Christian Petersen - Getty Images
Drew Brees and company will be tough to defend this Sunday.
Four years ago, something special happened for the New Orleans Saints, starting with their Week 1 contest against the Cleveland Browns: they turned their franchise around.
The 2006 season saw the debut of QB Drew Brees, RB Reggie Bush, and WR Marques Colston for the Saints, en route to a division title. Then, the Browns were just facing a team that seemed like it had some offensive potential. Now, they are facing the defending Super Bowl Champions and one of the best offenses in the NFL.
The Browns have had a rough start to the NFL season, from having to play tough teams like the Ravens, Falcons, and Steelers. None of those teams had an "elite" offense, which is a category I would place Brees and company in. Why does that present a problem? Josh Freeman, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Carson Palmer, and Ben Roethlisberger have all connected on deep passes for touchdowns against the Browns' secondary, usually when the team sends an all-out blitz.
When you look at Drew Brees, he loves to throw the deep ball in that offense. He doesn't care if the defense knows it's coming. If the opposing team scores a touchdown, it's not out of the question that he will come out and go for the 80-yard touchdown pass on the first offensive play with success.
This season, the Saints' numbers are down a little bit offensively. Let's take a look at the yards per catch averages for the Saints' receivers this year versus last year (and you do have to look at all of the receivers, because each guy could be the team's 100-yard receiver in any given week):
With the exception of Moore, all of the receivers' numbers are a bit down from last year, primarily because New Orleans hasn't been hitting the deep ball as often. As of last week, I think the Saints got back to their style of offense, as they scored 30 points or more for the first time this season. In defeating Tampa Bay, Brees connected on touchdown passes of 41 yards (on 2nd and 14) and 40 yards (on 3rd and 7). Those touchdowns came on the Saints' first two series, and after they built their massive lead, they just ran the ball in the second half.
When the Saints beat the Panthers narrowly a couple of weeks ago, Brees' longest pass of the game went for just 20 yards. I won't even bring up their loss against the Arizona Cardinals, because that came had so many weird fumbles and touchdowns that it almost seems like an anomaly -- one that we can't expect to happen this week in New Orleans.
The Saints aren't known to be an offense that comes out and tries to trick you with a clever gameplan. They just go right at you in the passing game, and it's up to your defense to find a way to prevent the big plays. Rob Ryan hasn't shown any signs of stopping the all-out-blitz, and I don't have faith in any of our cornerbacks right now in defending a one-on-one deep pass between Brees and one of his receivers.
Do you think Ryan will tone down the all-out blitz against the Saints? I think the correct route to go is what the team did against Atlanta, where the blitzes seemed to bring only five or six men but from different directions, while also having some plays where the defense dropped back instead. I think Brees and company will go for the home run ball early, and I'd hate to see Colt McCoy and company down by three touchdowns before they even have a chance to build a rhythm.
0 recs | 127 comments
Brees can make completions all over the field. You need a three tier system, that is linebackers to cover their zones also depth wise, meaning drop back and defend fairly large zones without assistance from the defensive backs. This will be difficult to accomplish with our huge linebackers.
mooncamping - October 21, 2010
Has this been your plan all along, to start making tons of sense without us realizing the transition?
Roger Dorn - October 21, 2010
I read his post and nod my head in agreement more times than not these days, and he still finds a way to inject a nice touch of humor.
Chris Pokorny - October 21, 2010
Just the transition into sense has me laughing.
Roger Dorn - October 21, 2010
I’ve noticed myself agreeing with stuff Moony says a lot more often than not lately. He still says some crazy stuff every once in a while though.
North Coast Flea - October 21, 2010
and I hope he never stops.
notthatnoise - October 21, 2010
So, if Elam, Wright, Rogers, and Robiskie have been the biggest disappointments this year… mooncamping and Hillis have been the biggest surprise success stories.
Ryan Kelsey - October 21, 2010
Fujita and Ward’s already impressive enforcer role have also been surprises.
SpecialBrownie - October 21, 2010
Well, planning is not a strength obviously. Making sense is a challenge to anyone nowadays, even mooncamping.
mooncamping - October 22, 2010
Awesome!! Yous just referred to yourself in third person
The naome40 - October 22, 2010 via mobile
I’d do it to if I were moon.
Brownie's Year - October 22, 2010
He’s known for that. He’s like the Ricky Henderson of our blog.
Buckeye Brad - October 22, 2010
ricky henderson loves fullbacks?
bross09 - October 22, 2010
nice butts
Villeslgr - October 23, 2010
He likes biiiig butts and he can not lie.
North Coast Flea - October 23, 2010
This evolved from my gutt and butt reference, regarding optimal weight distribution in an offensive guard or defensive tackle. Look around, they are everywhere, and none of them has been gay propositioned by mooncamping. Maybe it´s because he is not gay?
mooncamping - October 23, 2010
I don’t think anyone meant to imply you were gay.
notthatnoise - October 23, 2010
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Buckeye Brad - October 23, 2010
of course.
notthatnoise - October 23, 2010
Yeah i’m not calling you gay, just saying that’s an important component to your offensive line system.
Villeslgr - October 23, 2010
I wasn’t saying you were gay.
North Coast Flea - October 23, 2010
Right, there is nothing at all wrong with it. It´s a disposition. Mooncamping is not gay, but he is seeking gutt and butt in his line players.
mooncamping - October 24, 2010
Maybe it really isn’t him…. I smell a conspiracy in the making.
Brownsyup - October 22, 2010
Must be one of his aspects.
North Coast Flea - October 22, 2010
Ha ha, I get it. Ass peckts as in detail oriented, and expecting people to be up-tight about it? Or am I reading too much into an innocent inference?
mooncamping - October 23, 2010
Reading to much into it. By aspects I meant the clones.
North Coast Flea - October 23, 2010
There are clones?
mooncamping - October 24, 2010
Mooncamping talks about Mooncamping quite often so I assume there are more than one.
North Coast Flea - October 24, 2010
Let’s make this green, fellas.
johnnyphoenix - October 22, 2010
emily522 - October 21, 2010
A million times this.
with a little bit of “oops, I fell down”
discoinferno083 - October 21, 2010
If Wright is this bad in 2010 then it makes me ponder just how bad Brandon McDonald was in 2009.
sleepy042 - October 21, 2010
I want Wright to give a more effort, I think some of it is he is so down on himself, he won’t even put his hand up in the face of the reciever, even if he knows he cannot knock the ball away; but that hand in the face may bloce the receivers vision. I don’t see the effort out of him…on a few he seemed to be guessing where the reciever is going.
Wright simply watches the ball as it floats over his head and into the receivers hands. Makes me wonder, if the coaches think Wright is playing better now than Haden could give to the team, how bad must Haden be? Makes Heckert look really bad.
allsides - October 22, 2010
I don’t think for a second that holding Haden from the 1st team makes him or Heckert look bad. It’s more the rookie factor than anything else.
skipkirk - October 22, 2010
we can’t forget Sheldon Brown either.
MkBrwn - October 21, 2010
Also could the issues with our corners be that they are undersized, brown and wright are 5’10, TO for example is 6’3.
MkBrwn - October 21, 2010
5’10" is plenty big for a corner. any taller, and they might be wide receivers.
notthatnoise - October 21, 2010
What CB is 6’3"? Damn.
SpecialBrownie - October 21, 2010
Sean Smith on the dolphins is 6’3’’
DRC and Alcrotraz are both 6’2’’ (so is Nnamdi)
Lenny Walls is now in the CFL and 6’4’’.
Yeah, that is still pretty tall at a position where 6’0’’ is considered prototypical height (at least the start of prototypical height)
bross09 - October 22, 2010
Interesting, I’d consider 5’10 about prototypical for a corner.
Ryan Kelsey - October 22, 2010
That sounds about right. I always thought that 6’ or taller is considered tall for a corner.
Buckeye Brad - October 22, 2010
when I say 6’0’’ as “prototypical” like 6’3’’ for receivers. the average WR is probably around 6’1’’ but you want your guy to be 6’3’’
5’10’’ is about what the average CB is in height (maybe 5’11’’) but you want your guy to be 6’0’’ or 6’1’’
bross09 - October 22, 2010
Is Alcatraz Revis’ new nickname? Because he was measured at 5’11 3/8" at the combine.
rufio - October 24, 2010
I hope we start Haden….as I said in another post, Eric Wright looks like Ray Charles in coverage this year.
da36chamberz - October 22, 2010
How much will it help to have Scott Fujita calling the plays on defense?
Spidey - October 21, 2010 via mobile
I had not thought of this… hm.
SpecialBrownie - October 21, 2010
I’m not sure what the answer is against the Saints. Our front seven has done really well in the run, I’m guessing we will be in a good bit of the nickel package tonight. I think I agree with only blitzing a few from all different directions for this game, maybe a very small number of all out blitzes. I’m guessing we see lots of corner blitzes. Hopefully Wright will be the man blitzing so we don’t have to worry about him in coverage. This will be a big test for Ward/Elam especially. We will need both of these guys to have huge games.
Kimble_79 - October 21, 2010
*tonight=Sunday
Getting ahead of myself there. LOL
Kimble_79 - October 21, 2010
we knew what you meant.
we NEED to get to the QB, and especially this week, its the best way to make the secondary look better!….corner blitzes seem to have been successful in rushing the QB, but man then they just throw it to the guy that was left open just before our safety/LB/etc. can get over there. I wonder if Brees will get 400 yards Sunday.
allsides - October 22, 2010
There really isn’t one besides “play well”.
rufio - October 24, 2010
Please contact Mr. Wright with this information.
StuckInPa - October 24, 2010
I thought he was solid today.
rufio - October 25, 2010
We’ve beat the Super Bowl champs two years in a row in the regular season. Just sayin’ . . .
TheDriveStillHurts - October 21, 2010
precisely.
discoinferno083 - October 21, 2010
That we have. Good call.
SpecialBrownie - October 21, 2010
Won't happen again.....
not on OUR HOUSE! Just sayin’
SAINTSfaninNC - October 21, 2010
Saints fan in NC?
Because of the Panthers right? LOL
This is going to be the biggest upset game of the week,Browns win by 3 right at the end.
Groza - October 21, 2010
Not just because of the Kitties.....
born and raised in Louisiana…ended up in NC after retiring from the Navy. I wish your Dog Pound the best….
SAINTSfaninNC - October 22, 2010
that sounds more dangerous than helmet-to-helmet hits…
DontCallMeJoey - October 21, 2010
my editor was out sick!
SAINTSfaninNC - October 22, 2010
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: Our schedule from Week 3 to Week 11 is just absurdly difficult. And as we’ve learned this season, TB and KC weren’t exactly pushovers either.
DisplacedBuckeye - October 21, 2010
I would say TB is definately a push over team( they were destroyed by pittsburg and NO) and i’m not completely sold on KC as ligit either. KC has an obsurdly soft schedule for the rest of the year. If we weren’t pass happy and Hillis was realized for those games, we more than likely would be 3-3 right now with delusions of grandeur.
MkBrwn - October 21, 2010
How do you spell “grandeur” correctly, but miss on “legit,” “absurdly,” “definitely,” and “Pittsburgh”?
Cap'n Snegiryov - October 21, 2010
It was eazy
realmccoy - October 21, 2010
grandeur was an accident
Roger Dorn - October 21, 2010
he meant grander
Roger Dorn - October 21, 2010
Definitely a pushover because they were destroyed by Pitt and NO?
Villeslgr - October 21, 2010
KC’s defense is playing much better. Hmmm. I wonder who is calling the defensive plays over there?
elsandito - October 21, 2010
maybe not definitely a pushover team but they haven’t been truly challenged yet.
And the chiefs just barely lost to a really good texans team. we didn’t play any pushovers.
bross09 - October 21, 2010
I’ll take 3-3 with delusions of grandeur for 500, Alex.
johnnyphoenix - October 22, 2010
I say this is the week of reckoning and we get lit up. I really feel like Ryan is trapped. If he doesn´t blitz we get picked apart. If we blitz, we get torched deep. Without Roger´s wreaking havoc, we just have not been getting pressure by “beating the guy in front of you”
realmccoy - October 21, 2010
Just to warn everyone. If Colt picks apart N.O. and we win – I will be totally intolerable (even more than usual) and will get a lifetime ban.
realmccoy - October 21, 2010
I think we would encourage it at that point. In summary, Colt doing well, realmccoy insufferable = good. Earl Thomas doing well, realmccoy insufferable = bad.
Roger Dorn - October 21, 2010
Good call
9James - October 21, 2010
What if Colt picks apart N.O. and we lose? i.e. they run up the score against our defense higher than we can run it up against theirs. Will you be merely annoying?
Brownsyup - October 22, 2010
No. Much more than annoying.
realmccoy - October 22, 2010
Well we all he is going to blitz. With their injuries, I am not to impressed with their running game, although Ivory had a good game last week vs. TB. (again Hillis would have rolled if we had stayed with the game plan, I think). I say blitz Wright since he cant cover. :)
Red-Right-88 - October 22, 2010
He can’t blitz either. Anyways, I am a little more leery of their running game—I think Ivory is looking pretty good.
johnnyphoenix - October 22, 2010
I am so convinced we are going to win (that, and my buddy has a free ticket for me), I am going to fly down to the game. This is the game where Colt gets mentioned as potentially the next Drew Brees.
“Brees’ college success led to projections that he would be a mid-to-late first round draft pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, but he slipped due to concerns about his relatively short stature for a professional quarterback (6’0”), a perceived lack of arm strength, and a sense that he had succeeded in college in a system designed for him. "
OK, so maybe no one will actually say that this weekend during the game, but I just LOVE thinking about the “what ifs.” Browns pull the upset of 2010 season to date.
Nuclear Power - October 22, 2010
buuuuh!
johnnyphoenix - October 22, 2010
At least we will have Cribbs back:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5714223&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
Red-Right-88 - October 22, 2010
Oh my God.
Dallas Clark is on IR.
F*&K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SpecialBrownie - October 22, 2010
I’m pretty boned as well. should have made that trade with golan a while back.
notthatnoise - October 22, 2010
Oh so glad am I that we didn’t.
golanbatrac - October 22, 2010
Thank God Kimble traded me Vernon Davis for a backup QB.
Phew.
SpecialBrownie - October 22, 2010
You little &$%)##
j/k :)
Kimble_79 - October 22, 2010
Collies out too so I grabbed White and Gonzo just to see who ends up filling that slot position for the colts.
johnnyphoenix - October 22, 2010
Gonzo.
SpecialBrownie - October 22, 2010
u think so? He might still be hurt…I would love to drop white but I know if I do that Gonzo will still end up hurt and white will become austin collie. Just how my seasons going this year…
johnnyphoenix - October 22, 2010
Cribbs to play this week. Hellz yeah.
Brownie's Year - October 22, 2010
Wow, Figurs is going to be cut in less than a week.
That sucks.
SpecialBrownie - October 22, 2010
He’s probably an upgrade over Chansi Stuckey as backup kick returner, and he does have some WR experience. No reason to assume that he’s necessarily going to be gone. Do we have any more pressing needs right now with his roster spot?
woodsmeister - October 22, 2010
I think he’ll stick around, especially with Momass out.
notthatnoise - October 22, 2010
He may end up being our slot guy and he has the skill set to succeed in the slot.
bross09 - October 22, 2010
I don’t think we’d move Stuckey out of the slot, he’s playing too well.
notthatnoise - October 23, 2010
so if cribbs can’t play who plays along side robi?
bross09 - October 23, 2010
The Moore-Mitchell-Figurs combo.
golanbatrac - October 23, 2010
Mitchell makes the most sense to me.
notthatnoise - October 23, 2010
I guess…really no one makes sense but b/c of his size/speed, he might be the best fit.
bross09 - October 23, 2010
Yay!
emily522 - October 22, 2010
I had the same reaction.
Brownie's Year - October 22, 2010
What will Carlton Mitchell do this Sunday?
He is touted as the biggest and fastest reciever on our team…….yet we have the worst receiving group in the NFL……and he cannot even start or play for us unless there are injuries.
I predict he’ll have two catches for 29 yards. A TD?
I am actually looking forward to seeing this guy, I hope he gets some looks from Colt, because I DOUBT THAT THE SAINTS WILL PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO HIM.
Thoughts?
allsides - October 22, 2010
If he didn’t have the dropsies he could probably be a good deep threat. Too bad we’re safer making a short throw then launching one to him and dropping it.
StuckInPa - October 22, 2010
does he just have the dropsies or Braylon Edwards’ scissor-hands?
da36chamberz - October 22, 2010
worse. he couldn’t catch a cold.
notthatnoise - October 23, 2010
All of our WRs except Cribbs are basically stiffs. The only chance he has of getting a catch is if you promise to totally forget about him in a certified letter.
realmccoy - October 22, 2010
I wouldn’t consider Stuckey a “stiff.” He’s been quite a surprise this year.
We should’ve drafted Shipley..
StuckInPa - October 22, 2010
Over Hardesty, maybe, though he was in the second and we have yet to see what he can do. Over Ward and Haden I’ll pass.
Villeslgr - October 22, 2010
yeah. hardesty was our last pick before he was picked anyways.
Hardesty may not be playing this year, but I think he has significantly more upside. I like shipley, but I don’t see him having a lot of outside outside of the slot. at best, he may be a posession receiver playing a kevin walter type role (though walter has a bit different skill set)
bross09 - October 22, 2010
Oh man, Colt + Shipley all over again would’ve been pretty amazing.
emily522 - October 22, 2010
I wouldn’t consider moMass a stiff, but he is probably out.
bross09 - October 22, 2010
I’m sorry. My sarc must not have been obvious enough. Damn internet.
StuckInPa - October 24, 2010
Mitchell is still on the team? I thought he worked at Vons.
Brownie's Year - October 23, 2010
they will now that you brought attention to it with capital letters. thanks for ruining everything.
Dawg Nuts - October 23, 2010
rec
davus - October 23, 2010
Be patient with Carlton….a guy like him was drafted as a project and may take a few seasons to show anything if at all. See Brandon Marshall
Roger Dorn - October 23, 2010
What a blessing in disguise for the Browns. We get to see Colt McCoy at Pitt, at NO and against the J-E-T-S and Pats. Has there ever been a tougher debut for a rookie QB? In 4 games we will get a helluva an insight into his capabilities for next year. Getting this look before the 2011 will prove invaluable.
realmccoy - October 22, 2010
i don’t know … the problem is that he should suck against these teams. even if he’s going to turn out to be a good qb someday, he should still suck against these 4 in his first 4 games. so, if he does suck, we won’t have learned much.
if he’s good, of course, we’ll know something. if he stinks we’ll be in the same position of not knowing how good he could be. which is why he should start the entire rest of the year, regardless of how this 4-game stretch goes.
DontCallMeJoey - October 22, 2010
Thankfully our talent evaluation won’t involve:
[ ] Colt McCoy sucks
[ ] Colt McCoy doesn’t suck
Check box.
Villeslgr - October 22, 2010
Adversity in football football doesn´t build character – it reveals it.
realmccoy - October 23, 2010
I have a Dayton Basketball t-shirt with this idea… “basketball doesn’t build character – it reveals it.” I like it.
Ryan Kelsey - October 23, 2010
I’ve seen some of my high school student wear team shirts with that slogan.
Buckeye Brad - October 23, 2010
OT- I’m making my move to Oceanside, CA today! The drive to work will be a lil’ longer, but my house is only a few blocks from the beach. And 30 mins from downtown San Diego. New chapter in my life starts in a few hours.
Brownie's Year - October 23, 2010
Is that anywhere near where that kid got killed by a great White yesterday?
golanbatrac - October 23, 2010
debbie downer.
Dawg Nuts - October 23, 2010
So I take it traffic isn’t too bad from Oceanside into SD?
Monsters of the Midway - October 23, 2010
Good luck, I hate moving.
rufio - October 24, 2010
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