quote:
Is it possible that the NFL is wrong about the value of safeties? I went and researched how many Super Bowl champions since 2000 had an All-Pro at safety. To be included the player had to be an All-Pro within one year of the Super Bowl. My findings were very interesting:

quote:
Amazingly there has only been one Super Bowl winning team since 2000 that didn't have an All-Pro at safety. One! Perhaps even more astonishing: since 2000 only three teams have won a title without a safety that was at least a 3-time All-Pro.

quote:
Clearly having an elite safety is critical to winning a title. Perhaps more critical than we ever suspected.
Given this, should safeties be drafted higher and paid more than they are? How valuable is 3 time All-Pro Jairus Byrd? Is it possible that an elite safety is more valuable than an elite edge rusher? WR? CB? O-Lineman? They are all drafted higher and paid more than safeties typically.

If you need any more proof, look at what is has done for NFL teams lately. Safety play is very important. The Saints have a young, good defensive line to go along with a dynamic secondary that just added a ball hawk. That's a deadly combination.

This post was edited on 4/1/14 at 12:49 pm

4 ...

Report Post

Posted by blueslover

deeper than deep south

Member since Sep 2007

22792 posts

Posted on 4/1/14 at 9:52 am to CocoLoco

We all know what a giant step change of improvement the D made last year. We can crow about the statistical rating but know they were not quite yet to the dominating type level most associate with the seachickens or niners. I truly believe they're poised to make that next step. There were a number of games last year where the defense carried the weight to a win. The next step is hearing the media narrative change. Prediction: by the end of the 2014 season when the media talks about the Saints it will be just as much about the dominating defense as the prolific offense. That is, headlines will be 'Can the ______ get by the Saints Defense?' as much or more as '________ Face Challenge of stopping Brees and the Saints'.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by Hazelnut

Member since May 2011

16439 posts

Posted on 4/1/14 at 11:29 am to CocoLoco

Very interesting find

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by beauchristopher

new orleans

Member since Jan 2008

66462 posts

Posted on 4/1/14 at 4:26 pm to CocoLoco

Yeah it truly does seem like all the superbowl champs of late all had badass safeties

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by adono

River Ridge

Member since Sep 2003

7307 posts

Posted on 4/1/14 at 7:33 pm to CocoLoco

quote:
If you need any more proof, look at what is has done for NFL teams lately. Safety play is very important. The Saints have a young, good defensive line to go along with a dynamic secondary that just added a ball hawk. That's a deadly combination.

Very nice job on this one!