Why I don't Fear the Saints

[trickworm]

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 since training camp...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. Historically, teams that make their living passing the ball have issues scoring close to the goalline, which compresses the field making the secondary's job much easier.

Now, the saints do execute their short passing game well close to the goalline..but against teams they have run the ball well against.

2. While the saints improved their dline somewhat, they did not improve at LB, and they are not deep at DT. 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. We have to maintain possession...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. It's been a while since someone smacked em in the mouth on their home field.

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.

5. Schedule: Even if we lose Sunday, the end of the schedule really isn't pretty for the saints. Mostly road games against playoff teams where weather could be a factor. They finish with:
@ Dallas
@ Cinci
vs. St. Louis
@ Baltimore
@ Atlanta
That's not pretty. A big dose of physical running teams with good defenses. Not the type of team the saints are best at beating.

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.