First let's debunk the whole defense is on the field more excuse. Through the first 5 games this season our opponents time of possession has averaged 33(min):56(seconds). Last season through 5 games our opponents average time of possession was 34(min):02(seconds) for the entire 2012 season our opponents time of possession average was 33(min):12(seconds) so this defense is actually on the field LESS then our defense last year to this point in the season, about the same as last year for an average.

 

Now let's look at production:

 

Through 5 games we've allowed 1110 yards passing that's an average of (222 yards per game) and 815 yards rushing (160 yards per game)

 

Last year we averaged out at 240 yards passing per game allowed and 141 yards rushing per game allowed. Rushing attempts lay about flat last year the average was 34 rushing attempts against us per game through 5 games where at 33 attempts. So we're giving up another 20 rushing and taking back 20 in the air, call it a wash.

 

Look at the teams we've played, Kansas City(Alex Smith, Jamal Charles) Oakland (Pryor, McFadden) Colts ( Luck, Brown) Seattle( Wilson, Lynch) and now Rams (Bradford, Richardson)

vs

Last year we played 5 games against, Vikings (Ponder, Peterson) Houston (Schaub, Foster) Colts (Luck, Brown) Bengals (Dalton, Green-Elis) Bears (Cutler, Forte)

 

Last years competition was much better then this years and the numbers are about the same, imagine this squad against the Bengals or Bears? Has this defense really improved?

 

My point stands messing with the defense was a bad call on Caldwell. It was obvious we needed help on the offensive side of the ball. We spent this past off season changing the defense around and what do we have to show for it?

 

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