Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints: The Defense Is Still a Question Mark
by Andrew Juge on Sep 8, 2010 6:00 AM CDT
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PrintGoing into the opening game of the season, which has our beloved New Orleans Saints hosting the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship game, much is being made of the Saints' pass rushers going after Brett Favre again. If you remember the game last year, though, the Vikings' offense had no problem moving the ball whatsoever.
What kept the Saints in that game and gave them an opportunity to win in overtime was the five turnovers committed by the Vikings. Some of those were gifts, while others were legitimately aggressive plays made by the defense. This time around, if the Saints want to beat the Vikings again, I believe it's going to take a much better all around defensive effort.
The Saints spent a huge amount of effort focusing on Sidney Rice last year. While he scored a touchdown, the Saints limited him to four catches for 43 yards and largely did a good job with the Vikings' go to receiver. Rice is injured, as many of you know, and won't be playing this time around. This is a good thing for the Saints. That said, the Saints were gashed in the passing game by Bernard Berrian and Visanthe Shiancoe, as Berrian ended with nine catches for 102 yards and Shiancoe had 4 catches for 83 yards. In addition to that, Favre threw for 310 yards, and Adrian Peterson ran for 122 yards and averaged 4.9 yards a carry. That's a lot of yardage the Saints were giving up.
We know Gregg Williams' defense by now. There will be a big play given up from time to time, and the defense will take a large amount of risks. Those risks will yield some mistakes from both sides. Going into any game, I think it's fair to expect two to three turnovers a game forced by the Saints' defense. Anything less than two in any given week would be deemed a disappointment in Williams' mind. That said, expecting 5 turnovers in any game is unrealistic. The chances that the Saints will see five turnovers again this time around is something I'd put at around 1% to 2% likely. If the Saints aren't going to get five turnovers from the Vikings, they need to settle for giving up less yardage by the bulk.
So what's different this time around for the Saints' defense? There will be three new starters, minimum, come Thursday. Out are Bobby McCray (remember Charles Grant was out for this game last year), Darren Sharper, and Scott Fujita. In are Alex Brown, Malcolm Jenkins and Jo-Lonn Dunbar. The rest is the same, though Jonathan Vilma is a question mark coming in due to injury, which may lead to Marvin Mitchell getting the start in the middle. The Vikings, by comparison, will be missing Sidney Rice. Those are all pretty important factors coming into this game, because I think the Saints and Vikings are actually both in slightly worse shape right now from a quality standpoint.
Obviously, whether or not Vilma plays will have a huge impact on the game. Even if he does, and that's not a given at this point, the Saints will have to do a much better job of limiting the big plays and I'm worried they won't be able to. Based on the production of the Vikings' last year, and the new starters coming in that are either inferior in talent or experience, it's going to be dicey for the Saints' defense. How well they play in my mind will ultimately determine the outcome of the game. Hopefully they can bank on Brett Favre's lack of preparation meaning he turns in a rusty performance. But will they be able to keep Adrian Peterson in check?
How well do you expect the defense to perform on Thursday night?
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I think we will be ok the only real question I have on the defense is Jo-Lynn Dunbar
I think if dunbar can step up we are a better defense this year then last year
World Champions at last
by mississippisaintsfan on Sep 8, 2010 7:09 AM CDT reply actions
He kicked off in the 4th quarter
…after a pick-six by Malcolm Jenkins gave us a 38-13 lead. I had that same dream!
It was worth the wait.
lol, no more than our (Viking) offense! And our secondary too, come to mention it.
Maybe we should call this game the “battle of the question marks.” I seriously don’t know what to expect in this game, either team could blow the other out, or be blown out, either way.
Here’s to it being neither, and as exciting as the last match, whichever way it may go!
+1
Though I wouldn’t mind a lob-sided Saints’ win….but I don’t expect that.
Devery Henderson, making absurd grabs for my teams since 2001.
by Andrew Tessier on Sep 8, 2010 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
I think our defense will be good enough to keep us in the league. If Cedric Griffen DOES play, he’s playing hurt and Brees will be able to beat him deep a lot. If he DOESN’T play, well Lito, that burning smell doesn’t mean you’re going to have a seizure. It’s just you getting burnt ALL DAY LONG!
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we kick the Vikings from the Dome to the foot of Canal Street!" - MtnExile
by Northfan on Sep 8, 2010 7:17 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
could be a high scoring game
I don’t expect to see as many turnovers. But, the longer the game goes without a Minn tunover it actually will work in our favor. We will pressure them and there will be a lot of tension on the expectation that Petrson will fumble or Favre throw a pic as things get tight late in the game in light of last year. Brees should have success against their secondary so all we have to do is not give up any huge plays and we will be ok.
Another key is to make Favre move even if we don’t sack him. Even a slide could do in his ankle.
"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
Let's remember our offense didn't hit on all cylinders in that game either.
Granted that could have been due to the Vikings defensive line, but just imagine if Reggie has a great game. Last year game he didn’t look to hot. I just hope we start off fast and fire on all cylinders. One thing I wish we would stop doing on defense is let a team score on their first possesion. I guess it really don’t matter if we don’t let them score on the next possesions, but it just kills me to see the defense allow a big play on the very first possesion.
Watch this game exhibit none of the things we expect and it ends up being a 6-3 type of game. I’m hoping for a good game and a good showing from the Saints.
Yea
I thought that the Saints looked jittery on offense that whole game (I remember a lot of dropped passes and missed yardage). They looked really nervous, as if losing the game would be the end of the world. They should play looser this time around.
Devery Henderson, making absurd grabs for my teams since 2001.
by Andrew Tessier on Sep 8, 2010 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Payton probably actually was on drugs that game. Of course, they were almost certainly legal ones, not vike-o-din like people want to pretend. He had the flu and had to get an IV and almost certainly had cough medicine, fever medicine, and probably a few others in his system.
This time he will be clear headed and ready to rip the Vikes a new one.
Good post. Very accurate/honest assessment. The Saints defense is built on the big play or turnover caused by pressure. Throughout last year, that pressure didn’t develop, particularly from the Saints’ interior line. Moreover, the Saints “run-defense” was porous all year and remained so through pre-season. In fact, I saw little improvement against the run other than Casillias during preseason and tackling fundamentals were completely absent during preseason. I hope two things: 1) GW was only calling “vanillia” defense in the preseason; and 2) GW is recovering from laryngitis from yelling at the D about wrapping-up and paying attention to tackling fundamentals.
To be successful against the Vikings, the Saints must manifest pressure on Farvre, and limit AP/Gerhart on the ground in addition to tackling well. A. Brown was brought in to do just this, as was J. Wilkerson who can play a hybrid DE/DT. So, based on the offseason acquistions it seems the Saints’ plan was to bring in quality DEs to help with containment. That only works when you have LBs, like Vilma, to bring down runners.
I’m not saying Dunbar and Shanle can be successful, but Dunbar/Water/Arnoux are not starters. Shanle is getting older (read slower), was never “quick” and although he is a good tackler, doesn’t fire into a hole to stuff the run, he tackles in the second tier of the defense. This does not bode well for the Saints. We all now how good AP is, and Gerhart is a bull-moose that not only has size, but also has very nimble feet. I doubt the Vikings need to toss the rock very often to have success on offense.
One bright spot for the banged up Saints’ is that the Vikings are similarly damaged. Their center Sullivan is hurt, but will likely play. In the 3rd preseason game, Sullivan was out due to a calf injury, and the Vikings re-arranged their entire line. They looked completely lost. Farvre was beaten to pulp on numerous occasions and the run was limited (by the Seahawks no less). If Sullivan plays dinged up, Ellis/Hargrove must capitalize, and if Sullivan is out, GW blitz packages will cause havoc.
I think the Saints can win this game, don’t get me wrong. But Smith/Brown/Ellis/Ayodele must improve the run-D. If we can force Farvre to pass, we have an advantage with our secondary and with creative blitz packages.
I think the offense can score at will against a really bad Viking secondary. That front 4 that is over-hyped was neutralized in the NFCCG game, and will be again. Brees will show for this game to redeem his dismal NFCCG performance (17 for 31 is not a typical Brees game).
Saints 38-31.
Smith/Brown/Ellis/Ayodele must improve the run-D.
Agreed wholeheartedly, but this might not be the game to judge improvement by. AP might drop a few just to make us feel better, but it’s still going to be brutal on the ground.
Who dat, from a cajun exiled to cowboy country.
by alcoholic_insight on Sep 8, 2010 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
I've been thinking about this game a lot (Who hasn't?)
As many question marks as we have on defense, our offense is intact. The Vikings, however, have 3 corners healthy and only 4 receivers on the roster, one of which is Percy Harvin who could catch a migrane at any moment. I feel better about our team going in to this game than I do about the Vikings.
Peyton, I can eat Oreos faster than you!!!!
Also, I think that AP will struggle at some point in this game
He will either be so focused on not fumbling that he won’t run as hard, or he’ll be out for blood and be running so hard that he doesn’t protect the ball and fumbles a lot. I could be wrong on this one, but I see him struggling.
Peyton, I can eat Oreos faster than you!!!!
Agreed. Whatever issues we may have to overcome, the Vikings will have more.
I think the Saints win by 10 points.
Just heard Michael Irvin on TV say: “If I were Brett Favre and I saw the Saints were the first game on the schedule, I would have gotten to training camp a lot earlier or I would have waited a little longer.”
I'm anxious to see how the offensive line holds up more than anything...
You know the Vikes will be bringing everything but the kitchen sink….well maybe that too.
Yeah
I’m thinking we’re gonna have a 10+ penalty game. I hate to say that but from what I’ve seen in the pre-season that might just happen.
"It's about time something like this happened." Drew Brees
by saints_r_us#9 on Sep 8, 2010 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Dont Forget
There D is beat up as well. Henderson is still recovering from a broken femur! he is not full speed…neither is Griffin so the MLB and CB are beat up. This one is going to be a shoot out. I dont give predictions!
I am more worried about Brees
They are coming for him. Chilly is pissed. His revenge will be to not only pressure him but take him down. Sadly it seems like once Brees feels real pressure he starts to lose his cool. Cowboys game anyone? I bet they know that tape by heart, backwards and forwards.
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned, however unrealistic to rely on, is Bret’s tendency to throw an interception, which I am hoping rears it’s ugly head.
Breesus Is My Homeboy
by SarahT on Sep 8, 2010 1:50 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Really? I think Brees did far worse at “losing his cool” in the Miami game. If he ever did it at all, which I’m not terribly convinced of. And either way, he regained his cool enough to lead dramatic comebacks (or almost-comebacks, at least) in BOTH games.
I’m not worried about him losing his cool. I’m only worried if he gets injured. Short of that, he’ll find a way to beat whatever the Vikes try to pull.
Also I am interested in seeing how Chilly brings the heat
Slow and steady keeping Bret’s interceptions and AP’s fumbles in mind, or like pissed off revenge driven risk taking maniacs. Somehow I don’t think Chilly is comfortable with taking as many risks as Payton is cool with taking no matter how hard he tries.
Barrien (sp?) was on Minute to win it last night and said that game has run through his mind over and over again.
Breesus Is My Homeboy
by SarahT on Sep 8, 2010 1:56 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
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