Landry is now a bust!

[mlmdub130]

^thats interesting, i'm guessing brees is number one

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Regarding that #1 ranking against the pass, let's not forget some of the quarterbacks we've faced this year...

Manning (NYG) ranked #12
Bulger (STL) ranked #26
Stafford (DET) ranked # 20
Freeman (TB) ranked # 46
Delhomme (CAR) ranked #21
Cassel (KC) ranked #24
McNabb (PHI) ranked #19
Ryan (ATL) ranked # 18
Orton/Simms (DEN) Orton is #15, Simms is unranked
Romo ranked #7 -- so far, the highest ranked

So apart from Romo and maybe Eli Manning, we haven't exactly faced tough competition this year from opposing QBs. That changes this weekend, of course.

Wow! 46!

Are these their rankings when they played us or now?

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Wow! 46!

Are these their rankings when they played us or now?

No, those are current rankings. I didn't have the energy to look up what they were when they played us. I wouldn't think there'd be that much of a difference though. We've been fortunate to have played some struggling QBs this year.

[mlmdub130]

^not this weekend

[MTK]

Regardless of their yardage rankings, which honestly doesn't tell us very much, we've played some quality QBs/passing attacks. Manning, Romo, McNabb, Ryan, are all very worthy opponents. And then there was Orton that was tearing us up prior to getting hurt.

I do think the #1 pass ranking is a bit misleading because most of the time teams are playing us with the lead, but honestly outside of some issues here and there with giving up the big play, the pass D has been pretty solid.

[mlmdub130]

^our pass d being "solid" could be also due to the fact our run d is pretty terrible, so they really have no need to pass

[Beemnseven]

Okay, if we go by current QB ratings (not yardage), then McNabb is the toughest we've faced at #10. Followed by Romo (#11), Eli (#13), Orton (#14), Matt Ryan (#20), Matt Cassel (#22), Bulger (#26), Stafford (#28) and Jake Delhomme (#31). Josh Freeman didn't even make the list.

I'm not saying our secondary is complete garbage, but I still maintain the schedule has been very kind to us with respect to the caliber of QBs we've faced.

[DBUCHANON101]

Sorry guys but i see Brees and Co giving our secondary many problems.

[Big C]

we didnt play josh freeman. we played johnson i believe his name was.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Big C

we didnt play josh freeman. we played johnson i believe his name was.

Josh Johnson. His first pro start after replacing Leftwich the week before.

[Big C]

Originally Posted by Buster

Josh Johnson. His first pro start after replacing Leftwich the week before.

yes. so all those who are quoting josh freeman's stats are mistaken to who we played against. johnson is worse.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Regardless of their yardage rankings, which honestly doesn't tell us very much, we've played some quality QBs/passing attacks. Manning, Romo, McNabb, Ryan, are all very worthy opponents. And then there was Orton that was tearing us up prior to getting hurt.

I do think the #1 pass ranking is a bit misleading because most of the time teams are playing us with the lead, but honestly outside of some issues here and there with giving up the big play, the pass D has been pretty solid.

When I picked us to win 11 games this preseason, I did so because I knew we were playing Cassel, Delhomme, Leftwich/Freeman/(Johnson), Russell (now Gradkowski), Bulger, and Stafford all in the same year. Certainly, there was no guarentee we were going to win every single one of those games, and we haven't played the Raiders yet, but all those teams except one were able to get to double digits against us.

As a rule of thumb, I adjust yards per pass 0.2 over the course of a season for every well above average or well below average passing offense/defense that's played. Well, it hasn't been a whole season yet, but we're giving up 5.5 yards per pass against a league average of 6.2, which would put is 0.7 per pass attempt above the league average (that's a pretty big margin). That's 3rd best in the NFL. But we're the only team who has played 5 bad passing offenses in the same year (+1.0 YPA adjustment), and I would say we have yet to play a well above average passing offense.

That all changes this week. According to my rule of thumb, playing the Saints should force our season YPA on defense from 5.5 to 5.7, and if it doesn't, then we played much better or worse than we have this season. But, right now, our passing defense is averaging about a yard better per attempt simply because of the competition we've played. If we get to play against Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers, that will go a long way to helping the conventional stats match the opponent adjusted ones.

And those (not you Matty) who do think we have the No. 1 pass defense, well, then we should have no issue shutting down Drew Brees this week. Should be an even matchup.

[diehardskin2982]

Laron Landry is not a bust, he is out of position. From what I saw today in the Saints game I feel we need to move Landry to Strong Safety. He can be legendary at his natural position.

[Raw0114]

Originally Posted by diehardskin2982

Laron Landry is not a bust, he is out of position. From what I saw today in the Saints game I feel we need to move Landry to Strong Safety. He can be legendary at his natural position.

Exactly what shouid but,won't happen. I agree.

[takethecake]

I agree he'd be better at SS, but I honestly think reed doughty is a much better tackler and that's what we need at our safety positions: consistency. I think we'd get a lot more out of jettisoning landry for a 2nd or 3rd rounder and letting doughty and horton split time at SS. Then draft a coverage safety with a 2nd or 3rd round pick.