Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

I have roasted them repeatedly... Now its time for a hand... We rounded the corner for the first time this season.

Stats against SF (First game under 400 yards ttl)
231 yards passing
1 passing TD
1 interception
ONLY 370 total Yards.
Red Zone Efficiency 50%
Goal to go 66%
18 first downs (Saints had 19)
1 Field Goal Blocked
With the exception of Sacks and total yardage the Saints Defense out preformed the 49ers Defense. If we learn how to frikken tackle then their rushing yards are a lot lower than 144... Its on.

Time of Possession - Only 6 seconds between the 49ers and Saints


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Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

Agree completely.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

Yeah Agreed, the defense played well

The only thing I can fault (it probably wasn't their fault) was that they couldn't sack kaepernick, he was too fast and too elusive, a couple more drives would have ended 3 and out if we sacked him couple of times

Not all QB's are as fast as he is though
Our D line is getting very good pressure on the QB

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

Agree and I would add, to the negative side, not getting off the field and giving them an over 9 minute drive also hurt. Other than that, I thought they had a good day.

Side note, WTF is going on with Greer lately? Teams are targeting him and I am starting to see why. He is not playing very well at all.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

I thought it was their best effort of the season. Cam Jordan was a monster.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

Lately? How about whenever he's healthy. This defensive unit is gonna need a overhaul, but not a massive one. J.Greer is buy far the best corner we have but that's not saying much if we can't ever get to the passer.

The growing pains are hard with this Defense. First, you can't stop the run or pass, Now you effectively stop the run but you cannot get off the field on 3rd down!!!!

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

The 49er's are a good physical team. No shame in losing to a good team, just sucks when we helped them win :(

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

They have found a balance that works for them between Spag's scheme and bringing pressure.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

Good thread the Defense didn't lose this game.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

If the defense plays like that against Atlanta Thursday night, Saints will be back to .500!

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

They have been improving slowly but steadily -- once we fans recognize that "it is what it is" and they are just plain UGLY statistically, you/I will all sleep better...

My only beef with the defense last night was the gimmick, fakes, trick plays that SF and Kapernick ran...if you have a fake, and one guy on your defense bites and responds to it...that's OK, it happens, he got psyched out. Fool me once, shame on you etc. Don't let it happen again, blah blah blah. But if you have WHOLE SECTIONS of the defense -- 4 and 5 guys or more -- who are biting on fakes and hauling ass in the wrong direction, totally away from the ball, and they do it to you again and again, well that is a problem. And to me, it's more of a coaching and preparation issue or flaw, than a talent or individual players' issue-- you have 4 or 5 guys biting on a fake and making the same mistake, how could the coaches not know that SF does that kind of gimmicky, trick play thing offensively, all the freaking time? That's my only thing.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

The defense was better. But they still couldn't get SF off the field. I am truly dissapointed.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

And probably quite easily.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

YES GO D ! ! ! ! !

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

The Saints' D outperformed their O in this game, and gave the team a chance to win the game - they allowed 17 points, which was only a FG more than the offense did.

Oh, and before that 9 minute drive, the D was able to stop the 49ers without them scoring and gave the ball back to Brees and the O with a chance for them to tie the game, but they weren't able to do that.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

100000000000 pct agree

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

I'll give them that they played a good game and I don't put this loss on the defense but dang man, after 11 games and they STILL CAN'T TACKLE??? It's really disgusting. Like I've said all year about what these players say, TALK IS CHEAP. Try stepping up and actually improve your tackling. Y'all have to realize too that what you're talking about is only 30 freaking yards less than 400 anyway so not that impressive.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

The poor tackling is a concern, but that is something that you'll see watching any NFL game at the moment. I don't know if the new restrictions on practices had this affect on the game or whether something has changed in the way that tackling fundamentals are being taught to players at the junior and collegiate levels, but there's definitely been a decline in the level of tackling across the whole league, and that is very concerning from a fan's point of view.

As it pertains to the defense, the amount of yards they gave up wasn't ultimately great, but, on the other hand, the yardage doesn't matter in the end, but points do. The three biggest defensive stats in my opinion are 1) points given up; 2) turnovers; and 3) time of possession. All of those three were negatively impacted by the Saints offense this Sunday, which is why it's harder to really blame the defense for the loss or for the yardage given up. Also, the Saints' special teams played well and were able to produce a turnover which resulted in one of the TDs for the Saints offense - giving them a really short field to cash it in. If you calculate that fact in with the whole performance, the Saints' offense really had a fairly lackluster game against the 49ers.

The Saints' defense isn't great, far from it, but they've improved a lot from what they were, and if they keep improving - they might just become good enough to take on some of the pressure of winning a game off from the offense's shoulders in the coming weeks.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

Those that can't tackle will more than likely be gone. I'm sure through the off season, each defensive player will be closely evaluated and heads will roll. I'm confident there will be a few of our D players playing in either Canada or the Arena league, or maybe Carolina. The first time I can say the defense wasn't the biggest disappointment Sunday, it was the Offense.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

I just realized that since Vilma got back the defence has improved and I have seen less and less of Shanle on the field...

I really liked Scott Shanle when he first signed with us and he is the type of player that brings his lunchbox every day and goes to work. Sadly he just isn't good enough anymore.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

There effort in recent weeks has been remarkable and I think Spagnuolo deserves some mention...

In watching games post-broadcast, one of the biggest changes is that the the secondary is that the discipline of players staying in their zones and rush gaps is much better...

There's still way too many missed tacklies and a lack of heavy hitting, especially by the linebackers and safeties...

Cam Jordan seems to be rounding into a first round pick...

And there is also some continuity taking place with the linebackers seeming to finally get healthy...

Still want to see more of Martez Wilson and Akiem Hicks...

Jenkins has been in more man coverage, especially in red zone play...

Greer seems to be struggling lately, is his health/age a factor?!?

And this was the SF offense, not exactly a vaunting offense; and we couldn't get off the field in the second half when we had to have a stop after two Brees f**k-ups...

But why'll there is technical improvement, the "soft" impression is still there - missed-tackles, lack of fear/heavy hitting...

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

Yes, the defense did not lose that game. They had some bad moments for sure, but they held the whiners to 17 offensive points and, as was already mentioned, under 400 yards. If I weren't so angry at the time, I would have laughed at the headline I saw on the espn website after the game. I can't remember the exact word they used, but it was along the lines of "49ers dismantle Saints" or "dominate Saints". I'm pretty sure it was dismantle, but at any rate, it was a ridiculous description. We lost solely on two INT's returned for touchdowns. Period. It doesn't matter who you blame for either interception, the fact is that they did not out play us on either side of the ball, except for two gut wrenching plays.

They did out rush us, but we accounted for more first downs, and overall neither offense was that good. Both defenses were pretty good. We literally threw this one away.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

The Defense gets my props. The whole damn thread gets my props, :mrgreen:.

I look at teams like the Jets, the Eagles & even the Lions, who let things like QB/Coach controversies and off-field issues affect their on-field performance and then I look at a unit like the Saints' defense.

They could fold, and who could blame them? They've been to hell & back, yet they refuse to mail-it-in and manage to improve week-by-week, making the most of a bad situation. Just get a little stronger, every week ... make a few more plays, every week ... that's all you can ask, IMO.

It's character, it's the ability to overcome adversity ... and the Saints' defense has it. It may not be pretty, but they're building a foundation for when Payton gets back and I got a feeling the Saints' 'D' has a bright future ahead of them ... bet.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

DEFENSE!

:bng:

Re: Give the Saints Defense a Hand
 

Well, it has to get better - they've been one of the worst units historically...

But, this last statement does get to the crux of the matter - there is improvement and there are pieces in place which will allow this defense to move forward...

But I'd like to take the title thread in a different direction...

Right Now, Saints FO should start evaluating and reorganizing the scouting personnel and its effort in regards to defensive free agents and college prospects...

The best way we can give the defense a hand is to improve the personnel on the defense...

...but I do feel better about some of the pieces we have than I did five weeks ago...

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

11 games? Try at least 40 games. Marshawn lynch (2011) bring anything to mind? How about Deangelo Williams (2009)? Cadillac Williams (2009)? Steve Jackson (2009)?

You have to realize that this is the first and only game that Rushing yards and passing yards is not lopsided. Its the only game that passing was under 250 and rushing was under 150.

And 30 yards is monumental.... How many first downs do you think comes with 30 yards? The answer is not 3. Average gain per offensive play was 6.7 yardsthat is 4.5 first downs... What can an offense do with another 5 first downs? Average rushing was 4.6, what can an offense do with another 7 first downs rushing?


Ill put it in other terms... if you find $30 it isn't much but losing $30 when your hungry can be a b1tch!

Re: Give the Saints Defense a Hand
 

Yeah, I agree they do have to get better, but I say that knowing they'll follow the trend the Saints & the Patriots have set in that the premium is in a high-powered offense and an economical defense that's able to hold an opponent down just enough to win, but not overpower them.

I see some changes on the horizon, but as long as Brees is at the helm, I gotta' think this is about the level of defense you're going to see.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

As long as Payton is the coach and Loomis is the GM you are going to see a high powered offense.

Since 2002 (10 years) the SB winners have been Giants, Packers, Saints, Colts, Patriots... All high powered offenses.

Only exception is the Steelers, and the Buccs.

It is the new way of the land.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

It is the new way, that's for sure. Which is why we all scream for just a reasonably good defense. We're getting that at the moment. Offense needs to hold down their end of the bargain now.

Re: Give the Saints Defense a hand
 

Thats part of the problem with a slow progression... When they finally reach mediocrity you forget how damned awful they were to start.

Most teams will be giving up big yards in the next few years IMO.The league is turning into the bigger fielded arena league.The penalties for hitting the QB and defenceless receiver rules have made it easier to put up big numbers in the air.
For me it's going to be more about dual threat QBs on the offence and ball hawks on the defensive side of the ball.


It's been nice to see a few bright points on the defence the last couple of weeks.
Cam Jordan really starting to stand out as a possible future star and Lofton is a good MLB to build around.Vilma has been good considering how much must be on his mind and how much football he missed.He still needs to take a salary cut or be moved on next season IMO.