My thoughts on the Saints Cowboys game, and what I want fixed heading into Ravens game

[Coogiguy03]

Here are my thoughts on the Saints Cowboys game and what I want fixed heading into the Ravens game. I'm basically fusing the two editions of threads I did last week into one.

Saints Cowboys game

• The only player that played well was Aubrey, no surprise
• The defence was PUTRID. We haven't won a game at home yet in 2024 (including the playoff game). You can't win when your defence concedes 6 touchdowns in 6 drives. I don't care if you have Mahomes. You're not going to win many games when your defence has the stopping ability of a flattened traffic cone.
• Our trenches are terrible. Oline and dline. The pass protection was decent, but the run blocking was HORRIBLE as USUAL. Prime Derrick Henry would struggle with how badly the oline was blocking run games. when you are forced to go one dimensional, you're going to lose. Football is about balance. We couldn't maintain balance because we couldn't run block. As for the dline, where was the pressure? Where was the run stopping? The Saints are good, but we are going to face teams, starting this weekend, that can run the ball very well. When you run the ball on this defence, you usually can dominate them. It's disgusting. Also, the pass defence!! What was that? Absolutely horrible! It seemed like every time Derek Carr dropped back, we were conceding 20+ yards every time. Micah Parsons talked about a lack of effort. Well no duh!! The TD from the slant that they scored on from 50 yards out was proof of that! In all facets of our defence, we were dominated. If this is the kind of defence we are going to play this year, then tank the season. You're not winning like that.
• Why is Jalen Brooks on the team? Why is Deuce Vaughn on the team? What do they do around here? Brooks, get some better cleats! There's no excuse to impersonate Bambi on ice in your home stadium! Keep your feet! That first interception was entirely Brooks' fault. I wish interceptions were charged on WRs when it's clearly their fault like that. As for Vaughn, it seems like an effort in futility watching him. He's just too small to be reliable against the top teams like the Saints.
• Field goals instead of touchdowns - Just because Brandon Aubrey is automatic doesn't mean that we should be living alone on field goals, especially in the RedZone. We need touchdowns! The oline needs to block better, and the receivers need to get open.
• Penalties - stop with the braindead penalties! It seems like every year I watch this team, we are committing mind numbingly stupid penalties in key games. You shouldn't be false starting at home! I know Jerry's stadium attracts opposing fans, but learn the snap count!

All in all, horrible game! Horrible effort! We are lucky the Saints showed mercy in the 3rd quarter. We could very well have lost 80-19 with how putrid our defence was. That was painful to watch. Luckily, the Eagles lost to the Falcons, so, we are still tied with Washington (who have the lead with a 1-0 division record) and Eagles in the division (NFC Least again?) with a 1-1 record. So, minimal harm done for now on that department (although, our win is against an AFC team, which counts less than the Eagles win against the Packers for tiebreaker purposes).

What I want to see fixed against the Ravens

• If this team cares at all, here's what I want fixed.
• Firstly, stop the run!!! It's been an issue since last year. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will put 200+ yards EACH on us if we don't fix this going into the game! You think the Saints smacked us? The Ravens are desperate. We have only once ever beaten them. They play in the AFC North. They can't afford to start 0-3. They will be playing with high intensity. If we can't stop the run, this game may break scoring records, and we are home!
• We need our pass defence to actually have effort. We need pressure on Lamar (this is one area we have an advantage, their oline, according to friends of mine who are Ravens fans, is awful). I'm expecting Parsons to be in Lamar's face every passing play. Do not let him escape. Hit him every time he's throwing the ball. If we can't do this, we don't have a chance. Oh, and tackle! This isn't two hand touch! This is the NFL! Tackle! I hope Zimmer is working them on tackling and pursuit angles.
• More touchdowns, less field goals - we can't just kick field goals against the Ravens. We need touchdowns when we get in the RedZone. I like watching Aubrey kick. This will be a battle between two of the best kickers in the league. However, I want us scoring more touchdowns.
• Cut down on the penalties - I know this is asking a lot, but the team MUST cut down on penalties.
• The oline needs to be better! Run block better! Get leverage on the Ravens Dline, and push them out the way! Let the running backs do what they need to do to get 4+ yards per carry.

As I see it, to beat the Ravens, we need to stop the run, run the ball better ourselves for more balance, score touchdowns in the RedZone, and play more disciplined. Otherwise, it might be worse than last week on the scoreboard with who's coming to town.

If we can't kick field goals and lots of them, what are we to do??? lol

 

[blueblood70]

I am not entirely absolving Dak of blame. I was including him in the RedZone needing to score tds instead of field goals.

Which means he would need guys to get open and better blocking and a better decoy of a run game so the whole entire defense doesn't know what's coming because that's exactly what happens with this offensive Mike McCarthy not being aggressive being quite predictable... I mean I remember CD lamb and he already confirmed he read that play wrong in the end zone and went left inside should've went outside maybe they're both to blame but but didn't he just get a record contract I mean I just remember this receiver holding out all offseason and what has he done the first two games when they've been bracketing him and double teaming him he looks average to me now he's got an ankle I mean are we gonna just keep harping on the quarterback who right now has some of the worst separation rates around the entire League One of the worst run games in the entire league 2 rookies in front of and people want to blame the quarterback in a game in which the defense gave up six straight touchdowns to start the game and have all those other things going on on offense but sure let's have a receiver trip and cost an interception and momentum and probably the game staying close longer and circle back around at the cornerback that's what we should do around here it's always quarterbacks fault even though it's really all on the defense but if you wanna look at the offense and the problems we're having in the red zone look to big old Mike... He did this last year to start the game one of the most conservative play calling I've ever seen especially when you're up big in the second-half and you don't go conservative and you come out super conservative you get way down and you don't even open up the offense where's all the throws downfield you can't score touchdowns if you're dinking and dunking underneath all game and throwing out to the edges so much that you and I can read it and probably make the tackle as well because by the time the receiver got the ball behind the line of scrimmage dudes were already at his ankles...

These first two games are some of the worst called offensive plans I've ever seen I mean it don't make sense none of it makes sense it's like he's not in the flow of the game I mean both games he should have came out in the second-half and ran the football the rest of the game and punted instead he threw the football a lot when they made adjustments so they didn't wanna be thrown on and then we get down and he's still running the ball for three yards throwing the ball to the edges and just taking small underneath shots all game I mean in a game like that you need to push the ball down the field and again the receivers need to get open the tight ends need to get open the opposite line needs to do their job but no it's all on the ****** ******* quarterback.....

 

[LysleE]

Stop the run, run the football. Secret to success in the NFL. Everyone knows it but Jerry.

Oh Jerry knows to run the football; the problem is that he thinks he can run it with Zeke and a bunch of JAGS.
Jerry screwed the team by not signing a legitimate RB and #2 WR.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Deuce could be productive IF this Oline won their battles, consistently created push and created holes to run through. Deuce is the shiftiest of our RBs, plus he has excellent burst and good speed if he can get to the 2nd level.

Deuce is not the problem. Our Oline is. Even bigger RBs like Rico and Zeke struggled to gain yards.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You wouldn't know that

Go back and read and listen to all the interviews after the draft. It's very clear.

In addition, it's also known that Vaughn was the top player on their draft board when the Cowboys were on the clock.

All that is and has been there for anyone to check out. But they won't. It's just easier to say he was drafted because of his dad and bash Jerry because Jerry is so hated.

 

[blueblood70]

A couple of things..

Duece, although he is small was arguably the most productive back in college football when he came out last year against Power 5 competition. This wasn’t just a feel good story.

Solari should have been fired last season. Maybe even Schotty. He’s the run game coordinator supposedly. The Oline is just not good at it no matter the back.

The opening two games remind me a lot of last year offensively early on. That was Mikes first year as OC and it took a minute to start scoring. Remember the Zona game? Moved the ball between the 20’s but couldn’t score TD’s.

I agree that Vaughn can be a weapon but this is not on the offensive line this is trying to use this man in the NFL like he was used in college he is not going to have success running so much up the middle,,, this is Mike McCarthy's play calling he literally does not know how to use the running backs like last year he used Tony and Rico completely the opposite of the way they should have been rotated in and out by the play calling and situational football...

He started out this year doing the same thing if he's gonna call a package and bring in a guy like deuce phone and keep running him up into the middle of a very good defense by the way that one gonna allow you to run and not try to get creative with motions and stretch plays and zone blocking and actually use this guy the way he is dangerous Russ is making him into Tony Pollard who also didn't run very well up the middle but he was better than Vaughn at it we don't use Turpin right we don't call a lot of plays downfield we don't call a lot of plays into the end zone we're not trying to take the top off defenses I'm gonna the head coach and the offensive coordinator just like we can blame the owner and the general manager both having double titles both getting double blame!!!

Mike McCarthy did this last year you don't remember up until after the blowout in San Francisco he refused to open this up he said he was trying to be defensive friendly playing conservative not giving the defense on the other side anything you know low risk converts conservative football but then when he realized the defense wasn't good he had to figure out a better plan and open it up but you know what I find that very strange how about you just come out and you take it to the defense no matter what the situation is you're trying to score touchdowns you should be trying to make this the highest scoring offense in football even if it can't be you can't be playing down to your competition you can't be playing conservative to help your defense...

 

[Whirlwin]

Dallas has had some decent run games over the years but still couldn't get over the playoff hump, so what's the real reason? In 2022 Dallas had Zeke and Pollard, and Pollard was such a huge threat it made Zeke expendable. What changed when Pollard took over in 2023? I think they tried to turn Pollard into another Zeke and it didn't mesh with his style of play. Personally, I think poor play calls, poor play design, and poor o'line play is the culprit for the lack of run game. But I'm no expert, I'm just an outsider giving an opinion.

That was a good explanation

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Which means he would need guys to get open and better blocking and a better decoy of a run game so the whole entire defense doesn't know what's coming because that's exactly what happens with this offensive Mike McCarthy not being aggressive being quite predictable... I mean I remember CD lamb and he already confirmed he read that play wrong in the end zone and went left inside should've went outside maybe they're both to blame but but didn't he just get a record contract I mean I just remember this receiver holding out all offseason and what has he done the first two games when they've been bracketing him and double teaming him he looks average to me now he's got an ankle I mean are we gonna just keep harping on the quarterback who right now has some of the worst separation rates around the entire League One of the worst run games in the entire league 2 rookies in front of and people want to blame the quarterback in a game in which the defense gave up six straight touchdowns to start the game and have all those other things going on on offense but sure let's have a receiver trip and cost an interception and momentum and probably the game staying close longer and circle back around at the cornerback that's what we should do around here it's always quarterbacks fault even though it's really all on the defense but if you wanna look at the offense and the problems we're having in the red zone look to big old Mike... He did this last year to start the game one of the most conservative play calling I've ever seen especially when you're up big in the second-half and you don't go conservative and you come out super conservative you get way down and you don't even open up the offense where's all the throws downfield you can't score touchdowns if you're dinking and dunking underneath all game and throwing out to the edges so much that you and I can read it and probably make the tackle as well because by the time the receiver got the ball behind the line of scrimmage dudes were already at his ankles...

These first two games are some of the worst called offensive plans I've ever seen I mean it don't make sense none of it makes sense it's like he's not in the flow of the game I mean both games he should have came out in the second-half and ran the football the rest of the game and punted instead he threw the football a lot when they made adjustments so they didn't wanna be thrown on and then we get down and he's still running the ball for three yards throwing the ball to the edges and just taking small underneath shots all game I mean in a game like that you need to push the ball down the field and again the receivers need to get open the tight ends need to get open the opposite line needs to do their job but no it's all on the ****** ******* quarterback.....

I couldn't agree more with you. That said, I'm saying there's plenty of blame to go around. No where in my thread did I say it was all on Dak. Saying so would be stupid. But, everyone on the team needs to step up if we want to get where we want to go.