Defense Is #1 In...

[hawkprey]

Even though the Ravens aren't 1st in total points or yards, the Ravens make a case for best in the league. I never liked yards or points as an indicator of the best defense because the offense can, for instance, turn the ball over consistently in their own side of the field setting up field goals, and yards don't account for how many drives the team has had to stop (say, because of more offensive ineptitude).

[u]The Ravens are 1st in:[/u]
Sacks [color=#ff0000](41) [/color][6 ahead of second ranked]
Forced fumbles [color=#ff0000](16) [/color][1 ahead of second ranked]
Yards/play [color=#ff0000](4.6)[/color]
Passing TDs allowed [color=#ff0000](8)[/color] [3 ahead of second ranked]
Rushes of 20+ yards allowed [color=#ff0000](1)[/color]
TD's scored by defense [color=#ff0000](4)[/color] [tied with GB]
Passes defended/attempt [color=#ff0000](.23%)[/color] ***I think we're first, had to derive it myself off of NFL.com
[u]From football outsiders: --->[/u][url="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef"]http://www.footballo...m/stats/teamdef[/url]
Weighted Defense [their overall ranking]
Pass Defense [overall ranking]
Points/drive [color=#ff0000](1.21)[/color]
TD's per drive [color=#ff0000](.105)[/color]
Drive Success Rate [1st down/TD percentage given a fresh set of downs]
DVOA vs receiving runningbacks [general value of defense against RB's catching the ball]
Run blocking, open field rank [[url="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl"]http://www.footballo...rs.com/stats/dl[/url]]

[u]The Ravens are 2nd in:[/u]
Points allowed by defense [color=#ff0000](171)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to San Francisco][/color] ***again, not certain about this one
Run Defense yards/game [color=#0000cd][to San Francisco][/color]
OPP Passer rating[color=#ff0000] (67.5)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to Houston][/color]
Rush yards/carry allowed [color=#ff0000](3.4)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to San Francisco][/color]
Longest run allowed [color=#ff0000](23 yards)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to Miami at 21][/color]
3rd Down percent [color=#ff0000](30)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to Detroit, by .03%][/color]
[u]From football outsiders:[/u]
Yards/drive ([color=#ff0000]23.03)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to Houston][/color]
Run blocking, 2nd level rank [color=#0000cd][to San Francisco, see above link][/color]

We are also third in a number of categories, but who cares about third place? Third place is not good enough to be mentioned. Not bad so far though.

[OUravensfan]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1323154622' post='897251']
Even though the Ravens aren't 1st in total points or yards, the Ravens make a case for best in the league. I never liked yards or points as an indicator of the best defense because the offense can, for instance, turn the ball over consistently in their own side of the field setting up field goals, and yards don't account for how many drives the team has had to stop (say, because of more offensive ineptitude).

[u]The Ravens are 1st in:[/u]
Sacks [color=#ff0000](41) [/color][6 ahead of second ranked]
Forced fumbles [color=#ff0000](16) [/color][1 ahead of second ranked]
Yards/play [color=#ff0000](4.6)[/color]
Passing TDs allowed [color=#ff0000](8)[/color] [3 ahead of second ranked]
Rushes of 20+ yards allowed [color=#ff0000](1)[/color]
TD's scored by defense [color=#ff0000](4)[/color] [tied with GB]
Passes defended/attempt [color=#ff0000](.23%)[/color] ***I think we're first, had to derive it myself off of NFL.com
[u]From football outsiders: --->[/u][url="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef"]http://www.footballo...m/stats/teamdef[/url]
Weighted Defense [their overall ranking]
Pass Defense [overall ranking]
Points/drive [color=#ff0000](1.21)[/color]
TD's per drive [color=#ff0000](.105)[/color]
Drive Success Rate [1st down/TD percentage given a fresh set of downs]
DVOA vs receiving runningbacks [general value of defense against RB's catching the ball]
Run blocking, open field rank [[url="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl"]http://www.footballo...rs.com/stats/dl[/url]]

[u]The Ravens are 2nd in:[/u]
Points allowed by defense [color=#ff0000](171)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to San Francisco][/color] ***again, not certain about this one
Run Defense yards/game [color=#0000cd][to San Francisco][/color]
OPP Passer rating[color=#ff0000] (67.5)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to Houston][/color]
Rush yards/carry allowed [color=#ff0000](3.4)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to San Francisco][/color]
Longest run allowed [color=#ff0000](23 yards)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to Miami at 21][/color]
3rd Down percent [color=#ff0000](30)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to Detroit, by .03%][/color]
[u]From football outsiders:[/u]
Yards/drive ([color=#ff0000]23.03)[/color] [color=#0000cd][to Houston][/color]
Run blocking, 2nd level rank [color=#0000cd][to San Francisco, see above link][/color]

We are also third in a number of categories, [b]but who cares about third place[/b]? [b]Third place is not good enough to be mentioned.[/b] Not bad so far though.
[/quote]

lol. We are elitists when it comes to defense

[usmccharles]

Honestly...we could allow 500 yards a gsme but allow 10pts and id be perfectly fine with that. Its nice for bragging rights tho

[Romo Ravens]

Great thread hawkprey. I enjoyed reading that.

[BMORElegacy]

The Ravens D is number 1 in BEING BEAST.

[ravens__]

[b]"Sacks [color=#ff0000](41) [/color][6 ahead of second ranked]"[/b]


This just makes me so happy...

[Ravenstown52]

Great thread hopefully someone gets a rushing touchdown on the 49ers

[CapoRocky]

Regardless of how we played the last 2 weeks we are capable of stinking it up in one of the remaining games. This is why they need to take every game seriously until we clinch the home field advantage.

[CapoRocky]

[quote name='ravens__' timestamp='1323169923' post='897273']
[b]"Sacks [color=#ff0000](41) [/color][6 ahead of second ranked]"[/b]


This just makes me so happy... [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png[/img]
[/quote]

What makes this stat so sweet is that fact that we were so criticized about our lack of sack production last year.

[Corvus]

All I can say is thank goodness for Chuck Pagano. As a secondary coach most of his career, he knows that whether you've got Darelle Revis and Ed Reed or Frank Walker and some scrub, none of them can stay in perfect coverage forever. He understands that he needs to bring pressure in a variety of different looks to help his secondary out and ultimately his entire defensive unit. Keep it up Chuck, you've helped make sure Mattison is an after-after thought.

[757RavensFan]

[quote name='Ravenstown52' timestamp='1323182345' post='897345']
Great thread hopefully someone gets a rushing touchdown on the 49ers
[/quote]

We should have had a rushing TD against the 49ers, if the right play was called. Instead of trying to
do a QB draw with a non running QB.

[edreedfromtheu]

I've got to say, I had no idea the Ravens were leading the league in sacks.

It really surprised me, and I never would have bet on that happening based on the performance the previous couple years combined with the lack of offseason moves focused on improving the pass rush.

And I can't even really pinpoint a specific player that has drastically improved in their pass rushing abilities. I really have to give Chuck Pagano the credit there. Glad his promotion has worked out so well this year.

And let's all hope he has saved some nasty stuff for the playoffs when we go after some of the better QBs in the league!

[jdynamite]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' timestamp='1323190441' post='897434']
I've got to say, I had no idea the Ravens were leading the league in sacks.

It really surprised me, and I never would have bet on that happening based on the performance the previous couple years combined with the lack of offseason moves focused on improving the pass rush.

And I can't even really pinpoint a specific player that has drastically improved in their pass rushing abilities. I really have to give Chuck Pagano the credit there. Glad his promotion has worked out so well this year.

And let's all hope he has saved some nasty stuff for the playoffs when we go after some of the better QBs in the league!
[/quote]

2 games stand out week 1 .. 7 sacks and Week 12... 9 sacks ( really elevated sack numbers )
Pagano has really amped up the defense getting sacks from various players across the board.
Great job...

[jdynamite]

Although I usually route for the Defense to be ranked #1 ( as in PPG and Run Defense ) for me, though I just want a Top 5 defense yearly. Or to finish ranked above the steelers and Jets defenses....

[gabefergy]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' timestamp='1323190441' post='897434']
I've got to say, I had no idea the Ravens were leading the league in sacks.

It really surprised me, and I never would have bet on that happening based on the performance the previous couple years combined with the lack of offseason moves focused on improving the pass rush.

And[b] I can't even really pinpoint a specific player that has drastically improved in their pass rushing abilities. I really have to give Chuck Pagano the credit there.[/b] Glad his promotion has worked out so well this year.

And let's all hope he has saved some nasty stuff for the playoffs when we go after some of the better QBs in the league!
[/quote]

Pagano has definitely brought a more attacking aggressive style that has led to more sacks, but we have also upgraded personnel. Pernell McPhee is an obvious difference maker in the pass-rush, and playing Kruger at his natural OLB/Rush-end position instead of a 5-technique has greatly improved his productivity. We also have a better secondary with the addition of Jimmy Smith and the emergence of Cary WIlliams along with the excellent play of Webb. I think all those things combined have really boosted our pass-rush and defense as a whole. We should be very excited moving forward because we have young players at virtually every position on defense that should only continue to improve.

[YYZ66]

[quote name='ravens__' timestamp='1323169923' post='897273']
[b]"Sacks [color=#ff0000](41) [/color][6 ahead of second ranked]"[/b]


This just makes me so happy... [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png[/img]
[/quote]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Thank you Michigan for taking Mattison from us!!!!!

[ravens__]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1323184163' post='897368']

What makes this stat so sweet is that fact that we were so criticized about our lack of sack production last year.
[/quote]To be honest, the criticism was more than justified for a team like the Ravens who always were among the leaders in sacks.. And I'm glad Pagano stood by his words on his first press conference as the new defensive coordinator to make the D a tad more aggressive. It's paying dividends so far..

[SideStep77]

We're certainly a team built on defense, always have been.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' timestamp='1323156686' post='897257']
Great thread hawkprey. I enjoyed reading that.
[/quote]
Thanks! I didn't care about stats last year, but that's only because statistically, we sucked. Now I love 'em.

[quote name='usmccharles' timestamp='1323156250' post='897256']
Honestly...we could allow 500 yards a gsme but allow 10pts and id be perfectly fine with that. Its nice for bragging rights tho
[/quote]
Yeah but we are good in yards and points. We're 2nd in yards per drive and first in points per drive. The "per drive" stats are big for me because they account for the fact that some offenses put the weight on the defense by constantly putting the ball back in the other teams' hands. Flat-out yards and points don't account for offensive failures.

Yeah, San Fran might have given up fewer points than us, but they've had fewer possessions to defend.

[Ravenstown52]

[quote name='757RavensFan' timestamp='1323188621' post='897413']

We should have had a rushing TD against the 49ers, if the right play was called. Instead of trying to
do a QB draw with a non running QB.
[/quote]
Cam Cameron should go into the Ravens basement and whip out the old dusty wildcat play with tyrod. Put Ngata at TE.

[Jamal]

Chuck Pagano has honestly been a top 3 DC this year.

Feels great to have a competent coordinator on at least one side of the ball.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Jamal' timestamp='1323361628' post='899372']
Chuck Pagano has honestly been a top 3 DC this year.

Feels great to have a competent coordinator on at least one side of the ball.
[/quote]
You never fail to take a dig at Cam and I found it hilarious. I applaud it, yet still find it hilarious!