2002 Strengths of Schedule
for Individual Defensive Players

Updated August 10th, 2002


Well, well, well. Strengths of Schedule for Individual Defensive Players by position.

Not only are we in uncharted waters, but we've taken a running start, cannon-balled in, and didn't even consider holding our nose. Well, maybe we did hold the nose.

Two short years ago saw the debut of a strength of schedule that was actually useful for the fantasy player. That feature has quickly evolved to the 2002 Strengths of Schedule. Much as that item improved with time, what you see here (Schedule Strengths for IDPs) will improve with time. The greatest improvement in the offensive strengths of schedule is taking into account the changes in defensive personnel and coaching as the opponent's player talent and defensive scheme are obviously the overriding factors in determining the level of success an offensive player will have.

We have determined the main factors which influence IDP scoring, but do not yet fully understand the degree of influence each of those factors have. For this reason, the 2002 rankings have not been modified. The only differences between the 2001 rankings and the 2002 rankings is the change in each team's schedule and minor tweaking due to offensive line changes. When the influencing factors are fully evaluated, you'll see another update right here.

Until then, these Schedule Strengths can be very useful when deciding between similarly ranked players. For instance, if you want to select a DL and are torn between Corey Simon and Leonard Little (just pulling two names our of thin air), the DL Schedule Strength should lead you towards taking the Eagles player as Simon will face an easier schedule this year than he did last season.

Now, before getting to the rankings, here's how the numbers were found:
Each team's 2001 performance was analyzed with regards to fantasy points allowed (see scoring system below) at each position. Specifically, each team was ranked according to their number of fantasy points allowed compared to their opponent's average fantasy points scored. This idea was born at FootballGuysTalk.com by fellow FootballGuy Chris Annunziata.

For example:
If Team A averaged 20 fantasy points per game (fppg) at QB and scored 15 against Team B, then Team B's QB defense did well. However, if Team A averaged 10 fppg at QB and scored 15 against Team B, then Team B's QB defense did poorly.

These ranking were used to find both the 2001 and the 2002 Strengths of Schedule.

The difference between 2002 and 2001 was then found and, viola, the 2002 Strengths of Schedule were born.

Also note the various position breakdowns: DL (which combines DTs and DEs), DT, DE, LB, DB (which combines CB and S), CB, and S. Hopefully, your league needs are fully met.

As you look through the rankings, remember 'bigger numbers are better'.

Rk
 Defensive Lineman
2002
2001
Dif
Rk
 Defensive Tackle
2002
2001
Dif
1
 Washington
18.3
13.9
4.39
1
 San Francisco
18.2
13.6
4.58
2
 Philadelphia
17.8
13.7
4.06
2
 Washington
17.4
13.5
3.81
3
 Indianapolis
21.5
18.4
3.16
3
 Indianapolis
22.6
18.8
3.74
4
 Arizona
16.8
13.6
3.16
4
 Arizona
17.3
13.5
3.74
5
 Atlanta
17.9
15.0
2.90
5
 NY Jets
17.8
14.7
3.10
6
 NY Jets
16.5
14.3
2.26
6
 Philadelphia
19.4
17.0
2.32
7
 NY Giants
17.9
16.0
1.87
7
 New England
15.7
13.5
2.19
8
 Baltimore
18.8
17.4
1.42
8
 Oakland
17.9
16.2
1.74
9
 Seattle
15.4
14.1
1.29
9
 Dallas
18.8
17.1
1.68
10
 Dallas
17.7
16.4
1.29
10
 Seattle
17.0
15.7
1.29
11
 Pittsburgh
18.7
17.5
1.16
11
 NY Giants
18.3
17.2
1.16
12
 Oakland
16.3
15.4
0.90
12
 Buffalo
17.6
16.5
1.10
13
 New Orleans
16.1
15.2
0.84
13
 Atlanta
15.2
14.1
1.10
14
 New England
14.5
13.9
0.52
14
 St Louis
14.9
13.8
1.10
15
 Carolina
19.2
18.7
0.45
15
 San Diego
18.0
17.2
0.77
16
 Chicago
18.1
17.7
0.45
16
 Jacksonville
17.9
17.3
0.58
17
 Jacksonville
17.3
17.0
0.32
17
 Tennessee
19.1
18.8
0.32
18
 Tennessee
18.3
18.0
0.32
18
 Baltimore
17.2
17.0
0.19
19
 San Francisco
16.9
16.8
0.13
19
 Kansas City
17.4
17.3
0.06
20
 Houston
16.1
NA
NA
20
 Houston
16.4
NA
NA
21
 Tampa Bay
17.8
17.8
0.00
21
 Minnesota
16.3
16.5
-0.13
22
 Detroit
14.6
14.6
-0.06
22
 Pittsburgh
17.4
17.5
-0.13
23
 San Diego
16.0
16.1
-0.06
23
 Detroit
14.4
15.0
-0.65
24
 Kansas City
15.4
16.1
-0.65
24
 Chicago
17.2
17.8
-0.65
25
 Minnesota
18.4
19.1
-0.71
25
 New Orleans
15.3
16.2
-0.90
26
 Buffalo
16.1
17.2
-1.10
26
 Miami
15.7
16.9
-1.16
27
 Cincinnati
19.7
20.9
-1.23
27
 Tampa Bay
14.5
15.9
-1.48
28
 Green Bay
16.9
18.3
-1.42
28
 Denver
14.6
16.6
-2.00
29
 Miami
15.0
16.5
-1.55
29
 Cincinnati
18.1
20.5
-2.39
30
 Denver
12.5
14.0
-1.55
30
 Carolina
15.4
17.8
-2.39
31
 Cleveland
17.7
19.6
-1.94
31
 Green Bay
15.0
17.5
-2.45
32
 St Louis
14.5
17.6
-3.16
32
 Cleveland
16.4
19.4
-3.03
Rk
 Defensive End
2002
2001
Dif
Rk
 Linebacker
2002
2001
Dif
1
 Philadelphia
16.7
11.7
5.03
1
 Tennessee
19.9
16.3
3.61
2
 Carolina
21.2
17.6
3.61
2
 Jacksonville
20.5
17.7
2.71
3
 Washington
17.9
14.5
3.48
3
 Oakland
17.4
14.9
2.45
4
 Atlanta
18.8
15.5
3.35
4
 New England
17.2
14.8
2.32
5
 NY Jets
16.5
13.7
2.71
5
 Pittsburgh
18.6
16.5
2.13
6
 NY Giants
17.3
14.7
2.58
6
 San Diego
19.0
17.3
1.68
7
 New Orleans
17.5
15.2
2.39
7
 Cleveland
18.3
16.6
1.61
8
 Indianapolis
19.4
17.5
1.87
8
 NY Giants
15.2
13.7
1.55
9
 Pittsburgh
19.5
17.8
1.68
9
 Cincinnati
19.9
18.5
1.48
10
 Arizona
15.5
14.0
1.48
10
 Washington
14.5
13.0
1.48
11
 Seattle
14.2
12.8
1.35
11
 San Francisco
14.2
13.1
1.10
12
 Tennessee
18.1
17.3
0.84
12
 Arizona
15.4
14.4
1.03
13
 Baltimore
18.8
18.2
0.65
13
 Buffalo
17.0
16.0
0.97
14
 Dallas
15.9
15.3
0.58
14
 Denver
19.9
18.9
0.97
15
 Oakland
15.2
14.6
0.52
15
 Atlanta
14.6
13.9
0.65
16
 Chicago
18.5
18.1
0.39
16
 Baltimore
15.7
15.2
0.52
17
 New England
14.3
14.1
0.19
17
 Miami
21.5
21.3
0.19
18
 Jacksonville
17.3
17.2
0.06
18
 Carolina
15.7
15.7
0.06
19
 Houston
15.7
NA
NA
19
 Houston
17.2
NA
NA
20
 Detroit
16.4
16.6
-0.19
20
 Seattle
16.1
16.1
0.00
21
 Tampa Bay
19.0
19.3
-0.26
21
 Minnesota
15.4
15.5
-0.13
22
 Denver
12.0
12.3
-0.32
22
 St Louis
16.3
16.5
-0.26
23
 Kansas City
14.3
14.8
-0.58
23
 Tampa Bay
14.5
14.8
-0.39
24
 San Diego
14.9
15.5
-0.65
24
 Detroit
14.1
14.6
-0.45
25
 Miami
16.8
17.5
-0.71
25
 Kansas City
17.3
17.7
-0.45
26
 Minnesota
19.9
20.9
-0.97
26
 Philadelphia
16.4
17.2
-0.77
27
 Buffalo
16.1
17.1
-1.03
27
 Green Bay
16.9
17.8
-0.90
28
 Green Bay
18.6
19.7
-1.10
28
 Dallas
17.6
18.7
-1.10
29
 Cleveland
17.9
19.2
-1.35
29
 NY Jets
17.4
18.9
-1.55
30
 Cincinnati
20.4
21.8
-1.42
30
 New Orleans
17.4
19.0
-1.61
31
 San Francisco
14.8
18.0
-3.16
31
 Chicago
15.8
17.5
-1.74
32
 St Louis
14.8
18.8
-4.00
32
 Indianapolis
16.1
18.2
-2.13
Rk
 Defensive Back
2002
2001
Dif
Rk
 Cornerback
2002
2001
Dif
1
 Arizona
16.4
10.8
5.55
1
 Pittsburgh
23.0
16.5
6.52
2
 Cincinnati
22.7
18.1
4.58
2
 Arizona
17.3
11.9
5.42
3
 Pittsburgh
22.3
18.0
4.26
3
 Tampa Bay
19.1
13.8
5.29
4
 Tampa Bay
17.6
13.4
4.19
4
 Cincinnati
21.2
16.9
4.32
5
 Washington
15.8
11.7
4.13
5
 Tennessee
23.2
18.8
4.32
6
 Dallas
16.3
12.6
3.68
6
 Washington
19.0
14.8
4.13
7
 NY Giants
13.8
10.1
3.68
7
 NY Giants
16.8
13.2
3.55
8
 Baltimore
20.4
16.8
3.55
8
 Dallas
18.1
14.6
3.48
9
 San Diego
17.5
14.3
3.16
9
 Baltimore
21.1
18.1
3.03
10
 Oakland
17.0
14.0
2.97
10
 Indianapolis
17.4
14.8
2.58
11
 Cleveland
22.5
19.5
2.90
11
 Cleveland
21.0
18.6
2.32
12
 Philadelphia
16.2
13.3
2.90
12
 Philadelphia
17.9
15.9
1.94
13
 Tennessee
21.2
18.5
2.77
13
 Jacksonville
17.5
15.8
1.74
14
 Denver
19.1
17.2
1.87
14
 Seattle
15.8
14.1
1.68
15
 Kansas City
17.2
15.4
1.87
15
 Carolina
17.4
16.5
0.84
16
 Chicago
15.4
14.0
1.35
16
 San Diego
16.2
15.4
0.84
17
 Jacksonville
17.9
17.1
0.84
17
 Atlanta
19.6
19.2
0.45
18
 Houston
19.1
NA
NA
18
 Oakland
13.8
13.7
0.06
19
 Detroit
12.9
12.9
0.00
19
 Houston
19.0
NA
NA
20
 Green Bay
15.1
15.3
-0.19
20
 Chicago
14.3
14.3
-0.06
21
 Atlanta
18.8
19.2
-0.45
21
 Denver
17.5
17.9
-0.32
22
 Minnesota
15.6
16.1
-0.52
22
 Minnesota
14.1
14.8
-0.71
23
 Carolina
16.3
17.0
-0.71
23
 Detroit
13.4
14.3
-0.90
24
 Seattle
13.9
15.0
-1.10
24
 Green Bay
13.9
15.3
-1.35
25
 Indianapolis
17.4
19.3
-1.87
25
 Kansas City
16.5
17.9
-1.35
26
 Miami
17.2
20.2
-2.97
26
 San Francisco
16.9
18.6
-1.74
27
 New Orleans
16.6
20.0
-3.42
27
 New Orleans
16.3
19.3
-2.97
28
 San Francisco
14.4
18.7
-4.32
28
 St Louis
14.9
18.9
-4.00
29
 Buffalo
14.8
19.9
-5.10
29
 Miami
13.8
18.5
-4.65
30
 St Louis
12.7
18.7
-6.00
30
 Buffalo
13.5
19.9
-6.45
31
 New England
13.7
19.8
-6.13
31
 NY Jets
14.2
20.7
-6.52
32
 NY Jets
17.0
23.6
-6.65
32
 New England
9.9
17.4
-7.48
Rk
 Safety
2002
2001
Dif
Rk
 Safety
2002
2001
Dif
1
 Arizona
17.5
13.2
4.39
17
 Chicago
15.3
14.3
1.03
2
 San Diego
19.7
15.4
4.32
18
 Green Bay
15.3
14.6
0.71
3
 Oakland
21.3
17.4
3.94
19
 Houston
18.3
NA
NA
4
 Cincinnati
20.6
16.8
3.81
20
 Minnesota
15.2
15.5
-0.39
5
 Kansas City
18.4
14.8
3.61
21
 Detroit
12.5
13.6
-1.16
6
 Baltimore
19.0
15.8
3.16
22
 Seattle
16.2
17.7
-1.55
7
 NY Giants
14.8
11.7
3.03
23
 Buffalo
16.6
18.2
-1.61
8
 Washington
14.5
11.5
2.97
24
 Miami
17.9
19.7
-1.74
9
 Cleveland
20.7
17.8
2.90
25
 New England
17.7
20.2
-2.52
10
 Denver
20.0
17.5
2.45
26
 San Francisco
14.6
17.2
-2.58
11
 Philadelphia
16.6
14.3
2.39
27
 Indianapolis
18.3
20.9
-2.65
12
 Dallas
16.3
14.1
2.19
28
 St Louis
14.3
17.1
-2.84
13
 Tennessee
18.1
15.9
2.19
29
 Carolina
14.5
17.5
-3.03
14
 Jacksonville
19.4
17.2
2.13
30
 Atlanta
14.9
18.1
-3.16
15
 Pittsburgh
18.1
16.7
1.35
31
 New Orleans
16.5
19.6
-3.16
16
 Tampa Bay
14.6
13.5
1.16
32
 NY Jets
18.3
23.2
-4.97

Key:
'Rk' is each team's rank.
'2002' is each team's average opponent's rank in each position.
'2001' is each team's average opponents' rank in each position.
'NA' is not available as Houston did not play in 2001.
'Dif' is the difference between the '2002' and '2001'.
Note: Positive 'Dif' values are good while negative 'Dif' values are bad.

Scoring system:
TD return = 6 points
Fumble recovery = 2 points
INT = 2 points
Sack = 2 points
Safety = 2 points
Tackle (solo) = 1 point
Tackle (assist) = 0.5 points

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