What happened to the defense...

SaintFanInATLHELL · 02-16-2005, 08:11 AM

...the last 4 games of the season?

Was it something specific? Was it a confluence of factors? Was it a change in attitude? A change in scheme?

What was it? And more importantly can we keep it going?

We seem to spend so much time talking about the offense, especially:

He who shall not be named in this thread!

the fact is missed that in the last 4 years when the defense keeps the scoring down, the Saints win at a 70% clip. 20-8 when the opposition held to under 21 points a game, including 5-1 this year, and of course all 4 games of the streak.

To paraphrase a former President:

It's the defense, stupid!

So what's the real difference? McKenzie and Brown stepping up? The young LBs? The line finally getting healthy and playing together? Haslett taking control?

Whatever it is we need to improve upon it and keep it going. One constant in the NFL is that you need a decent defense in order to compete. All 4 teams in the final four this year were in the top 15 in both scoring and total defense, with 3 of the teams raking 1-3.

The hated Falcons went from 30th in scoring defense in 2003 to 14th in 2004. They also went from a losing season in 2003 to within one game of the Superbowl in 2004.

From the stats, the Saints would be 11-5 or 12-4 if they could hold the opposition to under 21 PPG.

So why can't we do that? Or more importantly why could be do it 4 straight times in the last 4 games?

Inquiring minds want to know.

SFIAH

Tobias-Reiper · 02-16-2005, 08:55 AM

..well, I posted this on another thread:
Game #13 -- beat a 5-11 Tampa Bay team ranked #22 in offense.
Game #14 -- beat a 6-10 Dallas ranked #14 in offense, with a 41 yo Vinnny at QB.
Game #15 -- \"beat\" a Falcons team playing not to get hurt because they had nothing else to play for, other than not getting hurt...
Game #16 -- beat a decimated Panthers team.

02-16-2005, 08:11 AM	#1
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,647	What happened to the defense... ...the last 4 games of the season? Was it something specific? Was it a confluence of factors? Was it a change in attitude? A change in scheme? What was it? And more importantly can we keep it going? We seem to spend so much time talking about the offense, especially: He who shall not be named in this thread! the fact is missed that in the last 4 years when the defense keeps the scoring down, the Saints win at a 70% clip. 20-8 when the opposition held to under 21 points a game, including 5-1 this year, and of course all 4 games of the streak. To paraphrase a former President: It's the defense, stupid! So what's the real difference? McKenzie and Brown stepping up? The young LBs? The line finally getting healthy and playing together? Haslett taking control? Whatever it is we need to improve upon it and keep it going. One constant in the NFL is that you need a decent defense in order to compete. All 4 teams in the final four this year were in the top 15 in both scoring and total defense, with 3 of the teams raking 1-3. The hated Falcons went from 30th in scoring defense in 2003 to 14th in 2004. They also went from a losing season in 2003 to within one game of the Superbowl in 2004. From the stats, the Saints would be 11-5 or 12-4 if they could hold the opposition to under 21 PPG. So why can't we do that? Or more importantly why could be do it 4 straight times in the last 4 games? Inquiring minds want to know. SFIAH

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02-16-2005, 08:55 AM	#2
Tobias-Reiper Merces Letifer Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 4,161	What happened to the defense... ..well, I posted this on another thread: Game #13 -- beat a 5-11 Tampa Bay team ranked #22 in offense. Game #14 -- beat a 6-10 Dallas ranked #14 in offense, with a 41 yo Vinnny at QB. Game #15 -- \"beat\" a Falcons team playing not to get hurt because they had nothing else to play for, other than not getting hurt... Game #16 -- beat a decimated Panthers team.