Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

METAIRIE, La. -- Rob Ryan stripped down his playbook last week as the New Orleans Saints' defense cut out all of their on-field checks and adjustments. And it worked great, as players said they were able to play faster and more decisive in a 20-9 victory against the Minnesota Vikings.

That can’t have been an easy choice for Ryan, a "film rat" who prides himself on being one of the NFL’s most sophisticated schemers. But he said Friday that it was the right choice for this team.

"I think here, in New Orleans, with the type of players we had (last year) and have, I think we do better when we have less checks," Ryan said. "Some teams I’ve had, we did fine, but it was all about the system. Here it’s all about the players. It’s not a check and balance. I think this is the way it is.

"When I was hired, I came into something special here. And I’m not going to screw it up. I’m going to work hard and make sure we get it right."

Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Best news I've seen this week. We have enough talent, we don't have to outscheme anybody.

For all the talk about "exotic" schemes last year, we really didn't do anything that wild. Man-to-man, press coverage, an extra safety instead of an extra corner, letting Vaccaro move around the field a lot. That's really not all that complicated.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

I believe him till I don't. I hope he gets it right.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Yeah I think he was being honest, and I really do believe him when he says what eh said. I'd expect he has a bone to pick with Jerry, my guess we do pretty well on D this week

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

If the D plays well -- we win this game. It's that simple.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Shaun O'Hara says KV is not playing well in the passing game. I haven't been watching him.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

In all reality the only 1 has been White. P-Rob demoted, Byrd 30 yds. deep, Lewis getting beat, Bush not hitting the way he can. They have not looked that good to me at all. I'll be glad to see them play as a unit instead of looking lost. They might be a really good unit if they get their heads on straight whenever that may be.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

We have got to get it right Sunday a loss could put us in a tailspin that we may never pull out of. The Vikings game was a start but we beat a backup QB. Romo and Company will be a much tougher game.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Prove it. Because this year so far has been a screw up.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

This is as close to a must have win as there is. All of the games are important and some may say the must win label is BS but to me if we lose this and go 1-3 we are likely done. I base this on previous years 2007 & 2008 iirc where we were constantly digging out of a hole that we never recovered.

As for Coach Ryans comments I sure hope we get it right. He is a great guy and I think he is good for the team and the City but we have to have the Wins. Just play sound football. This scheme and that scheme seems to backfire more often than not. I want a dominate defense pitching shutouts but in todays NFL I don't think that fully exist. Look at how Seattle couldn't stop Manning followed by the Broncos in OT not being able to stop Seattle.

The Steelers did the same to a good/very good Panther Defense last week. But, the Steelers Defense also played one of the best games I have seen so far by getting to the QB and hitting him hard early in the first qtr. If we can do that to Romo we will be in good position to slow them down.

My point is the rules favor the offense moving the ball up and down the field and scoring but your Defense has to figure out a way to slow it down and get off the field. Then Drew HAS to put points on the board to put some separation on the scoreboard.

We need a win. Gotta have a win.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

what that has to do with bad tackling i am not to sure but hey what the heck you never know.

this is the same excuse we heard coming out of Dallas. to complex this and to complex that.

maybe it is time to consider it just is not that great of a defense scheme to begin with, :jkool:never know it might work in George J. Jetson time. Astro is all for it :ubl:

I am more concerned with in game adjustments in the second half or the lack of to be totally honest

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Yeah I saw that too. Pretty much said he is a liability in coverage thus far.
Up to this point, I haven't seen anything to disagree with his analysis.

Its time for the big hitters and ball hawks (Byrd) to step up and earn their salary.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Everyone in the secondary has been a liability in coverage so far, except for maybe Corey White...

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

He just need's to shut up and do his job. Less I hear/see of him in the media the better.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

I've enjoyed the press conferences he's had so far... I guess it's damned if you do, damned if you don't though

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Simplify. Has anyone thought that we might could get away with leaving the corners on their assigned side throughout the entire game, like SEA does? It simplifies the communication by just moving the nickle & dime DB's and safeties around pre-snap? Just a random thought.

Dez Bryant moves to White's side, we simply adjust safety coverage deep since White has problems with getting his head around to the ball. If he moves to Lewis' side, stay single-coverage or adjust with a safety over-the-top.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Dallas is going to destroy our secondary.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Our offense is ranked: 6th 26 points average; 3rd 421 yards average; 5th 281 yards passing average; 6th 140 yards rushing

Our defense is ranked: 20th 24 points average; 24th 379 total yards; 29th 278 yards passing; 11th 101 yards rushing ( I had no idea we were that good against the run)

That's why we have concerns with the defense and not the offense; offense can't get much better, but the defense is pretty horrible...

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

For the sake of argument, would we have to rely on a game closing 1st down with a better defense?

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Yes, numbers can be misleading, but in this case they're not.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

You know eventually the offense is gonna have a bad day and I'm 100% sure you're gonna try some "I told you so" BS.

To this day our offense has played good to spectacular. Our defense has played from absolutely horrible to decent.

Why in the world are you still stuck on blaming the offense for our 1-2 record?

Why? I try to keep an open mind about things because I'm not perfect, but your obsession with our offense being the problem defies any and all logic.

You do know that Offense is when we have the ball, and defense is when the other team has the ball... right?

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Yikes, I remember last year when people were just hoping for a middle of the pack defense. I'm positive that this defense will get back on track, play like they did last year.

lol.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

There are only three defensive stats that really matter:

Points

3rd down percentage

Turnovers

If the Saints defense takes care of these three, which are all interrelated, everything will be fine.

Hopefully simplifying the defense will contribute to this.

SFIAH

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

I don't think it's their passing game we need to be concerned with. Their offense is run heavy this year and they're really good at it. Gotta hand it to old Jerruh on his O-line picks in the last few drafts. Those are some big nasty athletic dudes.

I think if we do (somehow) keep their running game in check and make them go pass happy that it would actually help us. Romo is clearly still having issues with his back and it's affecting not only his arm strength but seemingly his confidence too. He's looked noticeably less comfortable in the pocket to me, and believe me that with Dez Bryant on my fantasy team I've been keeping track. If we can generate any kind of a pass rush I think we're in good shape. We'll find out soon enough, but I believe Rob when he says he's gonna fix it. He already has a simple and successful blue print to follow, and the added benefit of having almost all the same guys he had last year. I also can't help but think that this will be really good for a guy like Byrd. Not to sound like John Madden, but if you're gonna let the players make the plays.. well this guy here's a play maker.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

While I agree that the defense has been the bulk of the issue, the offense doesn't get a free pass. The Saints offense has three jobs:

1. Score points (DUH!)
2. Do not turn over the ball. The team is 26-0 under Payton when the team does not turn the ball over.
3. Manage the 4 minute offense at the end of the game. There is a difference between scoring, and scoring with little or no time left.

Note this has absolutely nothing to do with the defense.

Now let's analyze and grade the first two games:

1. Grade: A- 34 and 24 on the road isn't bad.

2. D+ at best. The Atlanta game had a red zone interception and a game killing fumble. The Cleveland game had a pick-6

3. C-. The good was marching the ball down and scoring each time. The not so good was leaving too much time each time for a response.

Both sides of the Saints needs to play complementary football. The defense needs to make 3rd down plays, get turnovers, and keep the scoring reasonable (like the 19 PPG last year). The offense needs to score, not give the ball away, and manage the clock in the 4th quarter.

Each of the six categories above were much improved last week. We just need to keep it up.

SFIAH

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Let's analyze the defense in the 1st two games.
F, F and F

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

I'm going to reiterate a two points:

1. The job of the offense has nothing to do with the defense.

2. I was only pointing out that the offense didn't play a perfect game in either contest.


Even with the defense playing terrible, a clean game with no turnovers by the offense would have us 3-0. This is pretty much independent of the defensive play. So even if the blame is allocated 95% defense, 5% offense, the offense carries at least some share of the blame.

That is all.

SFIAH

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

I am worried. I cannot lie.

I think you summed it up best.
:bng:

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Well so much for that. Let's strip it back to fundamentals and go from there for now.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Hey Rob. Would you care to revise your bs statement?

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

I wonder if some of our struggles are because we have 4-3 players and 3-4 players all playing a mixture of 3-4 and 4-3 fronts.

How about we stick with one scheme, acquire players that fit that scheme, and let em play to their strengths.

It works for the Ravens, and the 49ers, and Seattle.

Just a thought, Ryan's forgotten more than I'll ever know about defense. But lately it sure looks like he's forgetting more than he should.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

Still doesn't really answer the question as to why all the same players were effective last season and are a complete embarrassment this season

Only two players we changed on D were bringing in Byrd and shifting vaccaro

How have we regressed so much

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

The D line has regressed. They were fired up last year and this year..well..instead of sweating and grinding here in nola, they were swinging in hammocks drinking ice tea in the cool air of West Virginia. They look slow and gassed.

Re: Rob Ryan: I’m not going to screw it up
 

When I saw those all inclusive resort pictures I kept thinking how could any coach think it was a good idea. La heat can turn an average D into one that can tough it out in the 4th.