Drew Brees, turnover-creating defense are New Orleans Saints' keys to Super Bowl repeat

Attached Thumbnails · 08-29-2010, 03:04 PM

For two quarters Friday night in the Superdome, I had the feeling I was watching a regular-season football game.

That's when it was Ones-versus-Ones.
That's when Drew Brees was taking snaps for the home team, Philip Rivers for the visitors.
That's when a team that won last season's Super Bowl with virtually the same players was facing a team good enough to go all the way this season.
To me, it was an invaluable measuring stick.
To me, it proved what we already knew.
So long as No. 9 remains in good health, the Saints have a decent shot to show up in February's championship game at the home of the Cowboys.
But it also proved something else: If Gregg Williams' defense doesn't come close to creating ''turnover chaos'' in opponents, as was the case in '09, chances of repeating, as the cliché goes, are slim and none.
The snapshot I took from Friday night's first half, when the Chargers were driving 82 yards in 12 plays for one touchdown, and 76 yards in 10 plays for another, was this: Giving up the big play will again haunt the defense this year.
The '09 Saints more than made up for the deficiency by forcing 39 turnovers, and, what was even more amazing, by turning eight of those turnovers into touchdowns.
Can the 2010 Saints come close to wiping out some huge defensive breakdowns with a pickoff here, a forced fumble there?

read more

strato · 08-29-2010, 03:05 PM

I cant wait till we can say "8Dat"

Pete · 08-29-2010, 03:47 PM

Now that's what you call faith!!lol

DRsaints · 08-29-2010, 04:00 PM

I definitely think, as good as our offense is, we'll still have to cause a lot of turnovers if we're going to have a chance to win the Super Bowl again this year. One of the biggest and most important stats is the turnover battle. If you win that battle you're at a huge advantage. This year, if our defense can be better than last year's, and still get anywhere near the amount of turnovers as last year, we'll be in really good shape. Barring injury, I think our defense will give up much less yardage than last year.

Pete · 08-29-2010, 04:24 PM

Demario Pressley has been disruptive this preseason.Once we find the man to accompany Sedrick in the middle helping to collapse the pocket the picks are going to be even more plentiful!Robinson,Porter,Jenkins,Vaughn,etc.;gotta love this young talent that will gel sooner than later!

DRsaints · 08-29-2010, 05:30 PM

Al Woods is only a rookie, but I think in the next couple years he'll turn into a good player. Until then we'll have to play with what we've got. I think Ellis is still getting better as well.

QBREES9 · 08-29-2010, 06:18 PM

So long as No. 9 remains in good health. The Saints will always be Champions.

Pete · 08-29-2010, 06:22 PM

Cheers TWO-DAT Q!!!!!!!!!!!!!

homerj07 · 08-30-2010, 11:27 AM

We need everyone to remain relatively healthy!!

We do need Sharper back ASAP

Rugby Saint II · 08-30-2010, 11:56 AM

Last year GW made up for the lack of talent with creative defensive schemes. It looks like he has his work cut out for him again this year. To me the most critical position to get production out of is DT. Pressley hasn't impressed me and from the looks of it Woods may not even make the practice squad. I'm still hoping the FO makes a trade for a DT that we can plug in beside Ellis.

08-29-2010, 03:04 PM	#1
Threaded by SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,084 Blog Entries: 29 Rating: (0 votes - average) For two quarters Friday night in the Superdome, I had the feeling I was watching a regular-season football game. That's when it was Ones-versus-Ones. That's when Drew Brees was taking snaps for the home team, Philip Rivers for the visitors. That's when a team that won last season's Super Bowl with virtually the same players was facing a team good enough to go all the way this season. To me, it was an invaluable measuring stick. To me, it proved what we already knew. So long as No. 9 remains in good health, the Saints have a decent shot to show up in February's championship game at the home of the Cowboys. But it also proved something else: If Gregg Williams' defense doesn't come close to creating ''turnover chaos'' in opponents, as was the case in '09, chances of repeating, as the cliché goes, are slim and none. The snapshot I took from Friday night's first half, when the Chargers were driving 82 yards in 12 plays for one touchdown, and 76 yards in 10 plays for another, was this: Giving up the big play will again haunt the defense this year. The '09 Saints more than made up for the deficiency by forcing 39 turnovers, and, what was even more amazing, by turning eight of those turnovers into touchdowns. Can the 2010 Saints come close to wiping out some huge defensive breakdowns with a pickoff here, a forced fumble there? read more Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Halo; 08-30-2010 at 02:19 PM..
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08-29-2010, 04:00 PM	#4
DRsaints 100th Post Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 166	I definitely think, as good as our offense is, we'll still have to cause a lot of turnovers if we're going to have a chance to win the Super Bowl again this year. One of the biggest and most important stats is the turnover battle. If you win that battle you're at a huge advantage. This year, if our defense can be better than last year's, and still get anywhere near the amount of turnovers as last year, we'll be in really good shape. Barring injury, I think our defense will give up much less yardage than last year.
DRsaints 100th Post Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 166	My Saints blog: http://dr3pts.tumblr.com

08-29-2010, 05:30 PM	#6
DRsaints 100th Post Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 166	Al Woods is only a rookie, but I think in the next couple years he'll turn into a good player. Until then we'll have to play with what we've got. I think Ellis is still getting better as well.
DRsaints 100th Post Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 166

08-29-2010, 06:22 PM	#8
Pete • Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Patterson, LA Posts: 1,753	Cheers TWO-DAT Q!!!!!!!!!!!!!
	Last edited by Pete; 08-29-2010 at 06:24 PM..

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08-29-2010, 03:05 PM	#2
strato Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: "Little Ole Town in Tejas" Posts: 7,586	I cant wait till we can say "8Dat"

08-29-2010, 03:47 PM	#3
Pete • Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Patterson, LA Posts: 1,753	Now that's what you call faith!!lol

08-29-2010, 04:24 PM	#5
Pete • Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Patterson, LA Posts: 1,753	Demario Pressley has been disruptive this preseason.Once we find the man to accompany Sedrick in the middle helping to collapse the pocket the picks are going to be even more plentiful!Robinson,Porter,Jenkins,Vaughn,etc.;gotta love this young talent that will gel sooner than later!

08-29-2010, 06:18 PM	#7
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	So long as No. 9 remains in good health. The Saints will always be Champions.

08-30-2010, 11:27 AM	#9
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	We need everyone to remain relatively healthy!! We do need Sharper back ASAP

08-30-2010, 11:56 AM	#10
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,043	Last year GW made up for the lack of talent with creative defensive schemes. It looks like he has his work cut out for him again this year. To me the most critical position to get production out of is DT. Pressley hasn't impressed me and from the looks of it Woods may not even make the practice squad. I'm still hoping the FO makes a trade for a DT that we can plug in beside Ellis.