tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800694504837785724.post8789337150036708445..comments2024-02-12T08:19:47.349-07:00Comments on Rich's Rants: Rich Passanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06802826156712863793noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800694504837785724.post-56292078073260328642012-06-08T12:32:59.976-07:002012-06-08T12:32:59.976-07:00Hi Paul,
Where this team did well last season was...Hi Paul,<br /><br />Where this team did well last season was in the red zone, where they forced a lot of field goals instead of touchdowns. That's one of the reasons they allowed so few (relatively speaking) points. <br /><br />What this team needs is a defense that can get off the field with some regularity, create turnovers with a greater regularity and display an aggressive approach that forces opposing offensive coordinators to worry.<br /><br />As for offense vs. defense, an old saying goes something like this: Offense wins games; defense wins championships. <br /><br />The offense will be better this season because it can't be any worse. But the defense has to step it up, too, and accomplish the above. If those two units improve, then we might be looking at something special this season. Maybe not the playoffs, but distinct improvement.<br /><br />This club must walk before it runs.richpassannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800694504837785724.post-30678800787419703532012-06-07T12:53:16.177-07:002012-06-07T12:53:16.177-07:00I agree that the defense needs more pass rush, has...I agree that the defense needs more pass rush, has to stop the run better, and I definitely believe that it needs an infusion of speed and more playmaking ability. Here's hoping the drafted LBs will provide some much needed speed. <br /><br />I think some of the "success" of the defense last year, if you can call it that, was due to Dick Jauron. I think he did a fine job last year playing some smoke-and-mirrors. <br /><br />Still, this team doesn't need a great defense to win. They need a much better offense with a passing game that gives opposing coaches fits. It's why the mirage of 2007 happened at all. Anderson's arm, before teams figured him out, coupled with Edwards on the edge and Winslow over the middle, gave defenses all kinds of problems even as the defense ranked almost dead last. <br /><br />My biggest beef with the current regime is their emphasis on building a defense first. In my unprofessional view of things, good offenses make teams more competitive than good defenses. Maybe you may not be championship caliber, but you will be a playoff contender faster in my view. <br /><br />Cheers!<br />Paul from SeattleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800694504837785724.post-66735334023338204652012-06-05T10:38:59.123-07:002012-06-05T10:38:59.123-07:00Well thought out, sir. But I do no necessarily agr...Well thought out, sir. But I do no necessarily agree with your conclusions. <br /><br />Football is a team game. All aspects need to mesh in order to achieve a positive end result.<br /><br />I submit to you that if teams had been forced to pass more on the Browns last season because their running games were being shut down, the Cleveland secondary would have been torched.<br /><br />That was not a good secondary for a number of reasons, not the least of which is it received little or no help from the front seven regarding putting heat on opposing quarterbacks.<br /><br />The personnel back there was mediocre at best. Even Joe Haden struggled some. They are lucky opposing teams didn't have to throw as often against them.<br /><br />This season, the Browns face more tough teams than last season. Their defense will be tested a lot more than last season. And they sure as hell had better stop the run or else we'll see a repeat of last season.<br /><br />Again, the defense must step up or the improved offense won't be able to offset the problems.richpassannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800694504837785724.post-50110353186801920412012-06-05T09:35:13.000-07:002012-06-05T09:35:13.000-07:00Hi Rich,
I think you're a bit off saying the B...Hi Rich,<br />I think you're a bit off saying the Browns defensive stats last year are mis-leading. <br /><br />First, the Browns were the only team to give up less than 20 points a game AND score less than 20 a game. In fact, they scored about 14 points a game. In other words, with more help from the offense, the defensive stats could have been better. <br /><br />Second, the Browns were 9th in defense in average yards per play allowed. This obviously includes both run and pass. Again, for a defense that got no help from the offense, this is pretty good. <br /><br />And, third, you don't need a great defense to win a championship in this league, but you do need a good rezone defense and a good pass defense. When the Saints won in 2009, their total D was something like 25th. BUT, they were near the top in rezone defense and their average yards per TD pass allowed was the best in the league by far. In other words, they gave up yards, but were stingy giving up TDs. <br /><br />What the Browns really need is a better passing game. No surprise there of course, but the stats I look to are the difference between a team's yards per pass attempt, offensively and defensively. The best teams almost always have the best net positive difference. In 2009, the Colts had the 4th and the Saints the 5th best net diffential. Last year, the Giants were 5th. In 2010, the Steelers and Packers were 1st and 2nd. <br /><br />So, even if the Browns defense does exactly what it did last year, but the offense does the league average of 7.2 yds per pass attempt, the they would rank in the top 10 (based on last year's stats) and join the seven other playoff teams in the top 10. <br /><br />Just my thoughts. <br /><br />As always, thanks. <br /><br />Paul from SeattlePaul from Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17780432189696858715noreply@blogger.com