BillyCarpenter1

Noteabe Teams that Saints Defense are ranked ahead of:

New Orleans 6 371 318.5 5.2 19.7 34 79 43.0 5 6 83.3 29 251 31:17 14 4
Indianapolis 6 367 323.8 5.3 18.2 30 78 38.5 1 3 33.3 51 432 30:15 12 5
Tennessee 6 345 324.5 5.6 19.0 19 66 28.8 3 6 50.0 51 423 27:49 8 3
Minnesota 5 304 325.2 5.3 18.6 22 59 37.3 1 5 20.0 37 277 28:01 10 2
New England 6 408 327.3 4.8 21.0 27 84 32.1 1 6 16.7 48 415 29:41 13 6
Carolina 5 316 341.6 5.4 18.0 25 70 35.7 1 2 50.0 45 428 28:46 6 3
New York (N) 5 336 343.8 5.1 18.8 25 74 33.8 1 4 25.0 49 445 30:37 12 4
Kansas City 6 395 360.3 5.5 19.5 29 86 33.7 3 8 37.5 40 325 30:32 9 6
Green Bay 6 415 361.7 5.2 20.7 41 89 46.1 2 5 40.0 39 341 29:56 5 3
Oakland 6 403 365.2 5.4 21.2 33 80 41.2 3 3 100.0 50 474 34:03 6 4

I know that stats don't tell the whole story, but considering how many starters the Saints have lost on defense and considering that the offense has provided little help in keeping the defense off the field, I think this defense has performed better than most expected. They gave up 27 points to the Seahawks and the Titans, which shouldn't happen, but again, the Saints offense didn't help them out at all. If the Saints offense could have sustained some drives and helped with the time of possession battle, the defense probably would have held it's own. The one really bad game they had was against the Colts and they looked as bad as it gets. However, sometimes even the best defenses have terrible games. Just look at what the Colts did against the Bucs defense.

While this defense still has it problems, there is little doubt that it is better than last years version. This defense has held opponents to under 20-points in half (3) of their games this season -- Something they only managed to do once last year!

With all the new starters on defense this year and the extraordinary amount of injuries it has suffered, I think Rick Venturi deserves some credit for making this defense at least look respectful. There have been some changes in the lineup, as of late, with Orlando Ruff and Victor Green that seem to have plugged up some weak areas in the last couple of games. With the return of Darren Howard and Sedrick Hodge this defense could turn in to be a strong unit for the Saints this year.

This defense might not be on the elite level this year, but if the Saints offense can return to last years form ( and I believe they will) this new defense might help this team put together a string of wins that will carry them into the playoffs. There are a lot of "if's" in there, but stranger things have happened.

Anyone have any thoughts on this defense???






[Edited on 15/10/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]