DEFENSIVE LINES 2002

Regular season totals, through Week 17

Revised as of 7/6/2009

Teams are ranked according to Adjusted Line Yards. Based on regression analysis, the Adjusted Line Yards formula takes all running back carries and assigns responsibility to the offensive line based on the following percentages:

Losses: 120% value
0-4 Yards: 100% value
5-10 Yards: 50% value
11+ Yards: 0% value

These numbers are then adjusted based on down, distance, situation, opponent, and the difference in rushing average between shotgun compared to standard formations. Finally, we normalize the numbers so that the league average for Adjusted Line Yards per carry is the same as the league average for RB yards per carry. Defensive line stats (more accurately, defensive front seven stats) represent the performance of offensive lines against each defense, adjusted for the quality of offensive opponents. These stats are explained further here [1].

The following stats are not adjusted for opponent:

RB Yards: Yards per carry by running backs against this defense, according to standard NFL numbers.
10+ Yards: Percentage of rushing yards against this team more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. Represents yardage not reflected in Adjusted Line Yards stat. Teams are ranked from smallest number of 10+ Yards (#1) to largest number of 10+ Yards (#32).
Power Success: Percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown. Also includes runs on first-and-goal or second-and-goal from the two-yard line or closer. This is the only statistic on this page that includes quarterbacks. Teams are ranked from lowest power success percentage allowed (#1) to highest power success percentage allowed (#32).
Stuffed: Percentage of runs where the running back is tackled at or behind the line of scrimmage. Ranked from most stuffs (#1) to fewest stuffs (#32).

NFL averages for each stat given in red.

Why are these rankings different from the team defense [2] DVOA ratings for rushing? Among other reasons, they don't include quarterbacks or fumbles, long runs are truncated, and a different set of adjustments is used, attempting to isolate line play rather than total team defense.

A team with a high ranking in Adjusted Line Yards but a low ranking in 10+ Yards has a strong defensive line but its linebackers and secondary have difficulty in pursuit and tackling. A team with a low ranking in Adjusted Line Yards but a high ranking in 10+ Yards generally allows runners to get past the defensive line but the linebackers and secondary are good at pursuit and tackling. A low ranking in Adjusted Line Yards with a high ranking in 10+ Yards is often an indicator of a 3-4 defensive scheme, though there are exceptions.

Stats in blue represent pass rush. Teams are ranked according to adjusted sack rate, which gives sacks (plus intentional grounding penalties) per pass attempt adjusted for down, distance, and opponent. Pass rush stats are explained further here [3]. Our sack totals may differ slightly from official NFL totals depending on the league's retroactive statistical adjustments.

RUN BLOCKING										PASS PROTECTION
	TEAM	Adj. Line Yards	RB Yards	Power Success	Power Rank	10+ Yards	10+ Rank	Stuffed	Stuffed Rank	TEAM	Sack Rank	Sacks	Adj. Sack Rate
1	MIN	3.40	3.88	52%	5	24%	32	34%	1	PHI	1	57	9.3%
2	TEN	3.49	3.65	47%	1	20%	21	33%	2	MIA	2	47	9.0%
3	CAR	3.56	3.27	79%	28	10%	2	30%	4	ATL	3	48	8.9%
4	WAS	3.69	3.96	80%	31	21%	22	31%	3	CAR	4	53	8.9%
5	OAK	3.78	3.86	58%	8	16%	11	28%	7	PIT	5	51	8.5%
6	NYG	3.81	3.99	59%	9	21%	23	27%	9	GB	6	43	8.2%
7	SF	3.81	4.06	63%	13	21%	26	28%	6	STL	7	38	8.1%
8	PIT	3.83	3.95	79%	30	22%	29	27%	8	OAK	8	43	8.0%
9	PHI	3.90	4.17	69%	19	19%	18	26%	12	TB	9	44	7.9%
10	DEN	3.93	3.95	73%	25	20%	20	26%	10	DEN	10	41	7.9%
11	SD	3.94	4.11	68%	17	17%	13	29%	5	WAS	11	39	7.1%
12	MIA	3.95	3.72	69%	18	10%	3	24%	18	HOU	12	35	7.0%
13	DAL	4.02	3.66	67%	15	12%	4	25%	15	SD	13	40	6.6%
14	TB	4.03	4.00	90%	32	17%	15	22%	23	JAC	14	36	6.6%
15	CLE	4.08	4.47	48%	2	23%	31	26%	14	NE	15	34	6.6%
16	NO	4.13	4.20	62%	10	21%	24	24%	19	NO	16	39	6.5%
RUN BLOCKING										PASS PROTECTION
	TEAM	Adj. Line Yards	RB Yards	Power Success	Power Rank	10+ Yards	10+ Rank	Stuffed	Stuffed Rank	TEAM	Sack Rank	Sacks	Adj. Sack Rate
17	CHI	4.16	4.13	51%	3	17%	14	26%	13	CHI	17	35	6.4%
18	CIN	4.21	3.86	51%	4	13%	5	23%	22	BUF	18	31	6.3%
19	BAL	4.26	3.93	73%	24	14%	7	21%	26	TEN	19	39	6.2%
20	HOU	4.26	4.22	71%	23	18%	16	24%	17	NYG	20	37	5.8%
21	STL	4.27	4.18	55%	6	16%	12	26%	11	KC	21	33	5.8%
22	ATL	4.29	4.37	58%	7	20%	19	22%	24	SF	22	31	5.8%
23	DET	4.38	4.07	70%	21	14%	6	19%	29	IND	23	35	5.8%
24	KC	4.41	4.72	76%	26	22%	28	19%	30	BAL	24	34	5.7%
25	JAC	4.42	3.92	63%	11	8%	1	23%	21	NYJ	25	29	5.5%
26	GB	4.43	4.73	65%	14	22%	27	24%	16	MIN	26	27	5.4%
27	IND	4.44	4.30	79%	29	14%	8	24%	20	SEA	27	27	5.2%
28	BUF	4.50	4.64	70%	20	21%	25	20%	28	CLE	28	29	5.1%
29	NE	4.52	4.53	71%	22	19%	17	20%	27	DET	29	34	5.0%
30	ARI	4.72	4.51	63%	12	14%	9	22%	25	DAL	30	25	4.8%
31	NYJ	4.82	4.70	78%	27	15%	10	15%	32	CIN	31	25	4.8%
32	SEA	4.84	5.16	67%	16	22%	30	18%	31	ARI	32	21	4.6%
x	NFL	x	4.16	66%	x	18%	x	24%	x	NFL	x	37	6.7%

This second table lists each team's Adjusted Line Yards in each direction listed in official NFL play-by-play, along with rank among the 32 teams. Only five directions are listed because research so far shows no statistically significant difference between how well a team performs on runs listed middle, left guard, and right guard. These runs are from the perspective of the OFFENSE, so a run listed as LEFT TACKLE is actually at the RIGHT defensive end.

		LEFT END		LEFT TACKLE		MID/GUARD		RIGHT TACKLE		RIGHT END
	TEAM	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank
1	MIN	3.92	15	4.87	29	3.20	1	3.72	8	2.35	4
2	TEN	2.92	2	3.99	12	3.74	4	2.63	1	3.07	8
3	CAR	3.69	8	3.65	7	3.40	2	4.70	26	2.62	5
4	WAS	3.88	13	2.91	1	4.23	15	4.21	16	2.32	3
5	OAK	3.16	3	3.68	8	4.00	7	3.37	3	4.13	18
6	NYG	4.16	19	3.34	5	3.95	6	3.66	5	3.95	15
7	SF	3.68	7	4.25	17	4.10	10	4.48	22	2.21	2
8	PIT	4.83	27	4.00	13	3.92	5	3.66	6	2.70	6
9	PHI	3.82	11	4.51	21	3.50	3	4.73	28	4.08	17
10	DEN	3.79	10	3.59	6	4.33	20	3.08	2	3.54	11
11	SD	3.94	16	4.52	22	4.21	14	4.30	18	4.32	20
12	MIA	3.53	6	3.98	11	4.29	19	4.73	27	1.89	1
13	DAL	3.88	14	4.58	23	4.09	9	3.65	4	4.01	16
14	TB	3.43	5	3.01	2	4.43	24	3.79	9	3.90	13
15	CLE	3.98	17	3.08	3	4.65	29	3.70	7	3.09	9
16	NO	2.32	1	4.16	15	4.56	28	3.82	10	4.95	28
		LEFT END		LEFT TACKLE		MID/GUARD		RIGHT TACKLE		RIGHT END
	TEAM	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank
17	CHI	4.11	18	3.71	9	4.14	11	3.85	11	4.78	27
18	CIN	4.19	20	4.07	14	4.42	23	4.51	23	3.45	10
19	BAL	5.19	31	4.83	27	4.08	8	3.96	12	3.81	12
20	HOU	4.40	23	3.11	4	4.37	21	4.07	14	4.61	25
21	STL	5.14	30	3.83	10	4.15	12	4.61	24	4.19	19
22	ATL	3.20	4	4.74	25	4.28	18	4.44	20	4.41	22
23	DET	3.87	12	4.24	16	4.48	27	4.28	17	5.47	30
24	KC	4.54	25	4.85	28	4.25	16	4.94	30	4.52	24
25	JAC	5.03	29	4.60	24	4.47	26	4.14	15	4.33	21
26	GB	4.60	26	5.25	31	4.15	13	4.37	19	4.46	23
27	IND	4.38	22	5.05	30	4.47	25	4.01	13	3.93	14
28	BUF	3.71	9	4.40	19	4.41	22	4.67	25	6.33	32
29	NE	5.39	32	4.46	20	4.27	17	4.47	21	5.10	29
30	ARI	4.48	24	4.27	18	4.89	31	4.96	31	4.65	26
31	NYJ	4.87	28	4.77	26	4.69	30	4.75	29	5.58	31
32	SEA	4.35	21	5.56	32	5.13	32	5.19	32	2.73	7
x	NFL	4.10	x	4.22	x	4.24	x	4.24	x	3.93	x

The third table lists how often each team runs in each direction. These runs are from the perspective of the OFFENSE, so a run listed as LEFT TACKLE is actually at the RIGHT defensive end. Numbers may not add up to 100% due to carries listed without direction.

	Team	RB Carries	LEFT END	LEFT TACKLE	MID/ GUARD	RIGHT TACKLE	RIGHT END
1	PIT	302	9%	11%	54%	15%	12%
2	TEN	316	12%	14%	50%	11%	12%
3	OAK	325	17%	10%	47%	13%	10%
4	DEN	331	17%	12%	50%	11%	9%
5	PHI	333	18%	13%	39%	14%	15%
6	NYG	336	17%	15%	47%	10%	10%
7	SF	338	14%	10%	52%	11%	12%
8	GB	342	18%	12%	43%	13%	15%
9	MIN	346	12%	11%	57%	9%	10%
10	MIA	352	12%	11%	51%	14%	11%
11	SD	352	11%	13%	45%	17%	11%
12	TB	354	8%	10%	61%	11%	8%
13	ATL	369	8%	14%	55%	14%	8%
14	KC	375	14%	10%	49%	11%	14%
15	NYJ	375	11%	17%	48%	14%	9%
16	NO	379	12%	12%	47%	14%	14%
	Team	RB Carries	LEFT END	LEFT TACKLE	MID/ GUARD	RIGHT TACKLE	RIGHT END
17	WAS	382	17%	10%	44%	11%	17%
18	CAR	384	10%	13%	48%	18%	10%
19	IND	389	12%	16%	50%	12%	9%
20	STL	391	13%	15%	49%	12%	10%
21	BUF	404	7%	12%	58%	16%	5%
22	NE	404	10%	9%	56%	13%	11%
23	JAC	406	12%	15%	45%	18%	10%
24	CLE	409	15%	13%	53%	10%	9%
25	DAL	410	14%	9%	51%	14%	11%
26	BAL	411	14%	12%	49%	14%	12%
27	CIN	427	13%	11%	48%	11%	17%
28	SEA	427	8%	14%	47%	18%	11%
29	CHI	431	14%	11%	37%	19%	19%
30	ARI	432	15%	10%	42%	17%	16%
31	DET	434	19%	19%	38%	14%	10%
32	HOU	448	18%	8%	51%	8%	15%
x	NFL	x	13%	12%	49%	13%	12%