Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says

CharityMike · 09-12-2017, 10:45 PM

By Amos Morale III amorale@nola.com,
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford posted some career numbers against the New Orleans Saints Monday night and was sacked just once. While Saints players and coaches said the defensive showing was "lackluster," linebacker A.J. Klein offered his take on why the defensive front was unable to consistently get to Bradford.

"We have to be able to cover long enough to get more pressure on the quarterback," Klein said Tuesday afternoon. "We didn't do a good enough job on our pressures when we did blitz and obviously our man-to-man coverage and some situations that we gave up the edge and gave up some runs.

"We just have to better overall. There's really no if, ands, buts or way's around it."

The Saints had busts in their coverage that lead to a touchdown for Stefon Diggs and a few big catches for Adam Thielen.

Klein said personally he has to be better in coverage and pointed to specific instances where he felt he gave up plays.

He pointed to a third-and-5 on the Vikings first drive where the Vikings were in a bunch formation and Diggs was able to make a play extend the drive which lead to a Minnesota field goal.

"They ran a little bunch formation and ran Diggs underneath and I tried to chase him down and he just out ran me for me," Klien said. "The technique portion of that -- getting in the way of receivers and being sound in my match principals to allow our d-line to get after 'em."

Rest of story:Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says | NOLA.com

Tobias-Reiper · 09-12-2017, 10:53 PM

How long is "long enough"?

Seems to me, they weren't getting pressure on Bradford because that makeshift o-line was stopping them dead on their tracks... unlike the Saints o-line, which was constantly pushed into Drew's face... in shotgun formation.

K Major · 09-12-2017, 11:44 PM

Too much zone coverage. Muhammad needs to play on Sunday. Kikaha was invisible. Deactivate Harris, insert Moore and/or Crawley.

Side note - AJ Klein is a very good linebacker. My fault Hagin, you called it months ago.

DC Dennis Allen has work to do. Plan A failed miserably.

burningmetal · 09-12-2017, 11:47 PM

They were never going to get to Bradford, because it was a ton of three man rushes, and I don't recall seeing any blitzes. Maybe one... Maybe. I'm not even sure about that.

But all of the coverage busts meant that Bradford didn't even need time. It was just not good in any fashion on that side of the ball. I continue to be puzzled as to why a team who struggles to stop anyone, would not blitz far more often. It's a very risky thing to blitz often because of holes it leaves in the secondary, but when your secondary is leaving a Grand Canyon for the QB to throw into, and your defensive line isn't generating any pressure, you have no choice.

Yeah you'll give up some big plays, but you'll also increase the odd's of creating turnovers, which is how our defense lived throughout the entire 2009 season. I didn't like Gregg Williams' defenses after that year, because they continued to give up yards, but the pressure and turnovers seemed to disappear; but at least for that one season, it worked. Nothing Dennis Allen is doing is working. He coaches like he thinks we have 7 hall of famers out there. Just send them out there and let them do whatever.

CharityMike · 09-13-2017, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

They were never going to get to Bradford, because it was a ton of three man rushes, and I don't recall seeing any blitzes. Maybe one... Maybe. I'm not even sure about that.

But all of the coverage busts meant that Bradford didn't even need time. It was just not good in any fashion on that side of the ball. I continue to be puzzled as to why a team who struggles to stop anyone, would not blitz far more often. It's a very risky thing to blitz often because of holes it leaves in the secondary, but when your secondary is leaving a Grand Canyon for the QB to throw into, and your defensive line isn't generating any pressure, you have no choice.

Yeah you'll give up some big plays, but you'll also increase the odd's of creating turnovers, which is how our defense lived throughout the entire 2009 season. I didn't like Gregg Williams' defenses after that year, because they continued to give up yards, but the pressure and turnovers seemed to disappear; but at least for that one season, it worked. Nothing Dennis Allen is doing is working. He coaches like he thinks we have 7 hall of famers out there. Just send them out there and let them do whatever.

I was screaming at the tv every time we actually got pressure and it effected Bradfords throws. I don't understand how they can't seem to grasp this.

I know we blitzed at least once for sure because the announcers made a point to cradle Cooks sack for holding off the blitzer. But I am sure we blitzed more but the fact that we can't recall it was because it was so ineffective, it looked like a regular play.

I stand by my comment that the game plan, on both sides of the ball, was absolute garbage. And to make matters worse, did we adjust at all after half time? Nooooooooooooo. This game stunk to high heaven in all sorts of ways and I am not looking forward to this week against the Pats. I hope they don't embarrass us to bad.

dizzle88 · 09-13-2017, 06:48 AM

PJ in my opinion was worse than D Harris

Diggs first TD was Vaccaro's fault, he was staring at Dalvin Cook during the play action

PJ could have levelled the playing field by having solid coverage but he just let Theilen run straight past him, Theilen ran 2 routes all game, a crossing route and a corner route and PJ didn't get near to him on either.

Really disappointing by a guy who showed some promise, Cooks and Gronk will murder us.

Also there was zero interior push, and you know who generated push in the preseason? Tony McDaniels.

K Major · 09-13-2017, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by dizzle88

Also there was zero interior push, and you know who generated push in the preseason? Tony McDaniels.

Some NFL teams play 3-4. Some play 4-3. Saints play 0-0.

Zero pressure and zero coverage

.

Euphoria · 09-13-2017, 09:32 AM

cover long enough???

They should only have to cover 3-5 seconds not 20 seconds.

dizzle88 · 09-13-2017, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by Euphoria

cover long enough???

They should only have to cover 3-5 seconds not 20 seconds.

The pressure would have got there, PJ williams, Harris and Vaccaro just completely ignored there assignments.

It's hard for the D line to get there when our DB's blow their coverage between 1-2 seconds after the play has started.

Euphoria · 09-13-2017, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by dizzle88

The pressure would have got there, PJ williams, Harris and Vaccaro just completely ignored there assignments.

It's hard for the D line to get there when our DB's blow their coverage between 1-2 seconds after the play has started.

I don't think there is any need for finger pointing with how bad the D did. They didn't get any pressure on the QB. And the DB's don't give us anything to prove that they aren't to blame either.

When you start the first play of the game on D and you only have 10 on the field that doesn't say much for the D. There were a few broken coverages but there was tons of not getting to the QB.

I also give credit to the QB because some of the passes you could not defend against he threw them in great spots that no defender could get to. It was the perfect storm for our D. But to point the finger at the DBs solely isn't the right anwer either.

09-12-2017, 10:45 PM	#1
CharityMike Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mid City, New Orleans Posts: 3,556	Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says By Amos Morale III amorale@nola.com, NOLA.com \| The Times-Picayune Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford posted some career numbers against the New Orleans Saints Monday night and was sacked just once. While Saints players and coaches said the defensive showing was "lackluster," linebacker A.J. Klein offered his take on why the defensive front was unable to consistently get to Bradford. "We have to be able to cover long enough to get more pressure on the quarterback," Klein said Tuesday afternoon. "We didn't do a good enough job on our pressures when we did blitz and obviously our man-to-man coverage and some situations that we gave up the edge and gave up some runs. "We just have to better overall. There's really no if, ands, buts or way's around it." The Saints had busts in their coverage that lead to a touchdown for Stefon Diggs and a few big catches for Adam Thielen. Klein said personally he has to be better in coverage and pointed to specific instances where he felt he gave up plays. He pointed to a third-and-5 on the Vikings first drive where the Vikings were in a bunch formation and Diggs was able to make a play extend the drive which lead to a Minnesota field goal. "They ran a little bunch formation and ran Diggs underneath and I tried to chase him down and he just out ran me for me," Klien said. "The technique portion of that -- getting in the way of receivers and being sound in my match principals to allow our d-line to get after 'em." Rest of story:Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says \| NOLA.com

09-12-2017, 10:53 PM	#2
Tobias-Reiper Merces Letifer Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 4,161	Re: Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says How long is "long enough"? Seems to me, they weren't getting pressure on Bradford because that makeshift o-line was stopping them dead on their tracks... unlike the Saints o-line, which was constantly pushed into Drew's face... in shotgun formation. Danno, nola_swammi, SmashMouth and 1 others like this.

09-12-2017, 11:44 PM	#3
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,619 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says Too much zone coverage. Muhammad needs to play on Sunday. Kikaha was invisible. Deactivate Harris, insert Moore and/or Crawley. Side note - AJ Klein is a very good linebacker. My fault Hagin, you called it months ago. DC Dennis Allen has work to do. Plan A failed miserably. turbo_dog, nola_swammi, Barry from MS and 3 others like this.

09-12-2017, 11:47 PM	#4
burningmetal 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,923 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says They were never going to get to Bradford, because it was a ton of three man rushes, and I don't recall seeing any blitzes. Maybe one... Maybe. I'm not even sure about that. But all of the coverage busts meant that Bradford didn't even need time. It was just not good in any fashion on that side of the ball. I continue to be puzzled as to why a team who struggles to stop anyone, would not blitz far more often. It's a very risky thing to blitz often because of holes it leaves in the secondary, but when your secondary is leaving a Grand Canyon for the QB to throw into, and your defensive line isn't generating any pressure, you have no choice. Yeah you'll give up some big plays, but you'll also increase the odd's of creating turnovers, which is how our defense lived throughout the entire 2009 season. I didn't like Gregg Williams' defenses after that year, because they continued to give up yards, but the pressure and turnovers seemed to disappear; but at least for that one season, it worked. Nothing Dennis Allen is doing is working. He coaches like he thinks we have 7 hall of famers out there. Just send them out there and let them do whatever. neugey, WillMacKenzie and dizzle88 like this.
	If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

09-13-2017, 12:18 AM	#5
CharityMike Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mid City, New Orleans Posts: 3,556	Re: Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says Originally Posted by burningmetal They were never going to get to Bradford, because it was a ton of three man rushes, and I don't recall seeing any blitzes. Maybe one... Maybe. I'm not even sure about that. But all of the coverage busts meant that Bradford didn't even need time. It was just not good in any fashion on that side of the ball. I continue to be puzzled as to why a team who struggles to stop anyone, would not blitz far more often. It's a very risky thing to blitz often because of holes it leaves in the secondary, but when your secondary is leaving a Grand Canyon for the QB to throw into, and your defensive line isn't generating any pressure, you have no choice. Yeah you'll give up some big plays, but you'll also increase the odd's of creating turnovers, which is how our defense lived throughout the entire 2009 season. I didn't like Gregg Williams' defenses after that year, because they continued to give up yards, but the pressure and turnovers seemed to disappear; but at least for that one season, it worked. Nothing Dennis Allen is doing is working. He coaches like he thinks we have 7 hall of famers out there. Just send them out there and let them do whatever. I was screaming at the tv every time we actually got pressure and it effected Bradfords throws. I don't understand how they can't seem to grasp this. I know we blitzed at least once for sure because the announcers made a point to cradle Cooks sack for holding off the blitzer. But I am sure we blitzed more but the fact that we can't recall it was because it was so ineffective, it looked like a regular play. I stand by my comment that the game plan, on both sides of the ball, was absolute garbage. And to make matters worse, did we adjust at all after half time? Nooooooooooooo. This game stunk to high heaven in all sorts of ways and I am not looking forward to this week against the Pats. I hope they don't embarrass us to bad.

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09-13-2017, 06:48 AM	#6
dizzle88 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11,208	Re: Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says PJ in my opinion was worse than D Harris Diggs first TD was Vaccaro's fault, he was staring at Dalvin Cook during the play action PJ could have levelled the playing field by having solid coverage but he just let Theilen run straight past him, Theilen ran 2 routes all game, a crossing route and a corner route and PJ didn't get near to him on either. Really disappointing by a guy who showed some promise, Cooks and Gronk will murder us. Also there was zero interior push, and you know who generated push in the preseason? Tony McDaniels.
	Your bonehead creator picked a fine chapter to omit from your memory bank....let me ask you, does a machine like yourself ever experience fear? - Vegeta, DBZ

09-13-2017, 09:28 AM	#7
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,619 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says Originally Posted by dizzle88 Also there was zero interior push, and you know who generated push in the preseason? Tony McDaniels. Some NFL teams play 3-4. Some play 4-3. Saints play 0-0. Zero pressure and zero coverage . dizzle88 likes this.

09-13-2017, 09:32 AM	#8
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says cover long enough??? They should only have to cover 3-5 seconds not 20 seconds.

09-13-2017, 09:36 AM	#9
dizzle88 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11,208	Re: Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says Originally Posted by Euphoria cover long enough??? They should only have to cover 3-5 seconds not 20 seconds. The pressure would have got there, PJ williams, Harris and Vaccaro just completely ignored there assignments. It's hard for the D line to get there when our DB's blow their coverage between 1-2 seconds after the play has started. Crusader and WillMacKenzie like this.

09-13-2017, 10:15 AM	#10
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Saints need to 'cover long enough to get more pressure' on QB, A.J. Klein says Originally Posted by dizzle88 The pressure would have got there, PJ williams, Harris and Vaccaro just completely ignored there assignments. It's hard for the D line to get there when our DB's blow their coverage between 1-2 seconds after the play has started. I don't think there is any need for finger pointing with how bad the D did. They didn't get any pressure on the QB. And the DB's don't give us anything to prove that they aren't to blame either. When you start the first play of the game on D and you only have 10 on the field that doesn't say much for the D. There were a few broken coverages but there was tons of not getting to the QB. I also give credit to the QB because some of the passes you could not defend against he threw them in great spots that no defender could get to. It was the perfect storm for our D. But to point the finger at the DBs solely isn't the right anwer either. halloween 65 likes this.
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