How will the Saints gameplan?

[carolinanimal]

i agree with mesmer. one day we are going to have to aske jake to put up more than highschool qb #'s. what will we do then?

[Fox007]

The Dolphins intercepted Brees 3 times, ran all over them, and still lost.

[MadHatter]

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.

But yet, we are still the #1 Passing D at 160 yds per game. And, we just played one of the best passing games in the NFL.

Our pass D has credibility.

[Kevin Greene]

We're going to have to defend the screen pass and the check off well against the Aints. Linebackers must play huge.

[Kevin Greene]

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.

No one understands this formula better than Billick. It got him a Lombardi.

[Mr. Scot]

Said it elsewhere. I'm not yet convinced that the Panthers are a good enough overall team to win consistently with the kind of game plan we saw yesterday.

Defense is improved, yes. But we have a long way to go to be the 2001 Ravens.

Run game looked good against a decent defense, yes. Still need to see more.

It's a start.

[Kevin Greene]

Said it elsewhere. I'm not yet convinced that the Panthers are a good enough overall team to win consistently with the kind of game plan we saw yesterday.

Defense is improved, yes. But we have a long way to go to be the 2001 Ravens.

Run game looked good against a decent defense, yes. Still need to see more.

It's a start.

Pffftt. No one's suggesting we are. That was one of the top defenses all time.

[Mr. Scot]

Pffftt. No one's suggesting we are. That was one of the top defenses all time.

Responding to the Dilfer comparisons, mainly.

[Brandon]

The Saints are going to come out running, and keep running until we prove capable of stopping them. I know a lot of people are expecting a Drew Brees passing festival but I'm very worried about how our rush defense will hold up against one of the better running teams in the NFL. With the amount of respect we have to give Brees I just don't think we'll be able to stop both their passing and running attacks. It'll be ugly.

[rayzor]

it is on the right path, though.

still need to see that passing game improve but i have a feeling that they are going to be playing it very safe the rest of the way.

if they can get a lead then just keep running the ball on 95% if the plays. get a lead and protect it. keep pounding and wear out that defense...control the clock.

[goodoleboy]

We might catch a break with them coming out a little flat after tonight's emotional game against a "superior" team. We ran the ball well yesterday against 8-9 man fronts. It reminded me of 2003 at times when we pretty much exerted our will on the other team no matter what they tried to do.

There are 2 ways teams approach things in the NFL. Some scheme to the point that they attack weaknesses, change from week to week depending on the opponent, change again and make adjustments at halftime, and use a complex system. Tricking the opponent is a big part of the equation.

Others keep it simple, do a few things well and execute them to perfection. If they execute perfectly it can't be stopped. I think this is what we do when we win. Its when we try to scheme too much that we screw up. Our backs have broken off lots of long runs against 8 box fronts because if you execute well enough to punch through it there are only 3 players left to beat to the endzone.

[cgarsmoker]

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 throwing some picks.

I think this is exactly what they are going to try and do. Their running game is no joke....Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas can gash you if your not careful. The entire defense is going to have to play a great game.

[Baschski]

I think the most important thing will be our offensive gameplan, and whether or not we stick to it. I do not believe that the Saints Defense could stop our running game if they had a brick wall for a d-line. It's up to Fox and Davidson to have faith in our running game, keep it on the ground and control the clock. If we go down early, start to panic and put the game in Jake's hands, we're done.

[Rononoa3000]

Run the ball and the clock, keep Brees on the sidelines, no turnovers, start Sherrod Martin and we win.

We can't have turnovers or get to behind on the score board by much.