Week 12 in The Trenches

Our wrap-up from Week 12, is being re-posted due to a publishing error.

The big theme this week is defense. The Jets and Vikings both won with defense.  The Vikings added in a huge offensive day, but both teams started with a defense that created opportunities for turnovers with pressure on the QB and holding back rushing attempts.

DL Jets (108 FP)
3 Sacks,5 Forced Punts, 4 Interceptions,84 Interception Yards,1 Interception Returned for TD,6 Negative Yard Plays,5 0 Yard Plays,75 Opponent Rushing Yards, 3.0 Opponent Rushing Average,127 Opponent Passing Yards,6 PA,2 4 Down Conversion

DS Jets (82 FP)
4 Interceptions (84Yds), 42.9%Pass Completion, 127 Passing Yards,8.5 Yards per Completion,15 Receptions,2 Solo Receptions 20+ (26,24),0 Opponent Passing TD

OL Vikings (91 FP)
31 1st Downs, 159 Rushing Yds,378 Passing Yards,66.7% Pass Completion,34 Rushes,32 Pass Attempts,4.7 Rush Average,1 Sack Allowed,5 0 Yard Play,6 Negative Yard Play, 2 Forced Punts

DL Vikings (90 FP)
4 Sacks,5 Forced Punts,1 Fumble Recovery, 2 Interceptions,1 Negative Yard Play,7 0 Yard Play, 43 Opponent Rushing Yards, 3.9 Opponent Rushing Average,147 Opponent Passing Yard

Trench Fantasy Ambassador Playoffs

Like many of you, we’re having our own playoffs here at Trench Fantasy HQ. We have some interesting match-ups coming up, but are most looking forward to our “homecoming.” John Randle will be matched up against Vikings rookie Phil Loadholt.

• Willie McGinest vs Brentson Buckner
• Brian Baldinger vs Richard Dent
• Derrick Deese vs Gilbert Brown
• John Randle vs Phil Loadholt (homecoming game)

We had one upset in our Wild Card round when Gilbert Brown bested Gary Plummer.

Week 13 in The Trenches

The big winners over the weekend were the Broncos and the Eagles. The Broncos were strong with both Defensive Line and Defensive Secondary during their domination of KC and the Eagles D-Line completely shut down the Falcons.

Lastly, the Saints stayed unbeaten and their Offensive Line stats are below. While the Saints didn’t lead the whole game they did continue to protect their quarterback like they’ve done all season and allow him to put up big numbers.

Broncos
Defensive Line (90 FP)
2 Sacks, 2 4th Down Stops,7 Forced Punts, 1 Fumble Recovery, 2 Interceptions ,8 Interception Yards, 6 Negative Yard Plays, 4 0 Yard Plays, 94 Opponent Rushing Yards, 3.6 Opponent Rushing Average, 134 Opponent Passing Yards, 13 PA

Defensive Secondary (66 FP)
2 Interceptions (8Yds),1 Fumble Recovery (8Yds), 37.2% Opponent Pass Completion, 134 Opponent Passing Yards, 8.4 Yards per Completion, 16 Receptions, No Completions of 20+, 0 Opponent Passing TDs

Eagles
Defensive Line (109 FP)
2 Sacks, 2 4the Down Stops, 6 Forced Punts, 1 Fumble Recovery, 2 Interceptions , 1 Interception TD, 5 Negative Yard Plays, 6 0 Yard Plays, 61 Opponent Rushing Yards ,2.8 Opponent Rushing Average, 235 Opponent Passing Yards, 2 4th Down Conversions

Saints
Offensive Line (48)
25 1st Downs, 55 Rushing Yards, 408 Passing Yards, 71.4% Pass Completion, 24 Rushes, 35 Passes, 2.3 Rushing Average, 1 Sack Allowed, 1 4th Down Stop, 7 0 Yard Play, 4 Negative Yard Play, 3 Forced Punts

Play Head to Head against John Randle – Vikings and Cardinals Preview

This week’s Ambassador in The Trenches is legendary Vikings defensive tackle John Randle.  Players in our Public League will be playing head to head against him.  To prep for the Vikings game this week against the Arizona Cardinals, let’s see how the Cardinals Offensive Line matches up against the Vikings Defensive Line:

The Cardinals have generated 430 Trench Points this year and are averaging 243 passing yards per game with a 68% completion percentage. Rushing yards are well below 100 per game with an average of 84 per game and average per rush of just over 4. The Cards have given up 18 sacks this year.

Let’s compare that to the defensive line of the Vikes. The Minnesota D-Line is one of the highest scoring in Trench Fantasy. Giving up a total of less than 300 yards per game in average offense and punishing opponents with 38 sacks and 21 takeaways.

The spotlight has been on the Vikings offense this season led by Brett Favre, but watch for the defense to be the star this week.

Saints vs Patriots In The Trenches on Monday Night Football

How did this week’s Monday Night  game between the Saints and Patriots break down in terms of Trench scores?  The game was decided between the Saints O-Line and the Patriots Defensive Secondary. Almost 80% pass completion and 7 receptions of 20 yards or more. Take a look below:

Saints:

Offensive Line (48 FP)
18 1st Downs, 113 Rushing Yards, 367 Passing Yards, 78.3% Pass Completion , 4.3 Rushing Average, 1 Sack Allowed, 1 3+Out , 4 0 Yard Plays, 1 Negative Yard Play , 3 Forced Punts

Patriots:

Defensive Secondary (-90 FP)
1 Fumble Recovery (0Yds),78.3% Opponent Pass Completion, 371 Passing Yards Against, 20.6 Yards per Completion, 18 Receptions, 7 Solo Receptions of 20+ (33,75,25,38,68,27,20), 5 Opponent Passing TDs, 1 40YdTD (75)

Week 11 In The Trenches

Even if you didn’t know the Vikings were 9-1, you would be able to tell they were having a good season by looking at their Trench stats. They are near the top of the scoring list every week in multiple categories.   This week they lead in fantasy points in  both the Offensive Line and Defensive Line.

Special shout out to our Trench Fantasy Ambassador Phil Loadholt who is part of that outstanding Viking line. Also, it’s not a typo, the Vikings DL held the Seahawks to 4 yards rushing and 1 in 4 SEA plays was for negative or no yards. The OL allowed Farve to complete 85% of his passes–huge.

Another team near the top every week is the Saints.  They are in the top 10 in nearly every offensive and defensive category. This could be why they are sitting at 10-0.

 

Vikings O-Line (77 FP):

28 1st Downs,160 Rushing Yards, 271 Passing Yards, 84.8%Pass Completion,37 Rushes,28 Pass Attempts,4.3 Rushing Average,2 Sacks Allowed, 7 0 Yard Plays,4 Negative Yard Plays,5 Forced Punts

 

Saints Defensive Secondary (65 FP):

3 Interceptions (53Yds),1 Fumble Recovery (53Yds),51.5% Opponent Pass Completion,126 Passing Yards Allowed,7.4 Yards per Completion, 17 Receptions,1 Reception 20+ (21),1 Opponent Passing TD

 

D-Line Vikings (92 FP)

2 Sacks,7 Forced Punts ,1 Fumble Recovery,1 Interception,5 Negative Yard Plays,7 0 Yard Plays,4 Opponent Rushing Yards,0.3 Opponent Rushing Average, 231 Opponent Passing Yards

Ronnie Lott Talking Trench with WDUZ in Green Bay

Trench Fantasy Ambassador Ronnie Lott was on WDUZ in Green Bay this week talking Trench Fantasy with Chris Havel and  Harry Sydney.  Ronnie gives shout outs to Trench teammate Gilbert Brown, Charles Haley, Hayley Mills and to Harry Sydney.

Listen to the interview below:

Ronnie Lott on WDUZ

Week 10 In The Trenches

Notable scores from this weekend are below.  We have what may be a first. Our high scoring unit for the week was a defensive line.  The Ravens D-Line put up unreal numbers against the Browns, and this along with the high score from their defensive secondary tells the story of the Browns’ weekend.

 

Saints O-Line (74 FP)
19 1st Downs, 203 Rushing Yards, 217 Passing Yards, 69.2% Pass Completion, 29 Rushes, 18 Pass Attempts, 7.0 Average Per Rush,1 Sack Allowed, 1 4th Down Stop,3 0 Yard Plays,1 Negative Yard Play,3 Forced Punts

Falcons O-Line (80 FP)
22 1st Downs, 176 Rushing Yards, 224 Passing Yards,53.7% Pass Completion, No Sacks Allowed, 29 Rushes, 22 Pass Attempts, 6.1 Rushing Average, 1 4th Down Stop, 5 0 Yard Plays, 1 Negative Yard Play,2 Forced Punts

Ravens D-Line (113 FP)

4 Sacks, 9 Forced Punts, 2 Interceptions, 1 Interception Returned for TD, 5 Negative Yard Plays, 4 0 Yard Plays, 86 Opponent Rushing Yards, 3.3 Opponent Rushing Average, 99 Opponent Passing Yards
Titans  D-Line (89 FP)
2 Sacks,1 4th Down Stop, 5 Forced Punts, 4 Interceptions, 2 Interceptions Returned for TD, 1 Negative Yard Play,3 0 Yard Plays, 89 Opponent Rushing Yards, 4.5 Opponent Rushing Average, 218 Opponent Passing Yards, 17 Pass Attempts

Bengals DS (38 FP)
1 Interception (26Yds),50.0% Pass Completion Percentage,174 Passing Yards,8.7 Yards per Completion, 20 Receptions,1 Solo Reception 20+ (21),0 Opponent Passing TD

Bears DS (36 FP)
1 Interception (0Yds),69.6% Pass Completion Percentage,118 Passing Yards,7.4 Yards per Completion, 16 Receptions ,1 Solo Reception 20+ (20),0 Opponent Passing TD

Ravens DS (76 FP) 42% Pass Completion Percentage, 99 Passing Yards Allowed, 7.6 Yards per Completion, 0 Opponent Passing TD, 2 Interceptions

 

Madden Award Causes Us to Reflect On Top Performing O-Lines for First Half of the Season

At the midway point of the season we look deep in the trenches to see which units are performing well in the league and in our fantasy football game.  For most of the positions the best scoring units are from teams that are near the top of the division standings.

We also just heard about the “Madden Most Valuable Protector Award,” presented by Prilosec and of course the NFL and John Madden, so we thought it fitting to start our recap with the best performing offensive line units.  Through the first eight games of 2009, the highest scoring OL units in Trench Fantasy points are:

1. Patriots (6-2)
2. Saints (8-0)
3. Steelers (6-2)
4. Colts (8-0)
5. Ravens (4-4)

You’re probably asking yourself, how the Ravens are in the top five when you look at the records of the four in front of them because there is a significant difference in record. Well, when you look at the scores, the Ravens aren’t that close to moving up to #4.  Their total points are a full 10% less than the Colts and their OL is doing its part on the field.

When asked who the front-runners were in his mind, Madden responded with the Saints (8-0) and Vikings (7-1).  As you can see, we have the Saints as #2, so we’re pretty close with Coach Madden on that one, but our stats have the Vikings at #12.

One last note, if it sounds like we’re mentioning Prilosec a lot it’s not because they are paying us, they’re not, but because they are supporting a lot of really innovative initiatives with linemen right now. You might remember O-Line Confidential that we wrote about last month, yes, Prilosec is a sponsor of that as well.

Week 9 In The Trenches

This week, our leaders come from a few teams that are surprising people around the league, and one unit that just had a great week.  The Trench Leaders this week are the Cardinals, Bengals, Seahawks, with a special recognition for the Buccaneers Defensive Special Teams.

Cardinals O-Line (91 FP):
27 1st Downs,182 Rushing Yards, 256 Passing Yds, 68.8%Passing Completion, 31 Rushes , 22 Pass Attempts, 5.9 Rush Average, 2 Sacks Allowed, 4 0 Yard Plays, 2 Negative Yard Plays, 4 Forced Punts

Bengals D-Line (91 FP):
4 Sacks, 1 4th Down Stop, 5 Forced Punts, 2 Interceptions ,3 Negative Yard Plays, 6 0Yard Plays, 55 Opponent Rushing Yards, 3.2 Opponent Rushing Average, 195 Opponent Passing Yards,

Seahawks Defensive Secondary (61 FP):
5 Interceptions (74Yds), 52.4% Pass Completion, 203 Passing Yards, 9.2 Yards per Completion, 22 Receptions, No Completions 20+, 2 Opponent Passing TD

Buccaneers Defensive Special Teams (36 FP)
1 Block Punt, 1 Block Punt TD, 1 Individual Return of 30+ (83), 10 Yard Punt Return Average, 53 Kickoff Return Average