Can the Saints Maintain their Offensive Fire Power While Simultaneously Improving their Defense?

by Saintsational on Jun 13, 2009 7:00 AM CDT Comment 18 comments

Parity.

It's a word that gets thrown out a lot from year to year in discussions about teams in the NFL. The dictionary defines it as:

1. equality, as in amount, status, or character.

2. equivalence; correspondence; similarity; analogy

In NFL terms, this means if you favorite football team sucks even they have a chance at redemption and winning the Superbowl the next year. If your favorite team was good then it means nothing, as in life, is guaranteed and they might find themselves scraping the bottom of the barrel the following year. The NFC South has been a great example of this concept over the last few years. With the exception of last year, the division has seen teams go from worst to first at least four years in a row. While the Saints were a middle of the road team last season, their offense was nothing short of spectacular. So if you're a believer of the parity concept then you'd be justified in worrying about the success of the Saints offense in 2009. It would also be fair to believe that the Saints defense could actually turn things around and rise to the top.

But while the overhaul of the Saints defense has received most of the attention this off-season, it's the offense that seems to be getting taken for granted. Compared to the defensive side of the ball, very litte has been done to improve the offense this off-season as the organization has taken a somewhat laissez fare attitude. If it ain't broke, don't fix it seems to be the motto and I don't blame them.

But is that a mistake?

Jeff Duncan's vlog was what planted the seed for this post in my head when he said this:

The defense is really challenging the offense. It's someting you really didn't see a lot under Gary Gibbs as defensive coordinator.

He noted that during offense vs. defense drills it was the offense that initially got the better of their defensive counterpart until Williams and his unit began making plays and challenging Drew Brees and company. This led me to wonder if an improved defense might actually help push the Saints offense to improve as well and not become complacent. After all, if the Saints managed to put together the best offense in the league while practicing against one of the worst defenses in the league on a daily basis, just think what they can accomplish now facing a decent defense every day.

But if parity truly does exist in the NFL, is it possible for the Saints to have the number one offense in the league again? If not, how much of a drop off can we expect? Will an improved defense help stave off a contented offense and keep them from being presumptuous. Or will the offense fall victim to neglect this season? So many questions. So much time. It's an important discussion and one that I think needs to be had. Maintaining their high-powered offense while simultaneously improving their defense by leaps and bounds would no doubt be a formula for success but also seems too good to be true.

After all...it is the Saints.

Poll

What do you expect from the Saints offense this season?

I expect them to be the best...again.

487 votes

I expect a slight drop in production.

215 votes

I expect a big drop in production.

5 votes

It's the Saints...I don't expect anything anymore.

64 votes

771 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I would only expect the two to be related

if we had spent big money improving the defense, thus making it hard for us to add pieces to the offense or keep the pieces that we have. That didn’t happen. We once again added mid-range guys to the D and that didn’t prevent us from keeping most of our offensive pieces (and adding one or two as well).

by SaintBevo on Jun 13, 2009 8:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If the defense is excellent, it would ideally

cause a drop off in offense from a statistical point of view. That is, if our offense is excellent and our defense is excellent, we will spend a lot of fourth quarters running for short yardage to eat up time. Hard to get the number one ranking in yards per game that way.

It would be a nice problem to have! :-)

by GlackAndBold on Jun 13, 2009 11:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed

I’d rather be first in time of possession than in yardage gained any day. If the development of a balanced offense attack leads to a dropoff in overall production, so be it. Not only will it keep our marginally talented defense well-rested and study-sound, it will minimize the scoring opportunities of our opponents. Remember, Air Coryell? Not from any Super Bowls, you don’t. The Rams had Marshall Faulk, the Colts had Addai and Rhodes. No team wins it all without some semblance of a formidable running game. Of course, an improved defense would allow for the offensive scale to tip more in either direction, but why address the problem from just one angle? You never know when a key member of the defense, or Thomas or Bush or, God forbid, Brees will go down with a serious injury. Yes, that’s when adequate depth comes into play. But more importantly, the more balance you have in all aspects of your daily approach to the game, the easier that transition will be. And ultimately, the better your chances will be in overcoming such unforeseen scenarios.

by coldpizza on Jun 13, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coldpizza you read my mind

Ball control and balance and victories. And all of that is to be expected/hoped for with this big caveat – BARRING ANY SERIOUS INJURIES to key contributors.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that what I have heard from Saints players over the last two years (as the offense has put up such prolific numbers), is that the stats and individual honors are nice, but what everyone wants is to win and win a super bowl, so at least they’re saying the right things, in my book.

"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub

by HansDat on Jun 13, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

we've been in the top 5

for the past 3 or 4 years right? we didn’t lose anybody that gave us huge numbers in those years really. we lost deuce unfortunately but the past 2 years he hasn’t played much at all. our offense has been great while our D has been horrible. In my mind, i would say that a better D will put our offense out there more,(ie more 3 and outs, turnovers)thus giving us more oppurtunities to score. That would give us a chance to run up the clock more with running plays if we can run the ball well. I voted that we will be the best again but i agree that it probably won’t be statistically if the D is really as improved as we hope. What I would really like is for our defense to keep the offense on the field. Numbers will drop b/c we won’t be trying to come from behind in as many games and put up huge numbers just to win. But, I do think we will still be in the top 3, along with the patriots and colts.

Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D

by skinnykinney on Jun 13, 2009 3:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Change is the only thing that stays the same

If our offense never changed, other teams would figure us out eventually. My opinion is that Drew spreading the ball around, and spreading the defense, is the key fundemental to our offensive dominance. That being said, there are many different ways to keep things moving down the field. Being unpredictable is what can help us. I like this article and the way it’s written, and I can’t help but agree.

by SaintJenkins on Jun 13, 2009 5:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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by Saintsational on Jun 13, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This offense is Sean Payton calling plays, and Drew Brees executing those plays ... period.

It doesn’t matter if Colston is healthy. We saw that last season when a slightly above average WR, Lance Moore, led the Saints in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns. It doesn’t matter if Reggie brings his “A-game”, or if Pierre runs for less than 75 or more than 100 yards. Billy Miller or Jeremy shockey, who cares.

Payton and Drew will exploit the weaknesses of the defenses they face with the players that fate hands them. And they will more often than not be effective in doing this. Drew will find whoever is getting open. And even “practicing against one the worst defenses in the league” didn’t hurt the offense’s production over the past couple of seasons, showing us that the Saints’ offense can adjust to what they’re seeing from even top defenses on Sunday.

I’m confortable that the New Orleans offense will be as explosive as ever, and that they will score enough points almost every week to win football games. True, if they have leads going into the fourth, their offensive stats might drop, but they will still score points.

Now, if the defense can be even half of what it looks like it’s going to be “on paper”, this should be a fun season for us Saints fans.

by Jatchis on Jun 13, 2009 5:50 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

if brees goes down

can payton get it done with harrington kind of like the patriots did with cassel? is it the system or is it the system and brees just being dominant?

by lockguy on Jun 13, 2009 6:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yes… and yes. :)

What, you want a straight answer on this? I’d need a crystal ball (and one that actually works) for that. But it IS the system, in part, but Brees is also an insanely brilliant and insanely accurate quarterback.

Payton and Brees are practically brothers in the way they think and the way they carve up opposing defenses because they see the flaws they can attack like a flashing neon sign. Harrington is having a chance to learn from people who think that way and it WILL rub off on him… some. But how much? And will it be enough? Can’t say until it happens… and hopefully it never does. But if it does, I’ll bet you that the first few games he will struggle a bit. It will take Sean a few games to fully adjust his way of thinking and calling plays to suit his new QB. Just like it took Belichick and his staff last year as well. But if Harrington has regained his mental composure from his years of torment in Detroit — and based on his performance in Atlanta a few years back I think he has — then he will pull through and do at least OK the rest of that year.

by FriarBob on Jun 13, 2009 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

just as good

The offense will be as good as last year, just not statistically. Having a defense that can at least slow down opponent’s offenses will mean less chances to score and rack up as much yardage as last year. I’m sure games against the Eagles and Patriots will be high scoring but there shouldn’t be near as many this year, if the defense can really play like they’re thinking. Last year they had so many opportunities because everyone just marched right up the field on the Saints and scored letting the Saints offense get right back on the field. Championship lock it up.

by J Rock on Jun 14, 2009 12:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

A slight drop-off

I only say this because of the competition we will be facing as compared to last year. Obviously, we are playing a much tougher schedule with the NFC East and their formidable defenses and they’re better than the Saints offense faced last year. It’s going to be tough to score as many points and gain as many yards as last year. It doesn’t mean the offense will be worse and fall flat on their faces. It just means the defenses we’ll face will be better. We’ll still have a very dynamic offense and one that will put up more than enough points to win the games. The offense will only benefit from facing GW’s defensive alignments, stunts and blitz packages. The offense will reap the benefits as well as the defense for facing the illustrious Drew Brees and company on a daily basis.

HELL YEAH!

GEAUX S88S!! Konichiwa!!

by s88fan on Jun 14, 2009 2:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This offense is doug volkman calling plays, and Drew Brees executing those plays

It doesn’t matter if Colston is healthy. We saw that last season when a slightly above average WR, Lance Moore, led the Saints in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns. It doesn’t matter if Reggie brings his "A-game", or if Pierre runs for less than 75 or more than 100 yards. Billy Miller or Jeremy shockey, who cares.

Payton and Drew will exploit the weaknesses of the defenses they face with the players that fate hands them. And they will more often than not be effective in doing this. Drew will find whoever is getting open. And even "practicing against one the worst defenses in the league" didn’t hurt the offense’s production over the past couple of seasons, showing us that the Saints’ offense can adjust to what they’re seeing from even top defenses on Sunday.

Doug Volkman can do it yes he can. Doug Volkman can.

Now, if the defense can be even half of what it looks like it’s going to be "on paper", this should be a fun season for us doug volkman fans.

by mcdoug77111 on Jun 14, 2009 7:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"Payton and Drew will exploit the weaknesses of the defenses..."

Who’s Payton? You mean Volkman, right?

This is OUR year!

by MtnExile on Jun 14, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pete Carmichael?

Inside joke? What am I missing here?

by coldpizza on Jun 14, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah I am confused

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by Saintsational on Jun 14, 2009 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I've learned about the Saints is to expect...

the unexpected.

I am what I am. I can be no more, and I will allow myself to be no less.

by Selenus on Jun 14, 2009 5:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

if the defense improves, i expect the saints offense will be on the field more often and longer. look for bigger stats, more TDs, and more yards from our offense this year.

one thing with stats (as i learned from playing madden) – sometimes less tackles can be a good thing… as in , more pass deflections, interceptions and so on.

by nanvinnie on Jun 15, 2009 11:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs