Grading the New Orleans Saints' defense vs. the Falcons

Rugby Saint II · 12-27-2011, 06:31 PM

Are we grading on a Bell Curve?

WHO_DAT_CAT · 12-27-2011, 09:45 PM

I thought the turning point of the game was third-quarter when Junior Gallette shut-down Matty-Froze on 3rd down. If the Falcons would have put it in the end-zone on that play -- this game would have been MUCH harder.

Next, important play, 30+ yard Sproles run. To me, it was all down-hill, from there, for us.

homerj07 · 12-27-2011, 10:12 PM

It was a great all-around effort

mike27 · 12-28-2011, 10:15 AM

OK, as much as Drew likes to pretend he wasn't paying attention to the "record," I think we all know that isn't true. I think they got ahead by a bit, and he threw into some situations, maybe subconsciously, that he wouldn't normally have. The offense, generally played like it can on its best day. I'm hoping that continues. I've expressed amazement that games with Atlanta have been so close, as I've felt the Saints' were a much, much better team. I was at a Christmas party this weekend, where I said as much, and I'm happy to be vindicated.

But I think more than anything, it has been the tightening up of the defense that has made me most happy. What I saw was in MOST cases, the first guy to hit the ball-carrier, stood him up, then the rest of the team helped finish him off. Numerous times, even better in a way, when that first guy didn't make the tackle, I saw some incredibly good team tackling, where two, or three guys closed in and gave the runner nowhere to hide, nowhere to go.

Also, back to the offense--before they had locked the game up, I saw the team do what needed to be done, they ran the ball to eat up time. And why not? Several times this year, they've been in that situation, and they kept throwing, and throwing. Only when they'd really locked up the game, did they start Brees back on his quest for yards-passing.

Is there anything better than running up the score like that? These guys are contenders, and I believe the only team that can give GB a run. Anyone else is going to get completely smoked.

12-27-2011, 06:31 PM	#1
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,167	Are we grading on a Bell Curve?

12-27-2011, 09:45 PM	#2
WHO_DAT_CAT 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: California - Bay Area Posts: 386	I thought the turning point of the game was third-quarter when Junior Gallette shut-down Matty-Froze on 3rd down. If the Falcons would have put it in the end-zone on that play -- this game would have been MUCH harder. Next, important play, 30+ yard Sproles run. To me, it was all down-hill, from there, for us.

12-27-2011, 10:12 PM	#3
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	It was a great all-around effort

12-28-2011, 10:15 AM	#4
mike27 100th Post Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 104 Blog Entries: 2	OK, as much as Drew likes to pretend he wasn't paying attention to the "record," I think we all know that isn't true. I think they got ahead by a bit, and he threw into some situations, maybe subconsciously, that he wouldn't normally have. The offense, generally played like it can on its best day. I'm hoping that continues. I've expressed amazement that games with Atlanta have been so close, as I've felt the Saints' were a much, much better team. I was at a Christmas party this weekend, where I said as much, and I'm happy to be vindicated. But I think more than anything, it has been the tightening up of the defense that has made me most happy. What I saw was in MOST cases, the first guy to hit the ball-carrier, stood him up, then the rest of the team helped finish him off. Numerous times, even better in a way, when that first guy didn't make the tackle, I saw some incredibly good team tackling, where two, or three guys closed in and gave the runner nowhere to hide, nowhere to go. Also, back to the offense--before they had locked the game up, I saw the team do what needed to be done, they ran the ball to eat up time. And why not? Several times this year, they've been in that situation, and they kept throwing, and throwing. Only when they'd really locked up the game, did they start Brees back on his quest for yards-passing. Is there anything better than running up the score like that? These guys are contenders, and I believe the only team that can give GB a run. Anyone else is going to get completely smoked.