bodi
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer...eview-examining-why-the-saints-defense-stinks
I am so glad the fat slob is gone
New Orleans came into 2014 as a Super Bowl pick by many, and not just because of Drew Brees and the offense. This was to be the year that the Saints took their defense to a higher level, perhaps becoming one of the best units in the league.
Here are the Saints rankings
•30th in total defense
•32nd against the pass
•29th in yards per play
•29th in sacks per pass play
•27th in third-down efficiency
•31st in points per game.
That's what you call stinking-bad defense.
It's no wonder coach Sean Payton was seen screaming at defensive coordinator Rob Ryan late in last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Here's what I saw:
•Aside from outside linebacker Junior Galette, end Cameron Jordan and tackle Akiem Hicks (one game), the front seven hasn't been good. In two games, the Saints have two sacks, and that's playing an Atlanta team that struggles to protect Ryan.
•The corners are struggling. Patrick Robinson has been blistered this season and was benched last week against the Browns, though he still played in their third-down nickel package. Keenan Lewis, who played well last season, had an off game in Cleveland as well.
•Byrd has been ordinary -- and that's being nice. Byrd did have a nice forced fumble against Julio Jones in the opener, but he's missed a lot of tackles.
•The linebackers lack speed. In a league where coverage is so important now for linebackers, the Saints have problems with it. Curtis Lofton is a thumper in the run game, but he isn't good in coverage and has trouble getting outside to runners. David Hawthorne is just OK, though one personnel man I talked with this week said "he's not very good." The Saints do use a lot of sub-packages on early downs with Vaccaro as a "buck" linebacker with Rafael Bush on the field as another safety. But that personnel grouping has struggled as well.
The exotic looks Ryan uses can lead to feast-or-famine plays. That's been a trademark of Ryan defenses. He will throw complex looks at a team, but the fundamentals sometimes break down. That can lead to big turnovers for the defense but also big plays for the offense. That's what happened late in the loss to the Browns to set up the game-winning field goal.
On a 2nd-and-10 play at the New Orleans 39 with 13 seconds left in the game, the Browns had two receivers to the right and motioned Miles Austin over there from the left side to make it a bunch. The Saints got confused and both corners -- Corey White and Lewis -- went to Austin in the flat, which left Andrew Hawkins wide open for a 28-yard gain down to the 11. The Saints rushed seven on the play, which you would expect from Ryan as he tried to knock the Browns back out of potential field-goal range. The coverage blew it.
I am so glad the fat slob is gone
New Orleans came into 2014 as a Super Bowl pick by many, and not just because of Drew Brees and the offense. This was to be the year that the Saints took their defense to a higher level, perhaps becoming one of the best units in the league.
Here are the Saints rankings
•30th in total defense
•32nd against the pass
•29th in yards per play
•29th in sacks per pass play
•27th in third-down efficiency
•31st in points per game.
That's what you call stinking-bad defense.
It's no wonder coach Sean Payton was seen screaming at defensive coordinator Rob Ryan late in last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Here's what I saw:
•Aside from outside linebacker Junior Galette, end Cameron Jordan and tackle Akiem Hicks (one game), the front seven hasn't been good. In two games, the Saints have two sacks, and that's playing an Atlanta team that struggles to protect Ryan.
•The corners are struggling. Patrick Robinson has been blistered this season and was benched last week against the Browns, though he still played in their third-down nickel package. Keenan Lewis, who played well last season, had an off game in Cleveland as well.
•Byrd has been ordinary -- and that's being nice. Byrd did have a nice forced fumble against Julio Jones in the opener, but he's missed a lot of tackles.
•The linebackers lack speed. In a league where coverage is so important now for linebackers, the Saints have problems with it. Curtis Lofton is a thumper in the run game, but he isn't good in coverage and has trouble getting outside to runners. David Hawthorne is just OK, though one personnel man I talked with this week said "he's not very good." The Saints do use a lot of sub-packages on early downs with Vaccaro as a "buck" linebacker with Rafael Bush on the field as another safety. But that personnel grouping has struggled as well.
The exotic looks Ryan uses can lead to feast-or-famine plays. That's been a trademark of Ryan defenses. He will throw complex looks at a team, but the fundamentals sometimes break down. That can lead to big turnovers for the defense but also big plays for the offense. That's what happened late in the loss to the Browns to set up the game-winning field goal.
On a 2nd-and-10 play at the New Orleans 39 with 13 seconds left in the game, the Browns had two receivers to the right and motioned Miles Austin over there from the left side to make it a bunch. The Saints got confused and both corners -- Corey White and Lewis -- went to Austin in the flat, which left Andrew Hawkins wide open for a 28-yard gain down to the 11. The Saints rushed seven on the play, which you would expect from Ryan as he tried to knock the Browns back out of potential field-goal range. The coverage blew it.
