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The NFL Semifinals Proves There's More to a Team Than the Quarterback

As long-time readers should know, while I don't deny that the quarterback is an integral part of a successful team, I think analysts who contend it's the most important position in all of sports, even just football, are inaccurate, to put it lightly. To me, the three most important ingredients to building a long-term successful football program are: 1) Good defense, 2) Consistent pass protection, and 3) Solid run blocking.

Let's look at this year's semifinals. We have: 1) the New England Patriots, 2) the Jacksonville Jaguars, 3) the Philadelphia Eagles, and 4) the Minnesota Vikings. Where do all these teams rank?

Pass protection
3) Jacksonville: 24 sacks allowed
7) Minnesota: 27 sacks allowed
13) New England: 35 sacks allowed
16) Philadelphia: 36 sacks allowed
Average rank: 9.75

Run blocking
1) Jacksonville: 141.4 ypg
3) Philadelphia: 132.2 ypg
7) Minnesota: 122.3 ypg
10) New England: 118.1 ypg
Average rank: 5.25

Defense
1) Minnesota: 15.8 ppg
2) Jacksonville: 16.8 ppg
4) Philadelphia: 18.4 ppg
5) New England: 18.5 ppg
Average rank: 3.00

Quarterbacks
2) New England: 276.9 ypg
11) Minnesota: 234.6 ypg
13) Philadelphia: 233.6 ypg
17) Jacksonville: 224.5 ypg
Average rank: 10.75

Let's expand our field even further, to all 12 playoff teams (the four before-mentioned, along with: Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Tennessee, Buffalo, LA Rams, New Orleans, Carolina, and Atlanta):

Pass protection
2) New Orleans: 18 sacks allowed
3) Atlanta: 24 sacks allowed
3) Jacksonville: 24 sacks allowed
3) Pittsburgh: 24 sacks allowed
7) Minnesota: 27 sacks allowed
9) LA Rams: 28 sacks allowed
13) Carolina: 35 sacks allowed
13) New England: 35 sacks allowed
13) Tennessee: 35 sacks allowed
16) Philadelphia: 36 sacks allowed
17) Kansas City: 37 sacks allowed
24) Buffalo: 47 sacks allowed
Average rank: 10.25

Run blocking
1) Jacksonville: 141.4 ypg
3) Philadelphia: 132.2 ypg
4) Carolina: 131.4 ypg
5) New Orleans: 129.4 ypg
6) Buffalo: 126.1 ypg
7) Minnesota: 122.3 ypg
8) LA Rams: 122.1 ypg
9) Kansas City: 118.1 ypg
10) New England: 118.1 ypg
13) Atlanta: 115.4 ypg
15) Tennessee: 114.6 ypg
20) Pittsburgh: 104.2 ypg
Average rank: 8.42

Defense
1) Minnesota: 15.8 ppg
2) Jacksonville: 16.8 ppg
4) Philadelphia: 18.4 ppg
5) New England: 18.5 ppg
7) Pittsburgh: 19.3 ppg
8) Atlanta: 19.7 ppg
10) New Orleans: 20.4 ppg
11) Carolina: 20.4 ppg
12) LA Rams: 20.6 ppg
15) Kansas City: 21.2 ppg
17) Tennessee: 22.3 ppg
18) Buffalo: 22.4 ppg
Average rank: 9.17

Quarterbacks
2) New England: 276.9 ypg
3) Pittsburgh: 273.8 ypg
5) New Orleans: 261.8 ypg
7) Kansas City: 256.5 ypg
8) Atlanta: 249.4 ypg
10) LA Rams: 239.4 ypg
11) Minnesota: 234.6 ypg
13) Philadelphia: 233.6 ypg
17) Jacksonville: 224.5 ypg
23) Tennessee: 198.9 ypg
28) Carolina: 192.3 ypg
31) Buffalo: 176.6 ypg
Average rank: 13.17

Like I've said, while quarterbacks may be important, they're typically not worth much if you're void of much pass protection, any ground game, or a steady defense.

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