Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

For the sake of argument, would we have to rely on a game closing 1st down with a better defense?

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Yes, numbers can be misleading, but in this case they're not.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

You know eventually the offense is gonna have a bad day and I'm 100% sure you're gonna try some "I told you so" BS.

To this day our offense has played good to spectacular. Our defense has played from absolutely horrible to decent.

Why in the world are you still stuck on blaming the offense for our 1-2 record?

Why? I try to keep an open mind about things because I'm not perfect, but your obsession with our offense being the problem defies any and all logic.

You do know that Offense is when we have the ball, and defense is when the other team has the ball... right?

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Yikes, I remember last year when people were just hoping for a middle of the pack defense. I'm positive that this defense will get back on track, play like they did last year.

lol.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

There are only three defensive stats that really matter:

Points

3rd down percentage

Turnovers

If the Saints defense takes care of these three, which are all interrelated, everything will be fine.

Hopefully simplifying the defense will contribute to this.

SFIAH

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

I don't think it's their passing game we need to be concerned with. Their offense is run heavy this year and they're really good at it. Gotta hand it to old Jerruh on his O-line picks in the last few drafts. Those are some big nasty athletic dudes.

I think if we do (somehow) keep their running game in check and make them go pass happy that it would actually help us. Romo is clearly still having issues with his back and it's affecting not only his arm strength but seemingly his confidence too. He's looked noticeably less comfortable in the pocket to me, and believe me that with Dez Bryant on my fantasy team I've been keeping track. If we can generate any kind of a pass rush I think we're in good shape. We'll find out soon enough, but I believe Rob when he says he's gonna fix it. He already has a simple and successful blue print to follow, and the added benefit of having almost all the same guys he had last year. I also can't help but think that this will be really good for a guy like Byrd. Not to sound like John Madden, but if you're gonna let the players make the plays.. well this guy here's a play maker.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

While I agree that the defense has been the bulk of the issue, the offense doesn't get a free pass. The Saints offense has three jobs:

1. Score points (DUH!)
2. Do not turn over the ball. The team is 26-0 under Payton when the team does not turn the ball over.
3. Manage the 4 minute offense at the end of the game. There is a difference between scoring, and scoring with little or no time left.

Note this has absolutely nothing to do with the defense.

Now let's analyze and grade the first two games:

1. Grade: A- 34 and 24 on the road isn't bad.

2. D+ at best. The Atlanta game had a red zone interception and a game killing fumble. The Cleveland game had a pick-6

3. C-. The good was marching the ball down and scoring each time. The not so good was leaving too much time each time for a response.

Both sides of the Saints needs to play complementary football. The defense needs to make 3rd down plays, get turnovers, and keep the scoring reasonable (like the 19 PPG last year). The offense needs to score, not give the ball away, and manage the clock in the 4th quarter.

Each of the six categories above were much improved last week. We just need to keep it up.

SFIAH

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Let's analyze the defense in the 1st two games.
F, F and F

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

I'm going to reiterate a two points:

1. The job of the offense has nothing to do with the defense.

2. I was only pointing out that the offense didn't play a perfect game in either contest.


Even with the defense playing terrible, a clean game with no turnovers by the offense would have us 3-0. This is pretty much independent of the defensive play. So even if the blame is allocated 95% defense, 5% offense, the offense carries at least some share of the blame.

That is all.

SFIAH