Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

My two biggest takeaways after reviewing the tape of the New Orleans Saints' defense: The tackling was just as bad as advertised, but the cornerback play wasn't as glaring a concern as one might expect.

The Saints allowed a franchise-record 445 passing yards in a 37-34 overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday. But they rarely got burned over the top by big-play threats Julio Jones and Roddy White. The only two times the Saints got beat deep were a 35-yard pass to Devin Hester and a 27-yarder to Jones, both against cornerback Patrick Robinson.

The bad news was that the Saints were repeatedly burned by the underneath stuff, and they didn't get enough pressure on quarterback Matt Ryan. Most of the Falcons' yardage came via those missed tackles, too many big cushions in zone coverage, pick plays and screen plays.

Here are some more observations:

Missed tackles: Yikes. Pro Football Focus credited the Saints with 16 missed tackles -- and many of them were costly.

Film study: Reviewing New Orleans Saints defense - ESPN

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Tripp is right

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Patrick Robinson guesses too much in man coverage, when he guessed wrong he gets completely turned around and about 3 steps away from the receiver leaving him wide open

I really want the guy to do well, but if his technique in coverage doesn't improve this season I think he is gone

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

How could one possible get burned over the top playing 6 miles off the receiver?

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Because you let the WR get to full speed as you start to turn and run. You've lost the race two steps into it.

You only play that far off in zone, then you expect safety help after the WR leaves your zone.

Reminder: We suck at zone.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

And why Rob Ryan thought it would work when it didn't work for Spags is beyond me.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Probably because playing Julio Jones, Roddy White, Harry Douglas and Devin Hester man to man was asking too much so they played a lot of zone.

Luckily, there aren't many receiving corps in the NFL that are that deep.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Well, that is when that whole insignificant tackling thingy comes into play.

195 yards after the catch.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

When we we play them again, what's gonna happen? NO MORE ZONE!!!

As someone already said: "We suck at zone."

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Yeah, I hope they chalk that up to a failed experiment.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Great article Tripplett.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

It was more tongue in cheek. When Atlanta has the ball on their 30 and Byrd is in our endzone like he is waiting for a kickoff..... Not gonna get burned is obvious.

Then again, maybe Tripplett was laughing when he wrote it.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

We played zone at times last year and it was successful. We have 2 new starters in the secondary now though. Players don't know each other as well. You have to have much better communication and teamwork to play zone.

Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Don't get your hopes up. The Spagnuolo experiment wasn't cancelled, the zone run blocking scheme last season wasn't cancelled on the first sign of rain either. Our front office tends to stick with things they install in the offseason.

The blocking clicked last season near mid point and Spags defense never did. Some of us noticed Robinson playing 25 yards off the preseason.

Let's hope we aren't 0-6 before it clicks this season.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Yeah, that boggled my mind on so many levels. It would be 3rd and 6 and guys were playing so far off that I couldn't see them on my screen even though we have been burned time and time again by underneath routes and pick plays.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Agreed Jack, and with Byrd and Robinson missing so much time in camp there had to be some rust to shake off and some gellin' to do with his team mates.

We're all just kinda shocked it was this much rust and so little gellin'

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Yeah, but we never had WRs being covered by LBs. The LBs they had in coverage were bad. Why didn't they used Humber or Powell? And the zone was mixed in with man to man.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

I don't think what we saw on Sunday is going to be a regular part of the Saints defensive scheme. I think it was more of specific plan for the falcons and their deep roster of wide receivers. The plan didn't work.

I think the fact the Saints drafted a press corner and brought in Champ, another press corner indicates they plan on much more man coverage than what we saw on Sunday.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Pass rush.
Where do we buy some?

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

The timing was off on defense last week. Hopefully we've had time to get the kinks worked out.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

It seemed like a decent enough game plan, stop the kill shots and hold them in the RZ on a high level understanding. It would have worked if their kicker didn't have a bronzed leg. Seriously, how many kickers can make 2 clutch bombs like that, it's just not very likely. Cleaning up the tacking alone would have been enough.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

1st half we gave up 10. Hit my number right on the head.
10 per half is good defense; 1 touchdown and 1 field goal.
2 touchdowns and 2 field goals for an entire game (to me), is good defense.
Down hill after that.
Last year things got tighter as the game went on, Sunday looks like the screws fell out late.
Maybe that's the kick in the butt they needed.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

We did it against the Ravens in preseason. We swept the Falcons last year with out a special plan and they had Gonzo then, why do we all of a sudden have a special plan for the Falcons? Difference between week 1 last year vs this year with the falcons is that Gonzales played and we won.

We have never needed anything special to beat them.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

all of this advice from people who could never qualify for one single play in the sport of professional football

your words mean nothing other than they prove some of you are disloyal fans.

when you've earned your own super bowl ring, i'll give a **** what most of you think about professional athletes. just sayin.

Re: Film study: Reviewing Saints defense By Mike Triplett
 

Yeah, that's what I said. We didn't run that much zone in any game last year that I can remember. Don't know why we did this time but my guess is Ryan thought it was the best way to cover all 4 of their receivers. Obviously it didn't work so I doubt we see it as much again.

I hope next time we play we try playing up and stuffing receivers on the line and putting more pressure on poopy pants. If we can't get to him with four guys, try five.