Saints' defense still smarting over playoff loss

08-02-2011, 03:33 AM

Saints' defense still smarting over playoff loss

Glenn Guilbeau
Louisiana Gannett News
gguilbeau@gannett.com

METAIRIE -- The last time we saw the New Orleans Saints defense, it was putting the finishing touches on a disaster movie called, "Gutless in Seattle."

The film featured the same star-studded cast from the 2010 fantasy-but-true Super Bowl blockbuster that overwhelmed a nation called, "Amen To Dat." But this time the actors were falling all over their lines and themselves as if Seattle 5-foot-11, 215-pound back Marshawn Lynch was "a missile the size of the Chrysler Building."

Seattle fullback Michael Robinson got the Lynch train started when he pushed Saints middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma just enough out of the way. Outside linebacker Scott Shanle was right there unblocked and got to Lynch in the backfield, but he missed the tackle. That's one.

Defensive end Alex Brown, who did not apply much pressure all season, was kept out of the play by right tackle Sean Locklear. Right guard Mike Gibson pulled and slammed cornerback Tracy Porter five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Porter, the hero of "Amen" the previous year with the game-clinching interception of Peyton Manning and touchdown return, was just beginning his back step.

Defensive end Will Smith fought off a block and got two hands on Lynch's hips after two yards, but he let him get away. That's two missed tackles. Safety Darren Sharper, a major star in 2009, got to Lynch six yards later as did defensive tackle a Remi Ayodele, but neither tackled him. That's three and four. Cornerback Jabari Greer hit Lynch at the 50, but he was no match. That's five.

Porter recovered for a shot at the Saints' 36, where New Orleans could have held Seattle to a field goal and a manageable 37-30 deficit late in the fourth quarter. Instead, Lynch channeled his inner Walter Payton with a stiff arm for the ages that sent Porter tumbling back another five yards and to the ground. Peyton would have enjoyed it. That's a half dozen. And Lynch was off.

Brown had a shot at Lynch's feet at the 16, but not quite. That's "The Magnificent Seven." Safety Roman Harper dove for Lynch inside the 5, but he missed like he had on a couple of coverages that turned into touchdowns. And that's a "Super Eight." Lynch's 67-yard touchdown made it 41-30 with 3:22 to play, and the 11-5 Saints lost to 7-9 Seattle, 41-36, in the biggest upset in NFL Playoffs history.

Of that motley crew on the field, only Ayodele has left the team. Sharper is still unsigned, but for the most part, the gang is all back and trying to erase "Unstoppable" from their film library. The Saints defense was very good for most of 2010 and often carried the team during a down year for the running game. The Saints finished fourth in total defense and pass defense while it was No. 16 against the run. The third year of coordinator Gregg Williams should mean even better numbers.

Saints' defense still smarting over playoff loss | The Town Talk | thetowntalk.com

FireVenturi · 08-02-2011, 05:41 AM

This guy is an idiot. How was this a bigger upset than Jets/Colts back in the day or Giants/Patrots a few years ago?

alleycat_126 · 08-02-2011, 05:59 AM

It was big it is behind us, who brought this to our attention. Scott Shanle is still on this team!!!! clean shot.

saintsfan1976 · 08-02-2011, 06:23 AM

We don't want to sound like Vikings fans, now do we?

Crusader · 08-02-2011, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976

We don't want to sound like Vikings fans, now do we?

True Dat!

Saint_LB · 08-02-2011, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by FireVenturi

This guy is an idiot. How was this a bigger upset than Jets/Colts back in the day or Giants/Patrots a few years ago?

I don't think it will ever be possible for anyone to top the Jets/Colts game regarding upsets.

It wasn't so much that they were out-matched or anything like that...it was more because of what Joe Willy and the Jets proved on the field. They proved that the AFL was now very close in talent as the NFL, and it was in the best interest of the NFL to merge with them. That was big.

I believe the reason was that before the merger, the two leagues were both having drafts. Joe was called a "bonus-baby" when he signed with the Jets for $400K...but how many people remember that he was also drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in November of 1964?

08-02-2011, 03:33 AM	#1
Threaded by Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,017 Rating: (0 votes - average) Saints' defense still smarting over playoff loss Glenn Guilbeau Louisiana Gannett News gguilbeau@gannett.com METAIRIE -- The last time we saw the New Orleans Saints defense, it was putting the finishing touches on a disaster movie called, "Gutless in Seattle." The film featured the same star-studded cast from the 2010 fantasy-but-true Super Bowl blockbuster that overwhelmed a nation called, "Amen To Dat." But this time the actors were falling all over their lines and themselves as if Seattle 5-foot-11, 215-pound back Marshawn Lynch was "a missile the size of the Chrysler Building." Seattle fullback Michael Robinson got the Lynch train started when he pushed Saints middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma just enough out of the way. Outside linebacker Scott Shanle was right there unblocked and got to Lynch in the backfield, but he missed the tackle. That's one. Defensive end Alex Brown, who did not apply much pressure all season, was kept out of the play by right tackle Sean Locklear. Right guard Mike Gibson pulled and slammed cornerback Tracy Porter five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Porter, the hero of "Amen" the previous year with the game-clinching interception of Peyton Manning and touchdown return, was just beginning his back step. Defensive end Will Smith fought off a block and got two hands on Lynch's hips after two yards, but he let him get away. That's two missed tackles. Safety Darren Sharper, a major star in 2009, got to Lynch six yards later as did defensive tackle a Remi Ayodele, but neither tackled him. That's three and four. Cornerback Jabari Greer hit Lynch at the 50, but he was no match. That's five. Porter recovered for a shot at the Saints' 36, where New Orleans could have held Seattle to a field goal and a manageable 37-30 deficit late in the fourth quarter. Instead, Lynch channeled his inner Walter Payton with a stiff arm for the ages that sent Porter tumbling back another five yards and to the ground. Peyton would have enjoyed it. That's a half dozen. And Lynch was off. Brown had a shot at Lynch's feet at the 16, but not quite. That's "The Magnificent Seven." Safety Roman Harper dove for Lynch inside the 5, but he missed like he had on a couple of coverages that turned into touchdowns. And that's a "Super Eight." Lynch's 67-yard touchdown made it 41-30 with 3:22 to play, and the 11-5 Saints lost to 7-9 Seattle, 41-36, in the biggest upset in NFL Playoffs history. Of that motley crew on the field, only Ayodele has left the team. Sharper is still unsigned, but for the most part, the gang is all back and trying to erase "Unstoppable" from their film library. The Saints defense was very good for most of 2010 and often carried the team during a down year for the running game. The Saints finished fourth in total defense and pass defense while it was No. 16 against the run. The third year of coordinator Gregg Williams should mean even better numbers. Saints' defense still smarting over playoff loss \| The Town Talk \| thetowntalk.com Last edited by papz; 08-02-2011 at 07:05 AM..
Views: 3576

08-02-2011, 05:41 AM	#2
FireVenturi Cold as Ice! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Da Big Easy Posts: 2,978	This guy is an idiot. How was this a bigger upset than Jets/Colts back in the day or Giants/Patrots a few years ago? Saint_LB likes this.

08-02-2011, 06:23 AM	#4
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,806 Blog Entries: 3	We don't want to sound like Vikings fans, now do we? Ashley likes this.

08-02-2011, 06:50 AM	#5
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,017	Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 We don't want to sound like Vikings fans, now do we? True Dat!

08-02-2011, 07:02 AM	#6
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894	Originally Posted by FireVenturi This guy is an idiot. How was this a bigger upset than Jets/Colts back in the day or Giants/Patrots a few years ago? I don't think it will ever be possible for anyone to top the Jets/Colts game regarding upsets. It wasn't so much that they were out-matched or anything like that...it was more because of what Joe Willy and the Jets proved on the field. They proved that the AFL was now very close in talent as the NFL, and it was in the best interest of the NFL to merge with them. That was big. I believe the reason was that before the merger, the two leagues were both having drafts. Joe was called a "bonus-baby" when he signed with the Jets for $400K...but how many people remember that he was also drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in November of 1964?
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894	Whether you think you can or think you can't...you're right!

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08-02-2011, 05:59 AM	#3
alleycat_126 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Katy, Tx a suburb of Houston Posts: 2,089	It was big it is behind us, who brought this to our attention. Scott Shanle is still on this team!!!! clean shot.