Ranking every NFL defense from 1 to 32 going into the 2021 season

[CoachAllred]

Caution
If you feel like reading a article, from a writer who thinks the team who gave up 30 pts a game,ranked 29th
in the league last year is gonna be the #1 ranked for 2021 then this is the article for you.


Ranking every NFL defense from 1 to 32 going into the 2021 season​

Sheil Kapadia Aug 4, 2021
Defensive performance year over year can be volatile. The New England Patriots ranked first in defensive efficiency in 2019 but slid all the way down to 26 in 2020. The Washington Football Team was 27th in 2019 but moved all the way up to third last season.
So which defenses will have similar jumps or falls in 2021? Here’s a ranking that projects the best and worst defenses, from one to 32. Note that rankings from last season are from Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric.

1. Minnesota Vikings​

Last season: 18th

It’s pretty simple to explain away the Vikings’ struggles last season. They had the third-worst injury luck of any defense, according to Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Games Lost metric, and they had the most injured defensive line. The Vikings didn’t get a single snap from edge defender Danielle Hunter or defensive tackle Michael Pierce.

This year, not only are both players back, but Minnesota added Dalvin Tomlinson and Sheldon Richardson. With Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr still in the mix at linebacker, the Vikings project to have one of the league’s top front sevens. There are some questions on the back end, but the Vikings added veterans Patrick Peterson, Bashaud Breeland and Mackensie Alexander to give themselves options at cornerback. Cameron Dantzler figures to improve in his second season.

On paper, it’s probably not the most talented group, but coach Mike Zimmer is one of the smartest defensive minds in the NFL. The Vikings finished first, third and fourth in defensive efficiency from 2017 to 2019. Barring another bout of terrible injury luck, they’re talented enough to get back into that range this season.

2. Denver Broncos​

Last season: 13th

They were slightly above average last year, and now the Broncos get to add Von Miller (injured last season), cornerback Kyle Fuller and first-round pick Patrick Surtain II. They signed Ronald Darby too, giving them the depth to play dime (six defensive backs) if they want to go that route.

Vic Fangio has established himself as one of the NFL’s best defensive coaches. He schemed things up last year, and the Broncos’ defense ranked third in TruMedia’s Expected Points Added (EPA) model when they blitzed. Fangio will disguise his looks to muddy the picture for opposing quarterbacks, and he knows how to game plan against different types of offenses.

The Broncos are well-coached and talented. That mix should produce one of the league’s top defenses.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers​

Last season: 5th

We probably don’t need a whole lot of analysis here. They were a top-five defense last year and were able to retain all of their starters. The Bucs also added a nice pass-rush option with first-round pick Joe Tryon, who offers big upside and should fill a rotational role immediately.

Todd Bowles mixed up coverages and blitzed at the fifth-highest rate of any defensive coordinator. He does a brilliant job of scheming to the strengths and weaknesses of his personnel.

One factor to keep an eye on here: depth. The Bucs had the second-best injury luck of any defense last year. But overall, they’re set up to once again be one of the league’s top units.

4. Washington Football Team​

Last season: 3rd

This group is led by a front that includes Chase Young, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat. Washington finished third in ESPN’s pass rush win rate last year.

They used a first-round pick on talented linebacker Jamin Davis and replaced Ronald Darby with a superior player in cornerback William Jackson III. At safety, Landon Collins is back after missing nine games due to an Achilles injury.

Defensive performance doesn’t always carry over year to year, but Washington has veteran coaches in Jack Del Rio and Ron Rivera, along with young, talented players. It would be no surprise to seem them again deliver a top-five unit.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers​

Last season: 1st

They still have two of the league’s best defensive players in edge defender T.J. Watt and free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. But Pittsburgh lost three players — Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson — who each logged at least 400 snaps last season.

Defensive coordinator Keith Butler blitzed at the third-highest rate in 2020, and the Steelers’ front was ferocious, finishing first in pass rush win rate. Watt led the NFL with 15 sacks and 41 QB hits. Stephon Tuitt was highly disruptive with 11 sacks and 25 QB hits. Cam Heyward (four sacks and 19 QB hits) was still a factor. And the Steelers added veteran Melvin Ingram in the offseason to pair with Alex Highsmith.

Cornerback is a concern. Joe Haden is 32, and though the Steelers were able to bring Cam Sutton back, they need someone else to step up when they’re in their sub packages. Pittsburgh could regress on the back end, but the overall blend of scheme and talent should still deliver a strong defense.


Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

6. Baltimore Ravens​

Last season: 9th

The Ravens’ philosophy under defensive coordinator Don Martindale has been consistent: play man coverage and send pressure. Baltimore blitzed at the highest rate (45.5 percent) in the league last year, but the numbers suggest Martindale might not need to be quite so aggressive. Only three teams saw a bigger dip in performance (EPA per play) when comparing plays when they blitzed to the ones when they rushed four or fewer.

The Ravens lost edge defenders Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency but were patient and eventually landed veteran Justin Houston. The team also spent a first-round pick on high-upside pass rusher Odafe Oweh. They’ll count on second-year player Patrick Queen to make a leap at linebacker after a shaky first season.

Baltimore has one of the league’s best cornerback groups with Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Tavon Young. Martindale’s defenses have finished in the top 10 for three consecutive seasons, and there’s enough talent for the Ravens to be good once again.

7. Buffalo Bills​

Last season: 12th

There’s reason to believe the Bills can take a step forward from where they were last year. Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier have a knack for maximizing the talent available to them. Last year, linebacker Matt Milano played just 31 percent of the snaps because of injury, and defensive tackle Star Lotulelei opted out. Both players are back in 2021. Buffalo has spent four first- or second-round picks on defensive linemen in the past three years. Between Ed Oliver, A.J. Epenesa, Gregory Rousseau and Carlos Basham, they’ve given themselves options up front. And Buffalo finished second in pass rush win rate last season.

From a scheme perspective, the Bills are going to be zone-heavy and play a lot of Cover-3 (a three-deep zone with four underneath defenders) and Cover-4 (a four-deep zone with three underneath defenders). They need to figure out the corner spot opposite Tre’Davious White but have strong safeties in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Among the 12 Bills defensive players who logged at least 400 snaps last year, 11 are back. Overall, this a well-coached group that has upside if some young players emerge.

8. New Orleans Saints​

Last season: 2nd

The Saints had one of the NFL’s top defenses last season, and they’ve finished in the top 10 for four consecutive years under coordinator Dennis Allen. In the post-Drew Brees era, the pressure will be on this group to do even more if New Orleans is going to get back to the playoffs.

New Orleans still has talented players in Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and Marshon Lattimore. But they face challenges, having lost six players who logged at least 300 snaps last season. The Saints ranked 22nd in pass rush win rate in 2020. They need Marcus Davenport or first-round pick Payton Turner to step up to field a formidable pass rush, especially now that defensive tackle David Onyemata will be suspended for the first six games.

On the back end, the Saints have a nice mix of hybrid defenders, but they still need to find someone to replace Janoris Jenkins and play outside corner. The Saints’ depth could be tested more this season. They had the third-healthiest defense a year ago and might not be so lucky in 2021. The most likely scenario is that the defense is good, but not quite as good as it was a year ago.

​

9. Los Angeles Rams​

Last season: 4th

By the end of the 2020 regular season, no defense was playing better than the Rams. But defensive coordinator Brandon Staley moved on to coach the Chargers, and Raheem Morris now replaces him. Luckily for the Rams, they still have Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.

The Rams are replacing three players — safety John Johnson, corner Troy Hill and defensive tackle Michael Brockers — who logged 600-plus snaps last season. They brought back Leonard Floyd but don’t have a lot of depth at edge rusher.

Scheme-wise, the Rams were the most zone-heavy team in the league, according to Pro Football Focus and TruMedia. And they mixed in a lot of split-safety looks. Morris’ background suggests more single-high coverages, although he could take an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. The Rams have two superstars in Donald and Ramsey who are among the most impactful defensive players in the league. They also have strong complementary pieces. The defense might not
be quite as good as it was last year, but it should still be an above-average group.

10. San Francisco 49ers​

Last season: 6th

The 49ers had the worst injury luck of any defense last year, but Robert Saleh did an incredible job of maximizing the talent at his disposal. Nick Bosa returns from an ACL injury that limited him to 65 snaps in 2020. Linebacker Fred Warner is a star. And the 49ers are counting on second-year player Javon Kinlaw to be a big factor alongside Arik Armstead.

The secondary is where things get shaky. Jason Verrett was terrific last year, but he appeared in just six games from 2016 to 2019. San Francisco doesn’t have much depth at corner and could be in trouble if Verrett can’t stay on the field.

Kyle Shanahan has mentioned that new coordinator DeMeco Ryans might be a little bit more aggressive than Saleh was. But overall, Ryans would be wise to hold off on major scheme changes. The 49ers should have a formidable pass rush, but their corners have to prove themselves, and the coordinator change could be a factor.

22. Seattle Seahawks​

Last season: 16th

The Seahawks brought back Carlos Dunlap and signed Kerry Hyder. They still have Bobby Wagner at middle linebacker, Quandre Diggs at one safety spot, and they’ll hope to get Jamal Adams for the full season (he played 68 percent of the snaps last year).

But cornerback is a huge question mark. The Seahawks lost Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar in free agency. They signed Ahkello Witherspoon.

Pete Carroll is still going to employ a zone-heavy scheme that leans heavily on Cover-3. Seattle needs multiple corners to step up for this defense to perform better than it did a year ago.

25. Arizona Cardinals​

Last season: 10th

They made a splash in the offseason by signing J.J. Watt, but now Chandler Jones is reportedly unhappy with his contract. Given the Cardinals’ shaky cornerback situation, this defense might be in line for a serious step back.

Coordinator Vance Joseph did an outstanding job last year, but he relied on blitzing and man coverage. The Cardinals might not be strong enough at corner to use that same formula again. They signed Malcolm Butler, Robert Alford and Darqueze Dennard with hopes that one or two of them still have something left.

Watt played all 16 games last year but missed 32 games from 2016 to 2019. If Watt stays healthy and Jones remains on the team, the Cardinals, who also have Markus Golden, should be able to produce an above-average pass rush. But this is a boom-or-bust team and a boom-or-bust defense.

 

[FarNorth]

Caution​

If you feel like reading a article, from a writer who thinks the team who gave up 30 pts a game,ranked 29th ​

in the league last year is gonna be the #1 ranked for 2021 then this is the article for you.​

​

​

Ranking every NFL defense from 1 to 32 going into the 2021 season​

Sheil Kapadia Aug 4, 2021
Defensive performance year over year can be volatile. The New England Patriots ranked first in defensive efficiency in 2019 but slid all the way down to 26 in 2020. The Washington Football Team was 27th in 2019 but moved all the way up to third last season.
So which defenses will have similar jumps or falls in 2021? Here’s a ranking that projects the best and worst defenses, from one to 32. Note that rankings from last season are from Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric.

1. Minnesota Vikings​

Last season: 18th

It’s pretty simple to explain away the Vikings’ struggles last season. They had the third-worst injury luck of any defense, according to Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Games Lost metric, and they had the most injured defensive line. The Vikings didn’t get a single snap from edge defender Danielle Hunter or defensive tackle Michael Pierce.

This year, not only are both players back, but Minnesota added Dalvin Tomlinson and Sheldon Richardson. With Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr still in the mix at linebacker, the Vikings project to have one of the league’s top front sevens. There are some questions on the back end, but the Vikings added veterans Patrick Peterson, Bashaud Breeland and Mackensie Alexander to give themselves options at cornerback. Cameron Dantzler figures to improve in his second season.

On paper, it’s probably not the most talented group, but coach Mike Zimmer is one of the smartest defensive minds in the NFL. The Vikings finished first, third and fourth in defensive efficiency from 2017 to 2019. Barring another bout of terrible injury luck, they’re talented enough to get back into that range this season.

2. Denver Broncos​

Last season: 13th

They were slightly above average last year, and now the Broncos get to add Von Miller (injured last season), cornerback Kyle Fuller and first-round pick Patrick Surtain II. They signed Ronald Darby too, giving them the depth to play dime (six defensive backs) if they want to go that route.

Vic Fangio has established himself as one of the NFL’s best defensive coaches. He schemed things up last year, and the Broncos’ defense ranked third in TruMedia’s Expected Points Added (EPA) model when they blitzed. Fangio will disguise his looks to muddy the picture for opposing quarterbacks, and he knows how to game plan against different types of offenses.

The Broncos are well-coached and talented. That mix should produce one of the league’s top defenses.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers​

Last season: 5th

We probably don’t need a whole lot of analysis here. They were a top-five defense last year and were able to retain all of their starters. The Bucs also added a nice pass-rush option with first-round pick Joe Tryon, who offers big upside and should fill a rotational role immediately.

Todd Bowles mixed up coverages and blitzed at the fifth-highest rate of any defensive coordinator. He does a brilliant job of scheming to the strengths and weaknesses of his personnel.

One factor to keep an eye on here: depth. The Bucs had the second-best injury luck of any defense last year. But overall, they’re set up to once again be one of the league’s top units.

4. Washington Football Team​

Last season: 3rd

This group is led by a front that includes Chase Young, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat. Washington finished third in ESPN’s pass rush win rate last year.

They used a first-round pick on talented linebacker Jamin Davis and replaced Ronald Darby with a superior player in cornerback William Jackson III. At safety, Landon Collins is back after missing nine games due to an Achilles injury.

Defensive performance doesn’t always carry over year to year, but Washington has veteran coaches in Jack Del Rio and Ron Rivera, along with young, talented players. It would be no surprise to seem them again deliver a top-five unit.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers​

Last season: 1st

They still have two of the league’s best defensive players in edge defender T.J. Watt and free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. But Pittsburgh lost three players — Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson — who each logged at least 400 snaps last season.

Defensive coordinator Keith Butler blitzed at the third-highest rate in 2020, and the Steelers’ front was ferocious, finishing first in pass rush win rate. Watt led the NFL with 15 sacks and 41 QB hits. Stephon Tuitt was highly disruptive with 11 sacks and 25 QB hits. Cam Heyward (four sacks and 19 QB hits) was still a factor. And the Steelers added veteran Melvin Ingram in the offseason to pair with Alex Highsmith.

Cornerback is a concern. Joe Haden is 32, and though the Steelers were able to bring Cam Sutton back, they need someone else to step up when they’re in their sub packages. Pittsburgh could regress on the back end, but the overall blend of scheme and talent should still deliver a strong defense.


Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

6. Baltimore Ravens​

Last season: 9th

The Ravens’ philosophy under defensive coordinator Don Martindale has been consistent: play man coverage and send pressure. Baltimore blitzed at the highest rate (45.5 percent) in the league last year, but the numbers suggest Martindale might not need to be quite so aggressive. Only three teams saw a bigger dip in performance (EPA per play) when comparing plays when they blitzed to the ones when they rushed four or fewer.

The Ravens lost edge defenders Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency but were patient and eventually landed veteran Justin Houston. The team also spent a first-round pick on high-upside pass rusher Odafe Oweh. They’ll count on second-year player Patrick Queen to make a leap at linebacker after a shaky first season.

Baltimore has one of the league’s best cornerback groups with Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Tavon Young. Martindale’s defenses have finished in the top 10 for three consecutive seasons, and there’s enough talent for the Ravens to be good once again.

7. Buffalo Bills​

Last season: 12th

There’s reason to believe the Bills can take a step forward from where they were last year. Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier have a knack for maximizing the talent available to them. Last year, linebacker Matt Milano played just 31 percent of the snaps because of injury, and defensive tackle Star Lotulelei opted out. Both players are back in 2021. Buffalo has spent four first- or second-round picks on defensive linemen in the past three years. Between Ed Oliver, A.J. Epenesa, Gregory Rousseau and Carlos Basham, they’ve given themselves options up front. And Buffalo finished second in pass rush win rate last season.

From a scheme perspective, the Bills are going to be zone-heavy and play a lot of Cover-3 (a three-deep zone with four underneath defenders) and Cover-4 (a four-deep zone with three underneath defenders). They need to figure out the corner spot opposite Tre’Davious White but have strong safeties in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Among the 12 Bills defensive players who logged at least 400 snaps last year, 11 are back. Overall, this a well-coached group that has upside if some young players emerge.

8. New Orleans Saints​

Last season: 2nd

The Saints had one of the NFL’s top defenses last season, and they’ve finished in the top 10 for four consecutive years under coordinator Dennis Allen. In the post-Drew Brees era, the pressure will be on this group to do even more if New Orleans is going to get back to the playoffs.

New Orleans still has talented players in Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and Marshon Lattimore. But they face challenges, having lost six players who logged at least 300 snaps last season. The Saints ranked 22nd in pass rush win rate in 2020. They need Marcus Davenport or first-round pick Payton Turner to step up to field a formidable pass rush, especially now that defensive tackle David Onyemata will be suspended for the first six games.

On the back end, the Saints have a nice mix of hybrid defenders, but they still need to find someone to replace Janoris Jenkins and play outside corner. The Saints’ depth could be tested more this season. They had the third-healthiest defense a year ago and might not be so lucky in 2021. The most likely scenario is that the defense is good, but not quite as good as it was a year ago.

​

9. Los Angeles Rams​

Last season: 4th

By the end of the 2020 regular season, no defense was playing better than the Rams. But defensive coordinator Brandon Staley moved on to coach the Chargers, and Raheem Morris now replaces him. Luckily for the Rams, they still have Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.

The Rams are replacing three players — safety John Johnson, corner Troy Hill and defensive tackle Michael Brockers — who logged 600-plus snaps last season. They brought back Leonard Floyd but don’t have a lot of depth at edge rusher.

Scheme-wise, the Rams were the most zone-heavy team in the league, according to Pro Football Focus and TruMedia. And they mixed in a lot of split-safety looks. Morris’ background suggests more single-high coverages, although he could take an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. The Rams have two superstars in Donald and Ramsey who are among the most impactful defensive players in the league. They also have strong complementary pieces. The defense might not
be quite as good as it was last year, but it should still be an above-average group.

10. San Francisco 49ers​

Last season: 6th

The 49ers had the worst injury luck of any defense last year, but Robert Saleh did an incredible job of maximizing the talent at his disposal. Nick Bosa returns from an ACL injury that limited him to 65 snaps in 2020. Linebacker Fred Warner is a star. And the 49ers are counting on second-year player Javon Kinlaw to be a big factor alongside Arik Armstead.

The secondary is where things get shaky. Jason Verrett was terrific last year, but he appeared in just six games from 2016 to 2019. San Francisco doesn’t have much depth at corner and could be in trouble if Verrett can’t stay on the field.

Kyle Shanahan has mentioned that new coordinator DeMeco Ryans might be a little bit more aggressive than Saleh was. But overall, Ryans would be wise to hold off on major scheme changes. The 49ers should have a formidable pass rush, but their corners have to prove themselves, and the coordinator change could be a factor.

22. Seattle Seahawks​

Last season: 16th

The Seahawks brought back Carlos Dunlap and signed Kerry Hyder. They still have Bobby Wagner at middle linebacker, Quandre Diggs at one safety spot, and they’ll hope to get Jamal Adams for the full season (he played 68 percent of the snaps last year).

But cornerback is a huge question mark. The Seahawks lost Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar in free agency. They signed Ahkello Witherspoon.

Pete Carroll is still going to employ a zone-heavy scheme that leans heavily on Cover-3. Seattle needs multiple corners to step up for this defense to perform better than it did a year ago.

25. Arizona Cardinals​

Last season: 10th

They made a splash in the offseason by signing J.J. Watt, but now Chandler Jones is reportedly unhappy with his contract. Given the Cardinals’ shaky cornerback situation, this defense might be in line for a serious step back.

Coordinator Vance Joseph did an outstanding job last year, but he relied on blitzing and man coverage. The Cardinals might not be strong enough at corner to use that same formula again. They signed Malcolm Butler, Robert Alford and Darqueze Dennard with hopes that one or two of them still have something left.

Watt played all 16 games last year but missed 32 games from 2016 to 2019. If Watt stays healthy and Jones remains on the team, the Cardinals, who also have Markus Golden, should be able to produce an above-average pass rush. But this is a boom-or-bust team and a boom-or-bust defense.

More knucklehead talking head blather. Predicts Rams' D can still be "above average" while Minnesota, which actually was average, will lead the NFL. Where do they get this stuff?

 

[Angry Ram]

Being the #1 back to back is almost impossible to do. So many things have to go right. I can buy Broncos and Bucs...but the Vikings pegged for #1? Really? The Bills were horrible on D too. I also think WFT is also being overrated a bit.

 

[CoachAllred]

above average" while Minnesota, which actually was average, will lead the NFL. Where do they get this stuff?

I have no Idea. All I know is the Vikings gave up 30pts per game last year. And the writer is on LSD.
other than that I'm lost.

 

[CoachAllred]

@nighttrain Yea "Not so sure" is putting it lightly.

 

[1maGoh]

I thought the Rams head the number 1 Defense last year? Why does this article say they were 4th?

EDIT: I just read the blurb about using the unjustifiable and irrelevant metric. My bad.

 

[FrantikRam]

Very few people would have predicted us to be number one this time a year ago - including just about everyone on this forum.

No issue with the Vikings and most of the top picks. Just reciting the top defenses from last year would be inaccurate.

But - it makes zero sense to have the Saints above us. They lost more than we did

 

[Ram65]

I have no Idea. All I know is the Vikings gave up 30pts per game last year. And the writer is on LSD.
other than that I'm lost.

Hi Coach, It wouldn't surprise me if the Vikings make a big jump on defense from last year. They had injuries like Hunter mentioned and lost some DB in free agency IIRC, forcing them to play young players. I don't like Zimmer all but, he is a defensive-minded coach. Here is an article calling for the Vikings improvement on defense to #5.

Vikings projected to have the NFL’s fifth-best defense next season

With some new additions and players returning from injury, the Minnesota Vikings should see their defense get back on track next season.

thevikingage.com

 

[Ram65]

These articles are good to refresh memories of player movement and injury returns etc....It would be interesting to review this after the season.

I don't see how the Rams go to #9. I don't see them losing that much juice. They have the young talent to overcome losing Brockers, JJ and Hill. They may even be better this year with a better offense.

 

[CoachAllred]

Hi Coach, It wouldn't surprise me if the Vikings make a big jump on defense from last year. They had injuries like Hunter mentioned and lost some DB in free agency IIRC, forcing them to play young players. I don't like Zimmer all but, he is a defensive-minded coach. Here is an article calling for the Vikings improvement on defense to #5.

Vikings projected to have the NFL’s fifth-best defense next season

With some new additions and players returning from injury, the Minnesota Vikings should see their defense get back on track next season.

thevikingage.com

Would be Defensive coach of the year worthy if it turns out to be so.

 

[Loyal]

Would be Defensive coach of the year worthy if it turns out to be so.

Thanks for the warning. My high blood pressure meter thanks you.

 

[Merlin]

9. Los Angeles Rams​

Last season: 4th

By the end of the 2020 regular season, no defense was playing better than the Rams. But defensive coordinator Brandon Staley moved on to coach the Chargers, and Raheem Morris now replaces him. Luckily for the Rams, they still have Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.

The Rams are replacing three players — safety John Johnson, corner Troy Hill and defensive tackle Michael Brockers — who logged 600-plus snaps last season. They brought back Leonard Floyd but don’t have a lot of depth at edge rusher.

Scheme-wise, the Rams were the most zone-heavy team in the league, according to Pro Football Focus and TruMedia. And they mixed in a lot of split-safety looks. Morris’ background suggests more single-high coverages, although he could take an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. The Rams have two superstars in Donald and Ramsey who are among the most impactful defensive players in the league. They also have strong complementary pieces. The defense might not
be quite as good as it was last year, but it should still be an above-average group.

It amazes me that no sportswriters have asked McVay the question yet as to Morris and our scheme and how he is supposed to learn it. OR whether they are going to run more of the mainstream shit he's comfortable with.

I suppose it could be a competitive thing. Making the Bears prep for a wider base of looks. But there's no real problem I can see to McVay answering that. So surprised none of these guys who like to ask redundant ass and stupid questions can't prod him a bit on the topic.

It's like a massive question that has been avoided all offseason. They have let McVay brush it aside a bit too easily IMO.

 

[FrantikRam]

Would be Defensive coach of the year worthy if it turns out to be so.

From 2015 to 2019 the Vikings ranked 5th, 6th, 1st, 5th and 9th in points allowed.

It's like saying McVay would be offensive coach of the year if we have a top offense this year. They still have a ton of talent on d

 

[IBruce80]

On paper, it’s probably not the most talented group...

There are some questions on the back end...

Comical.

#1 ranked Minnesota, a huge jump from #18.
I know the Vikings have some players back, but still.

Personally, I still think the Redskins will be tough this season, bit we'll be up there.
Miss you though, Brock.

 

[fearsomefour]

These articles are good to refresh memories of player movement and injury returns etc....It would be interesting to review this after the season.

I don't see how the Rams go to #9. I don't see them losing that much juice. They have the young talent to overcome losing Brockers, JJ and Hill. They may even be better this year with a better offense.

As I’ve said endlessly this offseason my concern is losing Staley.
His game plans were good and his adjustments were A +.

 

[dang]

I’d take a #9 defense this year. I think the Rams defense struggles a bit coming out of the gate with all of the changes but by mid season will settle in nicely. I’m also ok with thinking outside the box with these rankings. It’s boring to see the same lists over snd over.

 

[RAMSinLA]

Offenses must change everything they do when facing a D lineman like Donald. That gives the Rams a huge advantage on defense. I think 9th is a bit of a negative prediction.

 

[Allen2McVay]

There is a ton of sports media coverage right now. People are needed to provide that coverage.

Furthermore, while everyone has always had an opinion, the internet now allows pretty much anyone to get their opinion out-to-the masses.

When I read dopey stuff, I tend to look at the Source and Author's name. In this case the Source is the well-known Athletic (which has been around all of 5 years, and covers many sports ... which means it needs a lot of bodies to provide that coverage).

And the Author in this case is the well-known and highly-regarded Sheil Kapadia.

If I have never heard of the author, I sometimes try to find out something about him (her). I don't assume the person is qualified and experienced; and I don't assume it's just average sports' fan with an opinion. There's not much out there on Sheil. He covers the NFL for the Athletic (duh) and previously covered the Eagles; and worked for ESPN covering the Seahawks.

I would not assume Sheil Kapadia has any more knowledge or experience than any long-time Rams' fan (say 20 years) on this Forum.

It's not that his opinions are wrong or lack credibility. It's simply that they are NOT any more valuable or knowledgeable than the opinions of most anyone on this Forum.

I guess, this was a long way of saying ... more media coverage does not translate to good media coverage.

 

[oldnotdead]

IMO it comes down to personnel and more importantly the scheme in which they are played. I will admit I had reservations not only about Staley but his preference for a zone-heavy scheme. But his implementation of the zone defense was dynamic and unlike that which I've seen before. It was basically a combination of zone/man coverages. Staley's use of his personnel was outstanding.

Wade Phillip's scheme was fine, but the personnel he had were the problem. Players like Suh who took plays off, aging talents like Talib, and rogues like Peters and NRC basically doomed Phillips. What I'm hoping is that Morris plays this defense in an aggressive hybrid style keeping some of the coverage aspects of Staley's scheme.

If their overall defense is top 5 that would be good enough with the offense they now have. This team is very good on both sides of the ball. When they play their "A" game, the only team that can beat them would be themselves with mistakes. If they play their "A" game and play it clean, they will be a very tough team to beat.

Tampa dominated the SB with the number 6 ranked defense. Again it's not just personnel but how they are used game to game and the value of coordinators on both sides can't be underestimated. Morris is good but just how good will be tested this year. Staley's scheme had weaknesses, but the employment of his defense was pretty damn good on game day. IMO Staley's scheme was overly complicated which led to errors. What I'm hoping is that Morris simplifies some aspects to allow his players to play faster and eliminate the mistakes.

It's why I for one don't underestimate the impact of Waldron on Seattle's offense. He's bringing the Ram's offense to Seattle. This might not be the team the Rams normally face offensively. But the question remains, is how good will their OL be. We have seen the weakness of McVay's scheme first hand. A poor OL will wreck it before it gets started. Conversely, I don't see any vast improvement of their defense. I think the Hawks will have to try to outscore teams. That's going to be hard with a balanced Rams team, who are good on both sides of the ball. The Ram D will have the advantage as they face McVay's offense every day in practice.

If Morris is as good as I think he is, this will be a damn good defense. Good enough to win a Lombardi.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The Rams defense still has Ramsey and Williams, AD and Floyd. Has it really changed all that much? The biggest losses are JJ and Hill. I look at JJ as a difference maker, and Hill as solid. So the main drop off is likely at Safety. But I don’t think it will be that big of a drop off.

Throw in an improved A’shawn and hopefully still improving Gaines and the defensive line won’t miss Brockers but might miss Fox.

So 1 down to 10 is possible, but I think 6th or better is more likely. Especially if Stafford can take the offense where McVay thinks he can. Teams will be one dimensional early on in games.