Saints Game Previews & Analysis - pre-game Intel

[KB_fan]

Starting this thread hopefully for my own benefit.  I'll not be online much at all tomorrow - Saturday, and won't have time to really look for game previews or analysis, let alone do any analysis myself.   @UpstatePanther is also taking a bye week and won't be writing a game preview post.

So, I'd love it if folks would link any good articles with game previews, analysis or the latest intel on the Saints here.

Thanks.

 

I'll get the ball rolling with this article by J Jones at the Observer.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article36219141.html

Here's the section I found most helpful:

Importance of the rushing game

The Saints could rely more on their running game this week.

In Week 1, the Saints rushed 20 times for just 54 yards. Against the Bucs they had 27 rushes for 104 yards.

Mark Ingram remains the top running back as the Saints await free-agent acquisition C.J. Spiller to fully recover from offseason knee surgery.

Spiller didn’t play against the Arizona Cardinals during Week 1 and only played in seven snaps Sunday, but he had four touches . Spiller rushed three times for 7 yards and caught a pass for 19 yards .

The Saints also have a change-of-pace back in Khiry Robinson, who has averaged 5.4 yards per carry this season.

That will be tested this week against Carolina, whose rushing defense allows 3.6 yards per carry, seventh best in the league.

The Brandin Cooks Factor

Brandin Cooks played just one game against the Panthers last season, catching three passes for 38 yards before a thumb injury ended his season.

Cooks ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at last year’s NFL scouting combine, making him one of the fastest players in the NFC South.

Brees likes to find Cooks on crossing routes underneath, where Cooks can work off pick plays and run in the open field to showcase his speed. Healready has catches of 30 and 21 yards this season that came from his ability to create separation and run past defensive backs.

The Saints also like to send Cooks on Jet sweeps,when Cooks leaves his receiver position and runs behind the offensive line just before the ball is snapped. The Panthers occasionally run a similar play with speedster Philly Brown.

This season, Cooks has performed that motion five times, carrying the ball twice. He was a decoy three times.

But Cooks’ speed must be respected, because he can outrun defenders to the edge and potentially break long runs.

 

[Toolbox]

Brandin cooks doesn't scare me.. lake norman will swallow him up.

[KB_fan]

Panthers vs. Saints:  Key Matchups

http://www.catscratchreader.com/2015/9/23/9375539/panthers-vs-saints-key-matchups

Excerpt:

Greg Olsen vs. Kenny Vaccaro/Stephone Anthony

A big reason why the Panthers passing game succeeded last week was due to the heavy involvement of Greg Olsen as the ole-reliable chain mover he is, as evidenced by his 6 catches for 70 yards compared to just one catch (penalties aside) last week. The passing game is going to be fueled week in and week out by Olsen, as he's essentially Cam's number one receiver unless an actual wide receiver proves us otherwise.

One of the more untold stories from the Saints unfortunate early season struggles is the fact that they are without Jairus Byrd and missed Keenan Lewis dearly last week. They won't have Lewis or Byrd this week either with both dealing with multi week injuries. With the Saints shorthanded in the secondary, it appears Olsen should be primed to have a field day wherever he lines up. Mike Shula attacked the Texans secondary last week with mixed results at times and effective ones at others. The Saints definitely will have a game plan for Olsen, let's see if they can execute it.

 

Michael Oher vs. Cameron Jordan

Last week the Panthers brought in an excellent game plan to a multi-talented Houston Texans front, limiting JJ Watt and Co to just two sacks. However, the front still got enough pressure to affect several Cam Newton passes. This week, the Panthers face a less talented group in New Orleans, however Rob Ryan is known for blitzing early and often to create pressure. Michael Oher will likely be tasked with blocking the Saints best pass rusher several times in one on one situations, as the blitzes cause one on one matchups often for offensive fronts. Oher did an okay job on the athletic Jadeveon Clowney last week, but Cameron Jordan is a more seasoned veteran of the league who can create pressure. The Panthers offensive line needs to keep Cam upright or at the very least give him enough time to make a decision between throwing and scrambling.

[Seltzer]

This could be a game for Shaq Thompson to shine.  Regardless if Brees plays or not, the Saints are probably going to rely a lot on screens and passes to the RB's.  Plus they will be running the ball a lot.

It will probably be a different team than we are used to seeing.  IMO they will be trying to win like we typically do.  Control the clock and win ugly.

I think Olsen could have a field day out there.  They have no one that looks capable of covering him.

The Panthers have a significant overall talent advantage over the Saints (when is the last time we could objectively say that??- and especially so if Brees is out).  In fact, other than QB (which is even questionable at this point), there is not a single position group in which the Saints have an advantage, including WR's.  That is remarkable considering the talent difference in these 2 teams from 2009-2012.  From 2009-2011 especially, the Saints were much, much better than us across the board.  Really shows how divergent their drafting and ours has been since then.

I remain astounded by how much confidence Saints fans continue to have in Peyton & Loomis after they have ruined the last few years Brees has left with awful drafting and FA decisions.  They have been in denial for the last several years that their spending was unsustainable with a salary cap, and it has been worsened by really bad drafts and the fact Brees (while still very good) is not the "rising-tide -lifts-all-boats-force" he was for years.

However, this is still a division game, and we have held the game close (and even won) when the personnel advantage was much more in their favor.  They will pull out all the stops to avoid 0-3.  If we can put together a whole game like we did in the 2nd Halves vs. JAX & HOU the game shouldn't be that close, but once again I think this game is closer than we would like.  Still should win.

[The Huddler]

Shaq Thompson defensive touchdown

[O-Ther]

Recap of the Stains week 2 from PFF

Good- Offense
Armstead +3.6 (fantastic)
No one else in the green

Bad- Offense
Morgan -1.3
Hill – 1.4
Watson -1.7
Unger – 1.9
Evans -3.1 (awful)
AJohnson -3.3 (awful)
Lelito -3.6 (awful)
Brees -4.5 (gawd awful)

Good – Defense
KWilliams +3.6 (fantastic)
Hawthorne +2.2
Jordan +1.8
Kikaha +1.4
Gwacham +1.3
Edebali +1.1

Bad – Defense
JJenkins -1.3
Breaux -1.4
Phillips -2
Anthony -3.9 (awful)
Browner -3.9 (awful)

[Bartin]

That Armstead kid is going to be a stud.

[saints4lifeagain]

The Saints have had tons of trouble stopping the run so far. I expect the Carolina run game to get on track this weekend. We've also had a lot of trouble with QBs escaping the pocket, and that was Palmer and Winston. Newton is an entirely different animal. I'm not sure the Saints will stop the Carolina offense much. You should move the ball well.

Whether Brees plays or not, I don't expect the Saints to be able to push the ball down the field. Drew couldn't get the ball 30 yards down the field after he got hurt last week. I expect a lot of underneath stuff and a lot of the run game. Tackling will be key for the Panthers. Tackle well and there shouldn't be any problem shutting the offense down. 

Im not optimistic about this game, as many here have probably noted. The Panthers SHOULD run away with this game. The Saints have looked nothing short of inept thus far. The defense has a ton of young guys playing, who should get better as the year goes on, but just aren't there yet. The offense has struggled to find its identity with Jimmy gone and then Brees injuring the throwing shoulder. 

I'm realistically expecting 38-10. Maybe 45-10. Something like that.

[O-Ther]

That Armstead kid is going to be a stud.

He's turning into one gotta give him credit I was expecting Unger to be their best O-Lineman

[saints4lifeagain]

He's turning into one gotta give him credit I was expecting Unger to be their best O-Lineman

Armstead is a beast. Not really surprising to anyone here that he's been our best olineman. 

Unger has has been dominant at times. But with he and Lelitto starting side by side, there's been a few missed assignments and miscommunication. Understandable, with 2 new starters on the interior, but something that needs to get cleaned up before they get Drew killed.

Something PFF didn't reflect was how poor Streif has played. Jacques Smith destroyed him all game long last weekend. He racked up 3 sacks and countless pressures, but PFF gave him and negative grade and Streif a positive one. One of the more head scratching things I've seen from them. We're al hoping Peat progresses quickly, because Streif has been terrible. I expect Johnson to dominate the right side.

[O-Ther]

The Saints have had tons of trouble stopping the run so far. I expect the Carolina run game to get on track this weekend. We've also had a lot of trouble with QBs escaping the pocket, and that was Palmer and Winston. Newton is an entirely different animal. I'm not sure the Saints will stop the Carolina offense much. You should move the ball well.

Whether Brees plays or not, I don't expect the Saints to be able to push the ball down the field. Drew couldn't get the ball 30 yards down the field after he got hurt last week. I expect a lot of underneath stuff and a lot of the run game. Tackling will be key for the Panthers. Tackle well and there shouldn't be any problem shutting the offense down. 

Im not optimistic about this game, as many here have probably noted. The Panthers SHOULD run away with this game. The Saints have looked nothing short of inept thus far. The defense has a ton of young guys playing, who should get better as the year goes on, but just aren't there yet. The offense has struggled to find its identity with Jimmy gone and then Brees injuring the throwing shoulder. 

I'm realistically expecting 38-10. Maybe 45-10. Something like that.

Welcome back been wondering when you'd pop in this week and I know that had to hurt typing it out. Said in another thread now you guys know what we went thru lately. Hardy drama=Galette drama, Hurney bad drafting and contracts=Loomis bad drafting and contracts, and the salary cap hells. Delhomme crashed faster and harder than Brees but time is catching up to him, too. Kind of feel bad for you since I know how much all that hurt, however, you know, division rivals and stuff. You know what I mean

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

their nose tackle sucks and they have a rookie ILB. i expect a ton of runs up the middle. i hope that shula doesn't decide to air it out but it's shula. nows the time to get CAP in the lineup.

truth be told im more worried about luke mccown than a broken brees. brees can only throw it like 8 yards with his bum shoulder. mccown forces sean payton to open up the playbook and do some crazy poo. he can run too.

[saints4lifeagain]

Welcome back been wondering when you'd pop in this week and I know that had to hurt typing it out. Said in another thread now you guys know what we went thru lately. Hardy drama=Galette drama, Hurney bad drafting and contracts=Loomis bad drafting and contracts, and the salary cap hells. Delhomme crashed faster and harder than Brees but time is catching up to him, too. Kind of feel bad for you since I know how much all that hurt, however, you know, division rivals and stuff. You know what I mean

I've been around. Trying to stay in the Saints related topics a bit more, as to not derale every thread I say something in lol. 

Drew looked fantastic in preseason and decent in the Cardinals game against a good defense. He looked terrible after the hit he got injured on last week. 

[saints4lifeagain]

their nose tackle sucks and they have a rookie ILB. i expect a ton of runs up the middle. i hope that shula doesn't decide to air it out but it's shula. nows the time to get CAP in the lineup.

truth be told im more worried about luke mccown than a broken brees. brees can only throw it like 8 yards with his bum shoulder. mccown forces sean payton to open up the playbook and do some crazy poo. he can run too.

The interior of the line played decent to end the game last week, after Hicks was "benched". Really slowed th run game down the second half. But so far, the interior has been pushed around at will. I expect Norwell and Turner to continue that trend. 

Anthony is a rookie, but the kids the real deal. He needs to clean up his tackling in traffic, but he's gonna be a good one.