Linebackers...Improving
 

I know we still gave up a ton of yards...

But I thought the linebacker play was pretty good tonight...

Shanle had a couple of passes defensed; Vilma looks like he's adjusting to the speed of the game; and Dunbar had a nice start...

Even the reserves had decent games...

But they looked pretty good...

I think the D as a whole has shown improvement over the past few weeks. It's almost a feeling of things starting to gel on that side of the ball. I know we still give up a lot of yards but when you consistently hang 40+ on people they have to resort to throwing the ball so the yardage will pile up. I would like to see us get to the QB more. But I like the way the D is playing now.

In this era, teams tend to give up a lot of yardage until the field compresses in the redzone. Its no different for us, but we played really well in the redzone, holding them to FG's was crucial.

I don't know what it is, but our DB's and LB's couldn't catch a cold in a Flu ward. Hands of stone every one.

45-16 final score against a team that usually plays us down to the wire is enough for me to grudgingly give the defense and linebackers a reluctant "improving" status too -- I agree! They are on reprieve from the permanent doghouse of WORST DEFENSE EVER now that we have clinched the division and shut down a host of elite running backs and quarterbacks from top tier teams -- as terrible as they are, I suppose I grudgingly have to agree with that assessment of our linebackers and give them a temporary ranking of....maybe IMPROVED. Slightly improved. A little. Okay, they might actually not be too bad. Oh wait, but we can't actually say they're kinda good, now can we. I mean it's not like Scott Shanle forced a fumble for a TD tonight or anything -- if he did that, then I might give him some props, but I dunno. It's not like we stopped them on 4th down or anything. I think tonight's game was kind of an inconclusive wash -- let's call it a 45-16 draw, as far as our defense goes, I mean it can't be that it is actually good....so I'll throw in the towel and grudgingly agree with you that they have "improved"...somewhat. But I agree with you in that week after week the linebackers are the weakest link in a defense/offense that kinda shuts out opponents by a typical ratio of 2 points to 1, generally.

The D gave up a lot of yards, but that was in garbage time and the stat that impresses me was that the falcons were like 1-4 in our redzone, came away with 2 FGs and a failed 4th down conversion, when you have an O like ours thats the type of gap we need

plus the fumble recovery TD helped:bng:

We actually stopped them TWICE on 4th and 1

The tackling was very solid last night. I love the dark horse Humber he seems to play well when he's in there.

In related news, this may have been one of Juneyah's best games.

I will take a "D" like that for any game!!

Who was saying they'd stay off Shanle?

http://blackandgold.com/saints/39482-shanle.html

New Defensive Era to match era of the dominant passing game
 

I was listening to No Huddle and that's exactly what Micheal Irvin, Charles Davis, Warren Sapp and Coach Mariucci were saying.

They noted that, this year, both the Packers and the Patriots have "weak" defenses from a yards allowed POV. But, said they these teams make up for it in other ways, like red zone defense, take aways and scoring on turnovers.

While the Saints don't have the turnovers, and up until lately didn't have the RZD, we at least were stopping the run and I thought our secondary, especially Greer (scary), Jenkins and Harper have played well. Junior should be mentioned on defense too.

I wish we would get more pass rush with front 3 or 4 though. But, really, can't complain.

I think we are peaking at the right time. Fingers crossed for no more INJURIES!!!

Ball Larceny
 

I hear you. It is surprising to continue seeing them bended over holding their helmets with both hands. It is disappointing.

But, I keep thinking that they get so few poorly thrown balls in practice, it kinda looks like they aren't expecting to get a ball thrown their way. It looks like they are mostly expecting and training for simple prevention (which would make sense). But, in the 2009 season, Sharper, Harper and Porter, etc. seemed like they were trained in a culture of ball larceny.

I would love to know how much film our secondary watched on the opposing team in 2009 versus this year. I also wonder how much influence Sharper and his accomplishments had on our defense that year. Was it simply a competitive environment that year?