A little research using ESPN and MrNFL, it is my opinion that the lack of execution on our foundation (Defensive unit) in 2003 was the biggest contributing factor in our losses against teams with a winning record. Now in 2002, our Defensive unit caved in the last 2 games of the season when we needed them to show up, against the Vikings and the Patriots.
This somehow started to show a weakness in our highly rated Defense, and it continued in 2003 with the loss against Houston, showing its inconsistency too many times. To me, this was unacceptable, especially where the money on this team was allocated to. Some of what I deemed important stats is shown below; of course they might not show an overall picture of the team’s effort, but the outcome…
Our QBs and the Defense were equally effective in winning 5 out of 7 games against +.500 opponents in 2002
Our Offense and Defense combined in ensuring TOP in 4 of those games…
Our QBs threw for an average 7.06 YPA, and only threw a combined 4 INTS…
Our Offensive unit scored a total of 13 TDs…
The OL gave up 56% of the sacks in these games (14 sacks out of 25 in the year)…
Ricky averaged 3.53 YPA, even though he was the best RB in 2002, against better competition he had average numbers. Against the rest of the opponents that year he averaged 5.46 YPA…
Our Defense had 11 INTS and gave up 9 TDs combined…
Our QBs and the Defense were equally at fault for the team’s losses against 5 out of 7, +.500 opponents in 2003
Our Offense and Defense combined in ensuring TOP on only 3 of those games…
Our QBs threw for an average 6.16 YPA, and threw a combined 10 INTS. Even though they were not all returned for TDs, I believe 2 were (against the Bills and Green Bay). The only significant INT came against NE in December…
Our Offensive unit scored a total of 11 TDs…
The OL gave up 55% of the sacks in these games (17 sacks out of 31 in the year)…
Ricky averaged 3.8 YPA in those losses and 6.46 YPA in the 2 victories…
Our Defense had 6 INTS and gave up 14 TDs combined; 3 TDs against the Titans, the Cowboys, and 4 TDs against the Eagles in one game in December, when the season was on the line. A total of 10 TDs (70% of the TDs) in 3 games, giving up the big play at the most inopportune time was the only thing that our foundation was consistent on…
In closing we can debate that missing FG kicks, and the INTs were equally instrumental, but I feel that the foundation of your team is your bread and butter. That foundation had a very rough year in 2003 against superior opponents, and the cracks were showing in late 2002…
Here is to a better year, where I hope our foundation has been given the proper support, after all Saban is a Defensive coach…
This somehow started to show a weakness in our highly rated Defense, and it continued in 2003 with the loss against Houston, showing its inconsistency too many times. To me, this was unacceptable, especially where the money on this team was allocated to. Some of what I deemed important stats is shown below; of course they might not show an overall picture of the team’s effort, but the outcome…
Our QBs and the Defense were equally effective in winning 5 out of 7 games against +.500 opponents in 2002
Our Offense and Defense combined in ensuring TOP in 4 of those games…
Our QBs threw for an average 7.06 YPA, and only threw a combined 4 INTS…
Our Offensive unit scored a total of 13 TDs…
The OL gave up 56% of the sacks in these games (14 sacks out of 25 in the year)…
Ricky averaged 3.53 YPA, even though he was the best RB in 2002, against better competition he had average numbers. Against the rest of the opponents that year he averaged 5.46 YPA…
Our Defense had 11 INTS and gave up 9 TDs combined…
Our QBs and the Defense were equally at fault for the team’s losses against 5 out of 7, +.500 opponents in 2003
Our Offense and Defense combined in ensuring TOP on only 3 of those games…
Our QBs threw for an average 6.16 YPA, and threw a combined 10 INTS. Even though they were not all returned for TDs, I believe 2 were (against the Bills and Green Bay). The only significant INT came against NE in December…
Our Offensive unit scored a total of 11 TDs…
The OL gave up 55% of the sacks in these games (17 sacks out of 31 in the year)…
Ricky averaged 3.8 YPA in those losses and 6.46 YPA in the 2 victories…
Our Defense had 6 INTS and gave up 14 TDs combined; 3 TDs against the Titans, the Cowboys, and 4 TDs against the Eagles in one game in December, when the season was on the line. A total of 10 TDs (70% of the TDs) in 3 games, giving up the big play at the most inopportune time was the only thing that our foundation was consistent on…
In closing we can debate that missing FG kicks, and the INTs were equally instrumental, but I feel that the foundation of your team is your bread and butter. That foundation had a very rough year in 2003 against superior opponents, and the cracks were showing in late 2002…
Here is to a better year, where I hope our foundation has been given the proper support, after all Saban is a Defensive coach…
