Saints defense (1 Viewer)

dutar76

7th year itch
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I'm not sure how to find out where our defense ranks over the past few weeks vs the rest of the league, and our overall rankings are definitely skewed by how atrocious we started the year.

At the beginning of the season, we were all hoping for defense that ranks in the top 20 or so. We were saying that mostly we were looking for signs that we're improving on that side of the ball.

Well as of week 12 we are:

#26 in total yards allowed (only decimal points from #22 and within about 10 yards per game from #18 and 30 yards per game from being in the top 10)

#30 in points allowed per game (only decimal points from #26 and within about 3 points per game of being in the top 20)

#12 in rushing yards allowed (only decimal points from being in the top 10 and about 25 yards per game behind the league leader)

#27 in passing yards allowed (only decimal points from #25 and 10 yards per game from being in the top 20)

3 way tie for #20 in sacks (only 5 sacks from being in the top 10)

7 way tie for #18 in interceptions (only 3 interceptions from being in the top 10)

Nowhere near the embarrassment we were the past 2 seasons. Think we're heading in the right direction? :worthy:
 
granted a big part of our problem on defense was so many injuries.. but also. something that isn't ever considered, is the offenses we faced.
Our stats from the last 2 games are much better than earlier. and those 2 teams we faced, weren't near the caliber of offense Atlanta, Oakland, or KC.
 
Great stats, thank you for posting them. Hopefully this will take some of the chicken littles on this forum. The thing that has cost us this year has been our not so special teams.
 
Our defense has been trending toward mediocre, which is obviously a tremendous improvement over what we saw in the first 4 weeks of the season. I don't think we're gonna see that utterly ineffective unit we trotted out against Atlanta again this season.

This portends well for next year. With a few more holes filled on D, we can be consistently average, which we've agreed ad nauseam is enough for this team to win double-digit games.
 
Yes trending better. That's a great thing. Without any improvement they will be better next year. With a few pickups they could be darn good.
 
I don't think it's so much holes as soft spots. We need a few difference makers... all-pro types. We had many below average players on defense and absolutely no depth the past 2 seasons. We can't really say that anymore. Our roster is stacked with average to slightly above average players. I think we might be one or two more Cam Jordan like players from being a very solid unit. Would be nice to hit on a draft pick in our front 7 that challenges for defensive rookie of the year in 2017. But I think that might be too much to hope for. Hitting on a stud DE, LB, or CB in free agency is more likely.
 
I don't think it's so much holes as soft spots. We need a few difference makers... all-pro types. We had many below average players on defense and absolutely no depth the past 2 seasons. We can't really say that anymore. Our roster is stacked with average to slightly above average players. I think we might be one or two more Cam Jordan like players from being a very solid unit. Would be nice to hit on a draft pick in our front 7 that challenges for defensive rookie of the year in 2017. But I think that might be too much to hope for. Hitting on a stud DE, LB, or CB in free agency is more likely.

You hit the nail on the head. A stud at either of those positions would make a significant improvement.


We play a diff brand of football away then we do home. We blitz more at home, coverage more away. Either you get a competent #2 or an elite/above average DE.

From what I've heard this is an ideal class for secondary/DE. Can't go wrong with either or. Personally i think if you make the Dline elite it trickles backwards because away games are generally won in your ability to control the trenches.
 
Or we get both? A 3 down DE and another Corner *one that is a top 5 cb, top 1 kick returner, and a deep threat WR..... Adoree Jackson.
 
Trending up because Saints very recently added difference makers at:

CB - Breaux
LB - LRB
DT - Rankins



Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk
 
Trending up because Saints very recently added difference makers at:

CB - Breaux
LB - LRB
DT - Rankins



Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

Now if we can add another 2 difference makers this offseason at DB and LB... Top 10???
 
Let's all hope Kikaha can come back at full speed next year. With that said, my hope is that they don't solely rely on Kikaha as the answer going into next season. I think a pass rushing specialist early in the draft can yield immediate results to pair with Jordan and Kikaha.
 
I'm not sure how to find out where our defense ranks over the past few weeks vs the rest of the league, and our overall rankings are definitely skewed by how atrocious we started the year.

At the beginning of the season, we were all hoping for defense that ranks in the top 20 or so. We were saying that mostly we were looking for signs that we're improving on that side of the ball.

Well as of week 12 we are:

#26 in total yards allowed (only decimal points from #22 and within about 10 yards per game from #18 and 30 yards per game from being in the top 10)

#30 in points allowed per game (only decimal points from #26 and within about 3 points per game of being in the top 20)

#12 in rushing yards allowed (only decimal points from being in the top 10 and about 25 yards per game behind the league leader)

#27 in passing yards allowed (only decimal points from #25 and 10 yards per game from being in the top 20)

3 way tie for #20 in sacks (only 5 sacks from being in the top 10)

7 way tie for #18 in interceptions (only 3 interceptions from being in the top 10)

Nowhere near the embarrassment we were the past 2 seasons. Think we're heading in the right direction? :worthy:

If the defense wants to be headed in any direction this is the right direction to move. It isn't just statistically improvement I have seen the past few weeks they are passing the eyeball test too they still have work to do but they are way ahead from last years defense.
 
I trust that the coaches have a better read on our current players than I do, of course. But I'm not all that down on Kruger like some are. I'm curious to see how our D-line plays out the year. They look to have gelled when it comes to run defense, and in the past 3 games I'm seeing a lot of flying around and dirty pockets. Not sure what the coaches are asking Kruger to do, and I doubt that he'll return to his 2011 form, but rotating with Kikaha might be the trick. Now if we can find an upgrade, we take it of course. But I'm not sure we have to reach for it.

I'm all for taking the best player available. Like last season when we pulled 3 first round talents who look to have been the best at their positions (DT-WR-S) If we can pull that off again, regardless of position... That's how you build a dominate team, having the best players.
 
Ever since Breaux, Rankins and Ellerbe have returned from their injuries, this defense has gotten better. ....
 
Pouring over stats today. The thing that amazed me was how much our run D has improved. Getting healthy players back helped, but more than anything, I think our offensive approach is the main reason for the defensive improvement. We're not streaking down the field for 1:21 and putting our defense back out there. We're winning the time of possession. Defense spends less time on the field getting stats racked up against them and more time on the sideline staying fresh. That simple.
 

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