Why we haven't made the playoffs and why we will.

GumboBC · 05-15-2004, 11:51 AM

I've always thought the main reason we haven't been to the playoffs the last few years was because of our defense. I decided to look at ALL of the playoff team's defenses and see where they ranked in 3 important categories -- Total Defense - Scoring Defense -- Turnovers -- What I found was pretty much what I suspected. Of all the playoff teams, only 2 did not finish in the top 10 in one of the categories. Those teams were -- Seattle and Indianapolis. Indianapolis did almost make the top 10 in total defense, finishing 11th. So, for all intensive purposes, Seattle was the only middle of the road defense that made it to the playoffs. Here are all of the playoff teams from 2003:

Team/total/scoring/turnovers

Dallas - 1st/ 2nd/22nd
Carolina - 8th/ 10th/19th
Seattle - 18th/15th/14th
Green Bay - 16th/ 11th/10th
Philly - 19th/ 7th/18th
St. Louis - 15th/17th/1st
New England - 7th/ 1st/3rd
Tennessee - 12th/13th/8th
Baltimore - 3rd/6th/2nd
Indianapolis -11th/ 20th/13th
Denver - 4th/9th/30th
Kansas City - 29th/19th/4th

Saints/17th/16th/17th

One of the more interesting defenses was Kansas City. Their defense ranked 29th in the league in total defense. However, they were able to overcome that by creating the 4th most turnovers in the league.

There are a lot of different ways to have a successful defense in the NFL and you had better be good at something. If you look at teams that were average at stopping the run or the pass, those teams were able to overcome that weakness by creating turnovers. I don't think they created those turnovers by accident either. I think it was the aggressive nature of their defense that created the turnovers. Which brings me to the Saints defense.

Since Rick Venturi has been the defensive coordinator, I have never been a fan of the style of defense he plays. He just doesn't play aggressively enough for my liking. Maybe it's because he doesn't have the right people. But, I don't buy that.

I think you have to play aggressively no matter who you have. I think being aggressive actually hides a defenses weaknesses more than it exposes them. I also think Venturi thinks just the opposite. I think he plays non-aggressively so not to leave his players exposed. Maybe he's right. But, the results just aren't there using his philosophy.

I also think since Haslett and co. were hired, they set out to build a strong offense and put the defense last. As you can see by the list of the 2003 playoff teams, defenses are what gets a team to the playoffs.

There is a bright side though. In the last couple of years, Haslett and co. have concentrated heavily on the defensive side of the ball. Our defense seems to be much more talented than it has been since.....well......the last time we made the playoffs, when our defense was ranked in the top 5.

If our defense can return to one of the better defenses in the league, we could have a special team in New Orleans. Our offense has been kept in tact, and we've only added more weapons over the years. I don't know if this was their plan all along. I kinda doubt it was, but it might turn out to be for the best. We might have a team that will be tops in the league for years to come.

[Edited on 15/5/2004 by GumboBC]

[Edited on 15/5/2004 by GumboBC]

05-15-2004, 11:51 AM	#1
GumboBC Banned Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,616	Why we haven't made the playoffs and why we will. I've always thought the main reason we haven't been to the playoffs the last few years was because of our defense. I decided to look at ALL of the playoff team's defenses and see where they ranked in 3 important categories -- Total Defense - Scoring Defense -- Turnovers -- What I found was pretty much what I suspected. Of all the playoff teams, only 2 did not finish in the top 10 in one of the categories. Those teams were -- Seattle and Indianapolis. Indianapolis did almost make the top 10 in total defense, finishing 11th. So, for all intensive purposes, Seattle was the only middle of the road defense that made it to the playoffs. Here are all of the playoff teams from 2003: Team/total/scoring/turnovers Dallas - 1st/ 2nd/22nd Carolina - 8th/ 10th/19th Seattle - 18th/15th/14th Green Bay - 16th/ 11th/10th Philly - 19th/ 7th/18th St. Louis - 15th/17th/1st New England - 7th/ 1st/3rd Tennessee - 12th/13th/8th Baltimore - 3rd/6th/2nd Indianapolis -11th/ 20th/13th Denver - 4th/9th/30th Kansas City - 29th/19th/4th Saints/17th/16th/17th One of the more interesting defenses was Kansas City. Their defense ranked 29th in the league in total defense. However, they were able to overcome that by creating the 4th most turnovers in the league. There are a lot of different ways to have a successful defense in the NFL and you had better be good at something. If you look at teams that were average at stopping the run or the pass, those teams were able to overcome that weakness by creating turnovers. I don't think they created those turnovers by accident either. I think it was the aggressive nature of their defense that created the turnovers. Which brings me to the Saints defense. Since Rick Venturi has been the defensive coordinator, I have never been a fan of the style of defense he plays. He just doesn't play aggressively enough for my liking. Maybe it's because he doesn't have the right people. But, I don't buy that. I think you have to play aggressively no matter who you have. I think being aggressive actually hides a defenses weaknesses more than it exposes them. I also think Venturi thinks just the opposite. I think he plays non-aggressively so not to leave his players exposed. Maybe he's right. But, the results just aren't there using his philosophy. I also think since Haslett and co. were hired, they set out to build a strong offense and put the defense last. As you can see by the list of the 2003 playoff teams, defenses are what gets a team to the playoffs. There is a bright side though. In the last couple of years, Haslett and co. have concentrated heavily on the defensive side of the ball. Our defense seems to be much more talented than it has been since.....well......the last time we made the playoffs, when our defense was ranked in the top 5. If our defense can return to one of the better defenses in the league, we could have a special team in New Orleans. Our offense has been kept in tact, and we've only added more weapons over the years. I don't know if this was their plan all along. I kinda doubt it was, but it might turn out to be for the best. We might have a team that will be tops in the league for years to come. [Edited on 15/5/2004 by GumboBC] [Edited on 15/5/2004 by GumboBC]
GumboBC Banned Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,616