Ranking Defensive Lines (Fun Stat Nerd Tidbit: Boise State)

UPDATE: Sample Sizes And The Boise State Broncos is now up at the mothership.

The strength of the 2010 defense was undoubtedly the line. Starting at midseason, when I began to realize how good this defense might be, I began rooting for them to get a chance at Auburn; it didn't happen, of course (and in the game they lost, they were certainly manhandled late, albeit by a Top 10 Nevada line and running game), and since they only got to play a banged-up Utah offense in the bowl game, I am left to just theorize about how good they might have been. But the numbers -- both advanced defensive stats and pure size numbers (most of their ends are over 250 pounds, most of their tackles over 295) -- are certainly on Boise's side here.

Ten different linemen registered at least two tackles for loss, and eight return this fall, led by a pair of outstanding, and identically productive, ends: Shea McClellin (22.5 tackles, 13.5 TFL/sacks, 1 INT) and Tyrone Crawford (22.5 tackles, 13.5 TFL/sacks, 1 PBU). But it is at tackle where Boise shines. A four-headed monster of Billy Winn (19.5 tackles, 9.5 TFL/sacks), Chase Baker (19.0 tackles, 6.5 TFL/sacks), Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe (17.5 tackles, 6.5 TFL/sacks) and Mike Atkinson (7.0 tackles, 2.5 TFL/sacks in four games) returns to manhandle the interior of mid-major and major conference lines alike. The squatty (6-foot-0, 312 pounds!) Atkinson is perhaps the best of the bunch, but he was suspended for the last nine games of the season for disciplinary reasons. This is a great line either way, but it could be even better if he keeps his head on straight. If Georgia fans are looking for something over which to wring their hands about their season opener against Boise State, this is it. The 'Dawgs could do alright against a Boise offense working in some new pieces, but their thin offensive line could get blown up.

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Now that we've ranked offensive lines, it's time to flip to defense. Today's a good day for it since, well, Boise State's defensive line was rather incredible last year. Our natural tendency is to talk down mid-major lines -- surely they're not big enough or athletic enough. But as I mention in today's Boise State profile, Boise State's line was big (ends over 250, tackles over 295) and incredibly deep. Ten players registered at least two tackles for loss (eight return in 2011), and the Broncos finished in the Top 5 in both Adj. Sack Rates and Adj. Line Yards. It is difficult to prove yourself to any major degree when taking on a mostly weak schedule. But if you completely dominate that schedule, you still prove something. Boise State completely dominated.

What you find below are three measures: Standard Downs Adj. Sack Rate, Passing Downs Adj. Sack Rate and Adj. Line Yards. To rank lines, we're going to more heavily rank the standard downs sack numbers (since blitzing linebackers are more likely to get involved on passing downs), then combine it with the run numbers, 50/50.

Let's get to it!

Full list after the jump.