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New Orleans Saints-Dallas Cowboys film study

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints receivers have made a living off those back-shoulder throws all season.


The throws, usually against deep man-to-man coverage, have been a staple of their high-powered passing. They've accounted for a number of their big plays. They're a big reason why the Saints rank second in the league with an 8.38 yards-per-pass-play average.
But in their 24-17 loss to Dallas on Saturday night, the Saints failed to execute their patented hook-ups in a pair of critical situations, and it cost them dearly.
The Cowboys shadowed Marques Colston and Robert Meachem with safeties in pass coverage. That left Devery Henderson in man-to-man with cornerback Michael Jenkins. That's a matchup the Saints liked and felt they had to exploit. Henderson has won those matchups most of the year. The Saints had two chances for big plays to make the Cowboys pay for this tactic. Both came on first down at nearly identical spots on the field.
The first was a first-and-10 at the Dallas 41. The Saints got the coverage they wanted, with Henderson isolated on Jenkins in single coverage on the left flank. Henderson beat Jenkins deep on a go route but was able to turn his head at the last instance and easily pick off Brees' back-shoulder throw down the left sideline. NFL Network cameras caught Brees telling Henderson, "My fault," on the sideline afterward. If Brees elects to lead Henderson it might have been a touchdown because he had Jenkins beat.
The duo had a chance for redemption on their first play from scrimmage in the second half. The Superdome was rocking after Courtney Roby's 67-yard kickoff return and the Saints aggressively went for the home run ball. They got similar coverage from the Cowboys, but this time Henderson was in the slot to the right. He again beat Jenkins on a go route deep. Brees was a tad late with his delivery because of pressure in the pocket. He intentionally underthrew Henderson, giving his receiver a chance to break back on the ball behind the unaware Jenkins in the end zone. It's a play the Saints have hooked up on all season. This time, though, it didn't happen. Henderson failed to gather his feet under him while cutting back for the ball and lost his balance at the last instant. He took his eyes off the ball and dropped the easy basket catch in the end zone for what would have been a momentum-changing touchdown.
It was that kind of night for the Saints. New Orleans had a league-best 35 pass plays of 25 yards or more entering the game but managed just one to a wide receiver against the Cowboys.

New Orleans Saints-Dallas Cowboys film study | New Orleans Saints Central - - NOLA.com

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TheGambler

Coming away with no points on that drive after the big Roby return was an absolute KILLER. Saints were fortunate to make a game out of it as much as they did, given those circumstances.

foreverfan

Yea... missing Shockey didn't help either. Our OL was banged up too.

I just hope the rest of the league didn't notice how to shut us down.

Rugby Saint II

Don't worry ff, there is very little chance that anyone would want to watch the Dallas game.