How will the Saints gameplan?

[Zod]

Yesterday was awesome, very fun to watch, first time I really felt good about the Panthers since day 2 of training camp.

That said...

Obviously, the Panthers showed their cards in what they plan on doing to keep it competitive. Jake Delhomme is now the Trent Dilfer of the Panthers. Hand the ball off, make the short passes, show veteran leadership. Pound the ball, play aggressive D and get turnovers. Its predictable, its deliberate, but effective if executed.

Will the Panthers stick with what works, or will they try to get cute now and let Jake throw it down field? If they do stick with the formula, what will the Saints have prepared for us after studying the game tape?

[Guest]

8-9 in the box

[Cat]

Nice to know you didn't truly always think of him as the "Trent Dilfer" of the Carolina Panthers.

I love Jake and couldn't be happier about the win yesterday. But i'm not fooling myself to think everything is right with him. that being said, I don't think NO game plan is going to be much different than Arizonas. AZ had 8-9 in the box at times.

[pantherj]

I think the Saints will see that MUG defense won't work to stop our running game. They'll probably tell their CBs not to jump Smith's smoke route. It's not worth the risk. I'm sure the Saints realize that they can't win a low scoring trench battle against us.

This game will be decided by Brees versus our Tampa-2. We have no chance in beating the Saints without causing multiple turnovers. The Saints have no chance unless they air it out.

In the past our defense had an achilles heel, the lack of pressure from our front 4. Not anymore. Meeks will employ 4 DEs on passing downs, and they should be able to pressure Brees. Pressure + Tampa 2 = INTS/Sacks.

The Saints may try to run us out of our Tampa2, and force us into a more QB friendly formation. Harris will come up, late in the count, from his SS position if he reads run, and Godfrey will shift to the middle of the field. There could be some serious trench warfare if Brees isn't playing lights out. The Saints will probably probe us with their running game. They'll run it up the middle to test Hollis Thomas. And I'm sure they will run a lot of sweep plays. If we can stuff their running game, then we have a chance. I don't think Brees can throw deep a lot into our Tampa 2 without getting sacked or thowing some picks.

I love Tampa 2 defense more than any other defense. Our safties are dropping back deeper and wider than in our old cover-2. Beason is dropping back deeper as well, leaving an opening in our zone in the middle. The Saints will send Bush into that opening and tell him to sit there and give Brees a check down. Guess who is responsible for Bush if Brees thows to him? Thomas (I'll f@ck you up) Davis. Davis will have several free shots at Bush from behind. I think Davis may injure Bush before halftime. Thomas Davis versus Reggie Bush will be a major matchup. Davis needs to knock the living hell out of him, and he will have a lot of chances.

We can win.

[Chaos]

I'll get my first look at the Saints tonight on MNF. Curious to see this "rushing attack" they boast of. I'm sure like all of our opponents, they will stack against the run, dare Jake to throw over the middle. Even though I haven't watched their defense yet this year, I have a hard time believing that they can shut down Williams and Stewart. What concerns me more is what Meeks will have for Brees and company...

[Catdaddy]

I don't truelly think Jake has his arm strenght after that surgery. The one deflected pass yesterday, was about the most zip on the ball I've seen from him the last two seasons. He is the only Qb to come back from it and have a decent season(last season). It's a bad surgery for a baseball player, let alone a football player. They will focus on stopping the run, and making Jake beat them, like the other teams have done. If he can play.

[Mesmer]

I really don't see Brees turning the ball over 6 times... so I think we're in trouble.

Seriously though, our defense is pretty good. But, they're not good enough to slow this Saints offense enough to where Jake can throw 14 passes and we get out with a win.

I'm really happy that we won against Arizona. But the thing you have to remember is that we beat the teams we beat based on our rushing attack. Even if we were to string some wins together, at some point this team is going to have to throw the football to win, and this is probably one of those games.

Until this offense shows that it can make teams pay for putting 8 or 9 in the box, I'll keep my enthusiasm in check. Arizona's defense was completely terrible, and their QB handed the ball off to our guys several times. I don't see Brees doing that, and I don't see the Saints D being that terrible. Sure the Cardinals were ranked 1st in run defense, but they laid an egg out there.

[Upper Deck West End Zone]

The coaches will likely get together in a meeting, watch film, look at tendencies, then come up with the game plan. That's probably how the Saints will come up with their game plan.

[rayzor]

i have a feeling that they will decide to run it all day. saints are stronger against the run and it looks like they want to attack the strongest point of the defense they are facing.

bills were strongest against the pass but weakest in the league against the run so what do they do? pass all day. bit them in the butt but that was what they did.

zona was 1st in the league against the run so what do they do? run all day.

of course they should be sticking with the same gameplan they used this game on both sides of the ball anyway. this isn't a fancy offensive team. they should stop trying to be one. just do what they do best. force the other teams to stop it. until we get a real QB...that is what they need to be doing.

also, whatever they did on special teams yesterday...keep doing it.

[Guild]

Interesting point Ray.

I wonder if Fox and Co. have read Sun Tzu's The Art of War. They seem to be breaking fundamental rules contained therein.

[pstall]

To beat a great offense like the Cards or the Saints, you have to do it via ball control. Which is what Carolina is good at.

Billick said it and I agree, Carolina is built to be ahead. If the D can get turnovers and a return td from time to time, that takes so much pressure off of Jake.

Run the ball and take an occasional shot downfield.

Time to get hot.

[rayzor]

Interesting point Ray.

I wonder if Fox and Co. have read Sun Tzu's The Art of War. They seem to be breaking fundamental rules contained therein.

i had said earlier that i wasn't buying the cards rush defense ranking. it was about as accurate of a gauge as our pass defense ranking was.

still....i think that they need to be reading the art of war. great book. had to read it in school in a couple business classes.

[Guest DrewBreesIsGod]

Well as a Saints fan, I can tell you the Saints will be on high alert because you guys have had our number lately. I think we will stuff the box and dare Jake the throw it to someone other than Smith. Sharper will be dt'ing Smith all day long. The question is; if we happen to stop the run, can another receiver step up for you guys. I will say this; you have the perfect formula to beat us; ball control, clock control and keep our O off the field.

[rayzor]

To beat a great offense like the Cards or the Saints, you have to do it via ball control. Which is what Carolina is good at.

Billick said it and I agree, Carolina is built to be ahead. If the D can get turnovers and a return td from time to time, that takes so much pressure off of Jake.

Run the ball and take an occasional shot downfield.

Time to get hot.

that can be said for the ravens when they won the superbowl...the steelers last year...and the bears in '06.