CharityMike

METAIRIE, La. -- Rob Ryan was confident, defiant and self-deprecating Tuesday while discussing a New Orleans Saints defense that has plummeted to last in the NFL in yards allowed.

"I know we're on the verge of breaking through," Ryan insisted of a young defense that had its worst day in last Sunday’s 39-17 loss at Philadelphia.

The Saints gave up 519 yards, which was the highest total from any game in the NFL this season at the time, before the San Francisco 49ers topped them later in the night. The Saints have allowed a league-high 409 yards per game, and they’re tied for 29th in the NFL in points allowed at 28.6 per game.

But Ryan continued to express his belief in a defense that had its best performance in a 26-20 victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 and finally snagged its first two interceptions of the season in the first half at Philadelphia before the wheels came off in the second half.

"I thought (the breakthrough) was gonna be for Dallas week because we were getting our players back," Ryan said of healing veterans Keenan Lewis, Jairus Byrd and Dannell Ellerbe. "And I thought we were heading that way in Philadelphia. I think for whatever reason we didn't finish the task at hand. Stats don't mean anything to us. I know what it looks like. And you can feel it, it's coming. I know it is. And just keep blaming me ... And that'll be great because I know this thing's gonna be great, too.

"Our guys are working enough that I know it's getting turned around, and it will. It will be fixed. It's not great yet obviously. Hell, we're probably last in the league in every single category. ... We plan on getting better, we know who we're playing this week. And it's gonna be a hell of a challenge and our guys will be up for it." Rob Ryan: 'Blame me' for New Orleans Saints' D, breakthrough near - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN


Don't worry Rob, we wil continue to blame you and your non adjustments.