r/DenverBroncos • u/DimeProjections • 1d ago

Defensive workload

A few numbers on the defense...

Thru 6 games the defense is on pace to play 1173 snaps this season.

Last season, the highest number of defensive snaps taken by any team played was 1114 (IND).

League average defensive snaps per game last year was 61.8. This year league average defensive snaps per game is 62.

DEN is on pace to play the equivalent 18.9 games relative to the average defense (119 more snaps).

21 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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19

u/sosshouselal 1d ago

And then if the defense struggles later into the season everyone will blame VJ

11

u/HanS0lPurr 1d ago
  • Alex Singleton + Riley Moss lol

3

u/OpabiniaGlasses D Helmet 1d ago edited 1d ago

There was a post last week after the Chargers game that was basically "I've been a Vance Joseph critic but he really stepped up today".... My guy, have you been watching this team the last 3 years??

Vance is a saint, Bo is so fucking lucky to have him and Broncos fans still don't appreciate him enough.

For proof: https://www.reddit.com/r/DenverBroncos/s/N5ueLf2wQ7

3

u/AbeLumpkin_ Demaryius Thomas 1d ago

Had someone say basically the same thing to me last night. Just baffling

6

u/adbotbeepboop 1d ago

Imagine how much better the D’s numbers would be if the offense was decent enough to stay on the field at all.

11% more snaps means more yards, more TDs, more everything

4

u/thunder_cats1 Demaryius Thomas 1d ago

So, are you saying league average defensive snaps is 62 and the Broncos are averaging 69 per game?  Nice.

2

u/DimeProjections 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yes.

And the difference between an 1000yd receiver and a 800yd receiver is 12 yds per game. (roughly 1 rec per game)

The difference between a 4000yd passer and a 3400yd passer is 35yds a game. (roughly 3 comp per game)

I haven't seen any players itching to play 18 game seasons, much less 19.

1

u/thunder_cats1 Demaryius Thomas 1d ago

First of all, I think you missed the joke.

It's a 6 game sample size after playing 5 of the strongest teams in the NFL.  Not really enough to forecast the next 2/3 of the season.

And, yes, I get it.  The stats were written in the most negative light possible rather than giving clarity for how over the mean the Broncos currently are.

The statistical analysis isn't to simply into more games.  It's an average that will move over the year, bit the NFL mean and the team mean.

-1

u/DimeProjections 1d ago

I understood that you were trying to dismiss it. Yes, the numbers will change...hopefully in the DEN D's favor. 6 games is pretty decent sample considering it's more than a third of the season. Hopefully they'll get a reprieve in the coming weeks. We shall see.

0

u/thunder_cats1 Demaryius Thomas 1d ago

I still don't think you saw the joke.  It wasn't actually being dismissive.

DVOA used to not even be started at 6 games because the analytics are still too fickle.  We're also cruising into a soft spot in our schedule at this exact moment.

-1

u/DimeProjections 1d ago

This isn't an analytic. It's a raw number.

It's the same as noting when a player is on pace for a historic yardage total or TD total or HR total, but with a stat people aren't used to paying attention to.

I found it noteworthy, you don't. Cool.

Of course no one is gonna publish DVOA early in the season...there's nothing to adjust to. This isn't a defense adjusted number and it not supposed to be.

7

u/ezalbrozar 1d ago

More snaps obviously = more chance for injuries which we've already seen. Basically if the offense doesn't get its shit together the defense isn't going to stay healthy enough to bail them out.

3

u/jackedandtan_843 GOD BLESS BO NIX 1d ago

They also will be GASSED by the end of the year

2

u/AbeLumpkin_ Demaryius Thomas 1d ago

The other thing is with this workload and the offense sputtering every mistake gets amplified. All it took was one blown coverage or one guy getting beat and it was over. You can’t expect your defense to be that perfect.