Have you guys actually seen the stats from the game?

[poutlipper]

We're 5th in the NFL in scoring defense right now(And New Orleans hasn't played), so we could be #4 after MNF. We're #16 in defense by yards, but that's due largely to the two runs(50 yards and 80 yards), take those 2 plays out and we'd be the #4 defense.

Offensively, we're currently #7 in points per game and yards per game.

[trickworm]

(09-19-2010 09:53 PM)Tandy Wrote:  Who called it Peyton?

Good job.

It was great(And a relief)to see the team come out with fire and how they executed. You could tell they worked very hard this week in practice. After the loss last Sunday, I was worried that there may be some team cohesion issues showing up for this game...Finger pointing..Loss of confidence in coaches...Loss of confidence in themselves.

I posted last week that the cardinal game would be a "tell" for me personally on just how far this team could possibly go..not just this season either.... If they responded poorly to the Steeler loss, my thinking would've been totally reversed on this team....and their makeup...their toughness.

Everyone and their brother ran stories of our demise, and the demise of Ryan. It would've been easy for the players to listen to that misinformed crap, and let it affect them. Instead, they came out and served a big dish of STFU...on the field.

Got more to serve next Sunday.

[Joker]

(09-19-2010 10:06 PM)poutlipper Wrote:  We're 5th in the NFL in scoring defense right now(And New Orleans hasn't played), so we could be #4 after MNF. We're #16 in defense by yards, but that's due largely to the two runs(50 yards and 80 yards), take those 2 plays out and we'd be the #4 defense.

Offensively, we're currently #7 in points per game and yards per game.

man its almost wierd having a good defense, but we really havent played a powerful offense yet.,. The Cards are in dissaray.. This week will be the test.. Im excited!!!!

[poutlipper]

Oh yeah, I know 2 games does not make the season, but I'd sure as hell rather start the season in the top 10, then in the bottom. I don't remember the last time I was this excited about our D.

[trickworm]

(09-19-2010 08:59 PM)phocis850 Wrote:  Should we say the same thing about the Saints? Or are they up one level?

To be honest..and I don't mean to sound like I'm talking out my azz because we won big today...I've put a lot of thought and research into this opinion...but I ain't scared of the saints..at all. Lemme tell ya why.

1. While they are a prolific offense, with some balance in the run game, I believe our defense is optimally built to defend the saints style of offense. With the improvements we made on defense, we will cut down on cheap deep completions, rb's catching the ball out of the backfield and running free, and they will not run the ball on us. Just won't happen.

Yes, they will get their passing yards. They will score some points on us. But they will have problems scoring on us from the 10 yard line and closer. If they don't score from the 15 out...they'll be kickin field goals.

2. While the saints improved their dline somewhat, they did not improve at LB. I have all confidence that we will be able to run the ball on them...without a problem.
And if the run game is going...Ryan will execute the passing game well. He just needs to watch the int's. IMO..He's gonna throw less int's this year, but all the balls thrown high vs. Pittsburgh had me concerned. He has to correct that, or int's will come by the bushel, especially against the saint secondary.

We will have to put up 28+ points to beat them. I believe we can do that.

3. The comedown factor.
The saints have been on a streak of all good since the SB. They rolled through the playoffs, the SB, and on into this season with no team challenging them at all...they faced no adversity for a minute. If we go in there and smack em in the mouth early...they will have somewhat of a comedown. How much is in question, as they are a tough, resilient, team that ain't gonna lay down for nothing, but when anyone has gone through a period of good, easy times, a sudden dose of bad, hard times can be difficult to deal with.

4. Coaches..

I believe that the Coaching battles between Smitty and Peyton, one an offensive guy, the other a defense guy, are undereported and overlooked. These two seem to be at their best when going against one another...both bring their A games and their lunches. If you pay attention, you'll notice that both will install plays and schemes that haven't been seen yet on film when they play. It's a chessmatch between one of the brightest designers of offense in the game, and a solid, experienced, defensive coach who isn't flashy or counted amongst the greats, mainly because he believes that teams that run complex ever changing defensive scheme's are more prone to make mistakes.

The saints have been the best offense in the NFC south since Smitty and BVG got here. Therefore, the saints get the most attention from the d coaches. IMO..Smitty and BVG know the saints offense almost as good as Peyton does, and they know how to go about minimizing the saints attack. Last year the defense actually showed flashes of this against the saints. I believe they now have the pieces on defense to attack the saints how they want and need to. And I'm sure they are sick of getting their azzes whipped by Peyton too.

To conclude:
While the saints have all the appearance of a juggernaut with their gaudy offense and a defense that led the league in turnovers last season, they do have weaknesses that can be exploited. They are not unbeatable. I believe they are the style of team that we are best built to play against.

And while we have proven nothing yet on the field, I am optimistic we can beat them on their field Sunday. I don't fear them..at all.

[kibitzer]

Nice post, trick! I love the homerliciousness of it, and I don't mean that in a bad way.

You actually made some really good points, intriguing especially regarding the angle on the coaches.

A lot of it is going to depend on how our Offense rises to the occasion. I think our D will be able to get some stops, and keep it close. But they DO have a pretty solid O-line. Trench warfare will likely decide the victor.

[Radical]

This was the 49ers game, 2.0. Just brutal.

[trickworm]

(09-19-2010 11:21 PM)kibitzer Wrote:  Nice post, trick! I love the homerliciousness of it, and I don't mean that in a bad way.

You actually made some really good points, intriguing especially regarding the angle on the coaches.

A lot of it is going to depend on how our Offense rises to the occasion. I think our D will be able to get some stops, and keep it close. But they DO have a pretty solid O-line. Trench warfare will likely decide the victor.

I got on a roll there..lol...been holding that in since training camp.

I agree, our offense must maintain possession of the ball. We cannot afford to turn the ball over or not execute. If our gameplan does not include plays that will minimize the blitzing that the saints will bring, things could go south. But we have schemed well against that blitz so far, I have no reason to think we will not scheme well against it this Sunday.

On your other point..IMO the battle between the saints guards and our dt's is crucial to our success. I'm not worried about them run blocking us off the line, but I am concerened about getting penetration from our dt's on passing downs. It's imperative that we get pressure on Brees rushing 4, because we will not blitz a whole lot, and we must not allow him to have a clean pocket.

[papachaz]

(09-19-2010 08:42 PM)The Falcon Jedi Wrote:  We whipped a team that we should have. We didnt play down to their level. That is what made me the most happy.

i gave you a +1 on that one Jedi, because it's something i've said about this team for years. even those years we had a good team, we always seemed to play down to the level of the team we were playing that week. i loved this today, no doubt about it!