|Mitch|

stats = real life

just like points per game(4th w/ 19 per game); doesn't get more "real" than that

TheOak

Agreed!

Points/game and time on the field are the real litmus tests for a defense. Yards stat gets blurred depending on score or that pesky bend but do not break prevent defense that normally breaks..

I like to look at the end of a previous season to get a feel for the start of a new season.. Players lost/gained, and points allowed.

Last 6 games including the playoffs as 2 of that 6 we allowed:
20.16 points per game
150.6 yards passing/game
113 yards/game rushing
6 rushing TDs Allowed
8 passing TDs Allowed
With the addition of Byrd and a ROLB we are already a better defense than we ended last year as.

This is just my personal opinion but as you get better as a defense, each incremental gain after Top5 becomes logarithmic and we should be careful of not selling the farm to gain a spot or two. We pick up a LB and a Corner and everything else goes to offense.