I feel the same way about the defence but expecting 24 pts a game from this offence is asking alot.
The funny part is who would of expected this defence to be this good and this offence to be garbage.
Gase is at a loss out there with his playcalling.

 

Via Dave Hyde:


"3. Now the defense. or the second straight week, PFF says Alonso was, “among the league's elite at the linebacker position, this time claiming the top spot with an overall grade of 91.7. He recorded a team-high six stops, a quarterback sack and allowed just 18 yards in coverage on four targets. His overall grade for the year now stands at 82.0 through four games.”

Reshad Jones was the highest-graded safety. “He dominated in run-defense once again, earning a grade of 95.7 on the day. For the season, Jones has recorded a stop in 11.1% of his total tackles when lining up within eight yards of the line of scrimmage, third-most at the safety position. His grade for the season now stands at 83.7 overall.”

Good news on CB Xavien Howard. He “entered the week ranked as the 96th out of 111 qualifying corners with an overall grade of 39.8, but had a strong showing against the Titans, earning a grade of 81.5 - good for 11th-best in the league for the week. He was targeted just four times on the day, allowing two receptions for 14 yards while also defending a pass. His overall grade for the season now stands at 46.9, 79th out of 108 qualifying cornerbacks.”

Cameron Wake. His stats: one sack, three hits and two hurries in his 35 snaps against the Titans. “He became just the 12th player since 2006 to have over 500 pressures,”” PFF wrote.

Newcomer LB Rey Maualuga, “started at middle linebacker and played 31 snaps, recording five tackles and two stops on the afternoon,” PFF writes. “He earned a solid 78.1 overall grade which ranked 15th at the position; Lawrence Timmons had his second straight strong showing, recording seven tackles, five stops and a quarterback hurry, earning a grade of 85.9 which ranked sixth at the position for the week.

The linebacker unit has been a strength of the team the last two weeks after being a huge weakness to begin the season.”"

 

Defense is playing surprisingly well. I just worry that they will get worn out with offense stinking it up out there.

 

While I think the Defense played well overall... They were also playing the B-team out there. I feel like if Mariota starts, that's an L

 

we lost to the Jets.

The JETS

 

Now theres an interesting Fan stay away from concept. Defensive line has improved and that seem to fit perfectly against a team (Titan) that are run oriented and has a backup QB of Cassell. A little to premature to parade down Flagler St. over the defense from that game. The air game was never really tested and that IMO is the area of scary concern....

We will actually have more of a legitimate reading after the Atlanta game were we are playing a team that can really test our vulnerable areas of pass defense.... Hold them to 14-17 points and I'd consider that a big plus for our defense...but the Titans were truly a poor test....Though the the DL did nicely against the runs.....

We have young DB's playing, even rookies and that 99% of the time will take some time to get good. I remember years ago Surtain and Madison needing that first year to get really good and they were all pros and the elite...

 

They were on the field a whole hell of a lot, that game.

The defense has been playing great. I expect some growing pains on the boundary with the young corners, but other than that, I have confidence in them.

 

I'm not saying they played bad. I'm saying they were a play-makers play or two from losing. Throw in a few Mariota 1st downs on his legs and 4-5 better thrown balls and that's a very different looking outcome. Especially with that missed PAT.

 

But we can play that game a thousand different ways. Throw in 4-5 better thrown balls from Cutler and we blow Tennessee out. Or if we had Tannehill out there scrambling and running the option, then that's another 50+ yards on the ground.

The point is, the defense looked great against a solid run team. They lit up receivers all day and had tons of pressure on the QB- swapping QB's does nothing there. It was our tackling and coverages that looked great so I'm not sure why folks are trying to say, "It's only Tennessee..."

 

Our defense is good even if you adjust the stats for the level of competition.

We've given up 16.8 ppg so far (4th best), but the offenses we've played have averaged 20.7 ppg across 19 total games (that 20.7 is a weighted average, taking into account the Saints played only 4 games). That's 3.9 ppg better than the average offense we've played.

So far in the NFL average points given up is 21.86 with a 3.99 standard deviation. So if the standard deviation is 3.99 and we're 3.9 better than the average of the teams we played, that's basically saying we've played at a level that's 1 standard deviation better than an average defense, adjusted for the offenses played.

1 standard deviation better than average corresponds to about 16th percentile, or an adjusted rank of 5th best defense (in a 32-team league) by points allowed. So our unadjusted ranking is actually close to the adjusted rank and shows we've played really well so far.

 

Some cool defensive stats:

75.5 running yards/game - 5th in the league
3.1 running yards/attempt - tied for 3rd in the league

234 passing yards/game - 12th in the league

309.5 total yards/game - 7th in the league
5.1 total yards/play - 10th in the league
16.8 ppg - 4th in the league

30% 3rd down conversions- 3rd in the league

 

This one's wrong. You forgot to order from least to greatest. We're 12th worst not 12th best, so in 21st place.

 

Woops, you're right, no wonder it seemed off. :lol:

 

Well, if we give up 50 to the Falcons, then you'll know why.

 

How about out recievers catching 4 or 5 very catchable throws that they dropped? Aside from the interception and a couple of innacurate throws cutler played ok. The recievera were really terrible this game. Landry, Stills, Thomas, Gray and Grant all had blatant drops.

 

Definitely- it wasn't just Cutler at all. The whole offense is off their rhythm and it's painful to watch so many wasted drives.

 

Why is everyone ignoring that we shut down the saints with drew brees.....same with rivers...those are both good qb's. If our offense was playing anywhere close to good we would be 3-1 possibly 4-0.