I have heard it said here, that New Englands defense is far inferior to the ravens and bucs of 2000 and 2002 respectively.
I dont know how this assumption came to be amde, especially given the pats azazing ability to keep teams of the socreboard. Anywyas here is the man responsible for the 85 bears defense, and he would know better than all of us.
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Ryan ranks defense among elite
By Michael Smith, Globe Staff, 1/21/2004
FOXBOROUGH -- Buddy Ryan can be considered an expert in two areas: horses and defense. So say he's hosting a dinner party at his ranch in Kentucky next spring, and only representatives from the greatest defenses in pro football history are invited. Actually, it would be more like a simple get-together. Dinner party sounds too fancy, and, of course, there isn't anything fancy about defense. At Ryan's, they're serving steak, potatoes, and beer.
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Anyway, the guest list. Obviously, Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, and the rest of the 1985 Chicago Bears would be there. The party wouldn't be complete without Ray Lewis, Sam Adams (of course), and Tony Siragusa of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, and Leonard Marshall have RSVP'd on behalf of the 1986 New York Giants. And we assume Ryan would invite Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, and Derrick Brooks from the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That's enough for a nice night of storytelling and sharing of philosophies, with room for maybe a few more guests.
How about the 2003 New England Patriots, pending a victory over the Carolina Panthers a week from Sunday in Super Bowl XXXVIII? Does the "Homeland Defense" have to sit out on the front porch, or can they take part in grown folks' conversation in the living room?
Absolutely, said Ryan, architect of what is considered the most dominant defense in NFL history, the Bears' 46. In fact, these Patriots can have a seat next to him.
Buddy Ryan's son, Rob, coaches outside linebackers for the Patriots. Father and son speak every week between games. Buddy Ryan says he's watched all of the Patriots games. Asked yesterday if New England could be included in discussions of all-time great defenses, Ryan agreed and then some. He pretty much said the Patriots would come up early.
"If we set the standard, like you said, then the Bears are No. 1," Ryan said yesterday from his ranch in Kentucky. "Baltimore No. 2. So No. 3 right now. They might be No. 2 if they win the Super Bowl."
Ryan rates the Patriots' "Homeland Defense" ahead of the Giants in their heyday, Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain," Dallas's "Doomsday," and Miami's "No-Name"? He has the Patriots third?
"I said No. 2," Ryan corrected.
New England certainly has the credentials to support Ryan's ranking. The Patriots have beaten the league's co-Most Valuable Players four times, the first team in league history to do so. They allowed only 68 points at home during the regular season, a record for eight home games.
Romeo Crennel's defense posted three shutouts and became the first team since the 1938 New York Giants to hold four consecutive home opponents without a touchdown, a span of 62 possessions.
New England allowed a league-low 238 points, or 14.9 per game. That isn't anywhere near the 1985 or `86 Bears, who yielded 198 and 187, respectively. The 2000 Ravens allowed a record 165 points. The Bucs gave up 196 last year. But consider that the '86 Giants' defense, coordinated by Patriots coach Bill Belichick, gave up 236 points -- two fewer than these Patriots.
You don't see opponents break big gains against these Patriots. They've allowed one pass play longer than 50 yards and no runs of more than 23 yards.
What impresses Ryan most is the Patriot defenders' level of awareness.
"The key is they're smart," Ryan said. "I've always had a soft spot for smart players and coaches.
"They're setting a new standard, pretty much. There's a lot in their game plans, and the players are able to master it."
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, who coordinated the Ravens' record-setting defense, also welcomes the Patriots into this select company. "I think so," Lewis said yesterday. "No question. For what they're doing, they've obviously got to be recognized. They've played offenses that were playing great, and they've shut them down."
Lewis appreciates how well the Patriots execute their game plans and defend the pass playing mostly two-deep zone, with man underneath, and cover-2.
"They've got a great ability to cover people," Lewis said. "Their safeties do a great job in coverage. Their cornerbacks, obviously, can cover. Their linebackers can cover. They all do a good job.
"But you can't compare. Why take anything away from anybody? But [the Patriots] should be thought of as a great group."
Another of Buddy Ryan's sons, Rex, is the Ravens' defensive line coach. Buddy was hoping for a Patriots-Ravens AFC Championship game.
"They're playing great," Ryan said of the Patriots. "I enjoy watching them every week."
These days, Ryan enjoys taking care of his horses. It was time to feed them, so it was time to end this conversation about defense.
"You know the one common thread with each of those defenses?" Ryan said, referring to the Bears, Patriots, and Ravens. "Each one had a Ryan coaching it. Talk to you later."
© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
I dont know how this assumption came to be amde, especially given the pats azazing ability to keep teams of the socreboard. Anywyas here is the man responsible for the 85 bears defense, and he would know better than all of us.
-----------------------------------------------
Ryan ranks defense among elite
By Michael Smith, Globe Staff, 1/21/2004
FOXBOROUGH -- Buddy Ryan can be considered an expert in two areas: horses and defense. So say he's hosting a dinner party at his ranch in Kentucky next spring, and only representatives from the greatest defenses in pro football history are invited. Actually, it would be more like a simple get-together. Dinner party sounds too fancy, and, of course, there isn't anything fancy about defense. At Ryan's, they're serving steak, potatoes, and beer.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anyway, the guest list. Obviously, Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, and the rest of the 1985 Chicago Bears would be there. The party wouldn't be complete without Ray Lewis, Sam Adams (of course), and Tony Siragusa of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, and Leonard Marshall have RSVP'd on behalf of the 1986 New York Giants. And we assume Ryan would invite Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, and Derrick Brooks from the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That's enough for a nice night of storytelling and sharing of philosophies, with room for maybe a few more guests.
How about the 2003 New England Patriots, pending a victory over the Carolina Panthers a week from Sunday in Super Bowl XXXVIII? Does the "Homeland Defense" have to sit out on the front porch, or can they take part in grown folks' conversation in the living room?
Absolutely, said Ryan, architect of what is considered the most dominant defense in NFL history, the Bears' 46. In fact, these Patriots can have a seat next to him.
Buddy Ryan's son, Rob, coaches outside linebackers for the Patriots. Father and son speak every week between games. Buddy Ryan says he's watched all of the Patriots games. Asked yesterday if New England could be included in discussions of all-time great defenses, Ryan agreed and then some. He pretty much said the Patriots would come up early.
"If we set the standard, like you said, then the Bears are No. 1," Ryan said yesterday from his ranch in Kentucky. "Baltimore No. 2. So No. 3 right now. They might be No. 2 if they win the Super Bowl."
Ryan rates the Patriots' "Homeland Defense" ahead of the Giants in their heyday, Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain," Dallas's "Doomsday," and Miami's "No-Name"? He has the Patriots third?
"I said No. 2," Ryan corrected.
New England certainly has the credentials to support Ryan's ranking. The Patriots have beaten the league's co-Most Valuable Players four times, the first team in league history to do so. They allowed only 68 points at home during the regular season, a record for eight home games.
Romeo Crennel's defense posted three shutouts and became the first team since the 1938 New York Giants to hold four consecutive home opponents without a touchdown, a span of 62 possessions.
New England allowed a league-low 238 points, or 14.9 per game. That isn't anywhere near the 1985 or `86 Bears, who yielded 198 and 187, respectively. The 2000 Ravens allowed a record 165 points. The Bucs gave up 196 last year. But consider that the '86 Giants' defense, coordinated by Patriots coach Bill Belichick, gave up 236 points -- two fewer than these Patriots.
You don't see opponents break big gains against these Patriots. They've allowed one pass play longer than 50 yards and no runs of more than 23 yards.
What impresses Ryan most is the Patriot defenders' level of awareness.
"The key is they're smart," Ryan said. "I've always had a soft spot for smart players and coaches.
"They're setting a new standard, pretty much. There's a lot in their game plans, and the players are able to master it."
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, who coordinated the Ravens' record-setting defense, also welcomes the Patriots into this select company. "I think so," Lewis said yesterday. "No question. For what they're doing, they've obviously got to be recognized. They've played offenses that were playing great, and they've shut them down."
Lewis appreciates how well the Patriots execute their game plans and defend the pass playing mostly two-deep zone, with man underneath, and cover-2.
"They've got a great ability to cover people," Lewis said. "Their safeties do a great job in coverage. Their cornerbacks, obviously, can cover. Their linebackers can cover. They all do a good job.
"But you can't compare. Why take anything away from anybody? But [the Patriots] should be thought of as a great group."
Another of Buddy Ryan's sons, Rex, is the Ravens' defensive line coach. Buddy was hoping for a Patriots-Ravens AFC Championship game.
"They're playing great," Ryan said of the Patriots. "I enjoy watching them every week."
These days, Ryan enjoys taking care of his horses. It was time to feed them, so it was time to end this conversation about defense.
"You know the one common thread with each of those defenses?" Ryan said, referring to the Bears, Patriots, and Ravens. "Each one had a Ryan coaching it. Talk to you later."
© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
