DEFENSIVE LINES 2006

Regular season totals, through Week 17

Revised as of 7/3/2009

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	2.67	2.97	47%	1	23%	29	31%	1	BAL	1	60	9.4%
2	BAL	3.37	3.26	56%	8	14%	9	21%	6	PHI	2	40	9.3%
3	JAC	3.55	3.52	69%	25	15%	12	20%	11	SD	3	61	9.1%
4	CHI	3.74	4.21	63%	15	22%	28	24%	2	MIA	4	47	8.6%
5	NYG	3.77	3.73	70%	26	17%	19	21%	7	GB	5	46	8.2%
6	MIA	3.82	3.55	66%	16	11%	2	18%	17	BUF	6	40	8.1%
7	PIT	3.84	3.31	63%	14	10%	1	19%	14	CAR	7	41	8.1%
8	NE	3.93	3.91	68%	21	17%	20	17%	20	NO	8	38	7.9%
9	CAR	3.96	3.97	48%	2	16%	17	22%	4	NE	9	44	7.9%
10	SEA	3.98	4.73	69%	23	29%	32	21%	8	ATL	10	38	7.9%
11	OAK	4.03	4.06	61%	11	16%	16	20%	10	OAK	11	34	7.5%
12	ATL	4.08	3.84	56%	6	12%	4	22%	5	DAL	12	34	7.3%
13	SD	4.10	4.05	78%	31	15%	11	17%	19	JAC	13	35	7.2%
14	TB	4.12	3.92	74%	28	15%	14	19%	15	SEA	14	41	7.2%
15	KC	4.13	4.15	63%	13	17%	22	22%	3	PIT	15	39	6.9%
16	CIN	4.16	4.03	56%	7	16%	18	18%	16	STL	16	34	6.6%
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	NO	4.16	4.59	48%	3	23%	31	19%	13	CHI	17	40	6.6%
18	ARI	4.22	4.23	66%	17	17%	21	20%	12	NYJ	18	35	6.4%
19	DAL	4.27	3.81	60%	10	11%	3	17%	25	NYG	19	32	6.3%
20	HOU	4.29	4.32	77%	30	15%	13	17%	21	SF	20	34	6.2%
21	PHI	4.33	4.28	53%	5	13%	6	20%	9	IND	21	25	6.2%
22	DEN	4.36	4.18	76%	29	13%	5	17%	22	CIN	22	35	6.2%
23	DET	4.43	4.23	71%	27	16%	15	16%	26	ARI	23	38	6.0%
24	GB	4.43	4.17	53%	4	14%	7	14%	30	DET	24	30	5.8%
25	TEN	4.48	4.47	69%	24	18%	25	17%	18	TEN	25	26	5.8%
26	SF	4.55	4.33	67%	19	15%	10	17%	23	HOU	26	28	5.8%
27	CLE	4.64	4.73	58%	9	20%	26	15%	27	DEN	27	35	5.7%
28	STL	4.66	4.94	67%	20	21%	27	13%	31	KC	28	32	5.7%
29	BUF	4.69	4.83	69%	22	18%	24	15%	29	TB	29	25	5.5%
30	WAS	4.70	4.71	62%	12	18%	23	15%	28	CLE	30	28	5.2%
31	IND	4.70	5.37	81%	32	23%	30	17%	24	MIN	31	30	5.0%
32	NYJ	4.93	4.65	67%	18	14%	8	10%	32	WAS	32	19	4.6%
x	NFL	x	4.19	64%	x	17%	x	18%	x	NFL	x	36	6.9%

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	2.03	3	2.47	1	2.84	1	2.66	1	3.01	7
2	BAL	2.72	4	2.99	2	3.74	2	3.46	8	2.23	1
3	JAC	3.05	5	3.01	4	3.88	6	2.77	3	4.11	18
4	CHI	4.09	16	3.45	7	3.85	4	4.09	16	2.97	3
5	NYG	3.49	10	2.99	3	4.17	16	2.73	2	4.75	27
6	MIA	3.62	12	4.40	16	4.00	9	3.20	5	2.98	5
7	PIT	1.97	2	4.71	21	3.86	5	4.03	13	4.54	24
8	NE	3.24	7	4.25	15	4.08	12	2.79	4	4.05	16
9	CAR	3.50	11	4.54	19	3.95	8	4.46	22	3.46	10
10	SEA	3.73	13	4.72	22	4.12	14	3.34	6	2.85	2
11	OAK	3.86	15	3.31	5	4.06	11	4.56	23	4.56	25
12	ATL	5.04	29	3.52	8	4.14	15	3.51	10	4.92	30
13	SD	4.39	20	4.12	14	4.17	17	4.26	18	2.97	4
14	TB	3.48	9	3.34	6	4.38	19	4.97	30	3.80	13
15	KC	4.37	19	4.02	10	3.82	3	4.78	29	4.85	29
16	CIN	3.38	8	4.44	17	4.57	26	3.50	9	3.45	9
		LEFT END		LEFT TACKLE		MID/GUARD		RIGHT TACKLE		RIGHT END
	TEAM	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank
17	NO	4.49	22	4.75	24	4.11	13	3.46	7	3.95	15
18	ARI	3.20	6	4.48	18	4.64	28	4.30	19	4.34	20
19	DAL	5.38	31	4.12	13	4.00	10	4.74	28	3.92	14
20	HOU	5.39	32	4.04	11	3.94	7	4.72	26	4.46	22
21	PHI	4.14	18	5.16	29	4.47	21	4.73	27	2.99	6
22	DEN	4.95	27	4.54	20	4.34	18	4.04	14	3.65	12
23	DET	3.79	14	5.52	32	4.53	22	3.97	12	4.40	21
24	GB	4.55	23	4.80	25	4.60	27	3.53	11	4.24	19
25	TEN	4.85	25	3.97	9	4.41	20	4.08	15	5.19	31
26	SF	4.10	17	4.07	12	4.72	29	4.59	24	4.77	28
27	CLE	4.87	26	4.95	27	4.54	23	4.43	21	5.44	32
28	STL	4.85	24	4.72	23	4.84	31	4.38	20	3.55	11
29	BUF	5.27	30	5.02	28	4.74	30	4.12	17	4.08	17
30	WAS	4.45	21	5.34	31	4.55	24	4.70	25	4.61	26
31	IND	1.78	1	4.94	26	4.87	32	5.62	31	3.17	8
32	NYJ	4.96	28	5.21	30	4.57	25	5.64	32	4.52	23
x	NFL	4.08	x	4.33	x	4.25	x	4.14	x	4.00	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	MIN	304	15%	10%	52%	12%	11%
2	BAL	318	7%	13%	55%	17%	7%
3	SD	342	12%	19%	50%	12%	8%
4	NE	354	7%	10%	68%	8%	6%
5	NO	354	13%	17%	46%	14%	10%
6	JAC	357	14%	10%	52%	13%	11%
7	PIT	357	7%	15%	55%	15%	6%
8	CHI	365	9%	21%	42%	18%	10%
9	DAL	367	9%	14%	38%	20%	19%
10	GB	383	20%	17%	39%	15%	9%
11	CIN	386	10%	15%	50%	15%	10%
12	CAR	387	15%	13%	48%	12%	12%
13	HOU	391	16%	8%	56%	11%	9%
14	SEA	396	8%	18%	50%	14%	9%
15	NYG	397	12%	14%	51%	13%	10%
16	ARI	403	16%	18%	37%	15%	13%
	Team	RB Carries	LEFT END	LEFT TACKLE	MID/ GUARD	RIGHT TACKLE	RIGHT END
17	KC	403	15%	9%	53%	12%	10%
18	ATL	404	13%	19%	40%	17%	10%
19	DEN	408	14%	11%	56%	13%	6%
20	BUF	410	7%	16%	58%	11%	8%
21	MIA	413	12%	14%	57%	7%	10%
22	NYJ	416	11%	19%	46%	19%	6%
23	DET	424	16%	15%	33%	18%	18%
24	SF	429	12%	15%	51%	11%	10%
25	TB	429	10%	17%	54%	11%	8%
26	PHI	430	17%	12%	44%	12%	13%
27	WAS	434	12%	15%	44%	14%	14%
28	STL	438	13%	24%	42%	14%	7%
29	TEN	444	14%	8%	47%	17%	13%
30	CLE	451	8%	17%	54%	17%	4%
31	IND	463	4%	14%	61%	12%	9%
32	OAK	477	11%	13%	55%	15%	5%
x	NFL	x	12%	15%	49%	14%	10%