2010 Divisional Playoff: Five Keys to Saints Victory
by Dave Cariello on Jan 16, 2010 11:00 AM CST
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The Fast and the Furious - Remember when the Saints scoring on their opening possession was more of a sure thing than The Situation bringing home a babe to the beach house? The Saints need to get back to the way things were, get on the board early and set the tone for the game. It will keep the crowd lively also. Even better, if they're able to build a nice lead they can remain aggressive on defense, smothering the Cardinals like they did to their earlier opponents.
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Blitzkrieg - We've talked about it all week and I think this one should be fairly obvious. The Saints need to put pressure on Kurt Warner. He is a very good quarterback, despite his age, and gets even better during the playoffs. Last week, he was en fuego. But history has shown that Warner is susceptible to being rattled when the pressure is just too much. I would love to see a dominating performance from Will Smith but at the very least the Saints will need guys like Anthony Hargrove, Jeff Charleston and Bobby "DWP" McCray to step up their game. They could be the X-factor.
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Hold Me Tight - Every team that won last week during the Wildcard round also won the turnover battle in their respective game. That ought to show you how important ball control can be. The Saints need to hold on to the football and be smart when it's in their possession. That means Drew needs to be protected, running backs need to focus and receivers need to secure. No excuses. Given the high-powered offense of the Cardinals, giving them particularly good field position or any extra chance to score is a formula for disaster.
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The Match Game - In many ways this Arizona team is a mirror image of our New Orleans Saints. That includes their offense and the vast array of weapons they have. Fitzgerald, Boldin, Breaston and now even Louisiana's own Early Doucet are all decent receiving options. With Kurt Warner spreading the ball around, that can be a matchup nightmare. Add to that a decent rookie running back in Beanie Wells and it's easy to see how the Cards hung half a century on the Packers. It will be important for the defense to make sure they've got the right packages on the field at the right time and that they are minimizing their risk of Arizona creating an undesirable mismatch.
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Stand Up and Get Crunk - I'm talking to you Saints fans. If you're going to be in the Dome on Saturday afternoon make sure you're wearing black and make sure you're screaming you freakin' head off. You think I'm kidding? The Saints didn't win thirteen games this season to secure homefield advantage just so you could spend a relaxing afternoon with the kids. Save that crap for a pre-season game. The loser goes home for this one so any advantage the Saints can get from the crowd, like causing false starts or forcing the Cardinals to waste timeouts, they will take. Oh, and don't forget to have a few adult beverages before the game to help you loosen up.
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WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Geez I’m frickin excited!!
Let’s go Saints!!!!!
WHOOOOOOO DAAAAAAAAATTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHO DAT
I disagree
I think the one single key to victory in this game(apart from scoring more points than the opponent) is putting together 6+ minute touchdown drives. Offensive efficiency. The Cards can stay with us in a shootout. Forcing them into a deep passing game is like forcing a competitive eater into a jail cell made of sausage. Scoring touchdowns is important, but using up the clock on the way to touchdowns could lure the Cardinals into a kind of game they’re less comfortable with: a traditional football game.
We need to use the running game as much as the passing game. Not just to eat the clock, but because a dependable 4-yard-per-attempt running game will help neutralize the 3-4 blitzing, which is our passing games most glaring weakness. Stay in 2 TE and 2 back sets most of the day, develop play action, and call an almost 50/50 passing/running game, and SUSTAIN DRIVES. Tire out this already exhausted defense, and lure their offense into trying to play as if they’re balanced. They have a good running tandem, but it’s no NYJ, or Miami, or Carolina, or Atlanta. If they try to dink-and-dunk and run all day, we can force some punts. If they are running 4 receiver sets against us, we could end up looking like Green Bay(only our defense isn’t that good).
The perfect first quarter for me would be Saints take the opening kickoff, then drive 80 yards for a touchdown, taking 8.5 minutes off the clock. Give their offense less possessions, and make ours count.
"I do know that we have some unfinished business that we started a few years ago and we want to finish the deal."- Dulymus McAllister
Other than point 1,
I pretty much agree with you.
"I do know that we have some unfinished business that we started a few years ago and we want to finish the deal."- Dulymus McAllister
Agreed
I’d love to see Brees light the score board up, but I got to agree with you FuSoYa. No better way to keep our Defense fresh, and their offense pressing than to control the football. That 3-4 has given the Saints a tough go this year on the pass rush with the exception of New England. I’m hoping PT is healthy enough to get his share and that the Saints can wear an already worn Defense, down. That will enable the Black and Gold to take over the 2nd half.
The amount of time you use to score has nothing to do with offensive efficiency
If we take ten minutes off the clock with every possession, and the Cardinals take two, and we score the same number of points…how are we ahead?
Your last statement could be cut in half and the first part thrown away: give their offense less possessions, and make ours count. Every time you limit the other team’s possessions, you also limit your own. Converting your possessions into points is the only offensive efficiency that counts.
BURN THE BLACK PANTS!!!
haha!
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by Dave Cariello on Jan 16, 2010 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
no no lolol
Vinny from Jersey Shore, since Saintsational mentioned Mike the Situation, I decided to tell him that Vinny is cooler
oh, ok thanks I'm a bit dated in my frames of reference (old guy who doesn't watch any reality TV)
Why not us? Why not Deuce?
YOU GOTTA BELIEVE!!!
All the signs point to a Saints win… most of all we’re healthy on both sides of the ball again.
All the game simulation site have the Saints as the obvious winner – they are less sure about the other games.
Saints fan in DFW. Saints go all the way... I BELIEVE!
Just a thought.
Can you imagine if they gave Brees a microphone before the dome and they did the “who are we?” “Saints!” “who are we?” “Saints!” “who are we?” “Saints!” “THIS IS NEW ORLEANS” “HOO HOO HOO”
with the crowd getting involved how crazy and intimidating that would be
WHO DAT
I think you guys are both right
- is big and #6 (FuSoYa’s) is important too- very important. But, the only thing we gand can affect is #5, so DO IT- WHO DATS!!!!!
"I think we agree, the past is over" - George W Bush
"The greatest enemy of knowlege is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge" Stephen Hawking
I think we can run on them
especially with Gerald Hayes either injured or out, the replacement only has 6 tackles this entire season!! Only started 4 games in 3 or 4 years and has never been a “bonafide” starter. Never started anny game of this magnitude.
"I think we agree, the past is over" - George W Bush
"The greatest enemy of knowlege is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge" Stephen Hawking
I agrree
With every point in particular the last point… and in respect I posted a couple of Heart Stopping Fire Breathing Brews for the Game.
God I hope I can still type by the game…. I Might not be able to scream in the dome but I can Cheer from Here and with the Power of Or Louisiana Soul it will be heard.
Just not sure if I drink too much I won’t be able to type in the game thread. I know that has everyone really worried. LOL
ENJOY THE GAME EVERYONE wherever you are… CHEER.
Pulling out the stops.... feeding into the mud in my blood to push into our Saints to Go the Distance....
The VGG is back.
by VoodooGrisGris on Jan 16, 2010 12:16 PM CST reply actions
yeah, I was just thinking, VGG...
why don’t we get the Superdome staff to serve a bunch of your brews to the Cardinals locker room before the game -
“Hey, CArdinals, we got some special local mix Gatorade (yeah, that’s the ticket) for you. Compliments of our friendly fans. ENJOY and Good Luck tonight!”
Why not us? Why not Deuce?
You are a very
wicked man… and I really LOVE that idea! But those poor guys will need it more after the game to drown their sorrows…
Pulling out the stops.... feeding into the mud in my blood to push into our Saints to Go the Distance....
The VGG is back.
by VoodooGrisGris on Jan 16, 2010 3:21 PM CST up reply actions
Come on guys!!!
LET’S SHOW THESE BIRDS THE BEST FANS IN FOOTBALL GUYS!!!!! they say that the seahawks have the loudest crowd in the league. lets prove these losers wrong. if you are within 10 miles of that dome, i want you to unleash hell on the cards!!!! i want you to scream at the top of your lungs for this team. this team is the best and gives me reason to wake up every morning, and i dont know about you, but i will be giving every ounce of my willpower to this game!!!!! the excitement is starting to build as we get closer and closer to kickoff; so instead of all of us acting from our own separate fanhood, LET US RISE AS ONE!!!! LET US RISE AS THE BEST FANS IN FOOTBALL!!!! WE WILL MARCH TO THE SUPERBOWL; AND THE FIRST STEP OF THAT MARCH COMES TODAY AT 3:30! WHO DAT SAY DEY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS!!!! NOT DA CARDINALS!!!!!
#1 is the key.
We need to get on the board early (not necessarily FAST, just FIRST).
If we can get a 2 score lead, our defense will have some freedom to attack. (just NOT via CB blitz, please).
Saints fan in DFW. Saints go all the way... I BELIEVE!
GGM !!!
Don’t forget, you can always do a 4th qtr spell if need be, so drink up but keep yourself coherent for the end!!!
"I think we agree, the past is over" - George W Bush
"The greatest enemy of knowlege is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge" Stephen Hawking
I Agree
and while I’m a Broncos fan, theoretically, if I were a Saints fan, would it be permissible if I drank Orange Crush instead of alcohol, for I’m also a Mormon (or a Latter-Day SAINT if you will)? Anyway, good luck to you guys. This will be a fun game, hopefully bereft of defense. If you guys win, I’ll come back to the Chronicles often for I hate the Vikings ERRRR Brett Favre and the Cowboys. May the best team win. God bless.
Brad James
by the new Bradfather on Jan 16, 2010 1:17 PM CST reply actions
I think Orange Crush
Is close enough to Gold that you can’t go wrong with that… I love Orange Crush!!!! It is the Spirit that counts… Crush the opponents… leave no question who is….. Who Dat!!!
And thank you for the good wishes and the God Bless…. because we are his Saints after all and without him… well… how could you have Saints?
Pulling out the stops.... feeding into the mud in my blood to push into our Saints to Go the Distance....
The VGG is back.
by VoodooGrisGris on Jan 16, 2010 3:24 PM CST up reply actions
Saintsational knocked this one out of the park
now for next week see if we can call another one this close.
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