Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Seen as I'm in the UK I woke up at 4am for work at 6am, which meant I only managed to see the final 2 minutes and overtime - safe to say I woke up pretty damn quick to CJ Spiller sprinting down the sidelines!!

Please feel free to add whatever you noticed.

My opinions;

Kikaha and Anthony are going to be absolute animals for us
Kikaha has 3 sacks in 4 games, leads rookies in tackles and has 2 forced fumbles.
Did anyone else notice how fast Anthony was when he sacked Weeden, man....we haven't seen that speed since Vilma was healthy.

In my opinion, they are a drafted OLB away from being a unit!

Bobby Richardson showed more in this game than Akiem Hicks did in nearly 2 years.

People who need to get the ball more;

CJ Spiller - whenever he touched the ball, wow...he was a threat to take it the distance.
It confused me when payton kept running screens to Ingram - give Spiller a chance!!

Brandin Cooks - safe to say I'm pretty disappointed in the numbers Cooks has posted, sure he's been doubled and had teams best CB's to beat but still, we should get him involved without forcing him the ball.

Willie Snead - the guy is becoming one of my favourite players, with Cooks being game planned, Snead has great opportunities to make plays and he's making them when called upon.

Things that concerned me

The defense played admirably all day, and then completely choked in the final minutes.
Breaux played incredible all game, then allowed gains of 25 on first down and the game tying touchdown.
Vaccaro is simply turrible, I think we should try to trade him and address safety elsewhere.

Kicker - Hocker better not leave the facility until he's mastered the chip shot - its garrett hartley all over again - except without the Super Bowl.

Zach Strief - He is going to get Brees killed, he already got him injured and Brees got planted several times from Striefs man.

Brandon Browner - I would not bat an eye lid if the guy was cut, He does not add any leadership to our team, he can't lead by example because every rookie on defense is playing better than him. He is our weak link, he allows teams to get back into the games, they just have to throw deep to his man and its either catch or PI.

Despite the negatives, I'm buzzing about this first win and I'm impressed our team didn't give up - we got a little lucky that the Cowboys didn't intercept Brees 3 times but it had to go our way eventually.

Let me know what you think!!

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Throwing to Cooks on 3rd down and he's nowhere near the marker. Saw that twice. Maybe the thought is his speed can get it there or he is breaking the route too soon. I don't know but it is not working.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Definitely noticed that, Brees hit Cooks twice on 3rd down and both times Cooks' route was atleast 4 yards away from the first down, with a defender right next to him.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

I think we won the game on this. We insisted on running Ingram, even in situations when it was not smart. Then in overtime we wheeled out to CJ - the defense ignored him because we could hardly get the ball to him.

Remember, Vaccaro is one of our leading tacklers - he was absent game one, came on the past two weeks, then disappeared again last night. I think he's one of these on again, take a few weeks off players, and I agree he may end up replaceable - would rather get something for him.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

only play I remember from Vaccaro was when he blitzed and got stopped on the sack by Anthony

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

We have that guy named Davis Tull who showed hustle and skill in preseason. Once he gets healthy, he may end up being our 3rd LBer, and we'll be set!

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Rob never has had the reputation of fielding a defense that can close out a game. I do not know about you but when that drive started i sank into my chair. OMG he called zone!

one that drop into the coverage and hold the edge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzle88 (Post 673420) Zach Strief

We all say this day coming but the saints brain trusted what a year or two too late to address this day. Zach is better of being the first option off he bench

I am more concerned with the OG play myself

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

I think he called Zona!

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Our defense is finally getting healthy. I'm more confident they'll figure things out and start holding teams around 20pts.

My biggest concern remains the O line.

Brees could have easily lost 3 INTs last night due to pressure.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

True, but I think we also dropped 2 picks last night.

And 2 of Dallas' drops wouldn't even have been possible if not for defensive holding.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

The offense is my worry. And I hear people saying we're two years away. If we had a solid offense we could get it done this year. We won't have a schedule like this in a while. And a great defense isn't guaranteed 13 wins against the NFC North and AFC East divisions in 2017.

The oline is probably gonna be inconsistent from week to week so the way to offset that is weeding out the bad seeds on offense. With Cooks drawing top coverage, Colston's mistakes we cannot afford. We should not live and die with Colston. Snead needs to start getting looks in the redzone so our drives do not stall.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

They weren't holding the O lineman!! :p

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

I'm concerned about a lot of things especially looking at an OT win at home vs a team minus its best player, QB, stud MLB and a few others

O-line really got pushed back all night and was I surprised Brees didn't go down more or have 3-4 picks

What the hell was with the defensive penalties? I'm not a Browner fan. Don't if we more later, but at one point they said we had 6 def penalties for first downs

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

It's a start. We still have to answer a lot of questions.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Snead's rapid improvement will help Cooks. I think Cooks will have a big second half of the year when teams realise Snead's threat.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Yeah but this same team of Cowboys blew open to a 21 point lead on Atlanta and lost. They ran all over the Falcons - supposedly the hyped cinderella team. Romo or not, Dallas has a big o-line and big d-line. Falcons didn't blow them out "Romo-less" nor did we.

Penalties - we have a LOT of rookies starting. Browner - he came from the Pats knowing 1) he makes 1 or 2 key plays per game, and 2) he commits about 2 key penalties per game.

:bng:

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

I hate to be a debbie downer cuz I'm grateful for the win, but if romo and dez were playing even against our healthiest defense, it wouldnt have been close

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Those penalties kept our D on the field repeatedly and kept the Cows in the game, against better teams we are toast. It appears that's the way Browner plays and he becomes more of a liability.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Yeah and if we would have had the Dome Patrol on defence Romo would have crapped his pants. Coulda woulda shoulda.

You can only beat the team that you play everything else is just speculation.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Browner had a solid play on that stop.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Vaccaro struggles in coverage, he can tackle pretty well, but pass defense is not his strong suit that's for sure. -Captain Obvious

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Like the dedication to the team at 4AM, lol.
I think the team is coming along, and starting to gel on both sides of the ball. I am concerned by the huge penalties on defense that kept giving first downs and the invisible defensive pressure.
Love the fact we got our first win, but totally aware if that had not been Dallas's 2nd and 3rd string, the threads would look a lot different.
We'll see if we can build some momentum against a Eagles team also in turmoil.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

We weren't 100 percent healthy either NOBODY is we had Kenny Philips as our starting free safety Really? We're missing players too no excuses we won on to next week all I ask for is CONSTANT PROGRESSION AND GROWTH

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

First quarter cut back runs were killing us. The young guys made adjustments and kept containment after that and Dallas didn't have anymore cutback runs. That's what I noticed, that we actually made a successful in game adjustment. Also that last tying TD by Dallas should have been offensive PI. He pushed off on Breaux.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Gotta love a win against Dallas - no matter if the entire team was dead or not.

Lets hope we can get another win in Philly!

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Well Pass Defense is none our DB's strong suit they all struggle Breaux Browner Swann Philips you name him he struggles Lewis too Struggle includes penalties

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Lewis played pretty well considering first game back from the injury...

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

here's how i feel about the cowboys missing key players...good. I like an advantage any way i can get one. do u think the panties cried that drew didnt play cause our record didnt care

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

this was really about two teams and the rookies they have.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

With Strief playing this bad it makes you wonder how bad Peat is. As much hype as he had coming into the draft I figured he could not be any worse at this point.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Strief isn't playing as well as he did the last few seasons, but he isn't playing nearly as bad as many claim.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Spillers personality pumps up the team. They way he talks trash after he runs, love it. he needs to be on the field more. Ive always said hes going to be the Best skat back we have ever had. He can catch better than most RB's.
But, unlike most of the past Shat backs spiller is a pure ½ back, and a better runner up the middle than any RB we have.
I dont see SP using him this way, but he should. Spiller is tough and can run for more yards on a 3-4 play up the right guard than Ingram, Robinson, or Murphy most of the time. I hope SP doesnt keep him in a glass jar and only breaks it once in awhile.
year Att yards Y/A
2010 74 283 3.8
2011 107 561 5.2
2012 207 1244 6.0
2013 202 933 4.6
2014 78 300 3.8

The kids a machine. The more you give him touches the better he gets.
I really want to see some Ingram/Spiller sets with Ingram blocking FB and going off guard up the middle. Its so much fun watching Spiller run when he gets going he shreds the secondary. Not with speed so much much, but with killer moves.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

It seems like almost every play he gets abused.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

I saw a couple in the 1st half, but virtually none in the 2nd.

I'll probably re-watch it tonight but I don't think he was as bad as everyone has said.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

"Offenses win GAMES. Defenses win CHAMPIONSHIPS."

If this is true, we go 8-8.

I just pray that this week was the spark that lights the fire.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

But it seems like that mainly because people don't fully understand how an O-line works.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

I can't be happier that our first win came against the Cowboys.
The rest of my season will be much more pleasant because of it.
I rolled the dice and made the trip. Glad my ride home was with the sweet taste of victory.
But...
OFFENSE
Brees dinked and dunked ALL day - I started thinking he was still hurt.
Only receiver going down the field was Cooks and he was doubled over the top.
Payton was as predictable as ever.
O-line was on their heels all day, rather than on their toes.
There was no one getting separation.
Strief ... don't even know what to say.
He and Colston are like the OLD lion whose day is done.
Spiller should have been getting the screens and Khiry some 1st down touches.
3rd and short, 2 TEs and a fullback - PLEASE rip that page out of the play book.
DEFENSE
I recall 3 3rd and long give-aways because of penalties. Have to clean that up.
Make teams earn 3rd down conversions by making plays.
Youngters were AWSOME!
Kikaha and Anthony played a hell of a game.
Run defense was admirable. 3 break-out runs for 70+. All the rest totaled 45ish.
Browner gets points for run support - and run support only.
Breaux, Browner, Viccaro, in coverage - just bad.
How do we let Witten get loose, when it's 3rd and long and a backup QB?
Pass rush is going to have to take some pressure off the cover guys.
Weeden had ALL day. Weeden! Weeden!
Can you imagine a poised starter with that much time?
Lots of work to do on both sides of the ball.
I see flashes all over the field.
Payton has to figure out how to get all the good things to show up in the same game,
and eliminate the easy give-aways on defense.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

where did you sit?

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

Section 545 behind the Saints Upper Level 3rd Row 45 yard line.
Excellent seats.

Re: Re-watched the game:Observations
 

I guess I'm in the minority on this but I like the dink and dunk moving the chains and eating clock. Big plays are exciting but I like chewing up the clock in close games. Also reduces the INT's thrown in double coverage.