ESPN Insider: Ranking all 32 NFL offenses

Discussion in 'NFL General Discussion' started by Kurt, Aug 12, 2014.

  1. Kurt

    Kurt That Server Guy Staff Member Fantasy Guru

    Offense | Defense
    Recently, Sam Monson and the Pro Football Focus analysis team ranked all 32 teams in the NFL by their current roster. Now, we take a look at all 32 teams in further depth. Below, you'll see not only where each team's offense ranks, but also how each position group -- quarterbacks, running backs, offensive line and receivers -- grades out against the rest of the NFL.

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    In order to compile the ranks, we used PFF's graded depth charts series as a starting point to grade and rank position groups throughout the league. Then, we weighted those rankings toward starters and moderated our expectations for rookies, according to the performance PFF data expects them to achieve in Year 1 by draft position.

    The color-coded images at the right of every team include the team's NFL ranking in each of the four position groups. Offenses are divided into four position groups: quarterbacks, running backs (including blocking backs), receivers (wideouts and tight ends) and the offensive line.


    1. New Orleans Saints


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    With our third-ranked quarterback situation, and plenty of talented targets for Drew Brees to throw to, it's easy to see why the Saints are our highest-ranked offense heading into the 2014 season. There's not much Brees struggles with as a passer, and he finished last year with the most touchdown passes (15) and second most yards (1,128) in the league on passes thrown 20 yards or farther downfield.

    Of course it helps to have the weapons around him, with Jimmy Graham the standout among the tight ends and receivers. Graham's 2.26 yards per route run average was the most of any tight end with enough qualifying snaps last year, and figures to be just as dangerous in 2014.


    2. Denver Broncos


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    Like the Saints before them, the Broncos find themselves high up in our offensive rankings with an elite quarterback, an impressive offensive line and talented receivers.

    It's always been said that Peyton Manning had the quickest release in the NFL, and that was evident again last year, with his snap-to-throw average of 2.36 seconds once again the lowest in the league. The Broncos lost Eric Decker in free agency, but still have plenty of talent around Manning, including wide receiver Wes Welker, who was second in the league with 688 yards from the slot last year.





    3. Green Bay Packers


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    A healthy Aaron Rodgers makes the Packers Super Bowl contenders once again, but the success of their offense won't only be because of the quarterback who had the highest accuracy percentage in the league last year at 79.3 percent.

    The Packers' backfield stands out, too, with James Starks and Eddie Lacy combining to force 83 missed tackles on 418 total touches in 2013. If Lacy can repeat his rookie form, where he proved incredibly tough for opposing defenders to bring down, the Packers' offense should roll again.


    4. Philadelphia Eagles

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    Losing DeSean Jackson does hurt the Eagles' offense, as he finished last season with the sixth-highest yards per route run average among wide receivers, but this offense remains loaded without him.

    Offseason addition Darren Sproles, who had 604 yards as a receiver last year, is a seemingly perfect fit for what the Eagles want to do offensively. The progression of Nick Foles will be key, and if he can repeat 2013 in terms of his deep-ball throwing (he threw 14 touchdowns to just one interception), the Eagles should be able to score plenty of points again in 2014.


    5. New England Patriots

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    Though he does appear to have dropped slightly from the group of elite quarterbacks in the league (as PFF's Sam Monson detailed earlier this summer), plenty of teams would love to have Tom Brady under center.

    One of the best in the NFL on passes between 0 and 20 yards from the line of scrimmage, he had an impressive touchdown-to-interception ratio of 22-to-6 on passes thrown in that area. The offense will be boosted by the return of tight end Rob Gronkowski, with the big target racking up 592 yards last season despite running just 215 routes in an injury-riddled year.


    6. Seattle Seahawks

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    The Seahawks' defense gets a lot of the credit for their Super Bowl triumph, but let's not sleep on their offense. In Russell Wilson they have a quarterback who can do it all, including launching a stellar deep ball, with the former Wisconsin Badger throwing for 922 yards on passes 20 yards or more downfield, fourth most in the league.

    The offensive line is a question mark, though with a ridiculous 75 missed tackles forced from 301 carries last year, running backMarshawn Lynch is very capable of masking some of their struggles.


    7. San Francisco 49ers

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    On paper the 49ers look set to field the best group of receivers and tight ends in the league this year, which is a far cry from 2013. Anquan Boldin is seemingly ageless, pulling in tough catches and seeing a quarterback rating of 118.6 on all the passes on which he was the intended receiver, while Vernon Davis was second only to Jimmy Graham among tight ends in yards per route run (2.12) last year.

    The question mark is quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who struggled under pressure with the fifth-lowest accuracy percentage in the NFL at 55.1 percent, but he is at least protected by an offensive line that features Joe Staley, who allowed just 20 total pressures on 471 pass-blocking snaps last year.

    8. San Diego Chargers

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    A bounce-back campaign from quarterback Philip Rivers, who finished second in the league with an accuracy percentage of 78.7 percent last season, led to the Chargers making the playoffs in 2013.

    Their receiving corps features talented second-year man Keenan Allenand Malcolm Floyd, who is returning from injury, and their backfield is solidly balanced. While Ryan Mathews is the better runner in the group, it was Danny Woodhead who finished second among running backs with 609 yards as a receiver. One key will be the progression of last season's first-round draft pick D.J. Fluker, who allowed 47 total pressures from 564 pass-blocking snaps and needs to improve in 2014.


    9. Detroit Lions

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    With Calvin Johnson split out wide, the Lions were always likely to finish high up in a ranking of the league's top offenses, but the Lions deserve credit for improving around Johnson this offseason, adding Golden Tate, who forced 21 missed tackles last year while with the Seahawks.

    One player who we don't hear enough about is Joique Bell, who forced himself into the Lions' plans last season with some very good performances. He was very tough to bring down, averaging 2.38 yards after contact per carry. Where this unit needs improvement is from QB Matthew Stafford, particularly when he's under pressure. He posted a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3-to-7 on the 165 passes he attempted while feeling the heat in 2013.

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