Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

They're 0 - 4, got blown out in 3 of the 4 games, but when you look at their statistics it just baffles the mind. The Saints have the statistics of a 3 - 1 team but turnovers, inconsistent play at key positions at crucial times, and big plays allowed by the defense have killed them. But if they can just clean up the little things like better QB play, better blocking by the OL, WRs holding on to the ball and better special team play, the offense will be potent again. As far as the defense is concerned, whatever happened to the blitz, if you're not getting the pressure from the d-line then you create the pressure, that's the main problem with the defense. When opposing QBs have all day to throw the ball it doesn't matter how good you're secondary is, the pass will be completed. Also, they need to tackle better, forget about that strip or that lights out hit, just wrap up and make the tackle, too many times the first contact made by Saints defenders have been behind the line of scrimmage and yet the runners always seem to get that extra 3, 5, 10 yards after the initial contact. If the Saints can correct those things and start Simmons and Kaesviharn, and U. Young, the defense will be better.

Here's a look at some key statistics from the first four games:

INDIANAPOLIS 41 NEW ORLEANS 10
Total yds: Colts 452 Saints 296
Pass yds: Cots 288 Saints 192
Rush yds: Colts 164 Saints 106
Turnovers: Colts 1 Saints 3
3rd Down Eff: Colts 36%(4-11) Saints 40%(6-15)
T.O.P: Colts 28:15 Saints 31:45
First Downs: Colts 20 Saints 18
Sacks: Colts 1 Saints 0
Penalties: Colts 6-30 Saints 4-20

TAMPA BAY 31 NEW ORLEANS 14
Total yds: Bucs 330 Saints 343
Pass yds: Bucs 243 Saints 228
Rush yds: Bucs 87 Saints 99
Turnovers: Bucs 0 Saints 2
3rd Dow Eff: Bucs 44%[8-18] Saints 45%(5-11)
T.O.P: Bucs 26:52 Saints 33:08
First Downs: Bucs 14 Saints 19
Sacks: Bucs 2 Saints 0
Penalties: Bucs 2-10 Saints 3-35

TENNESSEE 31 NEW ORLEANS 14
Total yds: Titans 284 Saints 252
Pass yds: Titans 186 Saints 211
Rush yds: Titans 98 Saints 34
Turnovers: Titans 1 Saints 5
3rd Down Eff: Titans 45%(5-11) Saints 58%(7-12)
T.O.P: Titans 33:06 Saints 26:54
First Downs: Titans 19 Saints 18
Sacks: Titans 1 Saints 0
Penalties: Titans 8-49 Saints 2-15

CAROLINA 16 NEW ORLEANS 13
Total yds: Panthers 243 Saints 341
Pass yd: Panthers 148 Saints 252
Rush yds: Panthers 88 Saints 89
Turnovers: Panthers 1 Saints 2
3rd Down Eff: Panthers 45%(5-11) Saints 50%(8-16)
T.O.P: Panthers 24:47 Saints 35:13
First Downs: Panthers 12 Saints 23
Sacks: Panthers 0 Saints 1
Penalties: Panthers 7-59 Saints 5-35

Note: As bad as the Saints offensive line has played they've only giving up four sacks in four games.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

All that really matters is points on the board!
Stats can be very misleading.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

The one stat that holds true is turnovers, if you lose that battle, over 90% of the time you lose the game. Case in point, Saints 0 - 4 in turnover battles this season and 0 - 4 in games played. Get that statistic corrected and it goes a long way to getting their first victory of the season.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

"Statistics are for losers." Vince Lombardi

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

Yeah, but what is not listed is the number of times Brees has been hit while throwing, knocked down after the pass, or the ball has been tipped because of the failure of the offensive line to hold their ground.

When I say "offensive line", I mean offensive line.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

The Saints are dead last in the entire NFL in scoring. Last. Behind even the Oaklands and the Kansas Cities. Last. You don't score, you don't win. We could have survived turnovers in couple of games if we were scoring.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

AMEN!

What matters is wins and losses.

This team is VERY far off. Sole searching is something this team really needs to do. Along with benching some folks and trying new blood.

The worst thing to hear from a coach or a player is, "WELL boys, we ALMOST won."

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

Vince Lombardi was speaking from a winners perch when he said it, and the numbers were on his side. Stats do matter, with the biggest stat being 0-4. 0-4 is simply the sum thats reached when the little numbers are all added together. I am a numbers guy because the numbers don't lie. I also believe that there are keys to winning and losing that don't show up in the books. Little things like causing QB hurries, good blocks to keep your man out of the play, sacrificing yourself to take out the lead blocker, forcing your opponent to your chosen direction, adjusting your route to catch a poorly thrown pass, etc... Our problem has been poor numbers and a poor effort. I think that if the effort improves, so will the numbers. Sean Payton has to demand a better effort, and orchestrate it all so that the effort leads to success on both sides of the ball.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

We had the 11th ranked defense last year. IMO, that was a lie.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

0-4 isn't a stat... its reality.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

Such a perfect quote. If you recall last year we didn't post stats when we were winning but now that we are back to reality we post stats. -interesting. Lombardi and Berra 2 greatest quote makers of all time.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

Another spin on our statistics is how much of our offensive yardage was gained when the game was out of hand already? We'd be held stiff for 3 straight quarters only to be allowed to dink and dunk it down the field when the defense was playing a deep blanket to keep everything in front of them.

I agree, the stats that tell the story are the turnover ratio, the big plays against us and our record. Until we can stop turning the ball over and preventing the 25+ yard plays we will continue to see that record get worse.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

Even the turn over ratio traditionally been a good indication of who won but that Dallas-Buffalo on Monday night is a good step at starting to dispell that notion as well.

Good Defense and good O-Line can make up for mistakes FAST.

The whole notiong of basing a Defense on the principal of "bend don't break style" is crap. Needs to be scrapped.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

I think that's an incorrect statement. The Dallas-Buffalo game was an anomoly. You won't find many 6-2 turnover games ending with the winning team having the 6 turnovers, if any. And by all rights, Buffalo should have won. Poor coaching at the end did them in. also, the fact they only scored 3 points on offense. So if anything, you can say not capitalizing on turnovers(although they had 2 TDs on turnovers, there was SIX turnovers) could lead to a loss despite winning the turnover battle. But that game was such an anomoly and in no way indicative of a trend. You lose the turnover battle, far more often than not you will lose the game.

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

Not really... if you have a good o-line, you can turn the ball over as many times as you want and still win!

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

well at 0 - 4 we are losers. But we have the faith not matter what. who cares that most of that yardage was because we were getting our brains beat out in the first two games. The last 2 we have seen some improvement across the board. so I will look at those stats. TDs win games the rest are to remove the pain

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

Indeed. Amen. Reverend!

Re: Statiscally speaking, Saints not that far off
 

Numbers prove your point I can't take that from ya - to a degree "but" if you have a D that stops them from capitalizing with points because of the turn-overs. The other team gets nothing. You get one good drive ends in a field goal and you win 3-0.

You have to capitalize on the turn-overs in order for the turnover/wins ratio to actually count. You're O line has got to be able to help sustain a few drives regardless of the turn overs and put some points on the board.