At what point do we say "okay, maybe we have a very good defense"?

[21Savage]

The funny thing is that the next time we give up 30 points, all the naysayers will jump out of the wood yard and talk about how terrible our defense is. Our week our secondary is. Cut Newman, fire Campo, Wade hasn't done.........blah blah blah.

We played stellar D for like 7 weeks straight but as soon as we gave up 24 points to the Giants -with at least 2 fluke plays- everybody and their mama came out and said we have a terrible defense.

How many good offenses do we have to hold below their season average (and bad offenses too) to admit that the consistency in the D has been very good/great play all year long?

We might give up some yards to the other team in their territory but from around the midfield till the opponent gets in field goal position (and I don't know they numbers on this but), we have to be the stingiest defense in the league.

The saints get a kickoff return to our 40, we get a 3rd down sack to get off the field that is nulled by a defensive penalty. And we still made them point. It's funny how after the facts people wanna always talk about how the defense didn't make stops when it mattered the most. But a large part of that is because the offense doesn't capitalize on some of the stops we make during the games. Against the Chargers, they had great field position a couple of times were we kept them from scoring at all.

We've held 2 of the best offenses in the league in back to back weeks to way less than their season averages and made their QBs look mediocre at times.

And I believe he Ware hadn't gotten injured, we would've stopped them on that 3rd down play. But that's just excuses.

 

[Yeagermeister]

When they stop giving up the fluke plays and shut teams down on third down. They played very well last night but there is room for improvement.

 

[RainMan]

Oh, I think we do have a high quality defense. I think it's just like with the rest of the team, though, in that you never know if they're going to "finish" the job any given game. For the most part this season, they have -- definitely much better than last year. But there have been a few hiccups.

 

[YosemiteSam]

As soon as Wade Phillips isn't Head Coach anymore. DC, I will accept, but HC he has to go.

 

[JonJon]

I've been saying that a long time ago. The defense has played well all year. The only problem was that they where being left on the field too long and getting worn out late in games.

 

[newlander]

I think the offense helped them out more last night personally. Time of possession, running the ball and SCORING. Our defense is pretty darn good, it's the offense that needs to pull their weight IMO



......................DARN IT "JON JON" you beat me to that thought by seconds!!!!!!!!!

 

[Scranton Tiger]

There is no doubt the D played very well last night and we really needed it. The problem is that there have been several games the last two years where we need one stop to win the game or give the ball back to the offense tied or only down one score with a chance to win it. In those situations, how many times have they made the stop not counting last night? Don't get me wrong, I certainly hope this is the start of a very positive trend. I want to see it again before I am no longer skeptical though. JMO.

 

[superpunk]

They are really good, and they have been for a while now. Their only problem has been critical mistakes, like Scandrick with the hands to the face last night. Making less of those they become an elite defense.

We also got lucky that we had an elite officiating crew out there. There were some down the field throws that some crews would throw ticky tack flags on. And once they throw one, they can't stop.

We also got lucky with the Henderson drop.

It's about damn time we got some breaks, of course. I love our defense. Spencer and Jenkins are coming up LARGE, brother.

 

[JonJon]

I think the offense helped them out more last night personally. Time of possession, running the ball and SCORING. Our defense is pretty darn good, it's the offense that needs to pull their weight IMO



......................DARN IT "JON JON" you beat me to that thought by seconds!!!!!!!!!

Great minds...ah nevermind, you're not that great... LOL!

Just kidding

 

[craig71]

I think the defense is a good but not great unit.The defense stepped up last night and finished a game,i'll give them that.

Craig

 

[Avery]

It's about consistency. We're consistently inconsistent especially on 3rd and longs when opponents have converted at ridiculous rates it seems (many times due to a penalty - see the hands to the face call last night that gave NO another set of downs in our territory).

 

[gmb85]

When they stop giving up the fluke plays and shut teams down on third down. They played very well last night but there is room for improvement.

Every team can say that. I think if we put our all into the games the rest of the way, we might be having a party in Miami. I still don't completely trust this team but maybe this is the turning point.

Also I think regardless of what happens, Wade should stay. I am very impressed with his defense and I don't think changing the coaching staff would be the solution.

 

[theogt]

I think the defense is a good but not great unit.The defense stepped up last night and finished a game,i'll give them that.

Craig

Well, I think the Saints would claim it's the best defense they've played all season.

But honestly, going back and looking at their schedule, they've had a surprisingly easy schedule.

Lions
Eagles
Bills
Jets
Giants
Dolphins
Falcons
Panthers
Rams
Buccanneers
Patriots
Commanders
Falcons
Cowboys

 

[Vtwin]

The funny thing is that the next time we give up 30 points, all the naysayers will jump out of the wood yard and talk about how terrible our defense is. Our week our secondary is. Cut Newman, fire Campo, Wade hasn't done.........blah blah blah.

We played stellar D for like 7 weeks straight but as soon as we gave up 24 points to the Giants -with at least 2 fluke plays- everybody and their mama came out and said we have a terrible defense.

How many good offenses do we have to hold below their season average (and bad offenses too) to admit that the consistency in the D has been very good/great play all year long?

We might give up some yards to the other team in their territory but from around the midfield till the opponent gets in field goal position (and I don't know they numbers on this but), we have to be the stingiest defense in the league.

The saints get a kickoff return to our 40, we get a 3rd down sack to get off the field that is nulled by a defensive penalty. And we still made them point. It's funny how after the facts people wanna always talk about how the defense didn't make stops when it mattered the most. But a large part of that is because the offense doesn't capitalize on some of the stops we make during the games. Against the Chargers, they had great field position a couple of times were we kept them from scoring at all.

We've held 2 of the best offenses in the league in back to back weeks to way less than their season averages and made their QBs look mediocre at times.

And I believe he Ware hadn't gotten injured, we would've stopped them on that 3rd down play. But that's just excuses.

Are you forgetting the D giving up those two late game drives against SD allowing them to win the game?

Or the Baltimore game last season. Or the Pittsburgh game last season? Let's not even talk about the do or die effort against Philly last year. Three of four of those games the D controlled most of the game only to break down and give up drives or big plays to lose the game.

Finally this defense played a full 60 minutes, coming up HUGE when it mattered the most. We haven't seen much of that and hopefully the corner has been turned. (no pun intended).

 

[21Savage]

Are you forgetting the D giving up those two late game drives against SD allowing them to win the game?

Or the Baltimore game last season. Or the Pittsburgh game last season? Let's not even talk about the do or die effort against Philly last year. Three of four of those games the D controlled most of the game only to break down and give up drives or big plays to lose the game.

Finally this defense played a full 60 minutes, coming up HUGE when it mattered the most. We haven't seen much of that and hopefully the corner has been turned. (no pun intended).

What the Folk does last season have to do with this and right now? Maybe you've just been conditioned the wrong way.

 

[21Savage]

And for all those who replied about consistency. If they played dominating defense, like they've done at times this year, consistently, they'd be a FREAKING GREAT defense and not a very good one.

 

[Temo]

When they stop giving up the fluke plays and shut teams down on third down. They played very well last night but there is room for improvement.

This. I liked what our defense did last night, but by no means are they a good defense until they get better cover LBs and safeties.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Tough crowd, eh newnation? :laugh2:

I've given up on convincing people. It's like of like the life of a cornerback -- they only seem to remember the bad plays.

Oh well, that's okay. I'm still enjoying the hell out of it.

 

[21Savage]

This. I liked what our defense did last night, but by no means are they a good defense until they get better cover LBs and safeties.

By no means are they a good defense?

That's utterly ridiculous! Or is it just you command of the language?

 

[21Savage]

Tough crowd, eh newnation? :laugh2:

I've given up on convincing people. It's like of like the life of a cornerback -- they only seem to remember the bad plays.

Oh well, that's okay. I'm still enjoying the hell out of it.

I know man! Somebody just said "by no means are they a good defense".

It's like our D is the Scooby Doo of the league. We just show up with our coordinator looking clueless and luck into holding damn near every team we've played (with the exception of the Giants) to less than their season average in points and yards a lot of times.