Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

That's what I have been preaching all off-season. This defensive makeup from coaching through personnel is nothing like what we have seen in the past. There is so much more speed and the new coaches are using it. So many in the media, and even around here, are mistakenly pointing to the defenses of the past three years when talking about the 2017 product. As I have pointed out before, the Saints have no position coaches and only two defensive players (Cam Jordan and Rafael Bush) left on the 90 man roster from three years ago. This defense, and for the most part the entire roster, has been rebuilt from the ground up. Usually when a team goes through this intensive of a rebuild they are hard-pressed to win four games, not to mention seven!

This year we are finally able to enjoy the fruits of the rebuild.

Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

Preach on Guido :p !

Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

Settle down its a preseason game against the chargers for crying out loud. The secondary didnt look all that impressive to me more like baf qb play but i do generally do watch a different game than alot of you. We will know one way or the other after the first month if they are better

Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

People are watching match ups. It doesn't take the starting QB being in to recognize when players are doing their jobs at a high level. People should be encouraged. This same kind of defensive performance was turned in against the 49ers in the preseason when we went to the Super Bowl. A trained eye can see the potential.

Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

Not really sure what game you were watching last night.

Special teams play greatly improved.
Linebackers are greatly improved.
Kamara already looks the part.
Coaching.
Pressure is coming (Kikaha & Okafor)
Last year we couldn't even sniff a QB in pre season ... last night, 8 sacks.

Good Lord, what game were you watching?

Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

Robertson and Oakefor were balling too. Teo looked great. Hopefully it wasn't just the old team deal. Loved the aggressive blitzing. BTW, who is that running back #33? That guy played great. Drop Lasco and keep that guy. Woof.

Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

This is what I told my brother last night. He's already trying to figure out how to travel to Minnesota next February. I'm figuring that it'll take until mid November to really understand where the Saints are. The opening stretch of 4 games is brutal with 3 road games, including a trip to London, along with hosting the Patriots.

I believe the 2nd quarter of the season, with matchups against the Lions (which did not go well last year), GB, Chicago, and the Bucs will define the season for the Saints. Records of 4-0 or 3-1 points towards a playoff run. Less than that will make it iffy.

So only time will reveal if the real regular season starting defense is going to be up to the task. Fortunately we don't need too much. Decent against the run, getting off the field on 3rd down, a few takeaways, and frankly just being an average NFL defense everywhere else will be good enough.

SFIAH

Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

I've wanted to see energy like that for a long while from the defense, obviously it's preseason but the early signs are encouraging.

Pressure upfront was decent, they elimated any gaps when the Chargers tried to run the ball and more importantly, they get 2 or 3 players tackling the ball carrier at once.

Linebackers, Te'o and Klein looked like a good tandem, they swarmed to the ball and hit hard when they got there.
Klein pretty much caused the play that resulted in Okafor's sack, what a hit by the way!

Lattimore got juked badly but I'm not concerned, just needs to keep his feet set when he's squaring up and shuffle rather than turn his body early, can easily be corrected and I don't think he allowed a catch all game? Can anyone confirm?

Kamara, nothing more needs to be said.

Tommy Lee Lewis with an outstanding sideline grab.

All in All, the stats posted earlier about 2015 and 2016 preseason versus this one do not lie, we definitely looked more fundamentally sound.

Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

Fleener ... I'd really like to see more of him (besides the block of Bosa) in the offense.

Re: 92 Passing Yards Allowed and 8 Sacks
 

A preseason game against QBs and linemen that won't be on the field unless the Chargers are really in trouble.

The first quarter of the regular season will be the true test. 3 away games. 2 playoff teams from last year. And the SB champs. Come out of that 4-0 or 3-1 with dominant performances, then we can have a conversation of where the Saints fit in 2017.

What I saw was encouraging. But it's the preseason. Many of the players out there will be on benches, practice squads, or in the stands come September.

If this defense sacks Brady 8 times and holds the Patriots to less than 200 yards passing September 17th, then that's a defensive game worth being excited about.

SFIAH