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Re: 11-7-10
DAVID MALINSKY
4* NEW ORLEANS over CAROLINA
What had been an under-achieving New Orleans offense, largely via injury, sent out a resounding “buy signal” in the second half vs. Pittsburgh on Sunday night – considering the quality of the Steeler defense, rate the 20-22 for 191 yards and two TD’s from Drew Brees among the best 30 minutes of football from a QB you will ever see. We believe the momentum builds off of that one, instead of creating a letdown, largely because the Saints themselves told us so, with an extra commitment this week, holding a practice on Monday instead of taking the day off. From Brees himself
"So we're here though today, as a team, meeting, watching film, working out, all that stuff, whereas normally in the past this would have been a 'Victory Monday.' So I think that goes to show you where our head's at and where our focus is at going into this next game, because Carolina always plays us tough, despite whatever their record is. Any divisional game on the road is a huge game, especially going into a bye week. So I think we understand the importance of this game. And the fact is every game counts the same, but divisional games count even more."
Yet this is not all about that offense getting into a high gear; in fact that is less than half of the story. What really makes this work is the matchup of a vastly under-rated Saints defense into the worst offense in the league. It has been a terrific season for that defense, which is allowing only 16.1 first downs and 287.3 yards per game, giving up just 12 TD’s eight games. But they are not getting their full due because there have been five returns for TD’s against the offense or special teams, which has had a major scoreboard impact. Now both Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer return this week, making it even easier for Gregg Williams to dial up his blitz packages, and after holding Jimmy Clausen and the Panthers to 10 first downs and 251 yards in that earlier home win, when DeAngelo Williams was healthy (13 carries for 86 yards and a TD), they can completely shackle Matt Moore, who will not have Williams in the backfield with him.
We noted the Moore issues in this week’s NFL ”Verities & Balderdash” column, a case of a guy that had a most misleading run at the end of LY, and simply is not good enough to start at this level, especially with a weak supporting offensive huddle. By not getting the earlier start vs. the Saints he has yet to see those Williams schemes in real time, and that not only can mean mistakes early, but also a securely locked back door when New Orleans takes control.
DAVID MALINSKY
4* NEW ORLEANS over CAROLINA
What had been an under-achieving New Orleans offense, largely via injury, sent out a resounding “buy signal” in the second half vs. Pittsburgh on Sunday night – considering the quality of the Steeler defense, rate the 20-22 for 191 yards and two TD’s from Drew Brees among the best 30 minutes of football from a QB you will ever see. We believe the momentum builds off of that one, instead of creating a letdown, largely because the Saints themselves told us so, with an extra commitment this week, holding a practice on Monday instead of taking the day off. From Brees himself
"So we're here though today, as a team, meeting, watching film, working out, all that stuff, whereas normally in the past this would have been a 'Victory Monday.' So I think that goes to show you where our head's at and where our focus is at going into this next game, because Carolina always plays us tough, despite whatever their record is. Any divisional game on the road is a huge game, especially going into a bye week. So I think we understand the importance of this game. And the fact is every game counts the same, but divisional games count even more."
Yet this is not all about that offense getting into a high gear; in fact that is less than half of the story. What really makes this work is the matchup of a vastly under-rated Saints defense into the worst offense in the league. It has been a terrific season for that defense, which is allowing only 16.1 first downs and 287.3 yards per game, giving up just 12 TD’s eight games. But they are not getting their full due because there have been five returns for TD’s against the offense or special teams, which has had a major scoreboard impact. Now both Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer return this week, making it even easier for Gregg Williams to dial up his blitz packages, and after holding Jimmy Clausen and the Panthers to 10 first downs and 251 yards in that earlier home win, when DeAngelo Williams was healthy (13 carries for 86 yards and a TD), they can completely shackle Matt Moore, who will not have Williams in the backfield with him.
We noted the Moore issues in this week’s NFL ”Verities & Balderdash” column, a case of a guy that had a most misleading run at the end of LY, and simply is not good enough to start at this level, especially with a weak supporting offensive huddle. By not getting the earlier start vs. the Saints he has yet to see those Williams schemes in real time, and that not only can mean mistakes early, but also a securely locked back door when New Orleans takes control.
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