Not sure if this has been touched on yet, but I think it's worth comparing this year's defense to last year. Last year we probably would have held AP to about 58 yards rushing but would have allowed Favre to pass for 380 yards and 3 TDs. This year, we let AP have a field day but didn't give up anything in the passing game. Well, besides letting the tight end still do some damage. Still an area of concern, but Shiancoe is a player. Speaking of anything, besides the TD play last week on 4th and 11 our secondary has been absolutely amazing. Nolan clearly gets it. He was paying attention last year when the Saints won the superbowl while giving up huge chunks of yards on the ground. A 12 yard rush isn't a backbreaking play. A 50+ yard TD is. Our priorities are straight. Stop the pass first. Worry about the run second. And honestly, against lesser RBs I think this defense will be stout against the run as well. We will eventually need more points on offense, but once Henne and company get rolling we'll be just fine.
I don't just love this new defensive philosophy, I'd marry it, and have kids with it that I'd send off to college, then we'd retire, buy an RV and tour the country, until I died of prostate cancer. The defense would probably move to a retirement home and remarry to keep from being lonely. or I don't just love this defense...it completes me.