New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Per NFL.com, the Saints are:
OFFENSE - Ranks 1st Overall
- 1st in points scored (40)
- 1st in yards gained (438 )
- 6th in passing (267.3)
- 2nd in rushing (170.7) nice!

DEFENSE - Ranks 10th Overall
- 14th in points allowed (18.7)
- 10th in yards allowed (312.3)
- 23rd against the pass (245.3)
- 5th against the run (67)

Source Links:
- Category Stats
- Overall Team Stats

Re: New Team Stats - Our D is Top Ten!!!
 

This is where we are trying to get. Passing yards are somewhat high but due to the Detroit and Philly games I think they gave away to short to medium stuff to make them work and run off time. If it was not for that we would be near the top ten here also. Love It

Re: New Team Stats - Our D is Top Ten!!!
 

Agreed. 3 Weeks in and we're 10th overall. That's progress NOW. G-Williams is earning his keep. Also our passing yards allowed isn't as bad as stats say since a lot of those yards came in garbage time in the first 2 games.

We played prevent D in the 4th for those 2 games cause we were blowing them out.

Also, we never ranked better than 11th Overall in 2006 I believe.

Re: New Team Stats - Our D is Top Ten!!!
 

The rushing stats are fantastic. That should put the naysayers to rest about our offensive line being average run blockers. How about the holes up the middle behind Nicks, Evans, and Goodwin? ;)

Re: New Team Stats - Our D is Top Ten!!!
 

You know, over the last 8 games last season...ahh nevermind, I'm growing tired of repeating it, and most are probably tired of hearing it.:)

Re: New Team Stats - Our D is Top Ten!!!
 

They certainly shut me up.

[img]http://rlv.zcache.com/shut_up_*****_cat_dolls_shirt-p235962270792724716trlf_400.jpg[/img]

Re: New Team Stats - Our D is Top Ten!!!
 

A perfect example of why this is a flawed "defensive" stat.

1 TD was on a fake punt
1 TD was a fumble return
10 points were set up by long kick returns inside the Saints 15 by the Lions.

So 24 of our total 56 had very little to do with our actual defensive play.

So far, I'm impressed.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Truth Danno, but the faked punt isn't included as a part of our Defensive stats. That falls under special teams as I understand it.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

I'll say Darren Sharper has been a 1 man defensive upgrade for the team. I'll take the stats regardless of whether they are 100% accurate. Better to be tops in something on D than bottom half or quarter in everything on defense.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Agreed. We all thought with a top 15 D, the Saints had a chance. Now we have a top 10 D and there's still plenty of time to get better.

And a run game to boot!

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

No disrespect to Sharper. He's had the most impact on the D so far (Williams excluded), but Greer and a healthy Porter have been huge as well.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Nope, it counts as points allowed by the defense, as does our intentional safety, and any PR or KR TD's...

Saints defense gave up 3 passing TD's so far...
Stafford - 0 TD pass
Kolb - 2 TD pass
Edwards - 0 TD pass
Moorman - 1 TD pass

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Bastards!

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Since we are fans, we can track the real stat here: Actual points given up by the defense.

Detroit: 10 (17 on fumbles and ST breakdowns)
Philly: 20 (2 points a strategy move)
Buffalo: 0 Nil. Nada. Nothing!

Total: 30 Avg: 10 PPG

The very fact that we could have won the game 10-7 with no TD passes and Brees throwing for less than 200 yards is testament to the dominance of the defense.

The Saints have 2 games and 3 weeks to get ready for the big time this season. Consecutive wins against an undefeated Jets squad and a presumably undefeated Giants team (they have KC and Oakland the next 2 weeks) will elevate the Saints to the team to beat in the NFC for 2009.

SFIAH

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

If we can put down the Jets and Giants, big IF, but if we do I will say Ravens vs Saints in SB is very probable.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Super Bowl? SUPER BOWL!!??

Way too far ahead to look. We don't even play a division game until November. Even if we roll into the Atlanta game 6-0 there are no guarantees, or even probabilities.

One game at a time. Two at most. Anything beyond that is wishful thinking.

Think about the Super Bowl in mid January, not late September.

SFIAH

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

I'm with SFIAH. I am not even remotley thinking about the "S" word.

I am too happy just enjoying the way the whole team is playing!

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

I'm thinking superbowl from day freaking one.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Trust me, I hear what your saying. And agree that all you can hope to do is make the playoffs. From there its anyone's guess who makes the SB. But that's the logical standpoint.

As a fan I think if we handle the Jets and the Giants, then the SB is a real possibility given our schedule doesn't have too many more elite teams, except the Pats and possibly the Falcons if they continue to win.

That means first seed and the road to the SB goes through NO. So the SB becomes a real possibility if we beat the Giants and the Jets.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Another telling stat compiled from NFL.com - leaders thru 3 games in turnover differential:

Green Bay Packers +8
Denver Broncos +6
New York Giants +5
Minnesota Vikings +4
New Orleans Saints +4
Atlanta Falcons +3
New York Jets +3
Baltimore Ravens +3

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

If there is one thing Saints history has told us, it doesn't matter much how you start, it's how you finish.

The two tough games ahead will be good indicators, but I'm not going to jump ship or make reservations for Miami regardless of the outcomes.

We have been blessed with very few serious injuries up to this point (knocking on wood and throwing some monkey dust) but this is only going to be week 4 of 17 weeks and we've played a JV squad, a team with its two best players hurt and a team about as confused as they come. The D has done well compared to previous years where we made high school quarterbacks look like instant Canton inductees. Two games against well coached and stable teams will give us more info on how the rest of the season will shape up than the previous 3.

I will admit that there is some hope now of a winning record. TB, Was, StL and Car should produce 5 wins, so one more gives a 9-7 season. Take Miami, a second from Car and you're at 10-6. Sneak up on Dallas and it's playoff city no matter what happens against the rest.

But I'm not going there...

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

If we stay 1st and 10th we'll make it to the Superbowl this year. I hate to say it this early but we're looking like the best NFC team if not the best team period this season. The next 3 games will tell the season. If we can get through the next 3 3-0 Jets, Giants and Falcons then the only other team I would worry about is the Ravens.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Our optimism is justified. It was the secondary that kept us out of games in past years and the big question going into this season was "did they do enough to upgrade it"?? Well, so far, it looks like the answer is yes.

Gregg Williams is invaluable.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Next 3 Games are Jets, Giants, and Miami...but i hear what you're saying. I think we can go 3-0, but 2-1 will be fine too.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

when we go undefeated in the division then will I us the S word. talk to me in nov.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

I will never talk about us being in the SB until we are in the SB. We can talk about getting into the playoffs...or winning the division...because those are things that you can do based on your record. You can have losses and still make the playoffs...or win the division.

Once you make the playoffs, it is a new season and everyone starts out needing to sweep to win it all. One loss and your done. So, even if you make the playoffs or win the division, you still have to be relatively perfect to get to the promised land...and anybody who follows football has heard the old saying, "on any given Sunday."

A lot of my reservations comes from the 2006 season. I remember everybody assuming a win against the Bears and putting us in the SB. It disturbed me, and I'm still feeling the effects.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

Isn't that special .... Good for early optimism and enthusiasm. More stern tests await us...we can all get on the magic carpet then.

Re: New Team Stats - Saints Defense is Top Ten!!!
 

They are definitely improved. It's great to see a Saints defense attack again. The CB's have been lights out. Sharper is a great leader and still has something left in the tank. Vilma is the 2nd best MLB the Saints have ever had. The D-Line has been improving. Shanle and Fujita have been showing up more and more. Harper is very good when he comes forward. Hopefully, they will all continue to progress as the competition improves.