Featured Discussion Saints vs Panthers Game Day Thread

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

I didn't get the game but checked the scores. We won. Yay! Apparently, we've still got a shot for an early exit from the playoffs if we win next week too.

With our defense we can upset any team in the playoffs. We've already got four wins (Patriots, Bucs twice, Packers) against the field. Getting back the few remaining pieces eligible to return on offense will make a big difference.

[Rugby Saint II]

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

With our defense we can upset any team in the playoffs. We've already got four wins (Patriots, Bucs twice, Packers) against the field. Getting back the few remaining pieces eligible to return on offense will make a big difference.

We still don't have an NFL receiver or QB. That hurts.

[AsylumGuido]

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

We still don't have an NFL receiver or QB. That hurts.

Believe it or not there are plenty of receivers in the NFL worse than the ones we currently have. I have been at the games. There are receivers open on every play, but the QB's have had very little time to find them. Or should I say Simian and Book had very little time. My wife even pointed out open players several times against the Panthers Sunday asking why they weren't thrown to. At least Taysom has the ability to move and buy enough time to find one on occasion. As for QB's, there are teams out there in worse shape than us with Taysom under center and a defense that can keep him in the game.

[K Major]

Just to put a bow on the Carolina game ...

https://sports.yahoo.com/saints-pff-...185507680.html

Cesar Ruiz ... you gotta do better. I've never treated PFF as the gospel, however in this case it's quite accurate (38.1 run blocking). His play has been below avg all season.

[WW_Who_Dat]

Originally Posted by K Major

Just to put a bow on the Carolina game ...

https://sports.yahoo.com/saints-pff-...185507680.html

Cesar Ruiz ... you gotta do better. I've never treated PFF as the gospel, however in this case it's quite accurate (38.1 run blocking). His play has been below avg all season.

Don’t follow PFF but all I know Ruiz does not pass the eye test. Every Olinemen will occasionally whiff on a block but Ruiz regularly will not engage / recognize a defender to block until the defender already past him.

[K Major]

Originally Posted by WW_Who_Dat

Don’t follow PFF but all I know Ruiz does not pass the eye test. Every Olinemen will occasionally whiff on a block but Ruiz regularly will not engage / recognize a defender to block until the defender already past him.

It’s a good thing Taysom & Ian B are mobile QBs.

I’m waiting for Nick or Deuce Windham to break down his play. It will be good to see other assessments of Ruiz in those trenches.

But you’re right, so far he looks lost.

[AsylumGuido]

Originally Posted by K Major

It’s a good thing Taysom & Ian B are mobile QBs.

I’m waiting for Nick or Deuce Windham to break down his play. It will be good to see other assessments of Ruiz in those trenches.

But you’re right, so far he looks lost.

How much of that has to do with the lack of continuity around him? As Mike Triplett points out below the Saints have fielded 10 different offensive line combinations thus far this season. Ruiz remains the only lineman to play every snap. So much of offensive line play is trusting the man beside you. I'm not saying this is absolutely the case, but as Paul Alexander, the great Cincy offensive line coach (1994-2017), has pointed out, what appears to be a missed block by one player is often the responsibility of another. He's basically been thrown to the wolves this season.

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[K Major]

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

How much of that has to do with the lack of continuity around him? As Mike Triplett points out below the Saints have fielded 10 different offensive line combinations thus far this season. Ruiz remains the only lineman to play every snap. So much of offensive line play is trusting the man beside you. I'm not saying this is absolutely the case, but as Paul Alexander, the great Cincy offensive line coach (1994-2017), has pointed out, what appears to be a missed block by one player is often the responsibility of another. He's basically been thrown to the wolves this season.

https://twitter.com/MikeTriplett/sta...10718205030406

What about last season? Get better in film study. He was surrounded by healthy studs & still graded poorly on the interior. We didn’t need a center and Cesar just hasn't developed at guard. Guys are running right past him. Head scratcher pick.

2022 will be year 3. He either steps up his game and start winning those battles or the Saints need to find someone else to do his job.

He’s no 4th, 5th round draft selection.

Like I said, I’ll post more in depth film study when it becomes available on his overall play this season.