Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralphy Boy
I'd take the 2008 offense over 2009 for sure, but overall the 2008 team was better in a lot of ways. I think you can see some improvement on defense but offense has just been much worse this year than last.
Offense
Thigpen had a slight edge over Cassel in completion % and threw 18 TD's to 12 INT's, finishing the season with a 76.0 QB rating. Cassel has 13 TD's & 13 INT's and a 68.3 QB rating. Cassel has fumbled 8 times, Thigpen & Huard fumbled 5 times combined. Edge right now goes to Thigpen. Not saying he's a better QB, just performed better last year than Cassel has this year. I wish Chan could have coached Cassel this year.
+1 for 2008
Last years passers were sacked 37 times. This year Cassel has been sacked 40 and Croyle 3.
+1 for 2008
We had two 1,000 yard receivers last year and will be lucky to have a 700 yard receiver this year considering Bowe is still leading the team despite missing 4 games and he only has 466.
+1 for 2008
We scored 31 TD's last season on offense, we currently have 19. No way we score 12 TD's on offense in the last 3 games.
+1 for 2008
DefenseYes defensively we only had 10 sacks, this year we have 19.
+1 for 2009
Yes last years defense allowed more points (+1 for 2009) and yards (+1 for 2009).
Last year we had 20 forced fumbles and 13 interceptions for a total of 33 defensive turnovers. This year we have 11 forced fumbles and 9 interceptions for a total of 20 turnovers. Do you really think we'll get 13 more in just 3 games?
+1 for 2008
Tackles for loss last year were 42 (2.62 per game) compared to 27 (2.07 per game) this year.
+1 for 2008
Finally:
Aside from yards and scoring, I think most people would agree, that sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles and "tackles for loss" are what you would generally call the "key plays" of a defense. We've had 85 key plays on defense last year compared to 66 this year. Imagine how bad last years defense could have been if we hadn't had those key plays. This part I think goes back to what Haley says about people knowing their assignment and doing what their supposed to do.
We had more key plays last year but did it come at the cost of giving up even more big plays than we were preventing?
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Take strength of schedule into account? I agree, last year's Passing game was much better then this years. But right now with Charles, the run game is better than last years. The Pass rush is better, and the run D for the most part is better. And i still believe the O-Line play is better.