You know the drill. We got the fine folks at Saints Nation to dish the dirt on how the Saints are going to kick our asses on Sunday. Be sure to check out my Q&A I did with them on their site. In the meantime, read on!
1) How do you guys feel about the Saints so far this year?
Fricken GREAT! I mean, we're 5-1, Sean Payton is back, the defense is playing serious ball with Rob Ryan on the job, what's not to like? And they'd be 6-0 if they didn't get a huge raw deal from the refs in New England. This isn't a perfect team by any means. The run game is weak and the offensive line isn't playing that well… but overall I have high aspirations. Once you get to the playoffs it's a crapshoot depending on who plays better in one game, but I feel good about the odds of getting in with where the team is sitting. If they can get good playoff seeding they are close to impossible to beat in the Superdome. I hope I didn't just jinx them.
2) If you were the opposing offensive and defensive coordinator, how would you attack the Saints?
Well I think the Bills just need to do what they do on defense. This is actually a decent matchup for them because the Saints don't run the ball that well and the Bills can't stop the run. So the Saints throw the ball almost every play, and that should allow the Bills to do what they do best – rush the passer. Should make for an interesting matchup. Obviously you want to get to Brees and hit him often. If you can get pressure with 4 guys and leave more back in coverage, you can stop this offense. Of course this assumes you can stop the run.
On offense I think it will be tough sledding in the dome for the Bills. The Saints' D is good. I think you just have to control the clock and pound Spiller/Jackson all day long. Maybe those guys can have a big game.
3) How on earth can teams defend Jimmy Graham? The guy is a beast.
You may not have to. He hurt his foot in the Pats game and he's questionable for the game. The Pats stopped him by putting their best cover guy on him all day long (Aqib Talib). I'm not sure if you have a guy like Talib that can press cover Graham, though? You just have to hope that if Graham plays he's not 100%. But yeah, he's a beast. One of the best receiving tight ends in NFL history, already.
4) Why do you think Rob Ryan's defense is much better than Steve Spagnuolo defense from last year? Both of them love blitzing, so, on the surface, they seem like they same guys. Why aren't they, aside from Rob Ryan being fat and a hippy?
Both of them love getting to the quarterback but they go about it in very different ways. Spags' defense is all about rushing the passer with 4 guys. That only works if you have an awesome defensive line. His scheme didn't bend to the players and talent they had, the players had to bend to his scheme. So it was a disaster. The Saints didn't have the personnel to pull off Spags' defense. Rob Ryan's defense tries to put players in a position to succeed by playing to their strengths. That will work better in a variety on different rosters. I think Spags needs specific personnel for his D to work, whereas Ryan can make things work wherever he is. That's the difference. Ryan has a huge cult following in NOLA now, by the way. He shows up at bars postgame and buys rounds for fans each week. Pretty awesome.
5) What makes the Saints screen game so good?
Pierre Thomas, that's it. He just catches the ball well, the Saints sell the play well, he sets up his blocks perfectly, and he's just really tough for a corner to tackle at the second level. I think Pierre Thomas is the best screen play back in the game as far as setting up his blockers. The guards do a great job of pulling, too. Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs are both very good.
6) Why has the Saints running game struggled this year?
It hasn't really been one guy, it's been mistakes here and there by each guy. They're not really a physical in the trenches line. The left tackle Charles Brown has been the weak link, although Brees has such good pocket awareness, footwork and feel the guards are more important to this offense. The Pats game was a step in the right direction though, by far their best game of the season. Hopefully they can build off that. But Mark Ingram being injured and playing horribly hasn't helped either.
7) Outside of guys like Sproles, Brees and Graham…what under the radar guys should Bills fans watch for?
That's the offense, pretty much. Brees has been forcing the ball too much to Sproles and Graham this year. Although rookie Kenny Stills has hurt some teams with big plays downfield. He's going to be a decent player I think. On defense, Cam Jordan and Junior Galette are both pass rushing menaces. If you guys get in obvious passing downs you have to really look out for those two.
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