Saints' Defense Still Better Despite Decline in Creating Turnovers

by Ray Glier

Filed under: Saints, NFC South

Running backs, wide receivers, and offensive linemen have gotten wise to the New Orleans Saints. They wrap up the ball. They smother it high and tight against their chest. If a running back is getting dragged to the turf by two Saints, he is not left alone to fend for himself. One of his offensive linemen will charge into the fray and make sure the back with the ball is not hijacked and stripped.

The Saints made a living off turnovers in 2009. They were third in the league in turnover ratio (plus-11). They dug at the ball; they jumped pass routes. They schemed and plotted.

This season, the Saints are tied for 22nd in turnover ratio at minus-4.

So here is the deal. The turnovers are down, but the Saints are better on defense.

That is something to be mindful of as the New Orleans' injury report starts to get smaller and the Saints get healthy. New Orleans is 6-3 going into its bye week, even though the Saints have had a lot of starters on the shelf with injuries.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sen Derrick Marks Ricardo Mathews Gerald McCoy Tony McDaniel