Just a thought and opinion...
 

I'm not known on here like most because I don't post much. But I have been a member since 09 I think and I do come here regularly and read all the posts that interest me which is most of them. I do have an opinion on all this talk about our defense. I, too, have been frustrated with that side of the ball but in thinking about it we aren't the only one's having defensive troubles this year or in recent years. I think we need to stand back and take a look at the big picture. As for yesterday's game, I look at it this way, TB played a near perfect game, not turnovers and few mistakes. Our offense had an off day, four turnover's, no running attack and the defense played as they have all year. Serviceable, but not as bad as our anger let's us believe in the moment. Anyway, I found an interesting article to sum up what I have been noticeing concerning defensive play and offensive explosion this year. Just wanted to share it with y'all and hope that maybe it will help ease the minds of some who are ready to throw our defense to the road. Lord knows I have felt like it a time or two in recent years. Let me know y'all's thoughts. :bng:

The real reason for the NFL

Thanks for posting..ive felt all along most teams are struggling on D..its not just us..

So right strat. I mean I don't know of any team whose defense is blowing anyone away this year. All I've heard is how the offensive numbers are just off the charts this year. I think it's something that's been trending for a few years now.

i think it's bad tackling. Some of that is the fact that if you hit a guy there's a chance that you'll get a 15 yd penalty and possibly a fine.

Yea, that does play in to it. But tackling, or the lack of it, has been a problem for a while now. Players are more interested in making a big hit than wraping up and tackling. It's just become a lost art.

So true, great tackles don't make Sportscenter. The funny thing is, you're more likely to make Sportscenter with a terrible tackle effort. M. Lynch flashback, make it stop.

YAC ain't it.... It's Roman Harper and Scott Shanely that's inflating the yards. ;)

Realisticly it the tackling rules and defenders are taught to strip the ball.

I'd be more inclined to side with the "nobody has a decent "D"" crowd and the "it's a result of the new rules" crowd except for the fact that our defense really hasn't changed much dating back to the Aaron Brooks era. It's like 2009 was the anomaly.

Good article. I never really though about the KO in terms of more yards but it's the most obvious reason. I think it also has an impact on turnovers. Akim doesn't get a chance to "drop the ball" or fumble it when it's booted over his head. I like the rule but it has changed the game without a doubt.

If the last team who has the ball has the greatest chance to win, I like our chances because we have the best QB in the league.

All good points. Post more!

Dude, that was a punt, not a KO! It was after a 3 and out and the dome was just about deflated and then that happened.

I believe that at this point there is one team and then there's the rest.

(note to reader...don't assume anything in this post until read thoroughly...because after I read it I thought it might be misleading)

As many know, as long as Eli is in NY, I am a Giant fan as well as a Saint fan. Before the season started, I saw many losses on the Giants' schedule based on who I thought was heads and shoulders better than them.

Now, 6 games into the season, I like the Giants chances against any team except one. I am not saying they will win them all, or some, or any, for that matter...I just think they have a chance against almost everybody.

For the record, I have been a Saint fan from the beginning, and only bring the Giants up in this thread because it was something I was thinking about last night...how almost all the teams seem to have a weakness or two.

Sadly, I now have the Saints in that field of 31 who can beat each other up on any given Sunday...but until proven otherwise, at this point in the season, it appears that GB will be the team to beat.

Tackling rules have not changed!

Basic fundamentals of tackling are still the same.

You should NEVER lower your head and lead with your helmet. Spearing someone, leaving your feet and throwing yourself at someone isn't tackling.

To prevent injuries they decided to be toughen up and implement harsher penalties at the hoodlums and cheap shot artists who aren't playing football at all.

It looks like we are out there trying to play two hand touch football at times. I understand better if they were trying to play flag football because at least they are grabbing at the ball carrier.

Stay on your FEET, and WRAP UP. Becoming a missle is only going to make you miss a tackle. Go low and not dive at a players shoulder pads.

If anything having only 14 practices in pads could be a result of poor tackling but I got news for ya its not this year we had this problem. The problem was also last year. This isn't a new thing for us.

All good points, but my main question has always been...what's wrong with the offense?

Nothing, IMO. It is the defense. I hate to keep bringing them up...but I couldn't help but notice that the Giants and the Saints are very similar teams.

Their offenses can score. The defenses, however...can't seem to get off the field consistently. They ultimately give up points and put pressure on the offense to keep up. Sometimes that leads to people forcing things.

I don't watch the other teams, but I'm thinking that it is probably happening all over. Maybe a lot of it is because they have gone so far with that "player safety" bull crap that offenses drives are being kept alive more often and tired defenses have to stay on the field when in yesteryear those hits would have been applauded rather than cause penalties.

Incidentally...in my ongoing comparison of the Gmen and the Saints...I thought it was ironic that last week the Giants had a chance to pull it out in the 4th quarter, only to see Eli go to the well once too often...and this week the same thing happens to Drew...and they are both 4-2. Weird.

Oh yeah...one more comparison. SAINTS / GIANTS The names look so similar.

Some defenses got worse sure...

But some got better and are winning because of it.

There is NO excuse for the poor tackling or consistently giving up 1st downs on 3rd and 20.

Still lamenting the fact that we don't have Jackson, Swilling, Mills and Johnson anymore. :( Now those were the days!!! If we had those guys AND our offense....well...we'd be UNSTOPPABLE!

If if was a skiff...
All we have is the no pressure guys that we have right now.
How do we actually get some pressure from these guys? or not?
Just keep mixing it up and hope for the best.
Getting out to a good lead would do wonders for our defense.
Making our opponents play from behind (for a change) and take chances would be huge.
Our turnovers (INT's and sacks) would go up if we had a 17 point lead.
We wouldn't even have to stop the run.

PTS
29.5
(6th)

YDS
452.2
(2nd)

PASS YDS
344.3
(2nd)

RUSH YDS
107.8
(18th)




These are the numbers so far this year from nfl.com.
New Orleans Saints Team Page at NFL.com

Since 2006 the New Orleans Saints have had the number 1 ranked offense in the league. Your question has always been the offense? What games are you watching?

Thanks Mike. I don't say much but when I do I try to make it count.

Agreed!!

Plus - Baltimore still has a good "D", So.....