| I dont really know about the Saints D being "paper thin" theyt were above average in yards and points allowed (11th and 13th, respectively, in the NFL). Their run defense was pretty bad: 2063 yards allowed (23rd in the NFL), 4.9 yards per carry (30th), but their pass defense was pretty good: 2854 yards (3rd), 6.0 yards per attempt (9th). Also note that their rushing D stats were negatively affected by playing the Falcons twice, who put up 398 total rushing yards on them. The Falcons had 360 more rushing yards than the second-highest rushing team in the NFL, and the Saints also played Washington (4th in rushing yards), San Fran (6th), and the Giants (7th). So, their schedule was a little top-heavy in big rushing teams. By comparison, they only played 3 games against teams that were in the bottom 7 in rushing. The rest of their schedule was middle of the pack rushing teams.
Take away those two games, and their rushing yards allowed per game decreases from an atrocious 128.9, to a slightly less miserable 118.9. Thats still not good, but not quite so bad. Basically middle of the pack
So, they can stop the pass, can't really stop the run all that well.
But, I have full faith in their offense, and I think teams will be playing catch-up against them, and needing to throw the ball. |