Saints VS Cardinals
 

Just my take on the up coming game:

I am not worried about Arizona. Arizona in my opinion is a team that lost every tough game they had barring Last night against Green Bay.

In regular season they lost twice to San Francisco, once to Indy, once to Carolina (we pulled starters in our 1 loss to Carolina), once to Ten, Once to GB, They beat (2-14) Det by only 1 TD.

They have an easily rattled QB.
They are 28th in what we fear (Rushing).

As bad as our Defense has looked I still believe they would have preformed better than GB last night.
They average 25.8 points per game since week 14. Only 19.5 points per game with out last nights victory over GB.

They have allowed 27.2 PPG since week 14, and are coming into New Orleans to face the highest scoring Offense, most yardage gaining Offense in the league in regular season play.

We averaged 25.2 points per game in our last 5 games and 3 of those were losses.

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

What he ^ said! It all comes down to who has the biggest "want to." Here's hoping our guys are hungry enough to go for the win!

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Warner was on fire yesterday. Still, I doubt our defense could have played worse.

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We are NEW ORLEANS !!! The Saints want it more !!!

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Warner had wide open looks and next to no pressure all day. He was also given good field position on the turnovers and kick returns. Yes, he did take advantage of them, but he won't be seeing that same shoddy play this weekend.

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Yep, middle of the field is key. Majority of Warners big plays were over the middle. 2 TD's to Doucet were right over the middle as well as the pass to Fitz where he ran over Woodson which could have been called pass interference. When we blitz Warner it will have to be safety or corner blitzes. Vilma has to stay home in the middle. If we keep Vilma home I see some batted balls that Sharper will pick.

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Green Bay came in with the #2 rated defense in the NFC. They couldn't figure out how to stop them.
What makes you think we will do a lot better?

I guess we can't do much worse.

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This is exactly what I was thinking yesterday. I thought for sure the Packers would start to realize this and keep the middle occupied. Of course, when you have the outside threats that the Cards have I guess a defense just has to pick its poison.

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

this will be the longest week of my life. i cant wait to wake up early saturday morning, gather my tailgating equipment, and head to the city of new orleans. i promise all of u one thing. i will bring my A for this one. i hope the rest of u with tickets are ready to get rowdy. its not gonna be a very friendly at atmosphere in the super dome this saturday. I WANT THIS ONE BADD!!!

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

They figured out how to stop them 7 days before in week 17. Held them to 7 points. So was yesterday a fluke? Or was week 17 a fluke?

Cards had 187 yards on Week 17.

The only team I worry about is Dallas. I may actually be a Farv fan this weekend ;-)

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoanieNTX (Post 190901) What he ^ said! It all comes down to who has the biggest "want to." Here's hoping our guys are hungry enough to go for the win!

Yep. But I think both teams will want it so much you can't tell the difference. It is down to errors, methinks. The Cards I think will play "fundamental" football. Saints will too in the main, so it is down to personnel and strategy. However, we have a wild card that on his day delivers - Bush. Welcome to the board BTW

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

I do have to say that in the final 3-4 weeks of the regular season, the Saints changed their fundamental strategy for games. Our strategy became much more conservative (Morra-ish), and I believe this hurt us. We punted instead of going for it on 4th and feet, etc...

I understand the conservative approach on defense as we had a few off the street players. There was a lack of faith in those players in regards to taking opportunities and being able to capitalize on those opportunities.

McKenzie for an example. When he takes the field I cringe... Severely.. Each play is a gamble. He either intercepts or is burnt for a TD. More TD's than interceptions...

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i dont care how our defense plays......the difference between this game and the packers game is that we dont let drew get hit like green bays offensive line does

aaron rodgers is a great QB....and he does one thing that every other QB wishes they could do.....he holds the ball.....instead of forcing throws down the field, he holds the ball and takes the sack rather than the turnover

however.....drew doesnt get hit like rodgers does.....drew had 30 less sacks than rodgers and threw only 4 more INTs

while holding onto the ball may be more beneficial in the long term......in the short term it puts your team in a hole and rodgers doesnt throw the ball away

the cardinals defense cant keep us out of the endzone like they did for green bay.....we wont have to play from behind the entire game and that will contribute greatly to how the cardinals will have to play.....if we make them 1 dimensional then we win easily

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Make that the #2 over-rated defense in the NFL. Don't forget that they faced the Lions and the Bears twice, as well as the Rams, Seahawks and Bucs. They gave up over 30 points six times this season, including the playoff loss.

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That is why McKenzie is history. Our CB core is back at full strength and McKenzie was cut.

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crowd noise and some pressure will prevent Warner from having another career game. Key is we can't come out flat against Arizona like we did with Dallas.

Zona blew leads in this game and they gave up 500 yards at home. We win a shootout, but more likely our D holds them under 30.

Oh, and the media might not love us anymore, but Vegas does: Saints 7 point favorite

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Zona has a history of almost giving away playoff games in which they have a big lead - see NFCCG last year vs. the Eagles as well as this one.

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That's a key point right there. GB defense is MUCH better than ours. I asked a friend (and fellow fan) a question; "Will we score a TD every time we touch the ball?" The reason I asked should be obvious; because if the Cards play anything even close to like they did yesterday our defense will not stop them. We HAVE TO score a TD every time we touch it to keep up with them. Turnovers will decide this game.

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I don't think the middle of the field will be open on us like it was against GB. Hell I could have made some of those throws as open as the middle of the field was.

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I'm not so sure about that. GB lived off of turnovers the entire year. +24 going into the Cards game. And suddenly when the turnovers didn't come often their defense looked awful.

I put money on our defense holding Arizona under 40.

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I'm going out on a limb here and predict that the Saints team you've been seeing for the last 6 games of the season is NOT what you'll see in the playoffs. Early mistakes allowed the Cards to jump out in front of the Pack, and the Pack had no answer.

The SAINTS on the other hand are basically coming out of the chute new in the eyes of many. All the pieces are back in place from the injury (rest) carousel and I believe we're goign to shock the world by dominant play, much like we saw from this team early in the season.

If Drew is on point, everything will go our way!

Just 3 more wins and Lombardi comes marchin' down Bourbon St.!!!

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrenzyFan (Post 190953) That's a key point right there. GB defense is MUCH better than ours. I asked a friend (and fellow fan) a question; "Will we score a TD every time we touch the ball?" The reason I asked should be obvious; because if the Cards play anything even close to like they did yesterday our defense will not stop them. We HAVE TO score a TD every time we touch it to keep up with them. Turnovers will decide this game.

Really? I am sure the Cards will NOT score a TD on every drive. It will NOT happen. Sure we will get anxious about what is best about the Cards but to assume our defence is absolutely so poor and extrapolate the Cards will score on every drive is a massive leap. It is all about opinions and I respect your opinion.

BTW - guess which team is NOT getting turnovers if as you say the Cards are scoring on every drive?

I think we have a chance because I do instinctively, because I want, and because over the regular season:

1. the Saints scored more points and concede less points than the Cards. So, we win on scoring statistical rating whichever way you look at it. And it is points that matter.
2. the Saints have conceded more yards per play 5.5 to Cards 5.3 (or about 9 yards per game). Not much to call there.
3. And we beat Eagles, Pats and Giants - all of whom have a higher scoring offence than Cards.

Peace to you brother. Geaux Saints

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i would love to play dallas again for the nfc championship cause i feel that we owe them one for sure. Ill be getting rowdy all the way up in kentucky this saturday. WHO DAT WHO DAT!!!!!

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I am worried about any team that we play. It has more to do with what we do, or not do, than it has to do with the other team. We are sometimes like Barney with a bullet. None of what I'm reading here will turn into a tackle or a catch on Saturday afternoon. Getting it done in the moment is all that will count. I'm hoping we find our mojo and put these teams away like champions.

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

Palmer started ok but failed to adjust to the Jets' schemes after the 2nd drive (58 rating)
Brady sucked early and often (48 rating)
You should read what they're saying about McNucklehead up here in Philly (68 rating)
Rogers' weak start dug them too deep a hole (121 rating, but 3 team turnovers in 1st 3 possessions.)

QB and O-line will determine the outcome of the Saints game. It doesn't look like defensive secondary is going to make much difference. Being 100% ready to play seems to be the big story. If you weren't, you lost.

If their O-line doesn't play as well this weekend, we have a good chance. Otherwise, this will go down to whomever has the ball last.

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Philly will be calling for McNuggethugger's head. Too bad Andy Reid wants to have his babies and he'll never get rid of him.

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I am not sure how many Green Bay games you saw this year, but the Packers were no where near as good as the numbers showed, just as the Saints were no where near as bad as their final figures. Green Bay was smoked for 30 or more points six times and played extremely weak offensive squads such as Cleveland, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Seattle, Chicago (twice) and Detroit (twice).

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darstep mentioned tackling. I think that this is going to be the most critical aspect this weekend on defense, while on offense we must give full time help to the LT. Our tackling has become horrendous.....I truly believe that McKenzie has influenced the tackling with his famous no wrap tackle. jmo
If we can get back to basics we'll do well against Arizona.

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

Fortunately, Saturday and Sunday dealt with fundamentals and general 1st team on 1st team work.

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+5 for you! This is an issue i keep forgetting to bring up. WTF is with the feaux spear? No wrapping? Our back field (-LB's) bounces off of more ball carriers than i have ever seen any other team do.

I have seen better tackling at a JV Highschool ball in Abbeville.

I have seen better wrapping in strip clubs......For a lot less money....:)

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Hey, I'm bringin' my A game, too! Ready to do my part! Hoping for at least half a dozen "Stand up and get crunks!"

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I am the "friend (and fellow fan)" to whom Frenzy refers and while I do not necessarily agree with the " HAVE TO score a TD every time" scenario (it would be nice but not realistic in today's NFL) I do agree with the "Turnovers will decide this game". The one thing I noted coming out of that game was how the Card defense didn't just tackle they made a point in attacking the ball thus creating turnovers. Our ball carriers need to really protect the ball, otherwise it will be a long day Saturday!

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

hey there welcome aboard. yes hunger is the issue

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Welcome Joanie ..and we will be hungry..you seen our linemen...lol

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BTW Joanie welcome to asylum there are a bunch of crazies that lurk around here. The leader of the pack goes by Forever Fan. He will pounce when you least expect it and he has a fetish for cats!

http://www.funnycatsite.com/pictures/Hide_And_Seek.jpg

Re: Saints VS Cardinals
 

The more I think about the more I am not worried about the Cards. Dallas on the other hand still worries me.

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Just as I figured. No Problem with the Cards. Min. took care of the Cowgirls.

Oh! and to the rodeo buckle, boot wearing, gold nugget ring, a-hole that decided to call me out in the middle of the bed bath and beyond at 10am on a Sunday morning as i minded my business shopping with my daughter while wearing my Saints hoodie.

"How do you like those apples"! I told you i was not worried about Dallas on the 23rd.

It was a significant day. I encountered my first breathing Dallas fan. I had never met one before, only heard they existed. Everyone I know in Houston hates Dallas.

It was quite pleasurable watching a cowboy drive off in a minivan as I revved my Hemi.