The personnel overhaul that took place this off-season has been talked about to death, and Thursday night we finally got to see our first glimpse of what the overhaul might look like this year. What we saw was a methodical, 16 play, 80 yard drive, capped off by a touchdown run from inside the one yard line on 4th down.
The opening drive wasn’t all bad. There was some good things. The starting unit played the run rather well. Almost all the completions were underneath. There was however almost a complete absent of pressure, and the sole snap with pressure resulted in Joe Flacco, who isn’t known for his wheels, inexplicably running for 20 yards.
Rob Ryan was visibly upset and you can understand why. The roster wasn’t the only thing to get an overhaul. The Saints added 7 new coaches, including Dennis Allen, who holds the undefined title of senior defensive assistant. While there have been no verbal indications that Ryan is on the bubble, it doesn’t take insider info to connect the dots.
The team not only took risk in trading away three starters from the offense last season, but they also gambled in keeping Ryan on board. I think it was the right choice. While a change of scheme can rejuvenate defensive units, particularly for schemes that have become stale, it also resets everyone back to square one. I think the team needed some consistency in the face of such radical change. Still, the risk is betting that Ryan has the vision and the discipline to regain some of the defenses 2013 form, and you invested a lot betting that he could. If it works all will be forgotten. If the defense flounders again, the regime will look rather foolish.
We shouldn’t overreact from one pre-season game. For one Akiem Hicks didn’t play, and so far in camp he has looked as a disruptive force. You also had two rookies starting in Stephone Anthony and Hau’oli Kikaha, and Bobby Richardson and Tavaris Barnes also took snaps. However, there was some areas of concern. I mentioned a lack of pass rush, and that carried throughout the game. The team was also had multiple times on misdirection plays, a staple of the Kubiak offense. The teams division rival, the Altanta Falcons, also run a similar scheme, and it could be particularly important with the weapons that they have. Discipline will be key.
We haven’t taken a regular season snap yet, but you still have to wonder what his future is. What will it take for him to return in 2016? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.
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