Will this defense be top ten? (hint: no)

Interception said:

I guess i'm not allowed to disagree with your argument?

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Not after you say "feel free to disagree". Dislike and disagree should be used conservatively. Better just to reply with your thoughts and reasons. I thought Deus made a very informative post and you chose to dislike it?? I don't get it.

Interception said:

What makes you so confident that easely and brown are not weaknesses?

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Not intending to speak for the person to whom you directed the question, but how about the fact that they are both first-rounders chosen by BB whose track record of success with #1s is very good? Based upon that history, the prognosis for success seems high.

Oh look another yards per game allowed fanboy.

There should not be one football fan that would rather see their team give up 250 yards and 21 points a game than 400 yards and 13 points a game.

I would like to see a dominant defense, but would prefer a team that knows how to win football games rather than get gaudy statistics... that is the fodder for talk shows, not on the football field.

Interception said:

This is a 15th-25th ranked defense and most likely in the 20s in everything except for scoring.

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Where do people come up with this baloney. The Mort Distort?

Thankfully, the team that scores the most wins.

JMC00 said:

Oh look another yards per game allowed fanboy.

There is not one football fan that would rather see their team give up 250 yards and 20 points a game than 400 yards and 13 points a game.

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I said it multiple times.. the (mostly) American obsession with trying to explain very complex sports with simplistic statistics is mindblowing to me.

The only important stat is your win column. If you get there allowing 500yds in every game then who cares? Again notice the word "allowing" and not "giving up". If you sacrifice one aspect because you think focusing on others will increase your win odds (see bend dont break) then good for you. We are a gameplanning team, which makes us very difficult to prepare for and which also renders a lot if traditional stats useless as we can decide to ignore running game for 2 weeks straight and then suddenly look like a impenetrable wall for the next three.

And apart from all the stats talk, give the team at least the month of September to find itself before being crazy positive or negative. It is a process.

I think we need to get a little further than week one into the season before I go grading what this defense may or may not be rank wise...... Just saying

Interception said:

This is a 15th-25th ranked defense and most likely in the 20s in everything except for scoring.

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This nicely sums up your position as a football analyst.

luuked said:

I said it multiple times.. the (mostly) American obsession with trying to explain very complex sports with simplistic statistics is mindblowing to me.

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You don't pay much attention to politics then? Simple solutions for complex problems is the ticket. Actually, you have to first deny that problems are complex.

Ah, the fantasy football world strikes again. An entire generation of football fans conditioned to derive satisfaction from statistics rather than wins, and showboat "big plays" rather than consistency.

So if the defense allows fewer yards but more points and loses more games, are they more gooder?

While I buy into the bend don't break philosophy, I would like to point out that the Patriots had a real problem with getting stops in the superbowl against the Giants. Time of possession was a problem, the Patriots offense does need to get the ball, if the other team holds the ball and the Patriots have limited scoring opportunities, they are at risk of losing.

I would rather see a defense that gets stops and give the offense the ball.

Ross12 said:

So if the defense allows fewer yards but more points and loses more games, are they more gooder?

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Are you saying that you don't want to see a defense that gets stops and does not allow a lot of points? These things are not mutually exclusive.

Nunchucks said:

Are you saying that you don't want to see a defense that gets stops and does not allow a lot of points? These things are not mutually exclusive.

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Just trying to wrap my head around the thread discussion.

Nunchucks said:

Are you saying that you don't want to see a defense that gets stops and does not allow a lot of points? These things are not mutually exclusive.

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Nobody is saying that. The point is that if your defense can hold up in the red zone it will give your offense the ability to win the game. The Pats have a potentially lethal offense and only needs the defense to hold the opposing team to field goals hence the bend don't break philosophy.

That said, I think our front seven has the potential to put a lot of pressure on the QB and as a result will see more 3 and outs than in the past.

Why would someone double team Nincovich and what does that have to do with our defense?

Tony2046 said:

Nobody is saying that. The point is that if your defense can hold up in the red zone it will give your offense the ability to win the game. The Pats have a potentially lethal offense and only needs the defense to hold the opposing team to field goals hence the bend don't break philosophy.

That said, I think our front seven has the potential to put a lot of pressure on the QB and as a result will see more 3 and outs than in the past.

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Hey! It's not about winning the game. It's about compiling statistics about the number of yards not allowed!

Interception said:

Ninkovich is a great player but he is not an all-pro. Ninkovich does not demand double teams and he is not a game changer.
What is he? The best player on our defensive line.
Chandler Jones comes in at second, as an above average DE.
Our interior DL is unproven, rookies, or coming off of injuries.

Why is this defensive line praised so much? In the other thread about the defense, people were comparing this defense to the 2013 Panthers (second in the league). Does anyone truly believe this defense can be top 5? Seriously?

This is a 15th-25th ranked defense and most likely in the 20s in everything except for scoring.
Feel free to disagree and we'll see who can come back and say "i told you so."

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The fact that you think that Ninkovich is the Pats best player on defense shows the fallacy of your post. Ninkovich is behinds the following (in no particular order):
1) Devin McCourty
2) Jamie Collins
3) Jarod Mayo
4) Jabaal Sheard
5) Chandler Jones

The LEAGUE ranks defenses by how many YARDS they give up. Unless something has changed and they are giving teams points just for the number of YARDS a team ears during the game, then YARDS don't matter one damn bit. It's points allowed that matter.

Oh and I love nink but on what planet is he better than Chandler? Because he didn't miss time with injury? Last two years Chandler has been more productive game by game statistically and the eye test isn't even close Chandler is better.

I reserve judgement on the front 7 until the NE/ Dallas game. That being said, the bend but don't break philosophy from 2005- 2013 earned lots of wins but no trophies and BB had to break the bank last year to buy elite secondary players and secure a trophy. Unfortunately, the NE D appears to be bending again. Lots of crappy QBs ahead so the pain should be minimal.....until the playoffs.

Avoid Green Bay