Remember...
 

It is preseason....

This was the ugliest game I've seen under Kubiak's watch, and I do not expect it to happen again. I am hoping that two a days, tired legs and waiting for the real games hurt us the other night.

Ugliest game under Kubiak's watch? Really?

How about Oakland last year? How about San Diego, New England, and Dallas in years prior?

The game was ugly, but it was a far cry from our ugliest.

Well, it was the ugliest preseason game under Kubes - certainly largest point differential loss in preseason...

I'm not too worried about it. The way I look at it, forget the 2nd half - that was scrubs against scrubs. Their scrubs beat our scrubs. So, maybe New Orleans has better depth...

The real game was in the first half and it was 14-7 New Orleans before Dan-O threw the INT that led to the FG. Take away the Mike Bell run and the run defense stats don't look so putrid (on replay, that play was a comedy of errors - Texans blocking Texans, Eugene Wilson, who I happen to like was so out of position and off the pursuit as to be laughable).

Still, I'm not blind to the fact that New Orleans seemed to roll down the field at will. The Texans seemed to be ready for a "friendly" scrimmage and New Orleans came out meaning business and punched 'em....

It should be a good learning experience - especially for the coaches.... Bubble players who don't make the team can look at this game as one of the reasons they're unemployed...

I've said it before...improving our run defense is more important than the improving the pass rush. I don't care how great of a pass rush you have it's not going to help you if you are giving up 6+ yards per carry on the ground. Your just not going to have many third and longs to rush the passer. Our two biggest move this off season were to sign Antonio Smith and our first round pick of Brian Cushing to play SAM. Smith is expected to help the interior pass rush on third downs...but he was also expected to be an upgrade in the run game at strong side DE. Compared to the starters last year Cushing is the only one who has the build for a SAM, especially if we are going to be in a 4-3 under where the SAM is basically on the line. Cushing's role is vital to our ability to stop the run. I like Diles. He's a hard worker who has always given maximum effort, but he just isn't the right guy to play SAM in this defense. I'm not saying Cushing would have made any difference, but I'm anxious to see him play.

The Saints are a potent offense that can give even the best defenses problems...but they are usually a pass happy team. We have got to do a better job against the run or no improvements in the secondary or pass rush is going to do us any good.

It is the pre-season and I had about the same reaction to this game as I did the KC game....no big reaction either way*.

*Disclaimer: I treated this game as more of a celebration of the return of football season and tailgating. In other words I did a lot of drinking and didn't pay that close of attention to the game. That actually probably worked out for the best though:D

Have the Texans actually come out and said Smith was brought in to stop the run?

Because, according to Cardinal fans and according to LZ, Smith's asset is not his play against the run; rather, it's his inside rush ability. Granted, at LDE, he should not be a liability against the run (which I don't think he is,) but I think Mario's still our premiere run stopper.

I think it's moot anyway. Our run weakness is in the middle of the line (when DelJuan's not in,) at the LB position, and in the secondary (when Dunta's not in.) Fred Bennett was plain putrid against the Saints.

A defense with Dunta, DelJuan, and Cushing wouldn't have given up what we did Saturday night.

Honestly, I'm not sure they have...but traditionally the DE on that side of the line is more run stuffer than pass rusher. Smith's a little unique in that he's more effective on the inside as a pass rusher. I look at that as he is an undersized DT who plays end to help against the run until passing downs. Texans might have never said that specifically, but that's the way I viewed the signing from day one. There might even be a quote from Smithiak on it, but I'm way too lazy to look. I do hope he helps out against the run and it works out that way.

I want to see Okam and DelJuan in the game at the same time. To see how they do. Just a thought. IIRC Okam has worked in practice in DT and NT positions, so maybe they are going to try it.

Kubiak's teams here have always seemed to have one or two games like that every year for some unfathomable reason. And how about that first game of the season last year when we looked like pudding when we played the Steelers. This concerns me a lot.

I agree, it was preseason. For sure Cushing and DR would help the tackling and run stopping. I think Okam will help, but needs to rest some, rotate with TJ and others to be effective, for now. I thought they were concentrating so much on pass rush they forgot or didn't for some reason protect against the run. Abd Brees and his receivers were pretty good. Turnovers did us in too to some degree, again.

Now you are playing the glass half-full part. I don't know why a Kubiak led team has to let this happen once or twice a year.