We use Strength of Schedule for offensive players. Why not defenses, too? If offenses play exactly the same this year as they did last year, then the Rams defense will benefit from playing the easiest schedule.
I kind of like the St. Louis defense. They've been stock piling nice talent the last few years, and Jeff Fisher had them playing well at the end of last season. They definitely have one of the best defensive lines in the league, and Tavon Austin could give the punt-return team a boost.
They also, as it turns out, could benefit from scheduling.
We all like to kick around the numbers about offenses facing easiest schedules. This team has the easiest schedule. This running back will face the softest run defenses, etc. But those numbers can also be flipped around and used for defenses.
The Rams will play their 16 games against teams that allowed a 657 sacks last year. That's 140 more than teams like Philadelphia and Dallas (each of those teams must play Washington and the Giants four times, and those offenses don't tend to give up sacks). The Rams will also play teams that gave up 247 interceptions last year.
At 1 point for sacks and 2 points for interceptions, it works out to 1,151 points. That's over 50 more than all but four others teams. (I'm leaving touchdowns and fumbles out of this study, since there's more chance/luck involved in those.).
Other defenses that project to have favorable schedules: Titans, Colts, Seahawks, Bills. Defenses with poor schedules: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Bears.
Strength of schedule for Defenses | |||
---|---|---|---|
Int | Sacks | Pts | |
St. Louis | 247 | 657 | 1151 |
Tennessee | 227 | 669 | 1123 |
Indianapolis | 226 | 667 | 1119 |
Seattle | 245 | 628 | 1118 |
Buffalo | 254 | 598 | 1106 |
Houston | 233 | 631 | 1097 |
Jacksonville | 228 | 629 | 1085 |
New England | 253 | 579 | 1085 |
Tampa Bay | 250 | 581 | 1081 |
New Orleans | 248 | 584 | 1080 |
Pittsburgh | 247 | 583 | 1077 |
Cleveland | 235 | 606 | 1076 |
San Francisco | 232 | 610 | 1074 |
Arizona | 231 | 608 | 1070 |
Baltimore | 240 | 587 | 1067 |
Miami | 244 | 573 | 1061 |
Cincinnati | 237 | 581 | 1055 |
Atlanta | 245 | 561 | 1051 |
NY Jets | 252 | 543 | 1047 |
Detroit | 230 | 576 | 1036 |
San Diego | 231 | 574 | 1036 |
Carolina | 252 | 531 | 1035 |
Green Bay | 229 | 571 | 1029 |
Minnesota | 230 | 565 | 1025 |
Oakland | 212 | 600 | 1024 |
Denver | 212 | 598 | 1022 |
Kansas City | 221 | 562 | 1004 |
Washington | 228 | 539 | 995 |
Chicago | 227 | 523 | 977 |
NY Giants | 207 | 557 | 971 |
Philadelphia | 223 | 516 | 962 |
Dallas | 212 | 517 | 941 |
--Ian Allan