Where ESPN ranked the 2009 Saints among 57 Super Bowl-winning teams (3 Viewers)

[Alan12]

No, it wasn't. That's why I didn't mention offensive stats....The 2011 offense actually ran for 21 yards more than the 2009 offense on just 30 less attempts.....

2009 - 55% pass, 45% run
2011 - 59% pass, 41% run

Not exactly "far more balanced".....both offense were great and balanced.....The 2011 defense couldn't hold the 2009 defenses jock....that is the difference.....

And after adding in the playoff games...

2009 offense: 55.2% pass to 44.8% run
2011 offense: 61.9% pass to 38.1% run

“Far more balanced” might’ve been a bit hyperbolic on my part yes, but that run-pass difference across the two seasons is still statistically significant. Especially considering we’re talking about tendencies where the result is one or the other and as each down is played, those percentages shift further in one direction as the game is decided.

The 2009 team had 8 games where they ran the ball more than they passed it and another 3 games where they were within 5 plays of being 50-50.

The 2011 team had 1 game where they ran the ball more than they passed it (blowout vs. Colts where they still threw it 35 times) and only 1 game where they were within 5 plays of being 50-50 (blowout vs. Vikings where they threw it 40 times). Personally, I wouldn't call that very balanced.

2011

• L @ Packers: 49 passes to 21 runs
• W vs. Bears: 37 passes to 29 runs
• W vs. Texans: 44 passes to 20 runs (excluding 2 kneeldowns)
• W @ Jaguars: 44 passes to 33 runs (excluding 1 kneeldown)
• W @ Panthers: 45 passes to 28 runs
• L @ Buccaneers: 45 passes to 20 runs
• W vs. Colts: 35 passes to 38 runs
• L @ Rams: 44 passes to 19 runs (excluding 1 kneeldown)
• W vs. Buccaneers: 36 passes to 28 runs
• W @ Falcons: 43 passes to 16 runs
• W vs. Giants: 38 passes to 30 runs
• W vs. Lions: 36 passes to 23 runs
• W @ Titans: 47 passes to 26 runs
• W @ Vikings: 40 passes to 38 runs
• W vs. Falcons: 39 passes to 23 runs
• W vs. Panthers: 38 passes to 32 runs (excluding 3 kneeldowns)
• W vs. Lions: 43 passes to 33 runs (excluding 3 kneeldowns)
• L @ 49ers: 63 passes to 14 runs
  
  Totals: 766 passes to 471 runs (61.9% to 38.1%)

2009

• W vs. Lions: 34 passes to 35 runs
• W @ Eagles: 34 passes to 29 runs
• W @ Bills: 29 passes to 34 runs (excluding 4 kneeldowns)
• W vs. Jets: 32 passes to 30 runs (excluding 2 kneeldowns)
• W vs. Giants: 30 passes to 40 runs
• W @ Dolphins: 38 passes to 27 runs
• W vs. Falcons: 33 passes to 34 runs (excluding 1 kneeldown)
• W vs. Panthers: 35 passes to 22 runs (excluding 1 kneeldown)
• W @ Rams: 26 passes to 29 runs
• W @ Buccaneers: 29 passes to 33 runs (excluding 3 kneeldowns)
• W vs. Patriots: 23 passes to 25 runs (excluding 1 kneeldown)
• W @ Redskins: 49 passes to 24 runs
• W @ Falcons: 41 passes to 24 runs (excluding 2 kneeldowns)
• L vs. Cowboys: 45 passes to 12 runs (excluding 1 kneeldown)
• L vs. Buccaneers: 37 passes to 23 runs
• L @ Panthers: 29 passes to 32 runs
• W vs. Cardinals: 32 passes to 31 runs (excluding 3 kneeldowns)
• W vs. Vikings: 31 passes to 23 runs
• W vs. Colts: 39 passes to 17 rushes (excluding 1 kneeldown)
  
  Totals: 646 passes to 524 runs (55.2% to 44.8%)

I guess it just comes down to what someone considers as "balanced".

If someone is using the 2011 offense (61.9% pass-38.1% run) as the measuring stick of being balanced, they had 10 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than their own season % total.

The 2009 offense had 15 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than the 2011 offense's pass-run % total.

If someone is using the 2009 offense (55.2% pass-44.8% run) as the measuring stick of being balanced, they had 11 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than their own season % total.

The 2011 offense only had 3 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than the 2009 offense's pass-run % (vs. Colts, vs. Vikings, vs. Panthers).

The 2011 offense only stayed as balanced at the 2009 offense was in games they were in control of and winning (which was more frequently than not). In games where they turned the ball over multiple times or were stymied and held out of the endzone, they had to get pass happy because they couldn’t run the ball. That’s not a coincidence. Teams made them one dimensional and collected turnovers, something the 2009 defense excelled at.

 

[sfidc3]

And after adding in the playoff games...

2009 offense: 55.2% pass to 44.8% run
2011 offense: 61.9% pass to 38.1% run

“Far more balanced” might’ve been a bit hyperbolic on my part yes, but that run-pass difference across the two seasons is still statistically significant. Especially considering we’re talking about tendencies where the result is one or the other and as each down is played, those percentages shift further in one direction as the game is decided.

The 2009 team had 8 games where they ran the ball more than they passed it and another 3 games where they were within 5 plays of being 50-50.

The 2011 team had 1 game where they ran the ball more than they passed it (blowout vs. Colts where they still threw it 35 times) and only 1 game where they were within 5 plays of being 50-50 (blowout vs. Vikings where they threw it 40 times). Personally, I wouldn't call that very balanced.


I guess it just comes down to what someone considers as "balanced".

If someone is using the 2011 offense (61.9% pass-38.1% run) as the measuring stick of being balanced, they had 10 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than their own season % total.

The 2009 offense had 15 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than the 2011 offense's pass-run % total.

If someone is using the 2009 offense (55.2% pass-44.8% run) as the measuring stick of being balanced, they had 11 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than their own season % total.

The 2011 offense only had 3 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than the 2009 offense's pass-run % (vs. Colts, vs. Vikings, vs. Panthers).

The 2011 offense only stayed as balanced at the 2009 offense was in games they were in control of and winning (which was more frequently than not). In games where they turned the ball over multiple times or were stymied and held out of the endzone, they had to get pass happy because they couldn’t run the ball. That’s not a coincidence. Teams made them one dimensional and collected turnovers, something the 2009 defense excelled at.

Great points and research. I didn't add the playoff games because CSP seems to go pass happy in almost every one.....and my main point was that the 2011 offense actually had more yards rushing in the regular season than the 2009 offense did, the 2011 version also threw more and for more yards, but that kind of dispels the "much more balanced" notion. Slightly more balanced is more like it....

But my main point remains, the 2009 defense was significantly better than the 2011 version....

 

[2009ring]

Let's not forget in 2011 PT got hurt on that dirty hit by the Whiners, hence we may not have run as much as we might have were he in the game.