- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
PFF Saints season preview.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:10 am
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:10 am
quote:
Five Reasons for Confidence
1. Improved Blind Side Protection
Charles Brown started last season at left tackle and had a rough run, grading -18.9 in pass blocking while surrendering seven sacks, nine QB hits, and 33 pressures before being replaced halfway through his Week 15 performance against Robert Quinn and the St. Louis Rams. Rookie Terron Armstead took over protecting Brees’ blind side the following week. Despite struggling in his first start, Armstead quickly settled into his new role and posted positive scores in his final three games—including two playoff games—and solidified the offensive line. If Armstead can continue what was shown in that small sample, Brees should reap the benefits of improved pass protection this season.
2. Full Season of Khiry Robinson
Second-year player Khiry Robinson was the latest running back to make the Saints’ roster as an undrafted free agent since Coach Payton’s arrival in 2006, joining a list of players including Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, and Travaris Cadet. Unlike Ivory and Cadet, it appears Robinson is poised to carve out a permanent role in the offense starting this season. His decisive running style proved useful during the playoffs, where he powered his way to an overall grade of +4.4 despite limited snaps. Robinson’s opportunities should continue to grow, providing Brees and the Saints’ offense with the bruising runner lacking in recent seasons.
3. Healthy Jimmy Graham
When looking at Jimmy Graham’s impressive 2013 season it can be easy to forget his season almost ended early after a suffering a Week 6 foot injury. Despite playing with a partially torn plantar fascia for more than half of the season, Graham didn’t miss a game and continued to perform at a high level. By all accounts, the injury seems to have healed and Graham will be able to start the upcoming season pain-free. That could be bad news for opposing defenses which generally didn’t have an answer for the Pro-Bowl tight end last season anyway. Despite the gaudy stat-line, we could potentially see an even more productive Graham during the 2014 season.
4. Second Year in Defensive Scheme
As remarkable as the Saints’ defensive turnaround was in 2013, this unit could just be scratching the surface of its potential. Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan’s return marks the first offseason the team will not be installing a new defensive scheme since 2011. The defense returns a number of young starters, including breakout star Cameron Jordan who posted double-digit sacks and an overall grade of +34.1 last season. Now that Jordan, Junior Galette, Akiem Hicks, and Kenny Vaccaro have a year under their belt, they will be counted on to shoulder the load and build off their impressive 2013 campaign. With young leaders and a greater understanding of Ryan’s schemes, the sky is the limit for this defensive in 2014.
5. Safety Play
As much as a year of continuity for the core can help this defense take the next step, the upgrade at the safety position may be just as important for the upcoming season. Ryan utilized a three-safety defense last season, mostly using some combination of Vaccaro, Malcolm Jenkins, Rafael Bush, and Roman Harper. What started as a necessity due to the lack of depth at the linebacker position became a powerful innovation.
Despite the unit’s success, it featured two players perceived as the defensive weak links: Jenkins and Harper. Jenkins in particular struggled in both pass defense and Tackling Efficiency, especially troubling for a free safety. In an effort to address these weaknesses, the Saints replaced Harper and Jenkins with Jairus Byrd out of Buffalo. Byrd excels in coverage — where he earned a +9.5 grade in 2013 and is only a year removed from earning the top coverage grade among safeties with a +19.0 in 2012 — and is a more consistent tackler. With Byrd solidifying the FS position, the three-safety defense should only improve going forward.
quote:
Five Reasons for Concern
1. Who Starts Opposite Keenan Lewis?
There is some concern about who will play cornerback opposite of Keenan Lewis, the Saints’ key secondary addition from the 2013 offseason. Long-time starter Jabari Greer was lost to a devastating knee injury in Week 11, possibly ending his career. Although three-safety sets minimize the need for a true nickel corner, a solid second CB is essential for this defense to reach its potential.
Despite these concerns, the team has a variety of options to fill this spot. After Greer’s injury, Corey White stepped in but was inconsistent and may be better suited to covering slot receivers. Although Patrick Robinson has received some training camp praise after a 2013 season-ending injury, his track record doesn’t inspire confidence. Finally, rookie Stanley Jean-Baptiste has the size the team is looking for in a cornerback, but is probably not ready to contribute full-time. If no one from this group is able to emerge as a solid option, inconsistent CB play could lower the Saints’ 2014 ceiling.
2. Linebackers Other Than Junior Galette
Galette may have been a pleasant surprise for the team last season, but the linebacking unit is the weak link of the defense. The team could use another pass rusher to complement Jordan and Galette. There was hope that Victor Butler could fill this role, but he has struggled with injuries and didn’t survive the first round of cuts. Parys Haralson was solid on the outside last season, but didn’t provide much as a pass rusher.
The play of the inside linebackers is equally concerning. Curtis Lofton struggled with consistency, although he did enjoy a solid postseason. At the other ILB spot, David Hawthorne has not matched the promise from his days in Seattle, most noticeably as a run defender, where he was strong in the past but registered a negative grade for the year, including a -7.0 in the playoffs.
Since the Saints chose not to address the linebacker position until Day 3 of the Draft, they will likely be relying on internal help from this same group. Even slight improvements from the LB unit could make a big difference for the Saints’ defense this season.
LINK
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:17 am to Patrick O Rly
quote:
Charles Brown started last season at left tackle and had a rough run, grading -18.9 in pass blocking while surrendering seven sacks, nine QB hits, and 33 pressures
I knew he was bad but I guess I didn't realize exactly how bad until I saw the numbers in writing. Just wow
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:23 am to SaintLSUnAtl
Oh, it was bad. Oh, he gone!
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:23 am to Patrick O Rly
Good read. Pretty much nothing we didn't already know by watching the games but it was good to see it backed up by numbers.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:26 am to BRL79
Yeah, it's nice to see an outside publication actually be this right.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:39 am to Patrick O Rly
Definitely think it was pretty spot-on
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:40 am to Patrick O Rly
If PFF is just gonna repeat me, they should pay me.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:41 am to Patrick O Rly
Hard to argue with any of that. No one is expecting Patrick Robinson to make the Pro Bowl, but with our pass rush, Lewis on the other side, and safety play, he should be ok. Look at the Panthers of last year, or Giants of a few years ago. A good pass rush can do wonders for average DBs (not that any of our starting DBs outside of Robinson are average).
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:58 am to mm2316
Yeah the fact that we have two pro-bowl caliber safeties to go with our pass rush will definitely cover most of his slight deficiencies.
This post was edited on 9/2/14 at 9:59 am
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:59 am to Patrick O Rly
I still feel like Lofton is a solid MLB. He's lead the team in tackles since he's been here just like a LB should. Running a 4-2-5 defense is gonna put extra stress on LB play imo and I think he has held up well. Having an hard hitting strong safety in the box might be nice, but its still not a LB, like you're gonna have in a 4-3 or 3-4. Hawthorne, who I was most excited about when we got here underwhelmed in 2012 and looked good first half of last year but tailed off pretty bad 2nd half of year. If LB core is our weak link, we are in pretty good shape.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 10:08 am to mm2316
I'll gladly take 2011 PRob this year. 2012, not so much. Hopefully he is motivated by getting a new contract.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 11:21 am to Patrick O Rly
Brees needs a damn MVP
I bet if Green Bay wins at Seattle Thursday, the media will crown Rodgers MVP in week 1 and ride his dick all season.
Book it.
I bet if Green Bay wins at Seattle Thursday, the media will crown Rodgers MVP in week 1 and ride his dick all season.
Book it.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 11:22 am to FleuryNipples
Honestly, I think they can run down Seattle's throat and win. That seems to be the way to do it when taking a look at last year.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 11:42 am to htran90
GB may not win but I really like that +5.5
Posted on 9/2/14 at 11:52 am to htran90
I agree that Green Bay can win.
I just can feel a screwing of Brees MVP coming this season.
I think the media will lobby Rodgers all year if he beats the invincible Seattle at home.
I just can feel a screwing of Brees MVP coming this season.
I think the media will lobby Rodgers all year if he beats the invincible Seattle at home.
This post was edited on 9/2/14 at 11:53 am
Posted on 9/2/14 at 3:33 pm to htran90
I'm sure the 49ers thought the same thing
Posted on 9/2/14 at 10:08 pm to Let Me Take A Selfie
quote:
the first offseason the team will not be installing a new defensive scheme since 2011
Just wow thinking on that one. Exciting is that as big as the turnaround was on D last year, they still can improve a lot. It's been a while since using the word dominant about Saints defense. It may be the time!
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News