Grading the NFL pass defenses

[Valuist]

Since nobody has come up with a good way of grading pass defenses, I think I've come up with the best way to quantify pass defense. Looking at just passing yardage allowed alone is very deceptive. My criteria is based on 2 factors: 1) big play ability, which is defined as the percentage of INTs and sacks relative to the total pass plays (attempts and sacks). The second factor is the QB rating allowed to the opponent. Combining the two is how I arrived at the numbers. Interesting to note there is a definite correlation between the team's pass D last year and their overall performance. Maybe its replacing run D as the key stat.

Team, grade and rating (big play, qb rating)

1. Tampa Bay A+ (1,1)
2. Atlanta A (2,4)
3. Miami A (3.5,3)
4. Green Bay A (5,2)
5. Carolina A- (3.5, 5.5)
6. Pittsburgh B+ (7,8)
7. Philadelphia B+ (6,10)
8. Baltimore B+ (11.5, 5.5)
9. Oakland B (8,12)
10. Washington B (13,11)
11. New England B (9.5,15)
12. Seattle B-/C+ (21.5, 8)
13. New Orleans B-/C+ (14,16)
14. Cleveland C (19.5,13)
15. NY Giants C (19.5,14)
St. Louis C (9.5,24)
17. Tennessee C (16,18)
Jacksonville C (16,18)
19. San Francisco C (17.5,17)
20. Dallas C (28,8)
21. Houston C- (20,19)
22. Indianapolis C- (15,25)
23. Denver D (21.5,22)
24. San Diego D (17.5,26)
25. NY Jets D (25,20)
26. Buffalo D (24,23)
27. Kansas City D- (23,27)
28. Chicago F (26.5,28)
29. Minnesota F (26.5,30)
30. Detroit F (29.5,29)
31. Arizona F (31,28)
32. Cincinnati F (29.5,31)

Favre gets to play every divisional game against a F-graded pass defense.

 

[IE]

this might help you also,maybe....not sure.

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In general, the higher these are the better:
OL - Offensive line efficiency rating.
RE - Rushing efficiency, roughly equivalent to Yards per Rush
with rushing touchdowns and fumbles factored in.
PE - Passing efficiency, roughly equivalent to Yards per Pass
with passing touchdowns and interceptions factored in.
PCE- Pass completion efficiency, equivalent to Yards per Pass
Completion.
SE - Scoring efficiency, roughly equivalent to Pts scored per 100
yards of offense.

In general, the lower these are the better:
Opp.OL - Opponent Offensive line efficiency rating.
RD - Rush defense efficiency, roughly equivalent to opponent's
Yards per Rush with rushing touchdowns and fumbles factored
in.
PD - Pass defense efficiency, roughly equivalent to opponent's
Yards per Pass with passing touchdowns and interceptions
factored in.
PCD- Pass completion defense efficiency, equivalent to opponent's
Yards per Pass Completion.
SD - Scoring defense efficiency, roughly equivalent to opponent's
Pts scored per 100 yards of offense.

Power - Power rating based on the above factors.

Other Statistics:
PYds/Att Diff - Difference between pass yards per attempt for offense and
defense.
P.Cmp/Sack - Pass completions per sack. Indicates the number of times a team
completes a pass on average per sack.
P.Att/Sack - Pass attempts per sack. Indicates the number of times a team
passes on the average before it is sacked.
W/L Marg.- This is the average points margin for wins and for losses.

ratings

 

[Mr Hockey]

I disagree with Pittsburgh being so high. I mean their pass defense was horrible last year in my opinion & I don't see it getting much better this season.

 

[Valuist]

Pittsburgh's pass D was terrible in the first 2 weeks but got significantly better after that. Only 2 teams (Phil and Caro) had more than the 50 sacks Pitt had, and only Tampa and Atlanta had more "big plays" (sacks and INTs). Their defensive QB rating of 75.6 was 8th best in the league. Its difficult to argue with facts.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Well yes the #'s are there but the #'s don't always tell the story. Everytime you turned around, this team was getting torched through the air & it carried into the playoffs as well.

I'm just offering an opinion & hope I don't come across as being argumentitive.

 

[Valuist]

I think part of the reason they gave up a decent amount of yardage was that teams couldn't run on them. 623 attempted pass plays (att and sacks) against them; or just under 39 a game. And the Oakland game early in the season was on National TV, which looked bad; probably made people think their pass D was worse than it was. I have to admit I was a bit surprised at the numbers myself.

 

[Double Sixes]

pit 27th in the league in 3rd down efficiency. Not a good pass
defense.

 

[Valuist]

Yeah, I saw that. Then I saw who was toward the top. Buffalo, Chicago, Indy and Houston were all in the top 12. No one would ever call those pass defenses good, let alone average. I don't know if it was a one year anamoly, but 3rd down efficiency stats last year seem irrelevant. Its also easy to have your rating go down once you go into a prevent and give up lots of garbage yards.

If you were a QB and these were your stats, would it be a good year?

19 TDs 19 INTs 50 sacks Qb rating: 75.6

Thats what opposing QBs did against Pittsburgh.