What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago

10-30-2017, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by hagan714

No one has stepped up in the middle. None of the DT requires dbl teaming

We need a gap plugging DT that is good against the run.

Our LBers are to easy to get to for opposing OL

Thus YPC is to high.

That's what Sheldon Rankins has been doing. He's been fighting double teams and spending more time than he should as a 1-technique. This is the problem when all of the DT's are only 300 lbs. We just need to find a 6-4, 330 pounder who can play that role. You know, someone like that Akiem Hicks on the Bears. Oh wait...

lee909 · 10-30-2017, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by hagan714

No one has stepped up in the middle. None of the DT requires dbl teaming

We need a gap plugging DT that is good against the run.

Our LBers are to easy to get to for opposing OL

Thus YPC is to high.

Originally Posted by lee909

Only seen little bits but looked likey they held the line ok baring a couple of broken big gains.

Agree though a true dominate run stuffing DT would be a great additions

Originally Posted by ChrisXVI

That's what Sheldon Rankins has been doing. He's been fighting double teams and spending more time than he should as a 1-technique. This is the problem when all of the DT's are only 300 lbs. We just need to find a 6-4, 330 pounder who can play that role. You know, someone like that Akiem Hicks on the Bears. Oh wait...

On this and my pointbthat the D line help up pretty well.

Take away the 2 big runs *Trubisky/Howard 96 yards.

29 carries 61 yards.

Jordan Howard 22 for 52

Need to stop the big plays.

Same in the air. McBride got loose 3 for 93 but half in one play.

Overall this group is definitely on the way up.

Biggest questions for me in defense

Does Vaccaro get paid
Big run stuffing DT
Re-sign Okafor
Fairley contract

Offense
Willie Snead deal?
New number 2 WR
Fleener cut
Ingram (cap casualty?)

CheramieIII · 10-30-2017, 07:44 AM

We learned that the offense needs to be more consistent and sometimes we come up against a defense that surprises us just like our defense continues to surprise everyone even the critics!

rezburna · 10-30-2017, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Utah_Saint

Yeah, it's football, it's bad football. Giving up 5.1 yards/att is bad football.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happier than a fat boy with a fudge cycle with how the defense is playing overall, but giving up 4.9 yards per carry for the season sucks. And when it's mental errors or a lack of discipline, then it's just stupid. Like I pointed out earlier, it's not just this game. It's not a fluke, it's a tendency.

I'm with you on Graham. Not only as a red zone threat but we're not exploiting the mid field seam route like we used to. And we could use some serious help on third down. Wish I knew what was going on with Snead.

We just don’t have the quality of linebackers that we might have perceived preseason. They’re far better than the group we had years prior, but there’s a reason we tried to trade for Navorro Bowman. We’re still looking for a MLB. A.J. Klein isn’t really that. He’s average at best, when many of us thought he’d be elite in a starting role. How many picks has he dropped this year? That big run that gashed us was on Manti Te’o. He just doesn’t have the speed and athleticism to do what he was trying to do.

lee909 · 10-30-2017, 08:14 AM

There seems to be a whole new breed of LB these days from what i have seen. The smaller/faster LB are running riot.

Though i think thats partly why so many bigger backs are having a field day.

Imo Craig Robertson is the stand out LB of the group

rezburna · 10-30-2017, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by lee909

There seems to be a whole new breed of LB these days from what i have seen. The smaller/faster LB are running riot.

Though i think thats partly why so many bigger backs are having a field day.

Imo Craig Robertson is the stand out LB of the group

Gotta have more speed. It’s been my biggest complaint with the Saints defense. Adding Lattimore and Williams to go with Crawley really bolstered the speed of the secondary. The linebackers are still pretty slow, but the defensive line is a little faster with Okafor and Rankins. They’re still not as fast as I’d like, but we’re starting to make the transition.

jeanpierre · 10-30-2017, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by rezburna

We just don’t have the quality of linebackers that we might have perceived preseason. They’re far better than the group we had years prior, but there’s a reason we tried to trade for Navorro Bowman. We’re still looking for a MLB. A.J. Klein isn’t really that. He’s average at best, when many of us thought he’d be elite in a starting role. How many picks has he dropped this year? That big run that gashed us was on Manti Te’o. He just doesn’t have the speed and athleticism to do what he was trying to do.

The one from inside the five yard line? The one where Williams had to work Jordan against the sideline? No, that was on Onyemata, and it's not the first time that's he's blown his gap assignment. And he needs to be told to not celebrate plays when he got gashed like that in the same game...

Crusader · 10-30-2017, 09:44 AM

Speed is all good and well but remember the track teams we had under Haslett. They could run with anybody but couldn't play football for ****.

K Major · 10-30-2017, 10:26 AM

Linebacker play will be addressed in the draft of 2018. While Teo, AJ & Robertson have played well, they are limited athletically.

Crusader · 10-30-2017, 11:10 AM

Don't look now but:

ChrisXVI likes this.

10-30-2017, 07:02 AM	#41
Threaded by ChrisXVI 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 11,482 Rating: (0 votes - average) Originally Posted by hagan714 No one has stepped up in the middle. None of the DT requires dbl teaming We need a gap plugging DT that is good against the run. Our LBers are to easy to get to for opposing OL Thus YPC is to high. That's what Sheldon Rankins has been doing. He's been fighting double teams and spending more time than he should as a 1-technique. This is the problem when all of the DT's are only 300 lbs. We just need to find a 6-4, 330 pounder who can play that role. You know, someone like that Akiem Hicks on the Bears. Oh wait... hagan714 and Thirty3 like this.
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10-30-2017, 07:08 AM	#42
lee909 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Watford England Posts: 8,803 Blog Entries: 1	Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago Originally Posted by hagan714 No one has stepped up in the middle. None of the DT requires dbl teaming We need a gap plugging DT that is good against the run. Our LBers are to easy to get to for opposing OL Thus YPC is to high. Originally Posted by lee909 Only seen little bits but looked likey they held the line ok baring a couple of broken big gains. Agree though a true dominate run stuffing DT would be a great additions Originally Posted by ChrisXVI That's what Sheldon Rankins has been doing. He's been fighting double teams and spending more time than he should as a 1-technique. This is the problem when all of the DT's are only 300 lbs. We just need to find a 6-4, 330 pounder who can play that role. You know, someone like that Akiem Hicks on the Bears. Oh wait... On this and my pointbthat the D line help up pretty well. Take away the 2 big runs *Trubisky/Howard 96 yards. 29 carries 61 yards. Jordan Howard 22 for 52 Need to stop the big plays. Same in the air. McBride got loose 3 for 93 but half in one play. Overall this group is definitely on the way up. Biggest questions for me in defense Does Vaccaro get paid Big run stuffing DT Re-sign Okafor Fairley contract Offense Willie Snead deal? New number 2 WR Fleener cut Ingram (cap casualty?)

10-30-2017, 07:44 AM	#43
CheramieIII Fan Since 1967 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Nomad Posts: 7,487 Blog Entries: 3	Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago We learned that the offense needs to be more consistent and sometimes we come up against a defense that surprises us just like our defense continues to surprise everyone even the critics!

10-30-2017, 08:12 AM	#44
rezburna 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kenner, LA Posts: 7,903	Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago Originally Posted by Utah_Saint Yeah, it's football, it's bad football. Giving up 5.1 yards/att is bad football. Don't get me wrong, I'm happier than a fat boy with a fudge cycle with how the defense is playing overall, but giving up 4.9 yards per carry for the season sucks. And when it's mental errors or a lack of discipline, then it's just stupid. Like I pointed out earlier, it's not just this game. It's not a fluke, it's a tendency. I'm with you on Graham. Not only as a red zone threat but we're not exploiting the mid field seam route like we used to. And we could use some serious help on third down. Wish I knew what was going on with Snead. We just don’t have the quality of linebackers that we might have perceived preseason. They’re far better than the group we had years prior, but there’s a reason we tried to trade for Navorro Bowman. We’re still looking for a MLB. A.J. Klein isn’t really that. He’s average at best, when many of us thought he’d be elite in a starting role. How many picks has he dropped this year? That big run that gashed us was on Manti Te’o. He just doesn’t have the speed and athleticism to do what he was trying to do.
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10-30-2017, 08:14 AM	#45
lee909 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Watford England Posts: 8,803 Blog Entries: 1	Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago There seems to be a whole new breed of LB these days from what i have seen. The smaller/faster LB are running riot. Though i think thats partly why so many bigger backs are having a field day. Imo Craig Robertson is the stand out LB of the group dizzle88 likes this.

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10-30-2017, 08:32 AM	#46
rezburna 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kenner, LA Posts: 7,903	Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago Originally Posted by lee909 There seems to be a whole new breed of LB these days from what i have seen. The smaller/faster LB are running riot. Though i think thats partly why so many bigger backs are having a field day. Imo Craig Robertson is the stand out LB of the group Gotta have more speed. It’s been my biggest complaint with the Saints defense. Adding Lattimore and Williams to go with Crawley really bolstered the speed of the secondary. The linebackers are still pretty slow, but the defensive line is a little faster with Okafor and Rankins. They’re still not as fast as I’d like, but we’re starting to make the transition.

10-30-2017, 08:50 AM	#47
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago Originally Posted by rezburna We just don’t have the quality of linebackers that we might have perceived preseason. They’re far better than the group we had years prior, but there’s a reason we tried to trade for Navorro Bowman. We’re still looking for a MLB. A.J. Klein isn’t really that. He’s average at best, when many of us thought he’d be elite in a starting role. How many picks has he dropped this year? That big run that gashed us was on Manti Te’o. He just doesn’t have the speed and athleticism to do what he was trying to do. The one from inside the five yard line? The one where Williams had to work Jordan against the sideline? No, that was on Onyemata, and it's not the first time that's he's blown his gap assignment. And he needs to be told to not celebrate plays when he got gashed like that in the same game...

10-30-2017, 09:44 AM	#48
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,025	Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago Speed is all good and well but remember the track teams we had under Haslett. They could run with anybody but couldn't play football for ****. jnormand likes this.

10-30-2017, 10:26 AM	#49
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,619 Blog Entries: 3	Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago Linebacker play will be addressed in the draft of 2018. While Teo, AJ & Robertson have played well, they are limited athletically.

10-30-2017, 11:10 AM	#50
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,025	Re: What we learned from the Saints' close win vs. Chicago Don't look now but: Twitter ChrisXVI likes this.

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