Defensive Coverage

lumm0x · 05-22-2003, 04:11 PM

I hear we will play zone this year. I think the majority of the thought behind this is to assist both Jones and Mitchell as first year Saints starters to better integrate into the pass defense and allow the action to develop in front of them. The blatant draw back to zone coverage is that if there is a lack of a pass rush, all it does is allow a QB to pick you apart in the short to medium range pass plays. Hopefully our new younger D-Line will improve this area. Sullivan and Smith should be keys to this if they can get a center push and draw the plays outside and let Grant and Howard do what they do best. The more errant throws those four can force, the more opportunistic our young athletic defense will become.

Carter and Ambrose are both very capable veterans, and Fred Thomas, although undersized, is a warrior. I think zone will allow both veteran CB\'s to not highlight any lack of step they may incur and let their experience be more of an asset. Both would work well in man but we face some fast and big WR in our division that can outsize and outmuscle. With some younger QB\'s being groomed in the NFC South, zone is less readable and more likely to exploit inexperience in a QB.

By the way....welcome.

05-22-2003, 04:11 PM	#4
lumm0x Resident antediluvian Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,026	Defensive Coverage I hear we will play zone this year. I think the majority of the thought behind this is to assist both Jones and Mitchell as first year Saints starters to better integrate into the pass defense and allow the action to develop in front of them. The blatant draw back to zone coverage is that if there is a lack of a pass rush, all it does is allow a QB to pick you apart in the short to medium range pass plays. Hopefully our new younger D-Line will improve this area. Sullivan and Smith should be keys to this if they can get a center push and draw the plays outside and let Grant and Howard do what they do best. The more errant throws those four can force, the more opportunistic our young athletic defense will become. Carter and Ambrose are both very capable veterans, and Fred Thomas, although undersized, is a warrior. I think zone will allow both veteran CB\'s to not highlight any lack of step they may incur and let their experience be more of an asset. Both would work well in man but we face some fast and big WR in our division that can outsize and outmuscle. With some younger QB\'s being groomed in the NFC South, zone is less readable and more likely to exploit inexperience in a QB. By the way....welcome.