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Opening Statement: “(It’s) not an easy day today, obviously. If I could just hit on a couple of things, it might be helpful going forward. (I’m) certainly disappointed in the loss but I will say that I’m encouraged about some of the things that went on there from a defensive point of view. Certainly, the turnovers were big so we were encouraged by that. The red zone defense, I thought the guys did a really good job down there and it was helpful. We didn’t allow a TD pass, and I know that sounds like ‘Yeah, you’re not supposed to do that’ but with what we were dealing with, I think there were only two pass plays that were over 20 yards. I thought that was pretty good. I felt, I think the guys felt good about the approach, what we did and how we played for 40 minutes. Now, it’s not a 40 minute game: it’s a 60 minute game. The way we went about it and forcing them to kick field goals and, again, playing good in the red zone, I thought was the right thing, 10-6 at halftime. I thought we had it right. I am not going to say it threw us all out of whack but it was something that we needed to recover from, the 91-yard touchdown run is not what you expect on any play, on any defensive call. If it’s a 15-yard run, it’s a 15-yard run you dust yourself off and you play defense. That one hurt. When you allow that, it makes it difficult. I do think that after that, they rebounded and battled. Yes, we bled a little bit after that and got them to kick field goals which I still think is encouraging, I really do with the way we played down in that red zone. We did get a three-and-out after that, I think after they had come up with a couple of field goals. What got tough and where I feel like we let the team down is they’ve got the ball at the end of the game, I think it was five minutes or something, somehow, someway you have find a way to get off the field, get the ball back to our offense, we are up by three, not let them tie it, etcetera. In there, I always revert back to, it was a 13-play drive and there was a third and a fourth down play, a third-and-ten and a four-and-five, and you have to convert those particular situations in a critical time in the game and we didn’t. Then, we go to overtime, we get the stop after seven plays. That was encouraging. I thought our guys got a little life there. We gave up a little bit of field position but we didn’t get them to punt the ball back. By then, it was the 85th to 92nd play, whatever we were playing, and I just thought we didn’t have a lot of juice there. There was a third-and-12 and a third-and-five there last drive. Having said all that, still disappointed but not discouraged. I think our guys will rally. I see a group of men that really poured their heart out yesterday in an attempt to win this football game. I think that people that cheer for us and everybody here should realize that. I credit them for that and yet, we came up short. Having said that, I will open it up and let you go ahead and fire away with questions.”

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Joker

Well he's got an explanation for everything that went on Sunday. So why did they lose if we did such a good job on defense, why didn't someone ask him where is the tackling fundamentals?
Yes he limited the big play passing game but he gave up over 250 yards rushing, no more explanations just coach the defense to the best of you limited abilities.

nutria

Last in the league in defense. Only way is up, we can't go any further down. Spag is right that they have to stick together, which includes the offense and special teams. The offense makes a few more first downs and this is a different outcome. But if they can't slow down/stop the run, they are screwed. If they get no pressure on Rogers and can't stop the run, it will be a blood bath this weekend.

Shoe.

I'm doing my best to stay patient because of two things - first, everyone seems to agree Spags runs a complicated system predicated on strengths that we don't have (yet), and second - that he is trying to implement this scheme with another coach's defensive pieces (Given tho that he did get a couple nice new additions in Bunkley and Lofton, and his draft choice of Hicks is so far panning out well, and White shows promise also)

73Saint

Give him time. We really don't have a choice in the matter, anyway. I still believe he will get this turned around.

TheOak

Losing faith in Spags based on this commentary:

"It’s leaky yardage. "
Thats like saying the Titanic had a leak.... Jamal Charles was your iceburg

"We only have 24 defensive players, or whatever it is,"
YOU do not know how many defensive players you have? Mon Dieu!

Danno

Well if they didn't get away with a blatent bearhug hold on Wilson, Charles doesn't go 91 and ends up with 142 yards on 32 carries forn 4.4 yards/carry, which is less than the Saints are averaging this year.

TheOak

That would have given KC 182 ttl yards rushing.. sieve

The 40 he chunked out was an iceburg.

73Saint

exactly

73Saint

How do you lose faith in someone 3 games into the season? This season, especially???