The point of that article is that turnover differential has slightly more to do with luck than with talent. You don't want your team reduced to depending on something as random and volatile as turnover differential, but that's essentially where this team is when the starting QB doesn't play. That doesn't say much for the rest of the team/organization.
There's a difference between relying on turnovers and understanding the reality that -8 in turnover differential/4 total takeaways to start the season is going to explain 2-5. If a complete drought of takeaways coincides with losing one of the most effective passers in the league, most good teams are going to lose those games.
The question, really, is whether the lack of takeaways is related to the personnel, to something or things the team is doing with Tony out, or if it's just a really unfortunately coincidence. If it's the personnel, we're in trouble with Tony back, too. If it's something we're doing with Tony out (eg, being too aggressive with downfield passes, holding the ball too long for WRs not named Dez to uncover, playing too much man coverage on defense), then it's on the coaching staff. If it's just a really unfortunate coincidence, then it just really sucks.
Personally, I think part of it has been personnel, but we've now got our DL pressure back. My other concerns are with the S play, where Jones is picking up reps fairly dramatically. There's probably been a coaching element to it, too, since there usually is, but for the most part, we've been trying to be conservative with the ball on offense, and I don't really believe takeaways aren't an emphasis on defense. Primarily, though, we've just had a string of really bad takeaway luck. DBs who've just missed interceptions, strips that were a quarter second too late, bad bounces on strip sacks, penalties calling clean picks back. Balls bouncing off of a combination of the turf and a foot. It's compounded the compromised passing game, and the combination has cost four games (3, if you don't count ATL) where the team was in position to win each one.
