5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

The Saints defense

The spectre of BountyGate, the suspension of the head coach, his top assistant, the GM and several players all have made this a difficult season for the Saints, as evidenced by their 0-4 start. They’ve rallied nicely since then to get to the fringe of the playoff race, but it hasn’t been enough.

Why? Because the defense stinks, which is shocking considering it’s led by Steve Spagnuolo, a strong defensive coach who won a Super Bowl as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. His defense this year is statistically the worst in the NFL. It’s also the worst against the run and 30th against the pass.

If they were even just a little better, the Saints might have already secured a playoff berth – and nobody would want to play them in the NFC.


Five biggest underachievers of the NFL season

Re: 5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

Don't forget drew brees

18 interceptions is unacceptable, he might just pass his highest total of 22 picks in a season in 2010

especially when the team paid him that much

Re: 5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

Sad part is alot of people here will never fault Drew Brees. It will always be the defense or the recievers fault.

.... However not all of those 18 interceptions are his fault. I can easily recall 4-5 that was tipped or the defense just got lucky. It's bound to happen when you throw 50+ a game

Re: 5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

How many interceptions has the defense dropped this season?

There were a couple in yesterday's game alone.

As bad as Brees has played at times,the defense has lost more games for the Saints than Brees has this year!

Re: 5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

Lions haven't beat a team that's finished over .500 in that season since something like 2007. Underachievers in 2012? IDK, seems more to me like they're just maintaining the status quo ... @#$%! @#$%! @#$%! @#$%!

Re: 5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

How many 3 and outs have the Saints had this year that put the defense in horrible situations?

Re: 5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

too many to count

They often go 3 and out at the worst possible time aswell, like when we are trying to put the game away

chiefs game comes to mind, brees threw a dumbass pick that game that cost us the lead

Re: 5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

I just want our coach back so we can get back to playing football.

Re: 5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

Except when they played the Saints in the wild card, right?

Re: 5 Biggest NFL Underachievers in 2012
 

No, because they didn't beat the Saints and the Saints finished 13-3/.813. But that is the game I started facing some hard truths. You'll notice the trend has continued this year as they've been swept by the Vikings and lost to the Colts, both teams they had beaten previously as < .500 teams, but couldn't beat this season as > .500 teams.

My love for research, analysis and statistics is both a blessing and a curse, :lol:.