Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'

By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com
The Times-Picayune

As the New Orleans Saints have seen some big numbers being posted against them this season in the score and yardage columns of the box score, one figure has been noticeably absent through three games.

After forcing 25 turnovers a year ago, the Saints have forced just one so far in 2018.

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"We've got to get back to it, take the ball away and set the offense up for great field position," said safety Vonn Bell.

The big turnover numbers last year allowed New Orleans to finish in the top 10 in scoring defense despite being ranked in the middle of the road in a number of other categories. Getting back to that style of defensive football has been a point of emphasis this week.

One of the biggest challenges is that taking the ball away from the opponent is often a matter of taking advantage of an opportunity, and those have been rare for the Saints this season, particularly when it comes to interceptions.

The Saints have just seven passes defended through three games, and three of those were credited to defensive linemen Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport. While opposing quarterbacks have been on their game against the Saints this season, they have also had open receivers to throw to too often.

Saints corner Marshon Lattimore did not get into specifics, but said opposing teams have had well-designed schemes against some of the coverages New Orleans likes to run, and the defenders have often not been in position to make a play.

Combine that with the Saints not consistently getting home on the pass rush, and it makes the interceptions hard to come by. The Saints hope to counter that with their own game-planning this week.

"We go out there, read the formation, know the down and distance, know their staple plays and just go out there and react and make plays on the ball," Bell said.

Read the rest here ...

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

After forcing 25 turnovers a year ago, the Saints have forced just one so far in 2018.

Saints must find a way to create turnovers if you want to make a serious playoff push.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

I thought the whole reason for signing Kurt Coleman was that he could handle deep zone coverage in a way that Vaccaro and Bell couldn’t; thus allowing us to utilize more 2 Man Under. What happened to that?

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Coleman doesn't even play very often. And when he does, I never see anything spectacular.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

The season is still early but I'm not at the point of singling out Kurt when 85% of the Falcons production came from targeting our #2 CB.

I will say that Coleman was very good in run support (held them to under 60 yards rushing) vs Atlanta.

Hopefully the guys on the back end had a good week of film study & preparation. Key for me is for Dennis Allen to simplify the scheme.

I feel your frustration XVI but let's see what they do on the back end vs Eli & company come Sunday.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

But we ARE a big play defense, just about everything thrown at them turns into a big play

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Nice.

http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/daduntsh.gif

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Lol It was pretty terrible, look I need the therapeutic outlet

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

The opposing qb's have had to much time in the pocket. Saints need to generate a pass so those big plays don't have time to develop.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Not even Von Miller, Kalil Mack or LT himself could get to the QB in the time our DB's lose their man.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

We don't need no stinking pass rush. We're doing really cute things like disguising our coverages & being all scientifically progressive with our complexity...or something.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Often it seems that we have disguised our coverage from ourselves. I might feel a little more comfortable if they could focus on stopping big plays before they focus on making big plays.

This might be why they are getting torn up, focusing on a strip rather than a tackle... and missing. TD!!!!

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

What scares me is that Sean said this week they will focus on forcing fumbles. Every time they focused on "forcing fumbles" Saints players forgot how to tackle. That happened in Rob Ryan second year as DC. That offseason they changed tackling technique and results were disastrous.

That's Sean Payton. Only defensive coordinator with enough authority would improve this defense and bring some continuity. Imagine Payton bossing around Wade Philips or Fangio... It wouldn't be that easy. But we had our chance and missed on those guys.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Payton likely didn't go for those guys because he couldn't boss them around, DA is his BFF.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Yup. Winning isn't important to Payton. Never has been. It's only always been about power. Do you think that Dennis and Sean cuggle at night?

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

I think cuggling in Louisiana is illegal.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

To some extent I think it is about power. I don’t think he can help but try to control things. The DC does one or two things that Payton thinks is wrong and he tries to step in and control the whole situation even if it means turning things completely upside down.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Dennis must be a great cuggler, it would explain why he's got a job that isn't an assistant position.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Stop taking those absolutely stupid group celebration pics with a turnover

It's expected

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Pretty sure they'd get confused on where to line up for their pretend photo, anyhow.

Re: Saints looking to rediscover big-play defense. 'It's going to come'
 

Payton is the HC but I am, not going to assume that the guy doing the speaking is the guy that came up with the plan.

A defense can do one of two things to be successful; stop an offense or take the ball away. We are certainly not going to turn the first around in a week so the logical next focus would be the second.

I dont like that the focus is not basic coverage and tackling but rather chasing the ball but I am not ready to call Payton a bully and blame him for our Defense.