LAC: #1 Secondary, #7 total Defense in Lindy’s Pro Football Review 2020 rankings

[Cdn Bolt]

FYI with great fanfare the Lindy’s Pro football 2020 Preview hit the stands recently. One section ranks the best in the league for units and positions. As per the title, we fared very well for the defensive rankings but other areas showed some more work to do.

We were not ranked at team offense, linebacker, special teams or LG (all outside of top 10). FS and LT we were outside the top 15.

In their standings division rankings, KC is #1 by a large margin and we finish in a tie for 2nd with DEN.

Anyway, interesting and pretty reasonable. Here are all the rankings.

Offense

Big Play WR #2: Mike Williams #5
Possession WR #1 WR: Keenan Allen #4
TE: Hunter Henry #11
RB#1: Austin Ekeler #15
RB#2: Justin Jackson #7
RT: Bryan Bulaga #10
RG: Trai Turner #4
C: Mike Pouncey #3

Defense

DE 4-3: Joey Bosa #3
DE 4-3: Melvin Ingram #4
NT: Linval Joseph #8
Defensive Line: #6
Secondary: #1
CB#1: Chris Harris Jr. #13
CB#2: Casey Hayward #1
SS: Derwin James #1 (Had him as the #1 FS actually)
Team Defense: #7

[Scott Green]

With great fanfare the Lindy’s Pro football 2020 Preview hit the stands recently. One section ranks the best in the league for units and positions. As per the title, we fared very well for the defensive rankings but other areas showed some more work to do.

We were not ranked at team offense, linebacker, special teams or LG (all outside of top 10). FS and LT we were outside the top 15.

In their standings division rankings, KC is #1 by a large margin and we finish in a tie for 2ndwith DEN.

Anyway, interesting and pretty reasonable. Here are all the rankings.

Offense

Big Play WR #2: Mike Williams #5
Possession WR #1 WR: Keenan Allen #4
TE: Hunter Henry #11
RB#1: Austin Ekeler #15
RB#2: Justin Jackson #7
RT: Bryan Bulaga #10
RG: Trai Turner #4
C: Mike Pouncey #3

Defense

DE 4-3: Joey Bosa #3
DE 4-3: Melvin Ingram #4
NT: Linval Joseph #8
Defensive Line: #6
Secondary: #1
CB#1: Chris Harris Jr. #13
CB#2: Casey Hayward #1
SS: Derwin James #1 (Had him as the #1 FS actually)
Team Defense: #7

Derwin is the #1 at whatever position he lines up as except maybe Left Tackle, but he might do that well too.

[sonorajim]

I#7 team D is a conservative estimate.

[Steve]

I think it is fair, but like all of these ranking things, it doesn't account for potential development of younger players and/or impact rookies. Maybe they try, but you just don't know. The other thing that they typically minimize is the number of holes. In football, more than most sports, the holes are more important than the stars. One great player can't offset one or more truly awful players. Good NFL teams will always be able to exploit weaknesses. Our big hole is a CB, but if Michael Davis can develop some consistency, or Chris Harris can step in, even if they aren't great, just raising the consistency would help a lot. Same with the DT spot opposite Joseph. Murray over Thomas should be a big help.

Last year our D was solid, but the tweeks we have added could really help.

[Maniaque 6]

Offense

Big Play WR #2: Mike Williams #5
Possession WR #1 WR: Keenan Allen #4
TE: Hunter Henry #11
RB#1: Austin Ekeler #15
RB#2: Justin Jackson #7
RT: Bryan Bulaga #10
RG: Trai Turner #4
C: Mike Pouncey #3

Defense

DE 4-3: Joey Bosa #3
DE 4-3: Melvin Ingram #4
NT: Linval Joseph #8
Defensive Line: #6
Secondary: #1
CB#1: Chris Harris Jr. #13
CB#2: Casey Hayward #1
SS: Derwin James #1 (Had him as the #1 FS actually)
Team Defense: #7

That formation is awesome !
All that is missing is a QB.
No LBs in the 15 ?

[Cdn Bolt]

That formation is awesome !
All that is missing is a QB.
No LBs in the 15 ?

Well Tyrod Taylor is good but not really one of the 15 best QBs. No LBs, Thomas Davis was ranked last year. Ken Murray should change that.

[sonorajim]

I think it is fair, but like all of these ranking things, it doesn't account for potential development of younger players and/or impact rookies. Maybe they try, but you just don't know. The other thing that they typically minimize is the number of holes. In football, more than most sports, the holes are more important than the stars. One great player can't offset one or more truly awful players. Good NFL teams will always be able to exploit weaknesses. Our big hole is a CB, but if Michael Davis can develop some consistency, or Chris Harris can step in, even if they aren't great, just raising the consistency would help a lot. Same with the DT spot opposite Joseph. Murray over Thomas should be a big help.

Last year our D was solid, but the tweeks we have added could really help.

A lot of the D problems were related to health & age issues. Old guys released / replaced, young guys healthy, more experienced will have an impact.
No guarantee that we'll go from 50 - 100 but 50 - 90 seems in reach.

Position multiplicity in many good D players brings an opportunity to conceal our scheme. We can do line stunts, blitzes with basic personnel groups.
Gus doesn't have to change his overall philosophy. Just run somerhing unexpected occasionally.

[Charge!]

A lot of the D problems were related to health & age issues. Old guys released / replaced, young guys healthy, more experienced will have an impact.
No guarantee that we'll go from 50 - 100 but 50 - 90 seems in reach.

Position multiplicity in many good D players brings an opportunity to conceal our scheme. We can do line stunts, blitzes with basic personnel groups.
Gus doesn't have to change his overall philosophy. Just run somerhing unexpected occasionally.

most od defense problems the last few years have been the inability to tackle..... whenever teams needed to run or wanted to run they could run at will...... Davis was our best tackling LBer last year...... our DTs were really weak last year.....DT Joseph should change that...... and Murray should be huge upgrade at LBer.....

[Grinners]

Well Tyrod Taylor is good but not really one of the 15 best QBs. No LBs, Thomas Davis was ranked last year. Ken Murray should change that.

Yeah I recently reviewed Youtube videos and comments from the experts on the top three LB picks in this year Draft and have come to the opinion that we have the best LB of the three. Simmons may be a better chess piece and overall player but not a better MLB in my humble opinion. Our D should be special this year.

[Steve]

A lot of the D problems were related to health & age issues. Old guys released / replaced, young guys healthy, more experienced will have an impact.
No guarantee that we'll go from 50 - 100 but 50 - 90 seems in reach.

Position multiplicity in many good D players brings an opportunity to conceal our scheme. We can do line stunts, blitzes with basic personnel groups.
Gus doesn't have to change his overall philosophy. Just run somerhing unexpected occasionally.

I don't think the conceal/confuse part of schemes is all that important overall. Maybe in a tight game it helps a little bit.

But NFL player and coaches have seen it all before. I don't think there is much you can pull over on experienced NFL people. Again, a play here or a play there, but you aren't going to do it with any routine.

You do have to execute on every play. I have seen plenty of plays over the years where an NFL offense or defense totally confuses the other team, only to have 1 player blow up the play because he kept his head and just executed his assignment. Executing at a very high level is not optional. Keeping the scheme simple enough so that players CAN execute at a high level is an option. Besides a simple scheme you can choose to throw more at an opponent as part of the gameplanning, as the season progresses.

[Caslon]

Gus Bradley's promising defense vs. Lynn and his somewhat new OC and Lynn chiming in on offensive play decisions. What...me worry? Nah. Offense by committee, Lynn and the OC. Lynn seems ok with letting Gus run the defense. Meanwhile it will be Lynn and his OC running the offense. Spanos and company seem to have loads of confidence with that combination. I have my doubts now that Rivers is gone. Lynn will be tested on offense, seeing as he will participate, along with the OC (never liked such a scenario).

If this defense keeps the offense in games but the offense ends up sputtering...new HC, new OC next year.

[jubei]

does lynn get a mulligan with the weirdness in everything caused by covid? I hope Tyrod gets a fire lit under him knowing he has a young GUN waiting right behind him and plays lights out. I know one things is for sure...the bolts WILL get more than 1 1st down by a QB running for it. GO TYROD...I'm rootin' forya!