[washingtonismoney]

Not going to complain about our spot, but the University of Dead Fake Girlfriends at #2 (and considered #1)?  I mean I get that their defense will be good, but you are still talking about a new QB.

Well, Wilner's methodology is always suspect,* but that's neither here nor there. I can't figure out *why* their defense is supposed to be so good. They gave up a pretty mediocre 5.6 yards-per-play last year. They're older and well-recruited, which is good, but it's highly speculative to assume they'll leap from mediocre (where they were) to championship-caliber (which Wilner is positing they'll be).

Is it the head coach? Brian Kelly has little history putting elite defenses on the field?

The coordinator? Brian vanGorder, the DC, has a fantastic mustache. A great record? The last time he coordinated a defense, in 2012 for Auburn, he was fired after one year. They ranked 13th in the conference in yards per play.

Before that he was a longterm DC for the Falcons (2008-11). Atlanta ranked #24, #22, #27, and #22 in the league in yards per play.

The last good defense he coordinated, in other words, was over a decade ago.

* I'll be nice and say that ranking teams based on schedule is not the stupidest idea I've ever heard.

[washingtonismoney]

Not going to complain about our spot, but the University of Dead Fake Girlfriends at #2 (and considered #1)?  I mean I get that their defense will be good, but you are still talking about a new QB.

Well, Wilner's methodology is always suspect,* but that's neither here nor there. I can't figure out *why* their defense is supposed to be so good. They gave up a pretty mediocre 5.6 yards-per-play last year. They're older and well-recruited, which is good, but it's highly speculative to assume they'll leap from mediocre (where they were) to championship-caliber (which Wilner is positing they'll be).

Is it the head coach? Brian Kelly has little history putting elite defenses on the field?

The coordinator? Brian vanGorder, the DC, has a fantastic mustache. A great record? The last time he coordinated a defense, in 2012 for Auburn, he was fired after one year. They ranked 13th in the conference in yards per play.

Before that he was a longterm DC for the Falcons (2008-11). Atlanta ranked #24, #22, #27, and #22 in the league in yards per play.

The last good defense he coordinated, in other words, was over a decade ago.

* I'll be nice and say that ranking teams based on schedule is not the stupidest idea I've ever heard.