RE: This sums it all up...
 

While many things in that article are true, I don't think it "sums it all up." This team has more problems than run defense. Run defense will not make your team turn the ball over any less in your own red zone.

A good run defense gives us more chances to turn the ball over in the red zone.

I do believe that run defense was the most glaring problem last year. So I guess I see the point of the article. It's the highest priority need, IMO, I agree with it.

The front office had better be right about the LB's. or it'll be another long season.

I'll be watching Derek Johnson and Thomas Davis this year....

i think it is a great articel. agree with a lot he said. the ravens are a prime example of great d's winnigngames. but it for sure doesn't stop there or new orleans under mora would have at least won a couple of playoff games and the eagles under buddy ryan would have won something. having a good d is definitely important though

If that's the article where this guy uses the Falcons as his example, what a joke. I won't even read it. First, I agree run defense is a HUGE priority, but did Mr. Smart Guy also mention the Falcons were FIRST in rushing in the league? Guess he forgot that. Runing the ball, TOP, defense on the field less, etc. etc.

Second, if this is the same article, he mentioned when Vick returned for the Falcons in 03 and his rating. ISn't this the same season where Vick and the Falcs were playing Minnesota and in OT he had that great 50 yard or so run where he ran between the two defenders and they collided? They don't take that into account in passer rating do they? I bet their turaround directly coincided with Vick's running ability, and the team's overall running ability with Vick in the line-up.

Again, agree run defense is hugely important, but how about run offense? Seems equally if not more important.

well saintswhodi i don't know if running the ball is more important but it is definitely a huge part of it. you need both for sure. i have to agree with you there.

Whodi is right to a point. It's certainly not all about run defense.

The offense does need to be more consistent. They need to commit to running the ball. Not turning the ball over should become a matter of pride for the offense.

Daniels is right about one thing though: football is simple. Run the ball consistently and stop the run consistently. Everything else pretty much takes care of itself.

SFIAH

I am sure that the offense not scoring in the first quarter of most games allowed the opposing offensive coordinators the luxury of ramming the ball down the Saints throat too.

Yeah, the offense plays a part in what goes on with the defense, but, come on, in the first qtr the D shouldn't be letting the other team score that much except for when the O turns the ball over inside their own 40. The 3 & outs in the 1st qtr are no excuse to me for the D's performance. They weren't good last year no matter what the score until some personnel changes were made.

How much blame do you put on the defensive players in a system where the coach is still trying to figure it out until the final 4 games of the season ????

Yeah. That 7.3 point average the defense gave up for 16 first quarters seems unsurmountable when your offense is scoring zero. :roll:

NFL Leaders in %Completions, 1st Half (Thru games of Jan. 2, 2005)
(6.25 Att/Game)

Rank Player Team
1 Brian Griese TB 71.0 ( 125/176 )
2 Marc Bulger StL 70.9 ( 158/223 )
3 Daunte Culpepper Min 69.4 ( 179/258 )
4 Donovan McNabb Phi 69.2 ( 171/247 )
5 Chad Pennington NYJ 67.8 ( 135/199 )
6 Peyton Manning Ind 67.7 ( 191/282 )
7 Drew Brees SD 66.7 ( 142/213 )
8 Patrick Ramsey Was 66.4 ( 81/122 )
9 Billy Volek Ten 66.0 ( 105/159 )
10 Trent Green KC 65.8 ( 183/278 )
11 Ben Roethlisberger Pit 65.3 ( 109/167 )
12 Kurt Warner Ari 64.8 ( 92/142 )
13 Tim Rattay SF 64.0 ( 87/136 )
14 Steve McNair Ten 63.6 ( 75/118 )
15 Jake Delhomme Car 62.2 ( 158/254 )
16 Byron Leftwich Jac 62.0 ( 129/208 )
17 Carson Palmer Cin 62.0 ( 132/213 )
18 Brett Favre GB 61.6 ( 170/276 )
19 David Carr Hou 61.4 ( 137/223 )
20 Matt Hasselbeck Sea 61.3 ( 157/256 )

NFL Leaders in Touchdowns Passing, 1st Half (Thru games of Jan. 2, 2005)


Rank Player Team
1 Peyton Manning Ind 30
2 Donovan McNabb Phi 22
3 Jake Plummer Den 20
4 Daunte Culpepper Min 19
5 Tom Brady NE 16
6t Drew Brees SD 15
6t Brett Favre GB 15
6t Matt Hasselbeck Sea 15
9 Trent Green KC 14
10t Jake Delhomme Car 12
10t Billy Volek Ten 12
12t Brian Griese TB 11
12t Carson Palmer Cin 11
12t Ben Roethlisberger Pit 11
15t Drew Bledsoe Dal 10
15t Marc Bulger StL 10
15t Kerry Collins Oak 10
18t Joey Harrington Det 9
18t Vinny Testaverde Dal 9
18t Michael Vick Atl 9

What about this looks normal too you ????
Even that 2nd runningback in Atlanta put up a better first half touch down passing totals then Brooks ...

http://www.lenscrafters.com/home/home.cfm

18 Brett Favre GB 61.6 ( 170/276 )
19 David Carr Hou 61.4 ( 137/223 )
20 Matt Hasselbeck Sea 61.3 ( 157/256 )

:lol:

This is so stupid, it hardly even needs a response. How does someone say they are showing stats from the first 5 games of the season, glosses over main points. Those being, in the Seattle game, the DEFENSE had 3 takeaways, and the offense still managed only 7 points for the game. OR how about the fact the score was 14-7 in the second half, until Brooks throws an INT giving Seattle the ball in their own red zone to start.

In the Ari game, did we forget Brooks' goalline fumble? Or the fumble by I think Donte on the reverse? Then he picks games where the defense did hold teams to practically no score in the first quarter. How do you find stats that disprove the point you are trying to make? What a joke.

Let me find a small quote:

Seattle beat us 21-7. So if it was 21-7 at the end of the third, what flood gates opened in the 4th? Ridiculous.