Hello, I live in New Orleans and I've watched all their games this year. I watch most of their games every year. Week 1 conflicted with the Dolphins game, but I watch the Dolphins games in a bar, so the Saints game was on at the same time. I really only watched that Saints/Falcons game during commercials. I drink a lot of beer during games, so I'm not the best analyst in the world. However, I consider myself a Saints Fan (about a 5/10 as opposed to my Miami fandom of 10/10). So here goes my somewhat learned opinion: Miami Offense vs. Saints Defense The Saints had the worst defense in the history of the NFL last year in terms of yards allowed. That is mind-boggling. They're much improved, but they still suck. This year, they are much improved in their passrush. Cameron Jordan is playing really well. Their d-line has gotten a lot of pressure in the games I've watched. Their linebackers are servicable, but they're not going to wow you. Their secondary is horrible. Really weak corners. Rookie Safety Kenny Vaccario has made some highlight plays, and can really lay the wood, but he's still a rookie and makes mistakes in coverage. How I see it playing out: I really like our chances getting sustained drives that lead to touchdowns against these guys. I expect our WRs to have a field day. Mike Wallace, especially on the turf. Tannehill will get sacked a lot (no surprise, I know!), but I see all four of our WRs getting open a lot. And based on the Atlanta game, I expect Tannehill to be able to get them the ball accurately. We're gonna score a lot of points. Miami Defense vs. Saints Offense Every Sunday I'm reminded that we do not have Drew Brees. Nearly every day of my life, I see someone walking around with a Drew Brees jersey. This is not an exaggeration. Despite last year's hiccup, Brees is still on top of his game. Just as important, Sean Payton is as well. They're going to destroy us. Plain and simple. The Saints have too many weapons and are too smart. Their o-line sucks, but it doesn't matter. If we rush hard, they'll throw a little swing pass or screen to Sproles. If we drop into coverage, they'll feed the ball to Pierre Thomas, who's been running very hard lately. They've even wised-up and aren't giving the ball to Mark Ingram!!! And I haven't even mentioned Jimmy Graham. Even when that dude is covered, he's open. My Prediction If this game was in Miami, we'd have a shot. If this game were in the Superdome at noon, I'd say we'd have a shot. But playing a night game in the Superdome is gonna be rough. I've been in there. Its LOUD and gets crazy. I say we lose 35-24. The only way we win this game is if Brees throws 2 or 3 picks. Every once in a while, he just has a stinker of a game where he throws a bunch of picks. Hopefully, this will be that game and I will look stupid in this thread and you'll all laugh at me. ps- Yes, I'm going to the game.
This will be a tough game. I just want our guys to play well and keep it close. I think the Phins are capable, but, we really need Wake and Soliai healthy, or this game could be quite humbling.
The saints like a trackmeet style game. I dont think we are incapable of handling that as I would have said we were 2 years ago. The Colts and Atlanta place more emphasis on the run where as New Orleans is really a 1 dimensional team that will run only when you force them to. I would force them to do that even if it meant dropping 8 in coverage. Wake-Odrick-Shelby/Vernon/whoever should be enought o continuously get some pressure vs a weak OL and allow us to take away Graham and Colston. If anyone else beats us you tip your cap but focus on those 2 and Sproles. Thats where their bread is buttered. I dont worry about their D because frankly its mediocre at best. Everyone tries to run and control the clock on them and thats not the only way to beat them. Im not sure our OL is good enough to play that way. I would try and pass the ball and get out in front of them and make them play catch up and make them 1 dimensional. Easier said then done with a QB as great as Brees but make any qb 1 dimensional and you stand a better chance.
As much as I'd hate to agree with you, I do. The Monday night atmosphere coupled with that chip on their shoulder, I'm already marking this down as a likely loss. Like you said, our main shot to win this game is turnovers. We can't make them and we have to force at least two to stay in this game. (or at least be +2 overall).
I have Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham on my fantasy football team so I watch the Saints when they don't conflict with Miami as well. As far as Jimmy Graham goes our defense needs to be afraid. Very afraid. They did a good job vs. Tony Gonzalez, but Graham will be a nightmare. I've been to a Monday night game at the Superdome also, so I have to agree with you with what a tough environment this is going to be to play in. I think this Dolphins team will be able to win any given Sunday (or Monday) so I think they have a chance but the cards are stacked against them. Constant pressure on Drew Brees is the only way I see Miami winning. I still don't think the protection around Tannehill is good enough for him to keep up in a shootout. I hope Miami causes my fantasy football team to suck wind on Monday.
P.S. Gardenhead, I'll be in the Big Easy Halloween Weekend leading into Voodoo Fest. Let me know where the best place to watch the Dolphins vs. Bungals game Thursday night will be! I'll be in the French Quarter.
Thanks for the scouting report - seems to make overall sense. I will say this - I think we have one thing on our side going into this game that most of us (myself at least) could not have predicted when we looked at the schedule in April, and that's confidence. After the past two weeks and QBs, I think this team fears nobody, it knows it can take a hit from these great QBs, and still come out on top because they keep fighting and getting better on D as the game goes along and - oh - we have our own great QB now. Frankly, at 3-0, I think this team realizes it has absolutely nothing to lose here. If we lose, and look decent in the process still - what is the shame to losing to the undefeated Saints on a MNF in the S'dome. BUT, if we win, then let the wheels will fall off the bandwagon from all the people getting on at once. You know, yep, Brees will do his thing for sure, so maybe we'll have to win it in a shoot-out! Challenge accepted!!
Oh, and I gotta say I'm a little pissed at my little brother about this game. You see, we had all off-season planned to go down to Miami for a game this year (and we are, for the Charger game), but when I realized the Saints were on the sched this year in NO, I told him we must go there instead. I've been there twice and know why you want to go back, but he's yet to be there. I pleaded with him, but he wouldn't take his big bro's advice. And then when the sched came out and it was a Monday nighter, I'm like BROOOOOOOO!!!! But no - he was hell bent on going to Miami, as he's never been to a game there before like me. So I had to give in. Besides, it will be an epic time I'm sure. That said, I wish I had the funds to go to both (as well as the wife's patience). I can only imagine the "tailgating" on Bourbon St. starting at about noon Monday. Then again, I'd be pissed if I was too drunk to enjoy the game fully, so perhaps it's a good thing I'm not going.
If they didnt have such a ridiculous home field advantage this game would be close to an even matchup..but they do, like Seattle does, it's a real advantage, not something we get to benefit from but football isn't always fair son.
nobody is stopping you from going to NO and taking away the Saints advantage by cheering for the Dolphins
All I can say is that if they put up 35 points on our D... I cannot see why we won't put more than 24 points against them... We put up 27 on the Falcons, didn't we???
Home teams on MN are just tough to beat in general, and to top it off it is the Saints, who along with the Broncos have the best offenses in the league. I think this game is a loss, but I hope they keep it close. To me the Ravens game is the more important one since we will be battling a potential playoff spot with them. You never know though...I wasn't confident in the Falcons game either...
IMO we can play with any team in the league. That doesn't mean we're the best team or even that we should resonably expect to win every game, but it does mean I wouldn't be shocked if we won. I think the odds are against us. The quality of the opponent, the matchup and the venue aren't factors in our favor. I haven't seen the line but we should be under dogs. I would guess about 6 or 7 points.
This is our toughest game of the year. It doesn't help that we're suffering from injuries. I'm still pulling for a win. I still expect us to win. But I won't be too disappointed if we lose as long as it isn't a blowout. We've won primetime games before that we shouldn't have (Phins/Pats orange jersey night). Keep the faith!
I dont automatically put a L in our WIN/LOSS column anymore. I think we have the ability to beat any team in the leauge at this point. We have a chance to be one of those elite teams. Great moments are born from great opportunity. And thats what you have here. That's what you earned here. Thats right, I just went Miracle on y'all.
We will never have that w/ our stadium. The fans are sooooo far removed from the players benches that they are essentially removed from the game. Almost no homefield advantage for our poor Fins.
Well, this is one of the games I had chalked up as an L anyway, but then again so was the Hotlanta game... I agree with you Gardenhead, I think they are on a mission and will be hard to slow down. I know that our D has played them tight at times in the past, but this year our D isn't as good as some of those have been. I don't think this game will depend on whether we can score (as has been the issue in the recent past), but whether this D can hold them down enough that we squeak out another of those close finishes....
So wait, you've watched all of their games and say their secondary sucks? How so? The secondary has been very solid. Keenan Lewis and Jabari Greer are very sticky corners. The safety tandem of Malcolm Jenkins and Kenny Vaccaro have played well. Alot of our d-lineman's sacks have come from our downfield coverage. Saints are ranked 4th in the league vs the pass. Not sure what you're seeing.
I keep seeing people say this. Weren't they the number one scoring defense the year they won the super bowl?
Last team with the ball will win in this game. Shootout all the way. I think we will have the ball longer because we will sustain drives and score, they will have some quick strikes I think. Last team with the ball will have the chance to win.
i think the saints D looks much improved from last year, i know that wasn´t very hard to do, but they look decent on D, i also have brees on my fantasy team, i saw all three games so far, no team has scored more than 17 points against them
I guarantee Tannehill throws for over 350 yards on the Saints secondary. Its no great feat to shut down Josh Freeman and Carson Palmer.
IMO the game will hinge on red zone efficiency, force the Saints into FGs and we can keep the game close. Offensively, gotta be able to run the ball and sustain drives. If we get pass happy in that dome we're in trouble. Sherman's been pretty vanilla w/ the play calls to this point IMO, I hope he has been saving his best stuff for the right time. Screens, draws, reverses, etc to slow down the pass rush. Move the pocket, allow RT to use his athleticism instead of camping him in the pocket with a bulls eye on his back. It may be time to diversify in the run game. Some read option would be nice. The zone runs haven't been working for us, too much penetration, linemen not getting to their landmarks on time. I'd like to see some counters, traps, and bootlegs to take advantage of over agressive run defenders. And finally, throw deep to Wallace. I don't care if the safety is back there. Stop waiting for the perfect opportunity, get the ball out past the 30-35 yard line and just launch one 50 yards down field. If it's picked off, fine, it's like a punt, but it could also be a big play, a P.I. or a warning that sets up shorter routes later on.
If it is any game that we need the runners to click is this one. We have to eat the clock and keep the ball from DB's hands. Bore the crowd into submission to take them out of it. I have no doubt Tanny can toss up 350 in this one, but we need a balanced attack from all the O and some long, time-consuming drives. Keep it close and anything can happen.
With CKAP sucking major balls the past two weeks, I'm this close "><" to starting Tanehill in one of my leagues. 10 points from a QB would have won it for me. And I like the two TD games. 300 yards and a TD is golden
I'd like to see some real ball-control offense on the road. Suck the life outta that place with long drives. Pound it with DT and Miller, hit the short drags and screens to Wallace, no problem with checking down some and hitting lots of high-percentage throws. Seems like the Saints are trying to play more this way too; but we know how Brees lights it up at home in primetime, he'll be chucking it around the yard. I'm curious about the Saints D. I wanted Keenan Lewis and Vaccaro on the Phins, so looking forward to seeing them play. Lewis against his old boy Wallace should be interesting too. Surprised the Saints D is playing this well even after losing key guys. I kind of feel like we're playing with house money here: 3-0, Saints in NFC, stashed 2 road wins already. So I guess I wouldn't be too bothered if we came out and had Tanny try to sling it tit-for-tat with Brees...that would be pretty fun, though I don't think it's our best chance to win. More than anything, I'm reeaally looking forward to seeing our Defense go against an elite QB.
I said this in another thread, their giving up close to 5 yards a carry, and their running for less than 4
The turnaround for the Saints D has been impressive, but I can't help but think they're due to regress one of these weeks. I think we're also due to have a week where Tannehill actually gets a comfortable pocket to work in for most of the game. At least I hope so. It would be nice if this was one of those times where the Saints come out, make mistakes on offense, have little to no defense, and find themselves down 17-0 before the first quarter is over, taking the crowd out of the game for awhile. Quite honestly, I think this game could go in a number of different ways, but you'd have to favor the Saints with Wake possibly down.
I don't think their defense "sucks" anymore personally. I believe they're allowing only 12 or 13 points a game. That's excellent.
Considering 2 of the 3 teams they played were the Bucs and the Cards, I think its very possible the defensive stat lines are skewed. I'm not saying the Saints have a bad defense though. I think having Peyton back is huge for them and as Brees and the offense begin to get more in sync it will help take pressure off their "D". I think Mondays night game is as much a litmus test for them as it for the Phins. It not gonna be the lopsided game many are predicting. We match up better than I think many are expecting. Miami D has the ability to slow their offense and our offense has the ability to control the clock by converting enough to keep our defense from being gassed. Redzone success of course will be a huge factor too. Not being a homer I really think Miami has a solid shot at turning heads with a 4-0 start.
