Greg Blache Defensive Scheme!!

[an23dy]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

This argument is akin to saying something like, "if meteorologists are undeniably better predictors of weather than sportscasters, then how come it rained yesterday?" It's neither here nor there. Philadelphia was ranked ahead of us by every defensive measure, points, yards, etc, and they had to defend way, way more drives.

Per game yardage totals and points totals don't consider how often you faced an opponents drive, because the style of the offense (slow vs. fast) will affect how many drives a defense has to defend. Also, a defense that struggles to get off the field will have to face fewer drives. We actually weren't very good at getting three and outs, as much as we were at eventually forcing punts.

But it was a few things that put us behind the Tampa's and Chicago's of the world in defense last year, and I think turnovers are a big part of that. I don't have any doubt that they will improve in those phases this year, Blache-permitting. Interesting points, you make.

First of all, you can't say that it is not important that our defense outperformed their defense twice, on the field, head-to-head. Your point is completely arbitrary from the perspective you think that fact is meaningless. You're choosing which facts are relevant and which are not. 4th and 6th in yards and points respectively and 2nd in 3 and outs, good TOP, then you're doing things right, and you're just breaking it down into whatever stats you think are important. If you say the Steelers can't have the best defense because they are ranked 26th in penalty yards and 23rd in forced fumbles. I can base my arguments on whatever stats I choose as well. Let's say strength of schedule...what if the Saints played the Lions 16 times a year, their stats on defense would be better, but I wouldn't say they had a better defense than the Redskins last year. We had a tough schedule in the NFC East going up against good offenses, while the AFC North plays bad offenses and it inflates their stats.