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Let's face it. Seattle is going to be the best defense we have faced this year. Data backs it up, the eye test backs it up, and most analysis backs it up. However, this does not mean that Manning cannot generate some favorable match ups.
So, looking only at our receivers versus their Defensive backs, I wanted to see how various match-ups grade out based a players grading. Once again, I'm pulling my grading data from PFF for this exercise.
Methodology. Please read this part before you comment. I didn't just pluck these results out of my ass. And some of them surprised me just as much. I calculated each player's per game average and median grade. When comparing players in a match-up the side with the higher average and median grade gets the edge. If one has a higher average and the other a higher median or vice versus, its a push. And if they tie on one while differing on the other, it is a slight edge. So, lets look at what PFF grading says about the matchups:
Demaryius Thomas
vs Richard Sherman Edge Denver
vs Byron Maxwell Edge Denver
vs Kam Chancellor Edge Denver
vs Earl Thomas Edge Denver
Eric Decker
vs Richard Sherman Edge Seattle
vs Byron Maxwell Edge Denver
vs Kam Chancellor Edge Seattle
vs Earl Thomas Push
Wes Welker
vs Richard Sherman Edge Seattle
vs Byron Maxwell Push
vs Kam Chancellor Slight Edge Seattle
vs Earl Thomas Edge Seattle
Julius Thomas
vs Richard Sherman Push
vs Byron Maxwell Edge Denver
vs Kam Chancellor Push
vs Earl Thomas Push
In what should be a surprise to no one, Demaryius grades to be a favorable match up in single coverage no matter who Seattle sticks on him.
The Seahawks would have to double him up before the matchup grade swung back in their favor.
It looks like the best options for Deck are to find ways to get him isolated on Byron Maxwell. Anything else probably grades towards Seattle's favor.
Wes Welker may need to get matched up against linebackers to do some damage. However, even if he doesn't grade as a positive matchup against a single member of the Seattle Secondary, Getting them to burn a DB to cover Welker will do wonders for opening other options for Peyton.
Julius was a very odd surprise. He would grade as an even matchup against any member of the Legion of Boom except Maxwell who he would grade out as a Denver Edge.
So, based solely on a quick grading, I would expect Peyton to look to who ever is match up against Maxwell and try to get Demaryius in some single coverage looks.
Final note: For the recievers, I only considerd the passing grade, instead of their overall grade. In most cases, this actually dropped their grade as Denver's recievers grade quite well in their block. The one exception being Juilus Thomas who, lets face it, has a long way to go when it comes to blocking. For the Seattle defenders, I would use their overall grade, or their Pass coverage grade, which ever what higher. So, I can't be completely accused of being a homer. Go Broncos.
So, looking only at our receivers versus their Defensive backs, I wanted to see how various match-ups grade out based a players grading. Once again, I'm pulling my grading data from PFF for this exercise.
Methodology. Please read this part before you comment. I didn't just pluck these results out of my ass. And some of them surprised me just as much. I calculated each player's per game average and median grade. When comparing players in a match-up the side with the higher average and median grade gets the edge. If one has a higher average and the other a higher median or vice versus, its a push. And if they tie on one while differing on the other, it is a slight edge. So, lets look at what PFF grading says about the matchups:
Demaryius Thomas
vs Richard Sherman Edge Denver
vs Byron Maxwell Edge Denver
vs Kam Chancellor Edge Denver
vs Earl Thomas Edge Denver
Eric Decker
vs Richard Sherman Edge Seattle
vs Byron Maxwell Edge Denver
vs Kam Chancellor Edge Seattle
vs Earl Thomas Push
Wes Welker
vs Richard Sherman Edge Seattle
vs Byron Maxwell Push
vs Kam Chancellor Slight Edge Seattle
vs Earl Thomas Edge Seattle
Julius Thomas
vs Richard Sherman Push
vs Byron Maxwell Edge Denver
vs Kam Chancellor Push
vs Earl Thomas Push
In what should be a surprise to no one, Demaryius grades to be a favorable match up in single coverage no matter who Seattle sticks on him.
The Seahawks would have to double him up before the matchup grade swung back in their favor.
It looks like the best options for Deck are to find ways to get him isolated on Byron Maxwell. Anything else probably grades towards Seattle's favor.
Wes Welker may need to get matched up against linebackers to do some damage. However, even if he doesn't grade as a positive matchup against a single member of the Seattle Secondary, Getting them to burn a DB to cover Welker will do wonders for opening other options for Peyton.
Julius was a very odd surprise. He would grade as an even matchup against any member of the Legion of Boom except Maxwell who he would grade out as a Denver Edge.
So, based solely on a quick grading, I would expect Peyton to look to who ever is match up against Maxwell and try to get Demaryius in some single coverage looks.
Final note: For the recievers, I only considerd the passing grade, instead of their overall grade. In most cases, this actually dropped their grade as Denver's recievers grade quite well in their block. The one exception being Juilus Thomas who, lets face it, has a long way to go when it comes to blocking. For the Seattle defenders, I would use their overall grade, or their Pass coverage grade, which ever what higher. So, I can't be completely accused of being a homer. Go Broncos.
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