Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

Some of them will be moving on..

Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

Additional run stopping support and situational pass rush help. The teams in our division and most that we play (if they can) will try to run the ball as effectively as possible and limit our offense's opportunity to see the field. Many teams tried it last year and it did not consistently work, but looking at some of the games we lost and some of the close games.

Week 8 vs Atl - Turner 7.6 ypc
Week 10 vs Stl - Jackson 5.0 ypc
Week 15 vs Dal - Cowboys TOP 36:26 to 23:34
Week 16 vs TB - Williams 5.4 ypc
Playoffs vs MIN - Peterson 4.9 ypc
Super Bowl vs IND - Addai/Brown 5.5 ypc

We gave up 100+ yd rush games to M. Turner (151), D. Williams (149), S. Jackson (131), C. Williams (129), J. Stewart (125), and A. Peterson (122).

The strategy against teams trying to run clock on us and slow the game down would be to score early and make teams throw the ball to catch up or stay in the game. With our improved secondary, that plan works for us but keep in mind that we did give up 300+ pass games to K. Kolb (391), J. Campbell (367), C. Redman (303), T. Romo (312). B. Favre (310), and P. Manning (333) not to mention M. Ryan (289), M. Bulger (298), and J. Freeman (271). Granted injuries were a contributing factor to alot of these stats and I would take Drew in a QB duel all day, every day, but additional pass rush on the QB will help. While I think our defense will be improved next season and will still create plenty of turnovers, I am not sure they can continue to do so at the torrent pace they did last year if they are not able to force teams to throw the ball more more often out of 3rd and long and pressure the QB to let our talented secondary make plays.

Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

thats not even taking into account all the teams we played with multiple running backs.....look at the panthers who have 2 great running backs.....the dolphins who have 2 great running backs

we couldnt stop the run period......and like you said we gave up too many 100 yard games to single rushers......but dont forget all their complimentary backs that also went for significant yardage

we gave up over 100 yards to arizona on only 14 carries

we gave up 132 rush yards to the jets

we gave up 140 rush yards to the dolphins with 128 of it coming from ricky and ronnie

188 rushing yards to the panthers

and 145 rushing yards to the cowboys

it wasnt a late season problem...it was an entire season problem

Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

I just put this in another reply, but based on our schedule we face more run oriented offenses and/or top notch RBs than QBs.

MIN - Adrian Peterson
SF - Frank Gore
ATL X2 - Michael Turner
CAR X2 - Jonthan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams
CIN - Cedric Benson
STL - Steven Jackson
BAL - Ray Rice
DAL - Barber, Jones, Choice

Also, with young, unsettled, or just coming off suspension QB situations, I would imagine ARI, CLE, TB X2, and PIT focusing on running the ball. SEA also just spent 4 draft picks to upgrade their backfield situation.

Granted in some of these games, we should be able to stack the box and force the inexperienced or just plain bad QBs to try to beat us, but the run defense needs to depth to play at a high level throughout the season. Another big run stopping body in the rotation would go a long way in helping this defense.

Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

our division plays the AFC north which is arguably the only division that runs the ball more than our division

we have our hands full...plus like you mentioned again, our other conference games against dallas, st louis, and san fran

look out for rashard mendenhall and jerome harrison this season....cleveland and pittsburgh both have come out and said they are going to look to run the ball this season

Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

I agree with the numbers in your post but however look closely at these teams all around can you out run a plane in a car. we will put on areial displays and drag these run first teams into a shootout of whodattian proportions. Upgrade would be good in run deffense but in new orleans. Breaking scoreboards is our run deffense.

Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

look at the games last year

teams figured out how to beat us

even some of the games we won, we won only because we were truely better

teams that are just as good or better will crush us

Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

Id gladly take our offense against anyone in a shootout.

But you can out run a plane in a car if the plane never gets the opportunity to take off. Teams know that there is not a clear defensive solution to stopping our offense. So instead, they will try to not let our offense get on the field and get going.

Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

Or perhaps since we know teams need to air it out to beat us, we play the pass more than we play the run. Therefore teams found success with draws and traps against a defense that was expecting pass.

End result... Saints 13 / Opponents 3

We played against 12 teams in the top 18 in the NFL rushing the ball and we were 10-2 versus those teams.

So who exactly is gonna crush us?

Re: The Missing Pieces for a Rep
 

We need a power back. Short yardage situations are crucial. We need someone to get into the endzone on from the goal line no matter what shoes he's wearing.