This defense compared to years past

mgteich said:

You are certainly free to not care about points scored against us. Personally, I think it matters when opponents score against us.

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PatsWickedPissah said:

Remember, that was before 2 separate rulings by the competition committee that have transformed the NFL into a fantasy flag football show

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PatsWickedPissah said:

Remember, that was before 2 separate rulings by the competition committee that have transformed the NFL into a fantasy flag football show

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Oswlek said:

Agreed. 01 and 03 didn't make the plays either, they just left a few more seconds on the clock for the offense to work with.

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Oswlek said:

Mg's point about garbage time generally allowing more yards is correct, but 2007 was a unique situation. Teams felt like this had to play as if they were trailing by 21 at the start of the game, but since there was still A full game to go, NE didn't play just to kill the clock. That fear ended up putting NE at a serious strategic advantage. A combination of good teams playing more straight up and Colvin's injury (he doesn't go down and NE wins the SB in comfortable fashion) exposed the D a little down the stretch.

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AzPatsFan said:

I'm afraid you need to take off your rose-colored glasses. That 2007 secondary was not anything particularly special.

Playing from far ahead makes for a one dimensional opponent. You end up with phony Defenses, with inflated stats like the Broncos and Colts, ready to be brought back to reality.

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supafly said:

Yeah, I love the enthusiasm and optimism---but a statement like that is a hell of a stretch (again, my opinion).

How in the world would you honestly feel that we're currently better than the 2003, 2004, and 2001 defenses? I think you need to go back and re-examine some of those stats. Those were insanely dominant defenses that were giving up 14, 15 points per game.

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supafly said:

I just gave numerous stats and reasons why the passing defense WAS good (top 5-10), but apparently you didn't bother to read the post on the previous page.

When you hold the opposition to 237 yards or less in 15/19 games with a ton of garbage time, I'd have to say that's pretty impressive. As a matter of fact, it's totally unheard of as it occurred after the rule changes.

They were also 5th in total pass defense.

Any comment about "rose colored glasses" coming from you is hilarious.

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AzPatsFan said:

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We await the return of Chandler, but the addition of Ayers and the addition of Casillas definitely help. With the talent available BB can engineer and scheme pass rushes and Matty P is doing so.

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AzPatsFan said:

. The Colts running for 18 yards, and the Broncs for 44, indicate to me that this Defense no longer has problems against the Run.

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mgteich said:

1) It is an illusion to think that we have had poor defenses in the Belichick era. Only 2000 (17th), 2002 (17th), 2005 (17th) and 2011 (15th) have been out of the top 10 in points allowed. Even in these three years, the defense was about average in 32 team league. It can be argued that having an average defense is enough for success with a Tom Brady as the QB.

2) I suggest that we overestimate the 2001 defense (6th). Obviously it was a good defense.

3) 2003 (1st), 2004 (2nd), 2006 (2nd) and 2007 (4th) were by far our best defenses. It is true that 2007 is a bit hard to judge. HOWEVER, I would argue that I would expect MORE points allowed by a team that is always ahead. One might consider this year's DEN game, which wasn't a great stat success for the defense.

4) We are left with 2008-2013. All were in the top ten but 2011 (15th). We rank best in 2009 (5th).
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So, where does our current #13 defense in points allowed rank among the top defenses we've had? Should we only consider the defense of the last 6 weeks? That seems unreasonable. IMHO, we have a top 10 defense at the moment. We might have a top 5 defense for the playoffs with Jones back. However, it will difficult to judge, other than by a SB win. We could finish in top 5 for points allowed, or not.

BOTTOM LINE
Perhaps we have the best defense since 2007. Perhaps not. As I've said, I think that we've under-rated recent defenses. But if our defense is a top 5 defense, it would be statistically as good as any since 2007 (tied at 5th with 2009).

The defense SEEMS better because of the awesome secondary. Even with an adequate run defense, we need fear no one in this pass-happy league.

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RayClay said:

i think our overall secondary, in a passing league, is better than any, including the SB teams (gasp, I said it) Hate to jinx them, but Revis and Law are comparable, and the we are better in depth after that.

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robertweathers said:

This team needs Chandler Jones for the playoffs.



I agree that the run D is improved. Lets see how the do vs MIA and NYJ this time around...

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robertweathers said:

Eric Alexander covers better, Chad Scott grabs Wayne's bobble catch and 2006 D goes from #4 to #2 or #3...

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ZoisKing said:

There should be a shared mindset that stats before and after the rule changes don't compare. What I have seen from this team as its developing is the ability to hold very potent offenses to a couple touchdowns less a game then they are used to averaging. Giving up roughly 20 points per game to the Broncos and Colts is pretty darn good.

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robertweathers said:

Yea I'm of the opinion that yards allowed are one of the most meaningless stats. Red zone D, 3rd down D, forced TO, QB sacks and comp % vs and yards per rush/pass are ones that I typically put more stock in that others..

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pencilneckgeek said:

it's a much more interesting comparison if we can answer how the defenses compare, rather than how we might rank them.

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pencilneckgeek said:

I think the best way to compare teams across eras is to look at rankings, so as to account for the changes to the game brought about by Bill Polian-types who pander to lazy fans more interested in celebrity than football (or by a commissioner in some future dystopian era who panders to the bloodthirsty masses by creating a game more suited to the Jack Tatums if the world.). Even rankings need to be taken with as grain of salt, because some years the competition is better than others.

The obvious question then is "rankings of what?" For defense, points allowed is probably the best intuitive stat, and maybe we should stop there if we simply want to determine which defense is the best, but it's a much more interesting comparison if we can answer how the defenses compare, rather than how we might rank them.

(Oops, gotta run - I'll finish this thought later. Please talk amongst yourselves.)

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AzPatsFan said:

MIami has lost Moreno for the year; and Miller is no great shakes. Their Offensive line is injured and on IR now. Rexy and the Jesters are a standing joke and don't matter.

The Lions are not a great running club. The Pack in some games can run. In others they don't or can't. The Chargers are a passing club too. Buffalo has a good running game, but no QB.

There is no complete, tough, running club remaining to be played other than the Packers.

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captain stone said:

…and wins the SB 2 weeks later vs Wrecks Gross,man.

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supafly said:

Fair point which I certainly considered, but I stand by my opinion.

I think our current defense has obvious potential, but I think we're jumping the gun with any comparisons to those dominant SB winning defenses that were ranked #1 and #2 in the league. They were dominant both vs. the run and the pass.

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