Shula also deserves some credit for our stout D.

[CharlottePanther]

yep and those 3 and outs our D inflected on their O didn't hurt our rest time either.

Exactly. Offensive players are more cnditioned to be able to stay on the field that long and not get as winded, it just depletes the opposing D so rapidly when they face an offense that controls clock like we do. Oh and not to mention on top of that, when the D finally does force a 4th down on us, we go for it and get it. Thats what I call twisting the knife in the D

[The_Mango55]

I'll admit, he's helping our D some.

 

Now if he would help our O we would be in business, considering he's the offensive coordinator and all.

[Jakob]

thread 2/10. Sorry bro.

You know your threads sucks when even Feldman9000 has something bad to say about it.

[Khaki Lackey]

I agree with those that say OP has a point. It's easier to pass than it used to be, but I think it's a myth that the running game and good running backs are obsolete.

Efficiency on offense is where it's at. Run game is less susceptible to costly turn overs.

[Marguide]

Yes, TOP is important and valuable, but only if you score on a decent percent of your possessions.

 

If you are just chewing up clock moving between the 20's, I'm not sure it necessarily works in a team's favor.

[Peppers90 NC]

reading this thread, seems like some of you believe we have a winning record

[CharlottePanther]

The problem with Chud ball is no matter the outcome it put our D in bad positions. The times we did score TDs it happened quickly because of the heavy reliance on the deep ball it didnt take long to score at all and our D got right back out there and wore down. Yes scoring TDs are great, but the problem you run into playing that kind of shoot out Chud ball, is you increase the risk greatly of our very young QB making a mistake.

In other words, with Chud ball you are making Cam, a three year, young QB get in a shoot out with the likes of Brees and the odds arent in your favor. But with Shula ball your offense just keeps the ball away from Brees aslong as possible at the same time resting our D, that way when Brees or any other elite QB gets back on the field, our rested D can get to work and put the ball right back in our hands.

[frash.exe]

Why are the saints right behind us in TOP?

 

Must be that ball-control, ground and pound offense that somehow ends up with over 300+ passing yards in the box score every week

[teeray]

Why are the saints right behind us in TOP?

 

Must be that ball-control, ground and pound offense that somehow ends up with over 300+ passing yards in the box score every week

 

They obviously aren't ground and pound, But they are 5th in offensive TOP per drive, and their defense is 3rd in defensive TOP.

 

So they have the ball alot, run the clock while they have the ball, and their defense gets off the field quickly.

[Udogg]

I think it was mentioned earlier but the key word is efficiency.  Long TOP drives finished with touchdowns are like having your cake and eating it too.  Especially when facing one of the high powered offenses in the league.   If Jacksonville wasn't.... well Jacksonville,  they were playing a really good 3 1/2 quarters against the Broncos.   Jones Drew was running well.  Chad Henne forgot he was Chad Henne and Blackmon realized the only person who could stop him is Roger Goodell. 

 

Efficient drives put even more pressure on teams that aren't playing well Offensively (see Minnesota Vikings).   Combine an efficient TOP offense with a top 5 defense and you "should" win most games.  It's also a formula that travels well.   Dome, Outdoors, Cold weather, etc... hopefully we can be that one day.

[Chimera]

Why are the saints right behind us in TOP?

Must be that ball-control, ground and pound offense that somehow ends up with over 300+ passing yards in the box score every week

So you're telling me that our slow, methodical conservative offense, which averages 0.7 fewer plays per game and 0.3 fewer yards per play than the taints, still keeps opposing offenses off the field longer?

[frash.exe]

I'm so glad you guys are so easily sold into this formula after defeating teams that have a combined one win six weeks into the season

[RelaxImaPro]

Dude, it's a good formula either way as long as we don't poo the bed in the redzone.  We've had bad luck there, but we get those points and we start to make the other team press.

 

Hell, honestly this isn't even anything new.  We did it the last half of 2012 too when we went on that winning streak and Cam was playing lights out.  Remember the 2nd Falcons game?  We executed it to perfection in that game and ended up 23-0 before they even knew what hit 'em.  Same thing with the Chargers game.

[Chimera]

Dude, it's a good formula either way as long as we don't poo the bed in the redzone. We've had bad luck there, but we get those points and we start to make the other team press.

Hell, honestly this isn't even anything new. We did it the last half of 2012 too when we went on that winning streak and Cam was playing lights out. Remember the 2nd Falcons game? We executed it to perfection in that game and ended up 23-0 before they even knew what hit 'em. Same thing with the Chargers game.

who cares? we need a qb with 5,000 passing yards