01-06-2019, 02:20 PM
(01-06-2019, 02:01 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Ask whoever you want fans are fans; however, there's a very good reason the NFL doesn't use points allowed to rank Defenses. Of course someone will introduce anything they can find negative if they are trying to discredit someone because they don't like him. Ahem
When you point out that Bruce Smith "finally fell off" so him being on the team doesn't count, yet point to the huge loses of Darrel Green (who hadn't started over 4 games in 3 years), Sam Shade who never played another snap in the NFL and only started 3 games in his only year with Marvin, and a dude who only played in 5 more NFL games after he left DC as the reason for falling off. Then you might not be as objective as you think you are.
Didn't say Bruce Smith "didn't count", but his contribution (16 starts, 9 sacks, 49 tackles) in 2002 fell off big time in 2003 (8 starts, 5 sacks, 22 tackles). Darrell Green only started 4 games, but having a HOF'er as your nickel is a pretty nice luxury, no? Daryl Gardener was a big time player for a 4 year stretch that included that 2002 Skins team. Don't know what happened after that (age, injury?) but that doesn't change the fact that he was a big time player in 2002 and they lost that production in 2003.
Sam Shade I'll give you. Not the same player in 2002. They did also lose Dan Wilkinson (who I didn't mention) in 2003. Even though he had his worst statistical season under Marvin, having "Big Daddy" in the middle certainly helped. So the d-line went from Bruce Smith/Wilkinson/Gardener in 2002 to a fading Bruce Smith in 2003.
And say whatever you want about ranking defenses by yards, but if you're really going to judge a defense, there's more to it. That's like judging QB's solely on passing yards. Fun fact: The 2000 Ravens weren't the best defense that year by that stat. Does anyone remember who #1 is?
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
