Sweet Nothings: Shutouts Have Been A Rare Nfl Treat

[thewarden86]

[url="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/rgosselin/stories/091609dnspogosselin.40377bc.html"]http://www.dallasnew....n.40377bc.html[/url]

This article is about more than Dick Lebeau and the Steelers. It's about defense and the Ravens are also mentioned a lot.
[quote]
Dick LeBeau played on some great defenses with the Detroit Lions in the 1960s.

The Lions had the talent to be a slam-the-door shut defense. But in LeBeau's 14 seasons covering 185 games, Detroit managed to slam the door shut only 11 times – posting 11 shutouts from 1959 to 1972.

"Shutouts are extremely rare, even when I played," said LeBeau, the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive coordinator. "It was a much lower-scoring game with a lot of 10-7, 17-14 and 13-10 scores. There weren't a whole lot of zeroes back then."
[/quote]

[Sub-Zero]

I beleive the Bengals and Browns are the reason why the Ravens and Steelers are high up in there shutouts, hence why the AFC North is on the opposite end of both extremes of the shutout spectrum!

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Sub-Zero' date='16 September 2009 - 08:17 PM' timestamp='1253146661' post='236057']
I beleive the Bengals and Browns are the reason why the Ravens and Steelers are high up in there shutouts, hence why the AFC North is on the opposite end of both extremes of the shutout spectrum!
[/quote]

They certainly help boost the numbers, but both have made the playoffs once this decade.

AFC North is home to defensive football though. No question.

[J-man]

I'll let the Steelers be Sixburgh. But the Ravens are Eight-imore

[thewarden86]

[quote name='J-man' date='16 September 2009 - 08:36 PM' timestamp='1253147771' post='236064']
I'll let the Steelers be Sixburgh. But the Ravens are [b]Eight-imore[/b]
[/quote]


? shutouts?

[PuRock]

Damn Warden you know the average board user has a attention span like a puppy on crack.

How do you expect us to read this? Give me a synopsis.

I see the Ravens are up there with 8. We got 4 of those in the 2000 season alone. That just shows that our 2000 D should rank up there with the best of them, if not "The" Best.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='PuRock' date='16 September 2009 - 09:42 PM' timestamp='1253151770' post='236079']
Damn Warden [b]you know the average board user has a attention span like a puppy on crack[/b].

How do you expect us to read this? Give me a synopsis.

I see the Ravens are up there with 8. We got 4 of those in the 2000 season alone. That just shows that our 2000 D should rank up there with the best of them, if not "The" Best.
[/quote]


Yes Pu, I'm aware of that, but I didn't include you in that group. I'm disappointed. It says that despite the excellent Ravens numbers, the Steelers are still better. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif[/img]


lol. Kidding. Do I really have to break it down? C'mon man, read it in increments or something. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]

[McBoller]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='16 September 2009 - 08:25 PM' timestamp='1253147132' post='236061']
They certainly help boost the numbers, but both have made the playoffs once this decade.

AFC North is home to defensive football though. No question.
[/quote]
The Ravens and Steelers yes, but the Browns and Bengals couldnt be more of the antithesis. I think the NFC East as a whole, may be the top all-around defensive division.

[McBoller]

Most shutouts of an offense in the 2000 decade:
[color="#FF0000"]Cleveland, 10[/color]

Miami, 6

[color="#FF0000"]Cincinnati, 6[/color]

Buffalo, 5

Dallas, 4

Oakland, 4

[color="#FF0000"]Pittsburgh, 4[/color]

[PuRock]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='16 September 2009 - 09:48 PM' timestamp='1253152113' post='236082']
Yes Pu, I'm aware of that, but I didn't include you in that group. I'm disappointed. It says that despite the excellent Ravens numbers, the Steelers are still better. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif[/img]


lol. Kidding. Do I really have to break it down? C'mon man, read it in increments or something. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]
[/quote]

I was just giving you a hard time. I read it this morning. It was late for me yesterday. It's an interesting article.

Here's another stat that shows how tough shutouts are. The 0-16 Detriot Lions were not shut out once last year. Ofcourse they probably got a few trash TDs.

Shutouts are only going to get more rare. Because this league wants offense. It's changing the rules to allow this. Which doesn't speak much of the Rams in their first game this year.

Love this quote:
[quote]The 2000 Baltimore Ravens fielded the best defense of this generation. The Ravens set a record by allowing the fewest points in the NFL's 16-game era at 165.
"Nobody says the offense has to score," Lewis said. "The bottom line is when you step on the field you can make up your mind as a defense that they don't have to score. That's been my mentality since coming from the University of Miami – the offense doesn't have to score."[/quote]

I'm looking forward to the opportunity of shutting out the San Diego Chargers for the first time this decade.

[JEEPercreepermd]

Last season we very narrowly missed out on Shut out opportunities. Another reason why Shut outs are so hard to get, we held the following teams in 2008 to 0 offensive TD's

Cincinatti Week 1- Scored on a Ray Rice fumble, and kicked a FG.

Philadelphia Eagles Week 12- Scored on a kick off Return

Cincinatti Week 13- Kicked a FG for a grand total of 6 offensive points in two games vs the Ravens last year.

on the other end of the stick the Ravens were torched by Manning week 6, but still managed to kick a FG to keep that 0 off the board, and were only able to manage 3FG's against Pittsburgh the second time we played them.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='McBoller' date='17 September 2009 - 10:09 AM' timestamp='1253196553' post='236220']
The Ravens and Steelers yes, but the Browns and Bengals couldnt be more of the antithesis. I think the NFC East as a whole, may be the top all-around defensive division.
[/quote]
I would have to agree with that. All four teams had top ten defenses last year. Of course, when it comes to points allowed, the Cowboys had to ruin it by being 20th.

[thewarden86]

Perhaps someone should break down playoff appearances by division over the last 10 years. I would but it's difficult to commit to research while I'm in the office. I think it'd be interesting to see what division(s) had more teams show up in the playoffs. THAT is a stat you can't ignore.

[WinnipegRaven]

[quote name='JEEPercreepermd' date='17 September 2009 - 12:54 PM' timestamp='1253213679' post='236382']

Cincinatti Week 1- Scored on a Ray Rice fumble, and kicked a FG.

Cincinatti Week 13- Kicked a FG for a grand total of 6 offensive points in two games vs the Ravens last year.

[/quote]

LOL - well, on the upside they have already scored more points in their first game of the season than they did in 2 vs the Ravens last year.
Off to a great start and obviously SuperBowl bound - Who Dey!

[darklight1216]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='17 September 2009 - 05:03 PM' timestamp='1253221421' post='236439']
Perhaps someone should break down playoff appearances by division over the last 10 years. I would but it's difficult to commit to research while I'm in the office. I think it'd be interesting to see what division(s) had more teams show up in the playoffs. THAT is a stat you can't ignore.
[/quote]
It would also be worth of an individual thread, if you get my drift.

[PuRock]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='17 September 2009 - 05:03 PM' timestamp='1253221421' post='236439']
Perhaps someone should break down playoff appearances by division over the last 10 years. I would but it's difficult to commit to research while I'm in the office. I think it'd be interesting to see what division(s) had more teams show up in the playoffs. THAT is a stat you can't ignore.
[/quote]

I dislike my employer. So I'm in. Here you go. Most playoff appearances since 2000. The list is a lot closer than one would think. But the NFC East is the clear winner. The Giants and Eagles have dominated. Mods if you want to make a new thread, be my guest.

NFC East - 18 (PHI 7, NYG 6, DAL 3, WAS 2)
AFC South - 15 (IND 8, TEN 5, JAC 2, HOU 0)
AFC North - 13 (PIT 6, BAL 5, CLE 1, CIN 1)
AFC West - 13 (SD 4, DEN 4, OAK 3, KC 2)
AFC East - 12 (NE 6, NYJ 3, MIA 3, BUF 0)
NFC South - 12 (TB 4, ATL 3, CAR 3, NO 2)
NFC West - 12 (SEA 5, STL 4, SF 2, ARI 1)
NFC North - 11 (GB 5, CHI 3, MIN 3, DET 0)

Houston Texans, Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills are the only teams without a playoff appearance in the 2000 decades.

[BmoreRav]

Most playoff appearances by division since 2002 (when the divisions were realigned)

NFC East - 15
AFC South - 13
AFC North - 10
AFC West - 10
NFC South - 10
AFC East - 9
NFC West - 9
NFC North - 8

[thewarden86]

[quote name='PuRock' date='17 September 2009 - 05:57 PM' timestamp='1253224637' post='236477']
I dislike my employer. So I'm in. Here you go. Most playoff appearances since 2000. The list is a lot closer than one would think. But the NFC East is the clear winner. The Giants and Eagles have dominated. Mods if you want to make a new thread, be my guest.

NFC East - 18 (PHI 7, NYG 6, DAL 3, WAS 2)
AFC South - 15 (IND 8, TEN 5, JAC 2, HOU 0)
AFC North - 13 (PIT 6, BAL 5, CLE 1, CIN 1)
AFC West - 13 (SD 4, DEN 4, OAK 3, KC 2)
AFC East - 12 (NE 6, NYJ 3, MIA 3, BUF 0)
NFC South - 12 (TB 4, ATL 3, CAR 3, NO 2)
NFC West - 12 (SEA 5, STL 4, SF 2, ARI 1)
NFC North - 11 (GB 5, CHI 3, MIN 3, DET 0)

Houston Texans, Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills are the only teams without a playoff appearance in the 2000 decades.
[/quote]

Wow! Not only third but tied for third! I'm disppointed. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif[/img] Those Ohio bums are screwin' us! [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]

Nice work by-the-way.

[PuRock]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='17 September 2009 - 06:31 PM' timestamp='1253226688' post='236497']
Wow! Not only third but tied for third! I'm disppointed. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif[/img] Those Ohio bums are screwin' us! [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]

Nice work by-the-way.
[/quote]

There's always some team dragging another one down. The Redskins preventing the NFC East from going wild. The Jags and Texans putting a leash on Indy. New England just needing help, or maybe they should stop beating up the Jets, Bills and Phins.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='PuRock' date='17 September 2009 - 09:18 PM' timestamp='1253236705' post='236566']
There's always some team dragging another one down. The Redskins preventing the NFC East from going wild. The Jags and Texans putting a leash on Indy. [b]New England just needing help, or maybe they should stop beating up the Jets, Bills and Phins.[/b]
[/quote]


That's an interesting point Pu! If the rest of that division were half way decent, they'd probably be [u]lower[/u] on the list. lol. Think about it.