My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Just a couple observations I made during the game, be sure to add your own!

1. We rushed only 3 men all night, on a very very limited basis did we bring the OLB's on a blitz - I think RR was being conservative and saving the different blitzes for the falcons.

2. Will smith is not going to cut it at OLB, I sincerely hope martez and junior get back soon. Watching will smith in the flats and trying to run after RB's made me cringe.

3. Kenny Stills - It may be first game jitters, I hope it was. Brees could not have laid that deep pass for him any better, it landed in his hands. SP put him out there with the first team O, he obviously trusts him so he has to make the plays, he redeemed himself on a very nice back shoulder catch but we can't lose opportunities like that in the regular season.

4. Our D line is much improved (Especially vs run) - Cam Jordan, even facing double teams managed to get to the QB, Akiem hicks was crashing the pocket and It was great to see John Jenkins get a sack.
It was nice to see one of our D line meeting there RB in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage so often.

5. Preston Parker - He was literally our offense in the 3rd quarter, everything went through him. Very good hands, very shifty player in and out of routes and could be relied upon to get the ball.

6. Vacarro - Made a a nice tackle on a punt return but was wiped away due to holding penalty on us, Could have done a little better against the rookie TE in the slot but overall he was aggressive and you could see he wouldn't shy away - some people said he missed a lot of tackles, he looked like he wrapped up the ball carrier whenever he was there.

EDIT - I missed number 7 out, maybe because I'm tired, maybe because I forgot how to count. Read thebdj's comment for number 7 - I agree with his

8. Ben Watson is going to a very reliable player for us, caught everything thrown his way and made some nice catches.

9. Nick toon is a big dude, could be a clone of colston catching the intermediate routes - has good hands and runs nice crisp routes

10. Our corners weren't tested, alex smith dinked and dunked his way down the field taking advantage of slow OLB's - Will smith namely. I think the reason he was able to do it successfully though is because rob ryan didn't give away too much defensively, he kept it very simple.

Post anything you have seen or any opinions about the things I have listed!

Football is back!

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

McCown kept the offense moving nicely bar the stupid turnover
Parker-Toon-Tanner looked very good
Stills-pretty raw,there is a player there though
Defense looked pretty good barring Will Smith who just looked too slow,see how he goes next couple of games
the secodn-third strings very good

Special Team-Awful Failure in both returns and coverage F-


I think Smith would be better trying to get weight on and play as a DE.He just didnt have the speed to play at OLB.Last season with the team imo

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

We were absolutely watching the same game and I am getting a load of confidence you saw the same as me.

1 - Agreed. There was very little rushing from the OLB position. I didn't see the sort of aggression I expected but then it felt like we may not be 'displaying our hand' at this point.

2 - I'm not sure I would go off this one game to determine that. I did feel the same during the game and when I saw him but I want to see him in a proper season game to see for sure. There was one horrendous point where he gave up on defending a run when he could have got there. Ironically had he been the end in a 4-3 he absolutely wouldn't have got there but in this position he would. It's like he forgot where he was! Still, I want to see just yet.

3 - I'm gonna be shot for this .... he was terrible. It could indeed be jitters. It could be a willingness to impress. But he was awful. Let a delicious long ball go straight through his hands. Had a pitiful fumble on an end-around. Called a couple of times for offensive pass inteferece. Just a calamity of errors. If he is genuinely up against Toon and Parker and the likes for the deep spot then he's already at the back of the pecking order. Very disappointing indeed.

4 - Spot on. During the game I said out loud 'We are gonna be hot against the run this season'. Looked organised and well put together. Jenkins looked good. Hicks looked good. Cam Jordan looked superb. Happy.

5 - Great game. Did his roster spot chances all the very best. Impressive.

6 - I actually thought he was pretty good. He did miss a couple of tackles because of his aggression, sure, but on the whole I loved seeing what he was doing. Great position he was taking up and solid. Made me feel very confident indeed.

7 - You omitted 7. Not sure why. Assume you were tired :) I'm going to add in Travaris Cadet and Andy Tanner. Saw some glimpses of both and they both impressed me. I think they are really valuable members of the squad assuming they can both make the roster.

8 - Spot on. You know he can catch, make plays, will work his butt off and can block at the line better than Jimmy can. Tremendous asset as a #2 TE!

9 - Loved him. Everything about him said 'Colston'. Yes please. I am sold already on the kid.

10 - I would agree on this as well. I didn't see much compelling Corner play but it did a job. I think a lot of these positions are wrapped up and so in between keeping people healthy and not giving away our trade secrets, this seemed to work for me.

All in all, I was pretty happy and I am genuinely glad someone saw it the same as me :) I have high hopes for the season. We definitely need to focus more on our ground game offensively which can be really potent and bring the aggression defensively but don't get burned on the deep balls 'if' our OLBs are not getting enough pass rush pressure.

FOOTBALL. IS. HERE.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Man, you got me at #7, It must have been because I'm tired from staying up lmao

I'd definitley agree with your number 7 comment and all your others.

Special teams were atrocious, you'd think payton and mcmahon were Siamese twins or something because he just refuses to get rid of him after 3 years of terrible special teams play.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I agree with the observations as well but I think K Vac was underwhelming. He blew coverage on that first KC drive and let them convert for a first down. At times he just seemed out of place. The one good I think heard about him was that he led the team in tackles.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Defending Dink/Dunk requires more than a basic defensive package to be able to compensate for the quickness that it happens?

Considering the speed at which those plays happen, that being the first 7 plays this defense has collectively seen ever, they need to get some cohesion built.


Villas quickness would have been valuable in these situations?


We absolutely crushed the run game of KCs.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Vilma being in on passing downs would have helped

an example being the bootleg KC ran on like their 4th play from scrimmage, the TE faked david hawthorne out of his shoes and he was immediately trailing - easy first down

Hawthorne would have made it alot easier for himself if he had even hit the TE on the line - but he gave him a completely free release and got beat for it.

But yeah KC couldnt do anything against us run wise, when we have junior and Tez back I dont think it will be as easy for teams to do that against us

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I mostly liked what I saw from numerous players.

The standouts - O-Line, Toon, Cadet, Tanner, Robinson, J. Jenkins, Bunkley, Jordan, Parker, Hicks, McCown, Walker, Glen Foster (<--watch this guy), Carr.

What I didn't like...

Dreadful special teams play. Pre-season or not that was embarrassing. To say it looked like a Chinese fire drill is an insult to Chinese fire drills.

Will Smith - May be the slowest OLB I have ever seen play in the NFL. I can only assume he was hurt. Perhaps he was still healing both hammys, both ankles, a calf and a groin. I saw some DE's and DT's play in the 2nd half that looked faster than Will Smith.

Penalties - Not really worried because you could tell Payton was quite unhappy about the sloppy play.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

What about #98 Atkins that guy was impressive last night........I know he was going against the second team but he still was bringing pressure all night....Anybody else like what they saw out of him?

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Yes, I was kind of shocked that so many young players looked so good.

If we were ever gonna go with a youth movement, now is the time.

Oh, and I liked Stichcomb in the booth. Not bad for his 1st call. He has potential.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

This.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I brought up Atkins in the live chat... the guy looked great all night. It will be a shame if W.Smith starts this year, we have so many young talented guys at OLB now.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

In the chat room, a few of you said that you were impressed with the LT but never identified him. Who started and who replaced him? How'd they do?
How was Daniel? Sweeting? Chase Thomas?
I have to know!
Football is back!
Who dat!

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I just didnt like the fact that our first Team D was dominated by both the Chiefs first and second string players.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Sloppy. Everyone looked a step slow or out of sync. It's early and we've seen similar Sean Payton coached teams in preseason.

It's not the mistakes it's how you react.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I thought our run D was pretty damn good when the #1s were in. Charles only got 13 yards on 5 carries with a long of 4. Where they hurt us was when our LBs were in coverage.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

#75 on the D Line ... Whose that ? He was consistently in the backfield Smacking Kansas's QB's around

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Tyrunn Walker

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

What number was glenn foster, I heard his name mentioned quite alot

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

#74

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Although an overall sloppy, fugly game, there were some encouraging signs. Add me to the general consensus that many of our young players looked promising, and it's been too long since we could say that honestly. The new 3-4 showing some grit against the run is a good start.

On the other hand ...

Will Smith is robbing the team blind if that's how he plans to bring it this year. I've been skeptical of his move to LB, and he looks even worse than I expected. Special teams made we want to get very, very drunk.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

It was 1 series, and it was a bunch of dump offs to RB's. We were hardly dominated by 1st and 2nd stringers.


And what 1st string are you referring to? Three of our starting LB's didn't even play.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm watching the same game you guys are.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

1. Will Smith terrible... shouldn't even be playing
2. Defense was solid against run...
3 Not so worried about the WR postion anymore...
4. KV32 Is going to be a huge addition
5. Sean Payton chewing out players was a great thing to see

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I'm just watching the rerun on NFL network right now, so far I'm liking the run defence a lot. Jordan looked good.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

It's like people have been waiting all summer to yell "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

John Jenkins is going to be a beast for us I just have that feeling. I really hope he gets a lot of time on the field this season.

Oh and Ben Watson....I can't wait to see the 2TE sets SP has drawn up in the red zone.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Loves:

-the D-line.
-Brees' touch on deep passes, that was missing sometimes last year.
-Preston Parker. We have a TON of good receivers.
-Mark Ingram looks like a stud. With this interior o-line and Collins throwing haymaker blocks, running inside will not be a problem at all.

Hates:
-Runs off the edge against our slow LB's. Yuck.
-Stills. The kid obviously has talent but you can't keep putting the ball on the ground like that. I hope they find a way to "redshirt" him to the IR the way they did with Morgan and Toon in their rookie years. There are too many other good receivers on this team right now.
-kick/punt coverage. Barf.
-I could only find the Chiefs broadcast to download. OMG, biggest homers ever. "I know Jimmy Graham is a quality tight end, but look at this Kelci kid on the Chiefs, he's gonna be just as good." Really??? REALLY????

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Thinking the rotation of Bunkley and Jenkins may have had a lot to do with that last part...

:broccoli:

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Oh no. Folk have been yelling that alllll spring and summer long....

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

overall it was a typical first preseason game in my book.
i am getting ready to watch again and get into players.
the defense is what is and The Good The Bad and the Ugly probably will be their calling card all season.
Offense? saints line seemed to hold up fairly well. though the push up the middle at times was getting a little to deep for my liking. The line needs to keep and eye on that. Drew will needs to step up and slide right that is his comfort zone when avoiding the pass rush. To early to tell but the back up OL play made me feel a bit better or made me feel sorry for KC depth chart. not sure yet

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Brees looked very sharp.
Moore is the best, least known WR, in the NFL.
Watson is a GREAT pickup.
Evans is one of the best if not the best guard in the NFL.
Ingram ran well.
Hartley doesn't kick anything straight.
Warren, #63, looked real good a backup center.
Toon and Stills are NFL WR's.
Tanner and Parker run routes and catch balls.
Smith looks like an old DE trying to play OLB.
McNown is the backup QB.
Griffin is a project.
Vaccaro and Jenkins are two good rookies on defense who will contribute..
All of the backup defenders fly around.
Walker beats out T. Johnson for a roster spot.
Love the Ryan defense so far. Attacking.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

My observations on the game were only three.

1) The Saints have been rolling into the Dome wildly unprepared on special teams almost every game since 2006, so don't look for that to change any time soon. Instead we need to worry about how the defense handles starting on their own 30 at least once or twice a game, and how RR handles it, and how Brees handles it on our own possessions. What I saw with the first string defense and offense last night was basically the same Saints football as usual for the last couple of years, where we have to score on every offensive possession, and it usually takes 30+ points to win. That's nothing new or different.

2) Brees took a hit and got knocked down hard on the first drive. If we believe what everyone is saying, that the defenses are playing vanilla because it's preseason, then that's a worrying sign for the O line, if we are looking porous and getting manhandled by vanilla.


3)That reverse on 4th and 1 at the very end of the game, in the red zone, was PURE SEAN PAYTON. Welcome back!

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I did see Stills catch a couple of good ones late in the game. I will reserve judgement after a couple of more games.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I will give them that, but what they exelled in there they equally lacked against the pass. Teams wont need to run on us when they can throw all over us and jump ahead early. Then we are reduced to playing catch up, just like last year, and not have a chance to run the ball ourselves. A pass happy offense against our D makes our offense much more one dimensional.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Give it time; it was only one series of the very first game of the year. We were without 2 projected impact LBs as well. (Galette, Wilson)

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

Kenny Stills got robbed on that OPI call and will win the 3rd WR spot.

Will Smith needs to be cut ASAP

Defense looked aggressive once the "starters" were out

Rob Ryan looks like Matt Foley with longer hair

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I though i was watching a game from last year. Man it's a preseason game.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

The play of Preston Parker and Glenn Foster was a nice surprise. Especially Preston Parker, who was pretty good with the Bucs a couple years ago. I think I would prefer keeping him over Kenny Stills. But all of a sudden we look pretty loaded at WR. Tanner had a nice game as well. And Toon looked great too.

But it was just one preseason game. So we shall see how this all shakes out.

At WR we definitely have Marques Colston and Lance Moore. After that, probably Nick Toon is pretty much assured. But after that, who knows? Steve Breaston? Courtney Roby (special teams)? Preston Parker? Andy Tanner? Kenny Stills? Saalim Hakim?

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

An observation from the game: our special teams unit blew chunks. How many yards did we allow on punt and kickoff returns? Again, simply blew chunks.

Re: My Observations from the game vs chiefs
 

I just added it up: we gave up 239 yards on punt and kickoff returns for an average of 27 yards over 9 punts/kickoffs. That's pretty awful.