Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close

09-29-2018, 06:12 PM

jeanpierre · 09-29-2018, 06:13 PM

BY NICK UNDERHILL | NUNDERHILL@THEADVOCATE.COM SEP 27, 2018 - 5:52 PM

The Saints' secondary hasn't performed as expected this season.

Blown coverages and missed assignments have marred the first three games, and one reason for it is a lack of communication and chemistry. The team added two new players to the mix this offseason — cornerback Patrick Robinson and safety Kurt Coleman — and blending them into the pre-existing fabric has taken a little longer than expected.

“We got a lot of new guys. Well, just two, but that's a lot in the back end when there's only four of us out there," cornerback Marshon Lattimore said. "They come from the Panthers and Philly, and they do stuff different.

“We just got to get on the same page and do certain things together. Once we figure that out, we’re going to be all right.”

Robinson was placed on injured reserve with a broken ankle, and it looks like he will be replaced in the starting lineup by cornerback P.J. Williams, who struggled last week against the Atlanta Falcons.

One way or another, the Saints need to figure out how to make sure everyone is operating together in the secondary before this week’s game against the New York Giants, who feature wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., or it will be more of the same for a defense that is allowing more than 11 yards per completion.

Coach Sean Payton pointed to the communication and said the defense needs to be “clearly understanding the coverage we’re in.” Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen acknowledged it has been an issue at times also.

But as he points out, it has only happened a few times. It isn't an issue on every play. It is just something that really stands out when it happens because it leads to big plays. Allen said the issue starts with him, and he needs to do a better job of putting together a plan the players understand very well.

But it is not just Lattimore who has noticed some awkwardness. When asked what was causing some of those issues after Sunday’s game against Atlanta, cornerback Ken Crawley said the group is struggling to get on the same page.

“A lot of guys are still learning,” Crawley said. “Even guys like Coleman, these guys have to keep learning and keep progressing in our defense. (Allen) does a good job of disguising the coverages and doing different things. We just have to be in tune when he changes up a coverage and the different looks he tries to give the offense.”

New Orleans has busted coverages every single week after rarely experiencing those shortcomings last year. There were multiple examples in Week 1 against the Buccaneers, another one that led to a late touchdown for the Browns in Week 2 and yet another busted coverage helped Julio Jones run free for a gain of 58 yards Sunday.

And those are just the most significant moments. One of the smaller ones came last week, when the Saints failed to defend on a rub route between Mohamed Sanu and Justin Hardy. Williams and Lattimore did not appear to be on the same page, which needs to change since the Giants are known to use rub routes.

“That’s the coverage that we’re in, and sometimes we just have to communicate with the linebackers," Lattimore said. "That’s just us and the linebacker or whoever is picking up our guys on that side. We haven’t been great with that all year.”

It took until Week 3 last year for the defense to clamp down and blend. New Orleans remains confident a similar process will take place for this group sooner than later.

They say it is just the small details that need to be ironed out.

“Just know your keys. Everything is simple,” safety Vonn Bell said. “You got to go out there, read the formation, and know what you’re getting so you can take away those staple plays the offense likes to run. … Everything is fixable. Everything from alignment, knowing your assignment due to situations.”

Lattimore said there’s a simpler solution. He said the defense needs to believe in itself and make a few plays. The rest will take care of itself once the ball gets rolling.

“We just got to start playing with more swag,” Lattimore said. “That ends up eliminating everything, playing with that confidence and going out there and getting it done.”

That worked last year.

The Dude · 09-29-2018, 06:27 PM

Gee Lattimore, you and Williams have been in the league a year, those guys are veterans. You are good and all but they have experience. Maybe you can learn a little bit of what they do, how they do it, and why.

Audiotom · 09-29-2018, 11:39 PM

Lattimore

Play with swag?

How about work your ass off

He has been holding his own but needs to communicate and lead by example

Ridley ran all over Crawley who looked great last year.
Williams wasn't there over the top

jeanpierre · 09-30-2018, 03:53 AM

Originally Posted by Audiotom

Lattimore

Play with swag?

How about work your ass off

He has been holding his own but needs to communicate and lead by example

Ridley ran all over Crawley who looked great last year.
Williams wasn't there over the top

Yep. Don't have to be a rah-rah guy, and though only a second year guy, Latt is essentially a top-of-the-draft pick, need both great leadership with great play...

CheramieIII · 09-30-2018, 07:58 AM

They're playing to the level of the hype. They need to get nasty and screw all the bull. Change the attitude, you change the game.

Barry from MS · 09-30-2018, 11:25 AM

Training camp, minicamps, OTAs & preseason is where communication is supposed to be drilled. Did they sit around playing video games & eating Cheetos during the deep ball practices?

They are professionals. Communication on defense is something practiced all the way back to flag football level.

rezburna · 09-30-2018, 11:31 AM

If you keep **** in front of you and come up and make tackles you open the door for the offense to make a mistake albeit an arid throw or a fumble. Just quit letting **** behind you. Period. That’s it. Cover 1 and 3 isn’t going to do that for you.

foreverfan · 09-30-2018, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by CheramieIII

They're playing to the level of the hype. They need to get nasty and screw all the bull. Change the attitude, you change the game.

18-1

Rugby Saint II · 09-30-2018, 01:17 PM

So...they are deaf and mute.

09-29-2018, 06:12 PM	#1
Threaded by jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39 Rating: (0 votes - average) Twitter
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09-29-2018, 06:13 PM	#2
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close BY NICK UNDERHILL \| NUNDERHILL@THEADVOCATE.COM SEP 27, 2018 - 5:52 PM The Saints' secondary hasn't performed as expected this season. Blown coverages and missed assignments have marred the first three games, and one reason for it is a lack of communication and chemistry. The team added two new players to the mix this offseason — cornerback Patrick Robinson and safety Kurt Coleman — and blending them into the pre-existing fabric has taken a little longer than expected. “We got a lot of new guys. Well, just two, but that's a lot in the back end when there's only four of us out there," cornerback Marshon Lattimore said. "They come from the Panthers and Philly, and they do stuff different. “We just got to get on the same page and do certain things together. Once we figure that out, we’re going to be all right.” Robinson was placed on injured reserve with a broken ankle, and it looks like he will be replaced in the starting lineup by cornerback P.J. Williams, who struggled last week against the Atlanta Falcons. One way or another, the Saints need to figure out how to make sure everyone is operating together in the secondary before this week’s game against the New York Giants, who feature wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., or it will be more of the same for a defense that is allowing more than 11 yards per completion. Coach Sean Payton pointed to the communication and said the defense needs to be “clearly understanding the coverage we’re in.” Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen acknowledged it has been an issue at times also. But as he points out, it has only happened a few times. It isn't an issue on every play. It is just something that really stands out when it happens because it leads to big plays. Allen said the issue starts with him, and he needs to do a better job of putting together a plan the players understand very well. But it is not just Lattimore who has noticed some awkwardness. When asked what was causing some of those issues after Sunday’s game against Atlanta, cornerback Ken Crawley said the group is struggling to get on the same page. “A lot of guys are still learning,” Crawley said. “Even guys like Coleman, these guys have to keep learning and keep progressing in our defense. (Allen) does a good job of disguising the coverages and doing different things. We just have to be in tune when he changes up a coverage and the different looks he tries to give the offense.” New Orleans has busted coverages every single week after rarely experiencing those shortcomings last year. There were multiple examples in Week 1 against the Buccaneers, another one that led to a late touchdown for the Browns in Week 2 and yet another busted coverage helped Julio Jones run free for a gain of 58 yards Sunday. And those are just the most significant moments. One of the smaller ones came last week, when the Saints failed to defend on a rub route between Mohamed Sanu and Justin Hardy. Williams and Lattimore did not appear to be on the same page, which needs to change since the Giants are known to use rub routes. “That’s the coverage that we’re in, and sometimes we just have to communicate with the linebackers," Lattimore said. "That’s just us and the linebacker or whoever is picking up our guys on that side. We haven’t been great with that all year.” It took until Week 3 last year for the defense to clamp down and blend. New Orleans remains confident a similar process will take place for this group sooner than later. They say it is just the small details that need to be ironed out. “Just know your keys. Everything is simple,” safety Vonn Bell said. “You got to go out there, read the formation, and know what you’re getting so you can take away those staple plays the offense likes to run. … Everything is fixable. Everything from alignment, knowing your assignment due to situations.” Lattimore said there’s a simpler solution. He said the defense needs to believe in itself and make a few plays. The rest will take care of itself once the ball gets rolling. “We just got to start playing with more swag,” Lattimore said. “That ends up eliminating everything, playing with that confidence and going out there and getting it done.” That worked last year.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

09-29-2018, 06:27 PM	#3
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,048	Re: Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close Gee Lattimore, you and Williams have been in the league a year, those guys are veterans. You are good and all but they have experience. Maybe you can learn a little bit of what they do, how they do it, and why. jnormand likes this.
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,048

09-29-2018, 11:39 PM	#4
Audiotom 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,094 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close Lattimore Play with swag? How about work your ass off He has been holding his own but needs to communicate and lead by example Ridley ran all over Crawley who looked great last year. Williams wasn't there over the top jnormand, foreverfan, Barry from MS and 1 others like this.

09-30-2018, 03:53 AM	#5
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close Originally Posted by Audiotom Lattimore Play with swag? How about work your ass off He has been holding his own but needs to communicate and lead by example Ridley ran all over Crawley who looked great last year. Williams wasn't there over the top Yep. Don't have to be a rah-rah guy, and though only a second year guy, Latt is essentially a top-of-the-draft pick, need both great leadership with great play...

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09-30-2018, 07:58 AM	#6
CheramieIII Fan Since 1967 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Nomad Posts: 7,487 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close They're playing to the level of the hype. They need to get nasty and screw all the bull. Change the attitude, you change the game. foreverfan, Barry from MS and Rugby Saint II like this.

09-30-2018, 11:25 AM	#7
Barry from MS Site Donor 2014 Join Date: May 2007 Location: TEMPO VC Okefenokee Swamp Posts: 1,985 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close Training camp, minicamps, OTAs & preseason is where communication is supposed to be drilled. Did they sit around playing video games & eating Cheetos during the deep ball practices? They are professionals. Communication on defense is something practiced all the way back to flag football level.

09-30-2018, 11:31 AM	#8
rezburna 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kenner, LA Posts: 7,903	Re: Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close If you keep ** in front of you and come up and make tackles you open the door for the offense to make a mistake albeit an arid throw or a fumble. Just quit letting ** behind you. Period. That’s it. Cover 1 and 3 isn’t going to do that for you. Barry from MS, AsylumGuido, Rugby Saint II and 1 others like this.

09-30-2018, 12:04 PM	#9
foreverfan 12,000 BS Posts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 13,457 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close Originally Posted by CheramieIII They're playing to the level of the hype. They need to get nasty and screw all the bull. Change the attitude, you change the game. 18-1 AsylumGuido likes this.

09-30-2018, 01:17 PM	#10
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,052	Re: Saints still working to build communication with new faces in the secondary, say fix is close So...they are deaf and mute.

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