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New Orleans – Three Performances of Note

Jordan Keeps Up the Pace

If there’s proof of what being a square peg jammed into a round hole can do to a player it’s Cameron Jordan. Removed from his poor fit as a 4-3 DE he has been a revelation in Ryan’s 3-4 schemes and is matching JJ Watt pressure for pressure this season. He didn’t get any sacks in this game, but notched a pair of hits on Cutler and three more hurries. Such is his confidence level within the new scheme that he actually made some of this happen from the 4-3 DE spot that he found so troublesome before. Jordan’s pressure, and that of Junior Galette (+1.6 pass rush), is critical for the Saints who aren’t generating much else up front and have been relying on bringing blitzers from the secondary to make up the shortfall.

Bad Day for Greer

Any time a receiver tops ‘two-bills’ you know there’s a corner somewhere on the opposing side that’s popping up with a bad grade and some ugly stats. In this game that player was Jabari Greer, but his troubles weren’t contained to Jeffery. He did give up 87 yards on four catches (and targets) to Jeffery, but he also allowed a catch to four other receivers and, all told, surrendered 128 yards and a touchdown from nine targets. Greer isn’t the most physical corner in the world and he was completely out muscled at times by both Jeffery and Marshall.

Best TE in Football

With Rob Gronkowski still struggling back from injury the crown as the league’s best TE is firmly resting on the head of Jimmy Graham. OK, so he still can’t block, but the Saints know this and don’t ask him to do much of it, instead taking advantage of the matchup nightmare he poses teams. Graham was targeted 10 times in the game and caught all 10, for 135 yards. He beat six different Bears defenders in coverage for those receptions as they cycled through their defense to try and find anybody that could match up with him. None could, and when Brees was looking for a key pick-up to keep the offense on the field he tended to go straight to Graham. You can’t blame him — throwing Graham’s way gave him a 118.8 passer rating on the day.

Profootball Focus

Rugby Saint II

I'm hoping that Greer gets out of this slump soon. He is a fine CB and should bounce back in a hurry. It is worth nothing that his that he is still a sure tackler.

dueceloose

A sure tackle after you've given up the first isn't saying much. Surprised we haven't tried Sweeting.

Maybe a bunkley/Butler return can help the dline get pressure

|Mitch|

Tied 6th in the league with 15 sacks as a team isn't getting pressure?

blackangold

Don't agree with this.

I don't have the exact stats but we have not blitzed much this season, so I don't think we have been relying on blitzers. We did blitz a lot in the first half (more than any other game) and we had to with that awful field.

Found this interesting:

Jordan and Gallete have combined for 6 sacks in our home games but only 1 sack on the road. The noise level helps, however the grass and condition of the field play a large role as well. The Tampa field was in poor condition and the D line looked slow, the Chicago field looked worse and we had to blitz in order to compensate.

Should the NFL have some regulations on field conditions?

papz

Not really significant. As long as the hurries and hits are consistent, which they have been at home and on the road, the sacks aren't a concern.

dizzle88

Cutler got rid of the ball quickly and evaded about 3 sacks due to having good mobility in the pocket

The jeffrey 43 yard catch, galette almost got cutler but he stepped up and threw downfield

Jack Vegas

Greer had a bad game. It happens. He hasn't given up much to anybody this year otherwise so I am not worried at all.

I actually do agree with the bit about the pass rush. Notice they said "other than Jordan and Galette." And that's true, at least the last two games. Hicks has been a disappointment as a pass rusher, IMO. Started off pretty good but hasn't really done much since that Falcons game. I would like to see Hicks moved inside more often and play Walker/Foster on that end.

homerj07

Good day for Greer to have the ad game. It didn't hurt us in the long run.

We don't play as well on natural surface. Haven't in a lot of games. I hope the conditions in NE next week are similar to yesterday. Dry, with a Cool Brees.

MaggieMayTB

Help me because I don't feel like doing research.

What type of field in NYNJ?

Grass?

Lambeau has heaters under the grass.