CB data for the interested...

[JesterBlaze]

After many seasons of gameplanning around my lack of CBs - using smoke and mirrors as r00k would say - the Phantoms targeted the secondary as a whole this off-season and now stand 1st in the IFL in...

opponent's passing %
opponent's passing yards per attempt
opponent's passes defensed

pass rush % - I've had great DLinemen for a while but adding some DBs to the recipe really brings out the flavor!
hurries - we've got 39 and the Stallions rank 2nd at 29 - quite a gap!
blocked passes


I've felt underequipped for many seasons watching my star DLinemen come up short - usually as "so and so beats the lineman and is chasing the QB" - and I can say with no doubt that it feels damn good to finally bring a gun to the gunfight!

Wade Boyd's already had 1-2 bad games depending on how critical I am at the moment so he's certainly no 1-man-savior but the overall results speak for themselves and my opponents thus far have been anything but an easy streak for my defense as far as offensive talent goes.

Holes anywhere in a defense can make the best defenders have bad results but after 5 games with Boyd I'm 100% convinced that if you've got a solid defense at each level (Line, LBs, DBs) then a great CB will shine! In hindsight I was already prepared to pay big for a CB in recent seasons and I'd now increase that willingness about 20-30%.

[DDT]

I just checked the misc passing stats, thinking you may have faced several vertical offenses. That doesn't seem to be the case. You didn't need to convince me though. I gave up an all-pro OG to move up and grab what looked like the best CB on the board this year. I've got a 1 and 3 2's next draft and I can't see me not adding another CB if possible, despite needs at QB, WR, OT, DL and S.

My secondary has made enormous strides this season but check out WIC DE Antoine Nece for more evidence of this.

[Matt]

I have had no luck with defense until this season. This season we've somehow changed and are able to stop teams. What's changed? Nothing much. Perhaps another year together?

[JesterBlaze]

I just checked the misc passing stats, thinking you may have faced several vertical offenses. That doesn't seem to be the case.

I'm a little lost on the misc passing stats as my team's done better thus far on the short passes which is the exact opposite of what I'd expect since the short passes should nullify my DLine's effect I'd think.

Long passes can easily skew results this early in the season based on even 1 completion or non-completion either way though so I'm hoping that I just got hit hard early on a deep one or two that'll even out as the games go on.

My secondary has made enormous strides this season but check out WIC DE Antoine Nece for more evidence of this.

Holy shit that boy be growing!!!! Last I saw I believe he was in the 82 overall range.

[JesterBlaze]

I have had no luck with defense until this season. This season we've somehow changed and are able to stop teams. What's changed? Nothing much. Perhaps another year together?

Your run defense is league tops and has been for the duration of this season. Only you'd know if that's gameplanning, talent change, or other. I'm simply hoping it's temporary.

[JesterBlaze]

Had Orlando taken Nece instead of Walton at #2 last year they'd have the undisputed top 2 talents in the league at DLine. Walton's nothing to sneeze at but Nece and Torres would've been a DLine combo above their peers not yet seen in the IFL.

[Matt]

Your run defense is league tops and has been for the duration of this season. Only you'd know if that's gameplanning, talent change, or other. I'm simply hoping it's temporary.

we'll just call it lucky!:shoot:

[tarcone]

Im not sure if I agree. My DBacks are very good. All 4 of my starters are over 58 and my nickelback is rated 53. I picked up a couple pass rushing DEs this season. My cohesion in my DBackfield has always been similar to what it is now. And guess what? We stink at pass defense this season and defense in general.
In fact, we are much worse this season then last at defense.

[JesterBlaze]

Im not sure if I agree. My DBacks are very good. All 4 of my starters are over 58 and my nickelback is rated 53. I picked up a couple pass rushing DEs this season. My cohesion in my DBackfield has always been similar to what it is now. And guess what? We stink at pass defense this season and defense in general.
In fact, we are much worse this season then last at defense.

Cohesion was the one factor that favored the Phantoms heavily in our match-up. It's purely one man's opinion of course but I felt going in that that could be the difference in our game. Had we played 3 weeks before the end of the season instead of 3 games in then I think the result would've been much different. If we play in the post-season then week 3 will offer me not too much in regards to the team I'll be facing then.

I still think that you're an IFL Bowl contender by season's end once you gel.


Not sure if you replaced anyone but the Phantoms kept our old DBs and simply downgraded them based on our additions so cohesion didn't take a hit. Plus our DLine and "The Leash" got another year of cohesion under their belt so it's hard to see anything negative about the effect of adding our noobs. If you had bad cohesion in the past with good defense and bad cohesion now with bad defense then I'd think the past was the exception and this season's closer to the rule.

I think you might also just have/had a dark cloud over you for a short spell since your team's approaching max density with talent. If the IFL gods got a thing for you then that's that.

[tarcone]

I added 3 guys into the mix. 1 starter (SS), 1 nickel back (FS) and 1 dime back (CB). Leader remained the same. I believe we increased defense and party time in TC knowing that cohesion would take a hit. I guess not enough party time.

[Kobeck]

should have taken them bowling

[Kozure]

Defensive line (front four in 4-3) play is, I think, the most important part of any defense. If you have a stud DE or two as well as pass rush oriented DTs, and have all them decent in play diagnosis, you do well with any kind of secondary. I don't put much play in linebackers, though they are nice to have. And I put more stock into a stud SS than a stud top corner. But this is just me. I've had top pass defenses in other leagues where my defense is piss poor simply because I had a good pass rush and a good SS.

But this league is just nuts when it comes to the pass. It's hard to defend, and I think it has to do with the league using the college years draft classes for many years. I think all the hidden ratings of players are either all maxed out on offense or bottomed out on defense. What the hidden ratings are for players, I don't know, but I'm convinced that there are hidden ratings that go deeper than fumble avoidance and interception proneness. I think there are hidden ratings that cause players to play better than their ratings would indicate.

[Kobeck]

Its the schedule. Whoever is playing Fresno plays better than their ratings indicate - lol

[Pirates]

Had Orlando taken Nece instead of Walton at #2 last year they'd have the undisputed top 2 talents in the league at DLine. Walton's nothing to sneeze at but Nece and Torres would've been a DLine combo above their peers not yet seen in the IFL.

Ya we whiffed on that one. Walton is good but he is no Nece.