Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

According to ESPN's formula it is:

"Believe it or not, according to ESPN Stats and Information’s defensive efficiency formula, the Saints are even worse this season than they were in 2012 -- when they set the NFL record for yards allowed in a season. That year, they averaged minus-7.0 "expected points" per game. This year it’s minus-8.6, the worst in the league."

Rob Ryan getting love from players, but not getting results - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN

The article overall is about the players taking all the blame and Rob Ryan not being the problem. That may be true, but I can tell you our position coaches still need to go and Ryan needs to bring his own guys in.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

the only reason i would consider putting these two defenses together would be the coaching. Spags did not gut the team as deep and did add some good players. so Spags was worse.

Even with all the moves and the drop in play across the board I still think we are a few pieces away from plugging most of the holes.

the issue i have is Rob has not shown the talent evaluation so far to get the job done. he appears to be blind to the big picture and is to busy doing micro management to see he is driving the group into the dirt. this is a replay of dallas all over again.

Notice how Drew is playing more and more like Tony Romo did? QB having no faith in their defense and feels he has to score makes bone head mistakes. QB need that safety blanket. As we all know the QB is usually the most sensitive player on the field.

In my opinion Rob is one of the direct cause of Drew drop in quality of play. He maybe the main reason

The offense feels it has do it all.

nope i do not believe that a is stretch of the imagination by any means.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

Agree totally. The position coaches have to be changed. RR is not without blame though. He has shown the unwillingness to play to our strengths. He continues to call zone plays when we obviously dont have the skill sets to. He has shown that he cannot adjust his game plan and sticks to it regardless of how bad its working. That, in my mind, is how we resemble 2012. The biggest problem with spags was his scheme. He refused to change. So far it seems, RR is doing the same thing.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

No. That 2012 defense was pretty damn bad :puke:

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

"Not ready for prime time"

That's how I would characterize this defense.

A mix of vets, touted picks, signings, UDFAs. And they're not ready to step up

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

2012 3rd down conversions against us - 38.5 %
2014 3rd down conversions against us - 47.9 %

Since 2006, only San Diego in 2011 has been worse.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

The only defensive stats that matter:

3rd down conversion rate.
Number of sacks.
Number of turnovers.

The 2014 Defense is bad/awful in all 3.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

I think the stats (particularly yards) may be a little bit different due to circumstances.... but to the naked eye, with that sense of inevitability that they cannot stop the other team more than once or twice a game (and usually that being due to the other team's drops/mistakes/miscues), I'd have to say....it doesn't really matter, for all intents and purposes they are essentially the same between 2012 and 2014. The feeling in the stands at the games is identical. The scoreboards at the end of the games are quite similar, probably worse this year historically, because of all the repeated collapses.

The lack of fear or respect from the other teams is quite telling. There's nobody on this defense that keeps the other team's coaches awake at night during the week, worrying about matchups or game planning for them or adjusting to them. Week after week, teams just come in against the Saints, set up their base offense, run their plays, and go to work. There's absolutely no risk or pushback. No playmakers. No turnovers. So bad that arguing over whether it's worse than 2012 is just guessing how many angels dancing on the head of a pin.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

NFL Stats:
Saints 2014 Defense ranked 27th
Saints 2014 Offense ranked 2nd

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

Stats are can be turned to see any point of view

Basing the best offense off yards is pointless,points win games not yards. And twice in two home games we have come away from the goaline with nothing to show for it.We are 9th in the leage with 26.2 points per game. 25th on defense allowing 26.6 ppg.

One of the biggest stats is the defense has managed 11 takeaways,the offense has given the ball away 20 times.You dont win games loosing the turnover battle. Look at the top 6 teams in the turnover battle(packers,pats,seattle,kansas,arizona,denver) best teams in the lague dont turnover and create turnovers.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

No wonder we suck.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

They seem worse than the 2012 model, <shrug> ...


Man, I cringed when I read that sentence, :bugeyes: ... not that I disagree, just never imagined using "Drew" and "Tony" in the same sentence, :lol:.

Yeah, but chin up ... it's in a "we're still gonna' win the Divison" sort of way, :) ... and I hope you do, and maybe a playoff game as well because when you do, it's like mailing Goodell a NOLA Christmas card! :D

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

I put the question to a pats a player i met at a benefit function that has ties to dallas.

he agreed that was a huge factor effecting the teams offense and without a doubt did effect romo and the entire offense. no one will probably admit to it but it does have a trickle down effect. in some cases it turns into a freaking mud slide. the over all team psyche can be effected and in that case it was.

So Panic and dread is never a good thing on the field? I was laughing at myself for that one

little voices in your head? never a good thing. you getting help with that?

then I ask if that might be what is happening in new orleans.

that would not be a reach by any means. drew appears to reaching more than he has in past. pushing plays. the defensive play is possibly a big factor to it.

Next question. Correlation between Rob with cowboys and Rob now with the saints.

he laughed and said i can not quote him. by then i told him about this site.

not a stretch of ones imagination by any means.

ok not to bash the Rob completely i did ask is it fair to judge Rob when he has never really been in one place long enough to build his own defense.

reply "that is a fair out."

tipped our glasses and finished off our first round snicking at that one

what would be the smartest off season moves for the saints to turn things around

he said if Rex gets canned. Hire Rex as the DC. chuckling. Which he doubts Rex will take a DC position next year. So the best thing Rob could do, if he is still there, is to raid Rex staff early and often as soon as they are available. he really likes the jets defensive staff as a whole. He thinks there are a couple that are close to being ready to becoming DC themselves or at least move into larger roles. But he also stated that the saints defense does not need a whole sale change by any means. he thought Williams did a great job while he was there and they did not need to panic. "whole sale change is never good and skate goating will get you killed"

cost me two drinks to get it out of him and the term cowgirls turned out to be a good ice breaker with him.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

What about offering Jim Tomsula the job if we do get rid of Rob. That 49ers defense has still been pretty decent even with all the injuries and suspensions. He is there D-Line coach so they cnt stop us offering the DC job(can they?)

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

Robs not leaving. A handful of key players could put this defense back in the top 15

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

Defensive takeaways we rank 29th.
Offensive giveaways we rank 24th.

The Offense does indeed turn it over too much, but our Defense is absolutely dreadful at forcing turnovers. Combine that with the worst 3rd down defense in the NFL and 2nd worst in the last decade, its no wonder we've only won 4 games.

We could still win not forcing turnovers if our defense could stop opponents on 3rd down, but we can't.

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

Daayyuum, Hagie! ... lotta' good insight there, :) ... you get the unofficial, uncoveted SloMotion "ply 'em with drinks 'til you get what you want, on-the-spot, investigative journalist (and such ...)" award!. :lol:. Excellent reporting while protecting your sources ... this kind of stuff is why B&G stands out, IMO ... you just don't find it anywhere else.

http://www.caribpress.com/images/201...er_600x300.jpg

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

lmao you van do a little digging and you should narrow the list down to 4 or 5 players it might have come from

Re: Is this Defense worse than the 2012 team?
 

Nice write up.:cool: