#1 Defense Or #1 Offense In NFL?

[DocMartin]

In this upcoming season, do the Ravens have a better chance to be -
a) The Best Defense in NFL
The Best Offense in NFL
c) Both ? (not sure if that was ever done by any team)
I would consider a) probably, but you never know.

[Romo Ravens]

I'd pick the best defense. As long as our secondary "questions" are answered, almost no QB should be able to post huge numbers. We don't play many elite QB's this season, plus we should get back to our streak of being mean to running backs haha. But hey, I would like the best offense lol.

[McBoller]

I dont see us being #1 in either category, although defense would be much more feasible. I think we do have a legit shot at being top5 on offense and defense though.

[RavensAllTheWay]

I'd consider A too.

With all the meat added to the front 7, the secondary will be aided, more pressure will be put on opposing QBs, and we might even see the run defense become even better than it already is. I'll be astounded if we allow even a single 100 yard rusher this year, including playoff games.

And I don't think the secondary is nearly as big an issue as people make it out to be, mainly because of Cody and Kindle, along with Krueger becoming more of a 3-4 lineman. All the experts think were gonna lose in the playoffs ONLY..ONLY because of our secondary. But do other possible/probable AFC playoff teams like the Chargers, Texans and Patriots really have better secondaries than us? The Pats have talent like Bodden and Merriweather, but that talent hasn't jelled together yet the way ours did the 2nd half of last year. The Texans have Bernard Pollard, but he's no Ed Reed, and they lost Robinson. Karim Jackson might be a pretty good replacement, but again, that secondary and defense as a whole has yet to come together. The Chargers have no safeties, and they just lost Cromartie, who even though he's overrated, he was still they're best DB and he's still pretty good.

I don't think it requires a good secondary to make the playoffs, but it's the good teams and the playoff teams that expose another teams weaknesses. And I don't think our secondary will get trashed by many good passing teams again next year.

[JohnJohnson]

I'd rather see balance than just have the #1 title. Think about how good a team would be if they were 3rd in each...

[flynismo]

Where were we ranked offensively last year? Something like 11th (which is pretty solid).?

We were ranked 3rd defensively, and that was after a rough first 6 weeks.

While I think we made a much bigger leap on offense than defense this postseason, I think the #1 defense is more likely (ironically, it will be in part due to our stronger offense).

[RavensAllTheWay]

We were 13th offensively.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[b]Defense[/b], for several reasons.

Firstly, we should still run the ball a lot. That generally doesn't bode well for total offense stats.

Secondly, our defensive improvements, especially rushing the passer - combined with our stout run D, should force [i]a lot[/i] of 3 and outs!

Plus D has always been our calling card! [b]GO RAVENS!!![/b]

[Radinho84]

i think we could be top 3 defense and top 10 offense. that should take us to the playoffs.
i don´t think that we do not play alot of elite quarterbacks this year as somebody said before!!! i think we have a very tough shedule and we shouldn´t forget that other teams in the nfl got better too this year!!!!
it´s gonna be a hard season, but i think it could turn out very well for us!!!

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

I think we'll go 11-5, both sides of the ball should be better than last year.

[DevilsLuck]

I would have to go with both especially since our D finished 8th last year with key players hurt and our offense well we never really had an offense this high powered before so I think we will rank top 3 at least in both D and Offense

[hawkprey]

#1 D

We have a great offense but the team is simply not an offensive one. We will rely on our D to get us through tough games because they are experienced and proven, rather than "air it out" and hope for an offensive shootout.
(Also, our run D will be unstoppable.)

[Ravenmore74]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' date='30 May 2010 - 11:09 PM' timestamp='1275278949' post='416039']
I'd pick the best defense. As long as our secondary "questions" are answered, almost no QB should be able to post huge numbers. We don't play many elite QB's this season, plus we should get back to our streak of being mean to running backs haha. But hey, I would like the best offense lol.
[/quote]
I agree with the top 5 on offense. I think with all the drama in the steeler camp, we got the number 1 spot in the bag for the defense.
rank # 1 defense
Rank # 5 offense
Solid!

[RoflDogs]

I'm pretty sure either the 49ers or the Pats were #1 for both once

[berad]

[quote name='RoflDogs' date='31 May 2010 - 11:17 AM' timestamp='1275319026' post='416111']
I'm pretty sure either the 49ers or the Pats were #1 for both once
[/quote]

No, the Patriots never did.

It also depends what stat you are using to quantify 'the best'. Is it points scored/allowed or yards gained/given-up? If the latter, then the 49ers did it in 1987 and 1949 (but no one counts statistics before the merger) [url="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/"]LINK[/url]

I'm sure some other teams have done it. I checked the Steelers out and no dice. Maybe the Giants, Packers, Broncos, etc.

[Romo Ravens]

Even if we aren't the number one offense, we have absolutely no reason to only kick five field goals in a game now. If it happens again, I'll pull my hair out.

[Ravenmore74]

In my personally opinion any team in this league that has a top 5 offense and a top 5 defense is a contender for the superbowl.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

Number one in [i]both[/i] is probably a little ambitious!

[codizzle]

we wont air it downfield anywhere near enough to be the number one offense... i could see us being a top 8 offense and prolly 3rd again on defense..

BUT if ed comes back as close to 100% as possible and we get fabs and webb back healthy earlier than expected as it looks like it will be now then i say its highly possible we have a legit chance at the number one d

[ravens__]

[quote name='McBoller' date='31 May 2010 - 06:15 AM' timestamp='1275279319' post='416041']
I dont see us being #1 in either category, although defense would be much more feasible. I think we do have a legit shot at being top5 on offense and defense though.
[/quote]

Well said.

[Perfekt]

I would rather have the #1 defense because that means were tough to beat but i would be proud no matter what we are as long as we win games.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='Perfekt' date='02 June 2010 - 03:16 AM' timestamp='1275401768' post='416430']
I would rather have the #1 defense because that means were tough to beat but i would be proud no matter what we are as long as we win games.
[/quote]
[b]Defense is Ravens football[/b], I'll pick that [i]anyday[/i] over some high-flying offense.