7.71 yards per attempt in 2013, despite the Bucs' additions of Dashon Goldson and Darrelle Revis to the secondary. The problem was up front. Tampa Bay had only 23 sacks in the 408 times opposing quarterbacks dropped back to throw against the Bucs' subpackage. Lovie Smith should fix that with former Bengal Michael Johnson rushing from defensive end and McDonald as an inside tackle. Those two additions should take some blocking pressure off Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers, who can rotate at end on the other side of Johnson.
2. Houston Texans: The Texans drafted Jadeveon Clowney, but he needed sports hernia surgery that will sideline him until training camp. He should be ready for the regular season. The worst-case scenario is that he starts just in the subpackage. Houston will ask for more from its pass-defense unit this year than it did in 2013. The Texans' subpackage was on the field for only 392 snaps the past season, the lowest total in the league. Even without Clowney, the Texans have pass-rush options. J.J. Watt is one of the most dominating defenders in football and was flanked at tackle by Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus. The Texans have to find another inside presence next to Watt to replace Antonio Smith, who went to Oakland.
3. Oakland Raiders: Defensive tackle Pat Sims is Oakland's only returning subdefender who plays with his hand on the ground. Although it was tough to lose Lamarr Houston, the Raiders signed Smith, LaMarr Woodley and Justin Tuck. Their rush will be needed. The Raiders gave up a staggering 6.6 yards per play when they were in their subpackage -- 0.8 yards above the league average. Their subpackage also gave up a league-high 34 touchdowns.
4. St. Louis Rams: The Rams already were loaded with talent in their subpackage with Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford. Now they can put first-round choice Aaron Donald in for Langford. Donald has the look of a 3-technique tackle who can get six to nine sacks as a rookie. Opposing quarterbacks completed 69.7 percent of their passes against the Rams' pass-defense package and averaged 7.94 yards per attempt. The Rams got the sacks (38) last year, but this year they should get more stops.
5. Washington Redskins: Jason Hatcher was a productive inside pass-rusher for Dallas last year. This year, he'll bolster the Redskins' inside rush and complement outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. The 2013 Redskins gave up 6.14 yards per play and 7.94 yards per attempt in their subpackages.