New Orleans Saints wary of Houston Texans' improved defense

Attached Thumbnails · 09-23-2011, 08:43 AM

In January 2009, three NFL teams with top offensive juggernauts fired their defensive coordinators after failing to make the playoffs - the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans.
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Obviously, it worked out brilliantly for the Saints and Packers, who went on to win the next two Super Bowls with new coordinators Gregg Williams and Dom Capers. Not so for the Texans, who wound up switching defensive coordinators again this year, firing Rick Smith and replacing him with longtime great defensive coach Wade Phillips.
So far, this second attempt seems to be having the desired effect.
Phillips brought in a 3-4 scheme and a more aggressive, attacking approach. And through two weeks, the 2-0 Texans are giving up the fewest points (10 per game) and yards (271 per game) in the NFL, albeit against middling offensive teams Indianapolis and Miami.
"Could it be the missing link?" Saints quarterback Drew Brees asked rhetorically as he prepares to find out firsthand how well the Texans' new-look defense can play against a top offensive foe Sunday in the Superdome.

Read the rest
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf..._improved.html

Saint_LB · 09-23-2011, 09:36 AM

Wade seems to be at his best when he only has to worry about the defense. I am glad to see him doing well so far, but I'm hoping Sunday will be a step backwards for him.

crawgator · 09-23-2011, 12:21 PM

For a few years the Texans, focused on drafting Defensive players.. Now these players are showing their worth from drafting them.. Hmm What if we would have drafted Williams instead of Bush... But we do have some history against Wade Phillips, so we do know his defenses... Are they going to hold us to 10 points? I doubt it.. Our tackles will be tested this week.. The backs need to pick up their blocks out of the Backfield.. Drew needs to hit Sproles on screens and short routes.. Jimmy Graham needs to have a big game at TE, he is also going to have to help with some blocking assignments.. The X- Factor here may be Lance Moore, he is back and he is healthy.. We need to utilize this guys talents.. Our interior Line also needs to block and open holes for the running game. We have to keep the Texans offense off of the field. Ball control needs to be a big part of our game plan..

GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!

homerj07 · 09-23-2011, 07:42 PM

Hopefully knowing Wade's tendancies we can have a good plan ready

Rugby Saint II · 09-24-2011, 06:05 PM

It's still early in the season. Wade won't have a good hand on his personnel groupings yet.......he did have a lock out too. He knows us and we know him.

pherein · 09-24-2011, 08:25 PM

I understand the NFL thinks the Texans have an amazing defense. But the truth is All stats are from the texans playing 2 of the worst teams in the NFL.
Texans secondary is still very bad, they will learn that on sunday. Its hype

TackHammer · 09-24-2011, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by pherein

I understand the NFL thinks the Texans have an amazing defense. But the truth is All stats are from the texans playing 2 of the worst teams in the NFL.
Texans secondary is still very bad, they will learn that on sunday. Its hype

The Texans secondary is way better then last year with the addition of Jonathon Joseph and Manning. Not only do those players help tremendously,it also upgraded the safety position by allowing us to move Quin to the position he should have been playing in the first place.
Not world beaters in the secondary ....but with a vastly improved D-line they dont have to be.....Oh...and our LBs aren't bad either.

09-23-2011, 08:43 AM	#1
Threaded by strato Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: "Little Ole Town in Tejas" Posts: 7,586 Rating: (0 votes - average) In January 2009, three NFL teams with top offensive juggernauts fired their defensive coordinators after failing to make the playoffs - the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans. . Obviously, it worked out brilliantly for the Saints and Packers, who went on to win the next two Super Bowls with new coordinators Gregg Williams and Dom Capers. Not so for the Texans, who wound up switching defensive coordinators again this year, firing Rick Smith and replacing him with longtime great defensive coach Wade Phillips. So far, this second attempt seems to be having the desired effect. Phillips brought in a 3-4 scheme and a more aggressive, attacking approach. And through two weeks, the 2-0 Texans are giving up the fewest points (10 per game) and yards (271 per game) in the NFL, albeit against middling offensive teams Indianapolis and Miami. "Could it be the missing link?" Saints quarterback Drew Brees asked rhetorically as he prepares to find out firsthand how well the Texans' new-look defense can play against a top offensive foe Sunday in the Superdome. Read the rest http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf..._improved.html Attached Thumbnails
Views: 1438

09-23-2011, 09:36 AM	#2
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894	Wade seems to be at his best when he only has to worry about the defense. I am glad to see him doing well so far, but I'm hoping Sunday will be a step backwards for him.
Saint_LB Deuce Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,894

09-24-2011, 11:45 PM	#7
TackHammer Rookie Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 24	Originally Posted by pherein I understand the NFL thinks the Texans have an amazing defense. But the truth is All stats are from the texans playing 2 of the worst teams in the NFL. Texans secondary is still very bad, they will learn that on sunday. Its hype The Texans secondary is way better then last year with the addition of Jonathon Joseph and Manning. Not only do those players help tremendously,it also upgraded the safety position by allowing us to move Quin to the position he should have been playing in the first place. Not world beaters in the secondary ....but with a vastly improved D-line they dont have to be.....Oh...and our LBs aren't bad either.
TackHammer Rookie Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 24

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09-23-2011, 12:21 PM	#3
crawgator 100th Post Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ridgecrest, Ca Posts: 187 Blog Entries: 1	For a few years the Texans, focused on drafting Defensive players.. Now these players are showing their worth from drafting them.. Hmm What if we would have drafted Williams instead of Bush... But we do have some history against Wade Phillips, so we do know his defenses... Are they going to hold us to 10 points? I doubt it.. Our tackles will be tested this week.. The backs need to pick up their blocks out of the Backfield.. Drew needs to hit Sproles on screens and short routes.. Jimmy Graham needs to have a big game at TE, he is also going to have to help with some blocking assignments.. The X- Factor here may be Lance Moore, he is back and he is healthy.. We need to utilize this guys talents.. Our interior Line also needs to block and open holes for the running game. We have to keep the Texans offense off of the field. Ball control needs to be a big part of our game plan.. GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!

09-23-2011, 07:42 PM	#4
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Hopefully knowing Wade's tendancies we can have a good plan ready

09-24-2011, 06:05 PM	#5
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,179	It's still early in the season. Wade won't have a good hand on his personnel groupings yet.......he did have a lock out too. He knows us and we know him.

09-24-2011, 08:25 PM	#6
pherein failclownHunter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: N.O. and V.A. Posts: 2,260 Blog Entries: 3	I understand the NFL thinks the Texans have an amazing defense. But the truth is All stats are from the texans playing 2 of the worst teams in the NFL. Texans secondary is still very bad, they will learn that on sunday. Its hype