Defensive Scheme
 

I really love our defense, but I have to be totally honest here, I hate our defensive scheme. Man, we had Quin Gray ripe for the picking and we allowed him to sit back an throw for 354 yards. Why don't we blitz more? Is it Payton or Gibbs who's making the decision not to blitz? I just knew we were going to see Harper and Bullocks flying through the line and crushing the QB, I thought we would at least see McKenzie or David on a couple of corner blitz's, but nothing. I hope they're not worried about the big play, because the big play happens anyway. I just wish they would blitz just a little more, especially against the Rams next week, if they let Marc Bulger sit back and throw without being pressured, we will in for a long day.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

Re: Bullocks lets play do talking

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Quote:
Originally Posted by blacksaint

...although Payton has warned the Saints have to maintain the proper balance between blitzing and playing their normal coverages.

"If you blitz too much, opponents are going to get wise and find a way to make you pay..." - Sean Payton


Hate to rain on everyone's parade, but there you have it - straight from the horse's mouth - the blitzing will not continue. Despite the wonderful results.


------ I had posted this like a week or two ago : ( I wish we WOULD blitz constantly

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

I don't want them to turn into a blitzing team, I just would like to see them do it a few times a game, it's like they don't do it at all.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

yeah I hear you, it seems hit or miss...one week we blitz, the next we don't do anything.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

I think they are doing well without the blitz. They will do it when they have to.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

Gotta keep them guessing. I guess.
I think the coaching staff is still feeling out what this group can do and not do on defense. Just as long as they figure out by the time we do our 3 game swing in the division it is ok by me.
They were blitzing to stop the run not to get to the QB. No one saw the Jags turning into a passing team for this game. We all thought they would pound the rock. The whole NFL did.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

I have concerns with that attitude. If there's an activity that you don't do consistently, you'll never be any good at it. With the Saints those two things are consistent pressure and consistently running the ball.

When it gets to cruch time and they need to do it, they'll be rusty.

It bothers me.

SFIAH

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

Well the one thing that Jacksonville does as well as anyone in the league is run the screen pass...which is very, very productive versus the blitz. I think the Saints were weary of calling a blitz when Jones-Drew was on the field because of the fear of a big play via a screen or draw.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

Yes, I agree with that.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

The Defense has gone a well documented 7 straight games without allowing 100 yards rushing. Sure Gray threw for a bunch of yards, but he had three picks. What's so wrong with this D?

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

Perhaps the coaches decided that not giving up big runs to Taylor and Jones-Drew was the primary defensive objective yesterday. Thus they elected to make Gray beat them.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

We don't blitz because we can't blitz. The best way to break up a run play... penetration on a blitz. You can blitz on a screen but you have to play disiplined defense which we don't really have. I like some of our personell on D don't get me wrong but I think this is a GREAT POINT the Defense we deploy is CRAP. The whole theroy of bend don't break... we break. Giving up to many big plays. YEAH YEAH be happy we won but you have to be concerend when we play agains the tougher teams that will break us.

I think part of the problem we can only change so much and need to give Payton some time still to build this team... we are still building I am well aware of that and I think a lot of people have to high of expectations for a building team.

We have to get out of that Defense but we just don't have the players yet. We have no true rushers.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

I've heard the D refered to as break-don't-bend. The thought being roll the dice and try to force a quick possession getting the offense back on the field. I'd say they achieve that, too. You rarely see long, sustained drives against the Saints. It's either 3-and-out or 2-and-score.

We are still building, you're right, but there is a lot of potential on the field now. Couple that with a weak division in (arguably) the weaker conference and there's no reason they can win some games now.

To say there are no true rushers is not true, IMO. Grant is a run stopper, no doubt. I never expected him to have 10+ sacks a season, however, Smith is a true pass rusher (and hasn't signed a big contract yet, IIRC). He's had a slow year, but he's got the game. Call me an apologizer, but I think he's just trying to force it.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

I can't argue many of your points there... but to blitz you have to have good complimentary of personell to compliment your so called true pass rusher. If you only have one guy to worry about then thats easy. But you got to have several and no one is stepping up and until Smith does something the verdict will remain out...

There have been long drives but they give up so many big plays there hasn't been a need for long drives.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

No argument here. Generally speaking, the majority of blitzes come from the LBs and ours suck outside of Fuji. I don't think a poster on this site would argue that. The safties are the only guys who have done anything on blitzes.

An interesting stat is we are 7th in firsts downs defensively - meaning our defense has not faced many first downs.

1 Baltimore 94
2 Pittsburgh 103
3 Tennessee 123
4 Oakland 137
5 Kansas City 139
6 Arizona 140
7 New Orleans 141

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

I'll put it this way...if we're gonna give up a big play anyway, why not send Hell's Minions into the QB's face while we're at it. We may even end up forcing a turnover if we're not careful.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

The thing about stats can be misleading... You can make them read and say whatever you want them to say. The sobering stats maybe in the W and L column but here is a stat for you...

-we are ranked 23rd as far as points scored against us.
PF - 173 PA - 186 thats minus 13 net points this far into the season.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

What's wrong with this defense?
#1 Not enough pressure. If we don't send Fujita or Harper or a DB, we always allow the Qb to scan the field and find the open man. If not for Will, we would not have a rush.
#2 Middle LB does not make tackles. Enough said there.
#3 David thinks he is still in Indy
What's right with this defense?
# 1 Playing the run well, with Hollis stuffing, Grant edging and Fujita closing.
# 2 McKensie seems to be the best player (or is this a negative?)
# 3 Offense gets off to a great start and puts the other team in a hole.
Those of you that Tivo'd the first three games, go back and get a piece of that.
Don't eat the cheese!

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

Please delete post.

Re: Defensive Scheme
 

Good post. I disagree with the last sentence though.I think that Grant is a very good pass rusher. So is Brian Young. Young leads New Orleans with three sacks and is somehow always overlooked.
And people keep asking what's wrong with Will Smith. The guy keeps injuring qb's and that's pretty effective, gruesome or not.
Gray, starting his second game for injured David Garrard (ankle), opened well, but his performance dipped after he sprained his left ankle on a hit by Will Smith early in the second quarter. javascript:lpg("/Multimedia/Photo Galleries/2007/9/Saints vs Titans - September 24.aspx","Saints vs Titans - September 24");

Leftwich was injured when Will Smith and Brian Young sandwiched the quarterback as he released the football. New Orleans Saints - Saints Host Falcons

Will Smith came around the corner to blindside Carr for Smith’s first sack of the season. Carr needed assistance in leaving the field.New Orleans Saints - Saints and Panthers Game Story

And Apparently Renaldo Wynn is good in spot duty with two sacks yesterday.

Another guy that looked good as a rusher in preseason was Troy Evans. Especially in the Bills game.