With 2:34 remaining in Sunday’s 38-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys...Saints quarterback Drew Brees had just thrown an interception that led to a Dallas touchdown. The New Orleans defense watched as the offense went three-and-out on the next series.

Something had to give. The defense needed to get the ball back for the offense, but instead of being patient and displaying solid fundamentals, it appeared everyone collectively decided that a turnover was the only acceptable result. So, when the Cowboys handed off to DeMarco Murray on their next snap, everyone was thinking the same thing: cause a fumble.

Linebackers Ramon Humber and Curtis Lofton and safety Rafael Bush got their hands on Murray just shy of the first-down marker and immediately began swatting at the ball instead of making the easy tackle. Murray managed to slip free of all three men and picked up 22 yards on what initially looked like a 7-yard gain.

The defense was pressing.

This is Sean Payton's fault.

If you recall he wanted more turnovers, and this is always what happens to defenses that focus on turnovers before fundamentals.

This is what happens when you have an offensive coach giving the defense direction... Payton, shut up and let Ryan do his job!

Edit: Payton doesn't get it still. Look at the quote bellow:
“I don’t think the starting position has been as challenging as just the lack of possessions,” Payton said. “Going into last week’s game, from an efficiency standpoint, with the possessions, we were scoring. When you’re looking at the scoring efficiency, but the lack of opportunities is something that when we get to talking about a complementary game trying to have more possessions and what contributes to that, a turnover obviously does.”

The last sentence is why this defense sucks. Payton doesn't seem to understand a 3 and out is effectively a turnover...

This is Sean Payton's fault.

If you recall he wanted more turnovers, and this is always what happens to defenses that focus on turnovers before fundamentals.

This is what happens when you have an offensive coach giving the defense direction... Payton, shut up and let Ryan do his job!

Edit: Payton doesn't get it still. Look at the quote bellow:
“I don’t think the starting position has been as challenging as just the lack of possessions,” Payton said. “Going into last week’s game, from an efficiency standpoint, with the possessions, we were scoring. When you’re looking at the scoring efficiency, but the lack of opportunities is something that when we get to talking about a complementary game trying to have more possessions and what contributes to that, a turnover obviously does.”

The last sentence is why this defense sucks. Payton doesn't seem to understand a 3 and out is effectively a turnover...

I forgot who 1st brought it up (I think either Mitch or Blackangold), but I believe there's some truth to it. We were so obsessed with getting more turnovers that we lost focus on sound fundamentals. Its like we're trying too hard to force turnovers when all we really need to do is play sound smash mouth defense and the turnovers will come.

Jenkins and Harper both had hands of stone so we were at an interception disadvantage from the start. But now with Byrd and Vaccaro/Bush the picks should increase naturally without having to force or fabricate them.

I'm positive that if we focus on sound fundamentals the turnovers will come. We need to quit obsessing about them.

hey dont forget the 3 and outs on offense. hey what's the point of giving you opportunities when all you gonna do is go 3 and out? start producing some drives, picking up some first downs, cut your offensive turnovers down and score. its just as much of the offense fault as the defense.

The Saints have the best third-down efficiency in the NFL (57.1 percent) and the best completion percentage in the NFL (71.4 percent). Their red-zone efficiency is way up (from 43.8 percent to 68.8 percent).

Combine all of those factors and the Saints’ offense is ranked by ESPN Stats and Info as the second-most efficient in the NFL this season, with 46.33 expected points added. Last year through four games, the Saints’ EPA was 27.07.