The Problem?

saintz08 · 11-27-2003, 02:23 PM

Here is one to chew on :

Top 5 defenses

Dallas
Denver
Buffalo
Tampa
Baltimore

Dallas - Nguyen 57 solo tackles
Denver - Wilson 51 solo tackles
Buffalo - Fletcher 42 solo tackles
Tampa - Brooks 37 solo tackles
Baltimore - 67 solo tackles

Saints - Rodgers 27 solo tackles
Saints - Ruff 26 solo tackles
Saints - Smith 22 solo tackles

What position did Haslett play ?????

JKool · 11-27-2003, 03:40 PM

Excellently done!

Linebacker then is perhaps our biggest problem? We have good evidence that we are not stopping the run, AND we have no linebackers that standout individually. We have first rate ends, so only DT or LB could be the weakness? Of course, the SS is supposed to help out against the run as well (...too bad Sammy is gone) ...

I think we are getting bit closer now. I have not been convinced that our run defense is not as much, or more, to blame for our boys\' losses than any one member of the offense. The stats seem to indicate a serious deficiency at LB. Does anyone else have some more evidence that might help?

Thanks saintz08 and nocloning for some excellent insights. I\'ll have to stew on all this a bit longer.

saintz08 · 11-27-2003, 04:09 PM

Whitehead is in the top 10 in D lineman tackles in the league
Grant is in the top 20 .

Bellamy has 42 solo tackles
Thomas has 46 solo tackles

Saints - Rodgers 27 solo tackles
Saints - Ruff 26 solo tackles
Saints - Smith 22 solo tackles

BillyC · 11-27-2003, 05:17 PM

This is all very interesting, but it doesn\'t take a rocket scientist to figure out where the Saints problems are.

1. Stopping the run has got to to be the # 1 problem, because if you can\'t stop the run, then it really doesn\'t matter if you can stop the pass or not. We can\'t stop the run because we need another run stuffing tackle and a couple of linebackers.

2. Cornerback -- Our cornerbacks can\'t man up on receivers and need help from the safety to keep from getting burned deep. Which is why you see Tebucky playing so far back. This hurts because the safety cannot come up to help support the run as much as a coach would like.

Beyond that I think our defense is in pretty decent shape.

BillytheSaint · 11-28-2003, 12:04 AM

Linebacker was one of the defeciencies noted last year prior to the draft. Our linebackers often are effectively blocked. Jackson\'s departure and Hand\'s departure didn\'t help matters. Who among the free agents do you guys reccomend to fill the need for a good run stuffer?

saintz08 · 11-28-2003, 12:57 AM

Two UFA\'s that come to mind are :

Denver Bronco\'s - Al Wilson with 51 solo tackles
San Francisco\'s - Julian Peterson with 43 solo tackles

Both are putting up some solid numbers this year .

lumm0x · 11-28-2003, 08:51 AM

AL WILSON

But Denver would be stupid to let him walk.

saint5221 · 11-28-2003, 10:21 AM

Everyone is right to focus on the weakness of the Saints abilities to stop the run. We rank very near last in the league in rushing defense giving up 140 yds per game. This is absolutely one of the teams biggest downfalls.

There are two other areas that the Saints are setting the league pace in that are also causing great problems for this team, turnovers and penalties.

The Saints have one of the worst turnover margins in the league at -10 and lead the league in fumbles at 15. Turnovers are one of the worst killers in the league we all know how fast the odds of winning slide with each turnover in a game.

The Saints are one of the most penalized teams in the league as well and even more frustrating they lead with 41 Pre-snap infractions for false start, illegal motion, delay of game or defensive offsides. It\'s hard enough to get past an NFL defense as is, no need to spot them extra yards for a first consistently.

A heavily penalized team that turns the ball over and can\'t stop the run, with that formula it is a wonder we have won as many games as we have this year. The blame for such play is squarely on the coaches heads. A better prepared more focused team, A better coached team, one without as many mistakes and we would be solidly in the playoff hunt not on the fringe.

11-27-2003, 02:23 PM	#11
saintz08 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,020	The Problem? Here is one to chew on : Top 5 defenses Dallas Denver Buffalo Tampa Baltimore Dallas - Nguyen 57 solo tackles Denver - Wilson 51 solo tackles Buffalo - Fletcher 42 solo tackles Tampa - Brooks 37 solo tackles Baltimore - 67 solo tackles Saints - Rodgers 27 solo tackles Saints - Ruff 26 solo tackles Saints - Smith 22 solo tackles What position did Haslett play ?????
saintz08 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,020

11-27-2003, 03:40 PM	#12
JKool 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,423	The Problem? Excellently done! Linebacker then is perhaps our biggest problem? We have good evidence that we are not stopping the run, AND we have no linebackers that standout individually. We have first rate ends, so only DT or LB could be the weakness? Of course, the SS is supposed to help out against the run as well (...too bad Sammy is gone) ... I think we are getting bit closer now. I have not been convinced that our run defense is not as much, or more, to blame for our boys\' losses than any one member of the offense. The stats seem to indicate a serious deficiency at LB. Does anyone else have some more evidence that might help? Thanks saintz08 and nocloning for some excellent insights. I\'ll have to stew on all this a bit longer.
	"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

11-27-2003, 04:09 PM	#13
saintz08 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,020	The Problem? Whitehead is in the top 10 in D lineman tackles in the league Grant is in the top 20 . Bellamy has 42 solo tackles Thomas has 46 solo tackles Saints - Rodgers 27 solo tackles Saints - Ruff 26 solo tackles Saints - Smith 22 solo tackles
saintz08 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,020

11-27-2003, 05:17 PM	#14
BillyC Banned Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 842	The Problem? This is all very interesting, but it doesn\'t take a rocket scientist to figure out where the Saints problems are. 1. Stopping the run has got to to be the # 1 problem, because if you can\'t stop the run, then it really doesn\'t matter if you can stop the pass or not. We can\'t stop the run because we need another run stuffing tackle and a couple of linebackers. 2. Cornerback -- Our cornerbacks can\'t man up on receivers and need help from the safety to keep from getting burned deep. Which is why you see Tebucky playing so far back. This hurts because the safety cannot come up to help support the run as much as a coach would like. Beyond that I think our defense is in pretty decent shape.
BillyC Banned Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 842

11-28-2003, 12:04 AM	#15
BillytheSaint Rookie Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 19	The Problem? Linebacker was one of the defeciencies noted last year prior to the draft. Our linebackers often are effectively blocked. Jackson\'s departure and Hand\'s departure didn\'t help matters. Who among the free agents do you guys reccomend to fill the need for a good run stuffer?
BillytheSaint Rookie Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 19

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11-28-2003, 12:57 AM	#16
saintz08 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,020	The Problem? Two UFA\'s that come to mind are : Denver Bronco\'s - Al Wilson with 51 solo tackles San Francisco\'s - Julian Peterson with 43 solo tackles Both are putting up some solid numbers this year .
saintz08 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,020

11-28-2003, 08:51 AM	#17
lumm0x Resident antediluvian Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,026	The Problem? AL WILSON But Denver would be stupid to let him walk.

11-28-2003, 10:21 AM	#18
saint5221 500th Post Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 598	The Problem? Everyone is right to focus on the weakness of the Saints abilities to stop the run. We rank very near last in the league in rushing defense giving up 140 yds per game. This is absolutely one of the teams biggest downfalls. There are two other areas that the Saints are setting the league pace in that are also causing great problems for this team, turnovers and penalties. The Saints have one of the worst turnover margins in the league at -10 and lead the league in fumbles at 15. Turnovers are one of the worst killers in the league we all know how fast the odds of winning slide with each turnover in a game. The Saints are one of the most penalized teams in the league as well and even more frustrating they lead with 41 Pre-snap infractions for false start, illegal motion, delay of game or defensive offsides. It\'s hard enough to get past an NFL defense as is, no need to spot them extra yards for a first consistently. A heavily penalized team that turns the ball over and can\'t stop the run, with that formula it is a wonder we have won as many games as we have this year. The blame for such play is squarely on the coaches heads. A better prepared more focused team, A better coached team, one without as many mistakes and we would be solidly in the playoff hunt not on the fringe.
saint5221 500th Post Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 598