Where is all this "Dominant New Orleans D" stuff coming from?

[Fixit]

The latest violator is Cold, Hard Football Facts who say that the Saints have a "shutdown D." Earlier this week, Peter King said that their win over the Giants was the most "complete" game of any team this year...and they gave up 27 points.

Honestly, they gave up 7 to Buffalo, 10 to the Jets, 22 to Philly, 27 to the Giants, and 27 to the Lions. Not exactly a Murderer's Row there. The Pats have given up less points in more games to better offensive teams and are still old and soft.

I just don't understand these kinds of things.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

The latest violator is Cold, Hard Football Facts who say that the Saints have a "shutdown D." Earlier this week, Peter King said that their win over the Giants was the most "complete" game of any team this year...and they gave up 27 points.

Honestly, they gave up 7 to Buffalo, 10 to the Jets, 22 to Philly, 27 to the Giants, and 27 to the Lions. Not exactly a Murderer's Row there. The Pats have given up less points in more games to better offensive teams and are still old and soft.

I just don't understand these kinds of things.

They don't have a shutdown D. Their offense is making up for their deficiencies on defense. Truth is, without Drew Brees, they would be a 3-13 team. With that said, the game against them later this year will be tough. I think it will come down to whoever plays better on D. I don't see their defense stopping us, or our defense stopping their offense.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

The latest violator is Cold, Hard Football Facts who say that the Saints have a "shutdown D." Earlier this week, Peter King said that their win over the Giants was the most "complete" game of any team this year...and they gave up 27 points.

Honestly, they gave up 7 to Buffalo, 10 to the Jets, 22 to Philly, 27 to the Giants, and 27 to the Lions. Not exactly a Murderer's Row there. The Pats have given up less points in more games to better offensive teams and are still old and soft.

I just don't understand these kinds of things.

What??? Dude their defense is great. The only reason they gave up so many points to the the Giants and Lions is due to the fact that all those teams just throw to play catch up. Our 2007 team was exactly the same.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

They don't have a shutdown D. Their offense is making up for their deficiencies on defense. Truth is, without Drew Brees, they would be a 3-13 team. With that said, the game against them later this year will be tough. I think it will come down to whoever plays better on D. I don't see their defense stopping us, or our defense stopping their offense.

WOW. Wheres the highly disagree button here. While i agree without Brees their not as good a team but you can plug in any other avererage to above average QB and still get 11 wins with that team.

 

[patsinthesnow]

WOW. Wheres the highly disagree button here. While i agree without Brees their not as good a team but you can plug in any other avererage to above average QB and still get 11 wins with that team.

That sounds like a team I am familar with..?

 

[SeanBruschi54]

That sounds like a team I am familar with..?

Dont get what your question is.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I ment how you said the supporting cast of the Saints is good enough to get 11 wins with an average quarterback. Were like that too.

team: 2008 pats- Matty Cassel

 

[RobertWeathers]

What??? Dude their defense is great. The only reason they gave up so many points to the the Giants and Lions is due to the fact that all those teams just throw to play catch up. Our 2007 team was exactly the same.

For the D, they are 11th in ave yard per pass play, 10th in ave rush, 9th in ave yds per game (big deal) 17th in sacks, 1st in INTs, 25th in forced fumbles (Pats are #1) and 9th in scoring D giving up 18.6 ppg.

I've watched them a couple of times, and my eyes tell me that they are a good D. But shutdown? God no.

Quite frankly, I think the Pats are just as good in all areas except the run D.

My .02$

 

[Kontradiction]

Their defense is better than it has been in years past and they are a more complete team now, but they are just the flavor of the year. The reason the mediots are drooling over them and not the Pats is simple: the Pats are the bad guys of the NFL, and the Saints are this year's sweethearts so far. Not much there...

 

[SeanBruschi54]

I ment how you said the supporting cast of the Saints is good enough to get 11 wins with an average quarterback. Were like that too.

team: 2008 pats- Matty Cassel

haha good point. it flew right over my head!

For the D, they are 11th in ave yard per pass play, 10th in ave rush, 9th in ave yds per game (big deal) 17th in sacks, 1st in INTs, 25th in forced fumbles (Pats are #1) and 9th in scoring D giving up 18.6 ppg.

I've watched them a couple of times, and my eyes tell me that they are a good D. But shutdown? God no.

Quite frankly, I think the Pats are just as good in all areas except the run D.

My .02$

Their stats are also not telling the whole story. OUr 2007 D was better than most gave credit for and at times we were about 15th ranked D, because all teams did was throw throw throw. Those throws no matter how far behind inflate those stats to look worse.

But i do agree that our defense is similar especially in backfield play.

Their defense is better than it has been in years past and they are a more complete team now, but they are just the flavor of the year. The reason the mediots are drooling over them and not the Pats is simple: the Pats are the bad guys of the NFL, and the Saints are this year's sweethearts so far. Not much there...

Im rooting for the Saints every week. Pats vs. Saints Super Bowl.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I ment how you said the supporting cast of the Saints is good enough to get 11 wins with an average quarterback. Were like that too.

team: 2008 pats- Matty Cassel

Personally, I think Cassel is above average relative to most of the starting QBs right now; he just doesn't have the horses in KC yet.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Personally, I think Cassel is above average relative to most of the starting QBs right now; he just doesn't have the horses in KC yet.

No offensive line.

A Running back getting destroyed in the trenches.

Very vanilla play calling due to lack of talent

One good WR.

Matt Cassel is getting booed every week undeservingly.

 

[jmt57]

For about four years the media kept saying the Cardinals were going to turn the corner and win the NFC West; it finally happened last year. And for about four years I've been hearing about how the Saints made off-season moves and had put together a quality defense to go with their offense and turn them into a championship team. Maybe if you keep predicting something long enough, it will eventually come true. Or maybe the Saints defense is doing well in fantasy football and that's where the talk is coming from.

I haven't watched enough of them (only one game) to make an informed opinion, but based on their stats - 9th in points per game, 9th in yards per game, 11th in yards per play - they appear to be above average, but not dominant.

On the other hand the defense's 11 interceptions (1st), four fumble recoveries (that's three turnovers per game), and #2 in 3rd down percentage is indeed impressive.

Still, after hearing this song and dance before and seeing them go down in flames due to their defense, I'm still skeptical and want to see them play a few more games. It just seems like the media's annual hype of the Next Big Thing to me.

 

[RobertWeathers]

No offensive line.

A Running back getting destroyed in the trenches.

Very vanilla play calling due to lack of talent

One good WR.

Matt Cassel is getting booed every week undeservingly.

KC is just a crap team. I wonder how well Brady would do on that team. They are pitiful......

 

[BradyFTW!]

3-13 without Brees? That's pure crazy. They're at worst a 9-10 win team with a league-average QB.

 

[RobertWeathers]

3-13 without Brees? That's pure crazy. They're at worst a 9-10 win team with a league-average QB.

Agreed. NO has excellent talent now. 10-6...9-7 is very reasonable. With that said, Brees is playing at a fantastic level right now....

 

[ausbacker]

Their defense is better than it has been in years past and they are a more complete team now, but they are just the flavor of the year. The reason the mediots are drooling over them and not the Pats is simple: the Pats are the bad guys of the NFL, and the Saints are this year's sweethearts so far. Not much there...

+1. I don't believe they have a top flight defense, but as we were all privy to for 18 games in 2007, the offense covers whatever deficiencies the defense has for the majority of game play, with the defense probably able to jag enough plays etc if they need too.

For example, take the Jets game. If that was Brady in form, not a spastic rookie nicknamed GQ Sanchise with Brees playing the same game against the Pats, I'd bet on us not only winning, but destroying the Saints.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Their defense gave up 27 points because their offense took like 3 plays to score. When it had to be good, it was.

Right now NO is a complete team and by far the best in the NFL. Key phrase is right now.

 

[fair catch fryar]

What exactly constitutes a shutdown D? I think the last we saw a legitimate defense like this week in and week out from regular season and into the playoffs was the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Please refresh my memory.

 

[livinginthe past]

Sorry, i'm not buying the reasoning behind the people who are suggestin that a teams overall defense statistics drop when opponents are forced to air it out in a shootout.

A teams defense should revel in any scenario that makes the opposition more one dimensional.

The 2007 Patriots conceded points because they weren't very good on defense.

To the pevious poster who intimated that the Saints score so quickly that the defense is left on the field alot - i'd rebut that point by telling you that the Saints are currently ranked 5th in the NFL in T.O.P.

The reason the media is hyping the Saints D is because they are making turnovers and not killing the offense....yet.

They aren't a great unit, but just like the 2007 Patriots D they don't have to be.