Saints game thoughts

[barrett]

First and above all else, we gave this one away.

Defensively, I honestly thought we played well. The last two drives were bad, but I thought we played well enough to win. We had a few early stops, and we caused turnovers. Giving the offense a chance to play with the lead should have been huge. It should have won us the game.

The DL played well. Watt and Smith applied pressure. We held up fine in the running game.

The LBs were average. Cushing played well. Ryans was a little better even though he still struggled to hold up against the run. On one play he got killed by the FB leading through the hole. He was good against the pass though and had one great hit on a crossing route. Mario was not a huge factor. He whiffed on a sack where he had Brees dead to rights. Netiher was Barwin/Reed. We had some inside pressure, but little off the edge which is weird considering the Saints OL. We cannot win without this group being better.

Our Safety play was really bad. We got eaten up in the middle of the field all day. Troy Nolan had a few plays where he simply did not look like an NFL player. Quinn was not noticeable. Obviously Kareem Jackson was awful. He lined up 10 yards off the WR all day and the Saints figured it out in the 4th quarter. I just wish we had put the game away instead of giving them so many chances to figure it out.

On offense we put up 300 yards and 16 points in the first half with no turnovers. That should be impossible. I am hoping this is about Foster more than anything else. After all, we were bad in the redzone 2 years ago, great last year, and bad this year. Tate runs with power, but is almost too patient in short yardage. Derrick Ward would help here too. But either way, we cannot run the ball in tight and it is making it hard to PA, and we are having to resort to drop back passing in tight quarters.

I also cannot believe how little we are using our RBs in the passing game. For 3 years this has been a real stength, but it is totally absent without Foster. I don't know why this is not a part of the gameplan for Slaton when he starts the afternoon as the #2 and is assured of playing.

James Casey was great and looks like he is getting the blocking down as well. I loved how we used him in a double gun formation with Dreesen, and when they ignored him as a blocking back, he slips out for a long gain. He also looked very natural and even fast on the toss sweep. Bob may not like it since he is white, but very effective.

All of our WRs played well. Schaub was very good. He made some good throws against the blitz and victimized Roman Harper (like any smart QB). The INT was obviously not a good play, but is no different than either of Brees two picks. He made plenty of plays but we tried to make him win the game three times.

I lay the loss on Kubiak. Not for play calling. Not for redzone failures. Foster plays a part in both of those and we did score 33 and put up 500 yards. But Kubs froze up when we should have been putting them away and didn't do the things we do best (keep Brees off the field), when the game demanded it. He felt compelled to respond to the pressure Brees and co. were putting on him. In other words he was like a WR over the middle who hears footsteps.

I hope that when Foster comes back he provides enough of a security blanket to calm down Kubiak and limit the gameday meltdowns.

[Keith]

At this point, I have to assume that Kareem Jackson sits 9 yards away from the closest receiver on the team plane, too.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by barrett

I lay the loss on Kubiak. Not for play calling. Not for redzone failures. Foster plays a part in both of those and we did score 33 and put up 500 yards. But Kubs froze up when we should have been putting them away and didn't do the things we do best (keep Brees off the field), when the game demanded it. He felt compelled to respond to the pressure Brees and co. were putting on him. In other words he was like a WR over the middle who hears footsteps.

And if Kubiak would have called runs (or even a mixture of run/pass) and we got stuffed people would be bitchin about that. You bring up great points and I don't deny Kubiak, Schaub and numerous others share the blame for the loss, but the fact is, the D sucked in the second half, namely the 4th QTR. They gave up 40 points. Sometimes you have to count on your D to stop the opponent (like the Saints did to us) when the game is on the line - or at least once in the 4th QTR. The 2nd 2pt. conversion showed everyone just how discombobulated and how bad the D was in the 4th. No pass rush and absolutely atrocious coverage on Moore and Graham, with sprinkle of choke from Kubiak and Schaub, did this team in.

EDIT: And my goodness, how long is this staff going to trot out KJ when he's clearly overmatched. No one could be any worse right now and he should be sitting the bench and only in there when we're in a blowout.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by popanot

And if Kubiak would have called runs (or even a mixture of run/pass) and we got stuffed people would be bitchin about that. You bring up great points and I don't deny Kubiak, Schaub and numerous others share the blame for the loss, but the fact is, the D sucked in the second half, namely the 4th QTR. They gave up 40 points. Sometimes you have to count on your D to stop the opponent (like the Saints did to us) when the game is on the line - or at least once in the 4th QTR. The 2nd 2pt. conversion showed everyone just how discombobulated and how bad the D was in the 4th. No pass rush and absolutely atrocious coverage on Moore and Graham, with sprinkle of choke from Kubiak and Schaub, did this team in.

EDIT: And my goodness, how long is this staff going to trot out KJ when he's clearly overmatched. No one could be any worse right now and he should be sitting the bench and only in there when we're in a blowout.

I understand that either running or passing can always be second guessed later if it doesn't work. My issue is not that we passed. My issue is that Kubiak has been around a while and we know how he wants to win games. He wants to throw to get a lead and then put it away with a very good running game. Just like last week in Miami.

But New Orleans offense and Kubs' lack of confidence in our defense panicked Kubiak. He reacted in a way he never has previously. It's like I said, I am sure Kubiak entered that game thinking, "I sure hope we have the ball and the lead and get to take advantage of the saints Run defense to close it out, instead of having to deal with them blitzing us while we try to come back." But when he got the golden opportunity, he froze up because of big bad Brees and Payton sitting on the other sideline.

I don't like the idea that New Orleans dictated the type of game we were going to play in the 4th quarter when we have the running game to dictate to them.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by keith

at this point, i have to assume that kareem jackson sits 9 yards away from the closest receiver on the team plane, too.

lmao!!!!

[WMH]

Originally Posted by popanot

EDIT: And my goodness, how long is this staff going to trot out KJ when he's clearly overmatched. No one could be any worse right now and he should be sitting the bench and only in there when we're in a blowout.

Yep, yep, and yep.

He's just not real good. I'm hoping that we see Harris some this week. Can't get much worse, and as best I can recall, he has some speed to him. KJ has poor closing speed, and is consistently trailing just about all WR's he covers.

Due to the pick/money factors, I'm guessing we will be seeing more of him/this most of the year. Don't like it, but facts are facts. Hopefully, we can get consistent pressure on the QB to hide him a bit more. Should see that this week, as the Steelers OLine is in shambles. Big Ben is tough to bring down, but at least the "should" be able to make him move around a bit.