blacksaint

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.

saint4life
(504)

Euphoria

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

blacksaint

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.

JOESAM2002

"Statistics are for losers." Vince Lombardi

mjf150

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.

saintswhodi

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.

SapperSaint

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."

darstep

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.

**SaintSince67**

WhoDat205

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

Euphoria

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