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- Mar 19, 2006
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In the off-season, I was saying we're retooling to be able to run and focusing on D. Then I said stuff about having to gel for 3 weeks. Then I went on suicide watch for a week.
But this D is turning out to be what we thought it could be in the offseason - and then some. Stats are stats but what you see on the field - especially in the second half - has been pure gut-it-out denial/frustration of the opposing offense.
Quick and dirty, ignoring return TDs etc. - points scored against the Pats:
PA Games 1-4: 90
(including games against the Raiders and Vikes severely dragging down the curve.)
Average pts against: 22.5.
Most pts against (top 2 games): 41 (Chiefs), 33 (Dolphins)
PA Weeks 5-14: 177
Avg pts against: 19.7
(with many more games against legitimate contendahs)
Most pts against (top 2 games): 26 (Packers,) 25 (JEST)
What stands out is that nobody "scores at will" against this D since week 4 - and certainly not since the mid-season pickups. Ayers has been a revelation. They're mentally tough and confident, and per the thread's main point, they play all 60 minutes. That last part would seem like an obvious prerequisite for success, but tell that to 2/3 of the defenses in the league. I even loved this D in the Packers game, holding them to field goals instead of giving up the TDs. Unfortunately, the FGs eventually did us in.
But this D is turning out to be what we thought it could be in the offseason - and then some. Stats are stats but what you see on the field - especially in the second half - has been pure gut-it-out denial/frustration of the opposing offense.
Quick and dirty, ignoring return TDs etc. - points scored against the Pats:
PA Games 1-4: 90
(including games against the Raiders and Vikes severely dragging down the curve.)
Average pts against: 22.5.
Most pts against (top 2 games): 41 (Chiefs), 33 (Dolphins)
PA Weeks 5-14: 177
Avg pts against: 19.7
(with many more games against legitimate contendahs)
Most pts against (top 2 games): 26 (Packers,) 25 (JEST)
What stands out is that nobody "scores at will" against this D since week 4 - and certainly not since the mid-season pickups. Ayers has been a revelation. They're mentally tough and confident, and per the thread's main point, they play all 60 minutes. That last part would seem like an obvious prerequisite for success, but tell that to 2/3 of the defenses in the league. I even loved this D in the Packers game, holding them to field goals instead of giving up the TDs. Unfortunately, the FGs eventually did us in.