NFL Front Seven Production, 2023
The below tables show the production on the defensive lines and in the linebacking corps for each team during the 2023 regular season. it also highlights how each team focuses on developing one over the other.
Table Notes:
- The minimum qualification for players to be included in this study was recording at least 2.0 sacks for 2023
- The defensive line and linebackers were separated into different tables based on Pro Football Reference's tag for each player in their database
- The top 3 players for each position (DL/LB) for each team with at least 2.0 sacks were included as the "starters" or "main contributors" and the remaining qualifying players at the position are considered "rotational" players. For example, if Arizona has 5 DL with at least 2.0 sacks, only the top 3 DL stats will be added together for the team's starters numbers. If a 4th DL registered at least 5 sacks, he will be included with the main rotation. Otherwise, his numbers will be combined with the 5th DL as a rotational contributor.
- The BIG column combines Sacks + Tackles for Loss (TFLs) + QB Hits for each player or team
- Not all teams had 3 starters for DL or LB with at least 2.0 sacks.
- IND had 0 LB with at least 2.0 sacks on the season
- The front seven table includes the # of players at each position included in the study. For example, DL # means the number of starting defensive lineman. LBR # is the number of rotational LBs included.
- 14 teams make the playoffs. Only 3 of the top 14 teams in BIG plays missed the playoffs (NYJ, SEA, IND). CLE (15th), TB (17th), DET (26th) all made the playoffs.
As always, see the links below for more data from Pro Football Reference.
Defensive Line - Team Totals (Top 3+ Starters)
Defensive Line - Additional Rotational Players
Linebackers - Team Totals (Top 3+ Starters)
Linebackers - Additional Rotational Players
Entire Front Seven Production
After Team column, the next 7 columns are for the # of players for each desgination. The final 7 columns are for the # of BIG plays combined for each category.
Key: # of starting defensive linemen (DLS #), # of starting linebackers (LBS #), # of rotational defensive linemen (DLR #), # of rotational linebackers (LBR #), # of total defensive lineman (DL Ttl #), # of total linebackers (LB Ttl #), total # of front seven players (F7 Ttl #).
Sources