Is This The Best Defense In Ravens History?

[wizard1]

I think we have quietly put together an all- world defense. Lewis, Reed, Suggs, Ngata of course but with Webb, Pollard,Smith, McClain et. al. I think they rival the 2000 team defense.

[Alexir]

Secondary yes, rest of defense, not even close.

I'll voice my opinion again after the draft but if it's having Kruger and McClain as starters, then no.

[Gordo52]

Well the 2000 Ravens defense was the greatest of all time.... We have to wait after next season to determine that. I highly doubt anything could compare to it, but if somehow we did that would be awesome.

[K-Dog]

I wont say NEVER, but 2000 was an outstanding defense. At this moment I am going to say better than our current defense.

[Ravenslifer]

There will never be a defense as dominant as that 2000 defense was. The changes to the rules won't allow it. And besides, in 2000, you're talking the best quarterbacks in the league are Peyton before he was really Peyton (2002 is when he really exploded), Jeff Garcia, Daunte Culpepper, Brett Favre, Elvis Grbac, Kerry Collins, Rich Gannon, etc. Of all those, I'd say Favre would be the only comparable to what we have today. Flash forward to 2011, If Peyton is healthy he will be Peyton, and we also have Eli, Brady, Rivers, Rodgers, Brees, Stafford, etc. Not to mention the WR and tight end positions have radically changed in the last decade. It's now a passing league, and that means more points will be scored. That 2000 team shut out 4 teams and held 11 other teams, including all 4 playoff opponents, to 10 points or less. For my part, I wasn't really aware of the significance of what I was watching while it happened. Only looking back on it after 10+ years, seeing the changes in the game and looking back through the history of the game, can I begin to appreciate what we did. To put in in perspective, the Great '86 Bears defense gave up 22 total TDs - 14 years later, we gave up 16, and averaged almost a point and a half less per game.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Our defense had very little drop off for over a decade. If few luck were on our side.... A few catches here and few passes there and we could've been multiple SB champions.

[wizard1]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1335321033' post='1056192']
Our defense had very little drop off for over a decade. If few luck were on our side.... A few catches here and few passes there and we could've been multiple SB champions.
[/quote]

Don't forget a couple kicks!

[The Raven]

It won't happen. Never again will a team allow an average of 10 points a game. However, just for kicks, I looked up the proportion of our points allowed to the average of all the teams points scored, to account for the increase in passing offenses; just to see if our defense could still be just as dominant, from a relative standpoint. I will compare the 2000 stats to 2011, as that is the most recent year.

In 2000, we allowed 165 points. The average amount of points scored was 330. So, we allowed 50% of the average points per game of the average score, or 1 point allowed for every 2 scored on average.

In 2011, we allowed 266 points. The average amount of points scored was 355. We allowed 75% of the average amount of points scored. This would be 3 points allowed for every 4 scored on average.

So, even relatively speaking, our 2011 defense isn't even remotely close to as dominant as it was in 2000. No defense will ever be that good again.

I apologize if this was at all confusing or badly worded; I'm tired and can't think of a better way to word it.

[Blex64]

Your options are poor.

Also, lol at crowning a team in the pre-draft offseason best at ANYTHING.

[AsianRice]

2000 when Ray Lewis was 25yrs old? That is too much to top that; however, our secondary might go down as the best secondary ever as predicted.

Right now, our defense just can't top the 2000 defense yet, but I believe we will surpass it if we find a heir of Ray Lewis, and as long as the heir has 70% of 2000 Ray Lewis, we should wind down to the best defense ever......

PS: If we find another clone of Suggs for this year draft, we might come close to the 2000 defense......

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1335322104' post='1056207']
It won't happen. Never again will a team allow an average of 10 points a game. However, just for kicks, I looked up the proportion of our points allowed to the average of all the teams points scored, to account for the increase in passing offenses; just to see if our defense could still be just as dominant, from a relative standpoint. I will compare the 2000 stats to 2011, as that is the most recent year.

In 2000, we allowed 165 points. The average amount of points scored was 330. So, we allowed 50% of the average points per game of the average score, or 1 point allowed for every 2 scored on average.

In 2011, we allowed 266 points. The average amount of points scored was 355. We allowed 75% of the average amount of points scored. This would be 3 points allowed for every 4 scored on average.

So, even relatively speaking, our 2011 defense isn't even remotely close to as dominant as it was in 2000. No defense will ever be that good again.

I apologize if this was at all confusing or badly worded; I'm tired and can't think of a better way to word it.
[/quote]Thats really the only way to compare them.., its a different Era now so you cant just compare the two defenses, you have to compare the defense to the rest of the league in 2000, then compare the 2012 D (AFTER THE YEARRRRRR!!!) to the rest of the league, and see how they fare up like that.

The way you have done it seems pretty reasonable to me...You could compare Yds allowed as well to the rest of league and see. As well as shut outs etc etc.. you would have to look at every facet. Rush yds, pass yds, total yds, points against, 1st downs, etc etc to get a real clear idea

[GrimCoconut]

It is possible for them to go down as the best, but in order for that to happen a few things need to occur:

1. Terrence Cody needs to become an elite NT and evolve his game. If he can and he can do for us this year what Wilfork does then I believe we can easily contend.

2. Whoever replaces Redding needs to be an upgrade in pass-rush and run-stopping. If that happens then you can essentially say we are very close to that status.

3. Kruger, Kindle, McAdoo or whoever we draft needs to do more than replace JJ but become another Suggs.

4. McClain or whoever is our ILB needs to step up their game and play at a higher level than McClain played last year.

5. Williams and Smith need to take the next step in their game which seems reasonable.

If those five things happen, especially NT and DE then I believe we can be better than that defense by talent alone.

[codizzle]

2000 easily

[BloodRaven]

I'd say it's unlikely, we have two unproven rotational guys stepping up to start.

[codizzle]

Name the worst 3 players on that defense and then name the worst 3 on this one. (hard to do since it's April but oh well)

[tctony]

Not even close.

Young Ray Lewis who could run everywhere. Sam Adams/Goose clogging up the interior and McCrary notching sacks. McCalister was a beast and Starts was pretty darn good too. Boulware and Sharper in their prime.

[MKdave]

In my opinion, we were much, much closer in 2006, when just about every member of the front 7 was a sack machine and on the back end we had C-Mac and Rolle and Reed (who were both pretty healthy at the time). Landry was basically the weak spot of the D and he got a vote for DRoY! I think if that team had won the superbowl 2000 D v 2006 D would be a real debate.

[tctony]

[quote name='MKdave' timestamp='1335363950' post='1056404']
In my opinion, we were much, much closer in 2006, when just about every member of the front 7 was a sack machine and on the back end we had C-Mac and Rolle and Reed (who were both pretty healthy at the time). Landry was basically the weak spot of the D and he got a vote for DRoY! I think if that team had won the superbowl 2000 D v 2006 D would be a real debate.
[/quote]

Man we should've won it that year. McNair threw that pick from the 2 yard line

Adalius Thomas in his beast mode. Suggs in beast mode. Reed...in beast mode.

[Bltravens]

Not.Even.Close

[Purple Nurple]

<p>[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1335364992' post='1056415']<br />
Not.Even.Close<br />
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Thats funny. I was just about to post the exact same thing.

[H8R]

if Ray was 30, I'd say yes without question! However, we're still a very good defense. Suggs, Ngata, Reed are some of the best individual players in the league... Collectively, the 2000 D just worked soo well together. Individual talent wise? We're better now , but the complete cohesion of the 2000 D can't be matched ... At least I don't think so.

[raybaby]

how about comparing this season from last season... a lot more relative/realistic. 2000 will never be topped.

[Crabcakes&Football]

The defense will be very good, but will not top the best defense in NFL history. I'm just hoping Pees brings the pain.

[redrum52]

I'm going to say that this core of players could be the next dominant defense. Now hear me out, I know this is a a passing league but we could be the new 00 defense by getting to the qb and disrupting or picking off the qb. Not the same physicality, but maybe the same kind of dominance where the defense dictates what teams do. There will never be another tram like our 2000 team while Goodell is in charge, but we can try to be the closest to it within the rules. With this cast I say yes, its possible, especially if Kindle can be the player we drafted him to be. The secondary is the best its been since 06 IMO and the front seven with an off season can be a force. I see Ngata and Cody having better years, Ngata cause he will be healthy and Cody cause of the workouts. Same for McPhee. Also, Suggs competition at tackle won't be as difficult. I see Jimmy being the clear starter with Webb. The only thing is I hope we stay as aggressive as we were with Chuck. If we stay healthy I could easily see this team, not just defense, being better than last seasons. This could be the best Ravens team yet.

[Renediffie]

i think the loss of pagano is a bigger thorn than most here seem to realise. I will just be happy if we are a top 5 defense.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='Renediffie' timestamp='1335379109' post='1056616']
i think the loss of pagano is a bigger thorn than most here seem to realise. I will just be happy if we are a top 5 defense.
[/quote]
Last year was Pagano's first year as a DC. Dean Pees has done it before. I liked Pagano but the defense wasn't perfect. The run defense suffered a little despite Cody improving over last year. I don't think there will be a dropoff related to the coordination as Pees did a lot with the Pats' defense when he was there.

We have 5 great players on defense. The other 6 need to step up.
Kruger/McPhee, Jones, McClain, Pollard, Cody, Williams/Smith all have to take a step forward.
We NEED an ILB to cover sideline to sideline and TEs to rival the 2000 Ravens.

[Purple Punishment]

You are talking about "Thee Greatest Single Season Defensive Performance In NFL History"

No, we may never emulate that seeing as its only happened once. Good thing it was us!

[Hjulmann]

Not by a long shot. We practically won the all time best super bowl team, and when we won in 2000, we had a useless QB and a shabby offense. We won the game on our defense alone. We wouldn't be able to do that today.

[Ravens Lover]

As good and surprising as this Defense was, you can't go against 4 shutouts, the lowest points ever in a 16 game season, and A Super Bowl from the 2000 squad

[CapoRocky]

I'd like to see how we improve through the draft or trade by camp time. Osi would be a nice addition. Still, we will never be better than 2000.