A defense that allows the starting RB, backup RB and 3rd string RB to come into the game and each get 100 yards every game, tell me what knucklehead can say the DEFENSE IS FINE??

I actually need to clear up my point about the defense's statistical improvement, and why it's so misleading.

First, anybody who knows football understands that every team needs to run the ball to be effective. If you can run the ball effectively, then you are going to have a very good chance at winning. Also, if you are running the ball effectively, you won't need to pass the ball because it is riskier and is usually less effective than grinding it out on the ground.

OK, so taking that into account, let's look at our defensive statistics:

New Orleans is 11th in total offensive yards allowed per game (309/game). They are third in the league in passing yards allowed per game (138.6/game). Many people see this and think "wow, our defense isn't really that bad." Wrong, wrong, wrong. Look at the stats a little harder. Why do you think that our pass defense is so good? Take a look at the rushing yards allowed per game this season: 138.6 per game. Yeah, wow, that's good enough for fourth worst in the NFL. Awesome job guys. Why do you think people aren't passing the ball against us? BECAUSE THEY CAN RUN IT ALL OVER US ALL FRIGGIN DAY!!!!!!!! And what about points allowed per game? Try 26.6 per game, which is good enough for fifth worst in the NFL. We might not be giving up a lot of total yards, but our defense can't make goal line stands or stop opposing offenses from getting it in the end zone.

The good defenses always find a way to keep points of the board. They adopt bend-but-don't-break attitudes and become very good at it. Our team might not give up a lot of yards, but when it really matters, when a team is marching down the field and we need a big stop, our defense won't do it. I can't remember a goal line stand once this year.

O and you want to hear another impressive stat? How about our turnover production. How many do we have? Try 14. That's fifth worst in the NFC. And when your offense is turning the ball over too, a good defense will step up and make plays and get the ball back. Not this defense though, they are dead last in the NFL in takeaway/giveaway difference. Sure it's not the defense's fault that our offense gives the football away like it's a hot potato, but they aren't very successful at getting some of those turnovers back.

So, in conclusion, what happens when you mix a team's inability to stop the run, inability to keep team's out of the end zone, and a lack of turnover production? You get the 2005 Saints defense. Sure they might look good on paper when you see their yards allowed/game, but look just below the surface and you'll see a unit in realy trouble. Instead of the bend-but-don't-break attitude, they have adopted the bend-and-break-like-Tyrone-Prothro's-ankle strategy.

And what about points allowed per game? Try 26.6 per game, which is good enough for fifth worst in the NFL. We might not be giving up a lot of total yards, but our defense can't make goal line stands or stop opposing offenses from getting it in the end zone.

Um, more than half the points given up by the team have come off turnovers by the pffense and special teams. I will bet $100 you didn't even consider that when posting this. Other than that, continue ranting.

Nope, most points come off a porous defense, also the time of possession by the opposing offense goes up greatly in the 2nd half of games against us? And look at the fact we're the worst are at least bottom 3 in run defense for the answer.

Take away the North texas's, and Applachian States whom they padded the numbers against.