Dominant Offense Vs Dominant Defense: Whats better?

by Shwicks on Feb 8, 2012 10:00 PM CST

I have been in many discussions in the past about this very topic and have recently overheard some of my co-workers arguing about the very same topic that everyone seems to have such different opinions about. The topic of this discussion is what would you rather have on your team? A dominant offense or a dominant defense?

Now after sitting back in my chair on break completely eavesdropping on my co-workers heated argument on which one they would rather have I find it the least bit surprising who chose which side. On the one hand you have a an old school Steelers fan preaching Defense, Defense, Defense "How many super bowls have the Steelers won because of their dominant defense?" His answer.... "more than any other team in the NFL". On the other side of the argument you have a much younger fan of the game who happens to be a Bengals fan preaching that Offense is now the name of the game. He insists that the a new era of the NFL has slowly formed with the major boom in offensive statistics and the emergence of offensive juggernauts bursting into the scenes these last few years. Both have valid points when they look over to the only Cowboy fan in the Maryland area and ask what would you rather have? I simply pull a Switzerland and explain that I would prefer to have a dominant defense with a top 10 quality quarterback on my team to consistently take me to the playoffs and possibly a super bowl with this kind of formula. While I understand this answer was far from what they were looking for they quickly cast me aside as someone who doesn't know what they are talking about because I am crazy enough to be a Cowboy fan in this region and went back to their never-ending debate.

After researching the matter a little further from The past decade of super bowl opponents and winners I came up with the following:

2012: Giants vs. Patriots. Winner: Giants

2011: Packers vs. Steelers. Winner: Packers

2010: Saints vs. Colts. Winner: Saints

2009: Steelers vs. Cardinals. Winner: Steelers

2008: Giants vs. Patriots. Winner: Giants

2007: Colts vs. Bears. Winner: Colts

2006: Steelers vs. Seahawks. Winner: Steelers

2005: Patriots vs. Eagles. Winner: Patriots

2004: Patriots vs. Panthers. Winner: Patriots

2003: Buccaneers vs. Raiders. Winner: Buccaneers

2002: Patriots vs. Rams. Winner: Patriots

If I had to break down each super bowl team for what they were "classified " as in terms of an offensive or defensive powerhouse I would come to the following conclusion....

Super Bowl winning teams known for offense: 2011, 2010, 2007, 2005, & 2004

Super Bowl winning teams known for offense: 2012, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2003, & 2002 (I classified the 2002 Pats as defensive then because this was a defensive team initially that Tom Brady emerged from)

As and added note if you look at the Super Bowl losers each year, about 7 of the teams listed above had stronger offenses than defenses.

While I do know this is a team game and I won't even get into my personal formula in this particular debate but after looking over the past decade of super bowls it is a close one. If you had to choose one what would you choose?

Poll

Which would you rather have?

Dominant Offense

23 votes

Dominant Defense

40 votes

63 votes | Poll has closed

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

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Why?

If you are going to vote on the matter give a reason for choosing it! Comment about it, this post was meant to open up a discussion for why you believe you would want one over the other.

by Shwicks on Feb 9, 2012 6:14 AM CST reply actions

I am going to pull a "Deion"

I want Both

Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT

Now, if somebody doesn’t agree with that, that’s cool. I also don’t agree with the fact that I don’t have $10 million in my bank account. But the fact that I don’t agree with it doesn’t make it any less true.
by One.Cool.Customer on Dec 23, 2010 12:00 AM PST

by I am Ironman!!! on Feb 9, 2012 6:46 AM CST reply actions

I want dominant offense.

The NFL is more geared to offense now. The rules, the refs everything. OL can basically hold/choke hold/tackle on every play now. The QB can barely be hit. WRs aren’t allowed to be touch etc etc.

But you still have to have an avg opposite units. If you are below avg its that much harder.

"Obviously, I felt like if I ran into my lineman there it was going to help the play" ~Tony Romo

by thebigham on Feb 9, 2012 6:48 AM CST reply actions

Well put

Which is another point the younger gentleman argued, the rules are changing to make the NFL geared towards offense, to which the old-school steelers fan replies “did you see what San Francisco’s defense did to the Saints?” (that was truly phenomenal by the way, not the rebuttal, but that game) A dominant defense would be amazing in this new era, but what now classifies a dominant D? Gone are the days of the 2000 Ravens D who were so dominant they almost scored more points than the offense and gave up an average of 11 points per game.

by Shwicks on Feb 9, 2012 7:00 AM CST up reply actions

What did the niner D do?

Let up 500yds and 32 points? Even after creating 5 turnovers!

"Obviously, I felt like if I ran into my lineman there it was going to help the play" ~Tony Romo

by thebigham on Feb 9, 2012 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

I agree with you there.....

Which is why I said the game was phenomenal, not the Steeler fans rebuttal. I am well aware of what their defense gave up against the Saints, he obviously wasnt. In all honesty the guy I am talking about was just enamored by the 5 turnovers in the game and two were on special teams, not the defense. This is also why I asked what would it take for a defense to be considered a dominant defense in today’s offensive friendly league?

by Shwicks on Feb 10, 2012 6:38 AM CST up reply actions

17 ppg

"Obviously, I felt like if I ran into my lineman there it was going to help the play" ~Tony Romo

by thebigham on Feb 10, 2012 6:50 AM CST up reply actions

Uhhh, yeah...

… the League, in it’s “infinitly infallible wisdom” (sooo loosely used) tweaked the rules to give one side of the ball an edge. For entertainment value. To keep the ~~“fans”~~ audience interested(?). Happy(?).

The answer’s obvious. Defies conventional, even preponderantly “normal”, thought, however.

Damn, I’m grumpy once the season’s done.

That's one small step...

by tanstaafl on Feb 9, 2012 6:47 PM CST reply actions

Actually Tan....

Damn, I’m grumpy ~~once the season’s done.~~

Fixed it for you….

by I am Ironman!!! on Feb 9, 2012 6:56 PM CST up reply actions

well ~~played~~ understood
Thanks, Oz

That's one small step...

by tanstaafl on Feb 10, 2012 9:13 PM CST up reply actions

I want a dominant offense with a defense that can close the deal we need be

Billion dollar dream and hundred dollar nightmares

by djthumpl on Feb 9, 2012 10:54 PM CST reply actions

The 2012 Giants ...

were not a dominant defense — not by any stretch.

You don’t give up over 120 points over a 3 game stretch in the 2nd half of the season and be called a dominant defense.

I’ll take the Saints offense (i.e., a dominant offense) over a dominant defense anyday. The lit up a very good defensive team in the 49ers and only lost because their defense couldn’t stop Alex Smith.

Give me a dominant offense and a defense that is (i) good against the run, (ii) can sack the QB, and (iii) can turn the ball over. Let’s face it, in today’s NFL, you are going to give up yards through the air. This is the way the rules have evolved over the years. The QB is protected, the WRs are protected, the offensive line can hold and grab much more than they could 30 years ago. We don’t need to be a great defense, we just need to have a defense that can make some plays. They don’t have to make plays all of the time, but they need to be able to make game-changing plays.

by Conn Cowboy on Feb 10, 2012 8:28 AM CST reply actions

This makes alot of sense.

Agree with all of it.

But there is no perfect formula. What teams need first and foremost is an elite GM, elite scouting department, and great coaches to develop the good/great draft picks. Start with this, and a great QB, and you will have a team that contends for a division title every year, and a SB every couple of years.

Ernie Accorsi to Wellington Mara upon drafting Eli Manning, "This kid id going to win you a championship, and he's going to win you more than one."
Ernie is the Man(ning)

by tommy d. on Feb 12, 2012 11:58 AM CST up reply actions