The New Orleans Saints have 5 players I am concerned about Sunday: Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr., and Benjamin Watson.
I'd add Cameron Jordan (4 sacks) and Marshon Lattimore (5 INT, 13 games in 2017) to that list, but the Saints D is in trouble. They allow 6.9 yards per play (worst in league) and 10.2 net yards per pass attempt.
Not only is that pass mark the worst in the league, but the next-worst team (Oakland) is at 8.1. Two players can't make up for a whole D, and I think this Sterling Shepard's time to shine (No. 2 wideouts have 6 TD and 373 yards vs. NO this year).
I'm worried about the speedy Ginn breaking off a big gain like Tavon Austin or Will Fuller, and Watson may pose a problem for the linebackers in coverage. But they aren't huge playmakers like Brees, Kamara and Thomas obviously.
Focusing on Thomas and Kamara:
Thomas has an absurd (and unsustainable) 95 percent catch rate (38 receptions on 40 targets). As you might imagine, he's No. 1 in yards and catches. He plays mostly outside but runs in the slot 25-30 percent of the time.
That could make for a fun WR Michael Thomas vs. slot CB Michael Thomas matchup, but the Saints' Thomas is a big winner there. When he's on the outside, Janoris Jenkins can slow him down enough a la his efforts vs. DeAndre Hopkins, who had a solid but unspectacular game.
Kamara's was No. 1 last year in efficiency among running backs. The run game has slowed down a bit this year (3.8 YPC), but he already has 30 catches and a league-leading 430 yards through three weeks.
I am not worried about the front 7 holding up in the run game, but I am concerned Kamara will win matchups in the pass game and potentially break one in the open field.
My guess is that the Giants' No. 1 need to win on Sunday is stopping Kamara, as I think he's the player most capable of wrecking things for New York. But am I off-base? What does BBI think?
Bingo!
Wow. That's the same Ben Watson from the Patriots? He is long in the tooth. I thought this may have been his son.
80.6%, 1078yds, 8tds, 0 ints
Unless there is rain/swirling winds, he is going to take apart this secondary, especially if he has the time to throw....
Would be nice to have OV back, but even if he played, how effective would he be?
The formula for winning is the same as last week.....give up a lot of yardage but force turnovers....
And the offense has to go Lady Gaga scoring points this week....Eli has been missing OBj on numerous occasions.....I think a little misdirection with a pump fake, and then to OBj will work...of course, though, you need the time to do that....
Now we are going way up in class against Brees, a PhD in QBing. He's the real problem.
So applying pressure is the key to limiting their opportunities and keeping TDs to FGs.
Your point makes a lot of sense.
I looked at Windfinder to see the Sunday forecast. Obviously we are 5 days ahead, but right now, this looks like perfect offensive football weather: 5-6 mph winds, mid-60s, sunny.
I'm not saying we're going to see a repeat of the 52-49 debacle from three years ago, but I'm having trouble figuring out how either defense is going to fare well here. This feels like a 38-35 type of game.
Forecast Sunday - ( New Window )
NO blocked a punt which was a momentum changer. How often does that happen
Brees is the least mobile qb the Jints have faced this year despite his now legendary spin move
Brees is arguably the most accurate qb in the game.
I think we need to pressure him right up the middle
80.6%, 1078yds, 8tds, 0 ints
Unless there is rain/swirling winds, he is going to take apart this secondary, especially if he has the time to throw....
Would be nice to have OV back, but even if he played, how effective would he be?
The formula for winning is the same as last week.....give up a lot of yardage but force turnovers....
And the offense has to go Lady Gaga scoring points this week....Eli has been missing OBj on numerous occasions.....I think a little misdirection with a pump fake, and then to OBj will work...of course, though, you need the time to do that....
Brees aint playing inside this week.
So in 3 games against the Giants in Giants stadium, he has a total of 3 TDs - we are worried he is going to throw for 6? Hmmmm....
Michael Thomas is a top-5 WR in the NFL (I wanted him over Shepard)
And Kamara is a Swiss Army Knife
Quote:
Isn't he like 85 years old by now?
Wow. That's the same Ben Watson from the Patriots? He is long in the tooth. I thought this may have been his son.
He was in the same draft as Eli
We have NO ONE to cover Kamara. And with Ginn and his speed - it will be tough to prevent some big plays. Jenkins and Thomas will battle.
Brees will play fine. But if we dont stop Kamara, we are in big trouble.
So with that said, Kamara might be the bigger concern...
Kamara is just a nightmare to defend. He's like a super version of Darren Sproles from when Sproles was in New Orleans. He does everything. Super low center of gravity, very elusive, outstanding in the pass game.
New Orleans is going to have to answer the same questions about figuring out what to do about Saquon Barkley, though.
This game being at home is a major, major plus though. I feel better about our chances for that reason.
Hope for some crappy weather and wind. It will be a benefit to us. We have the bigger, more durable back that we can pound the rock with. The Saints really don't want to use Kamara between the tackles and want to minimize the hits he takes from the big guys in the trenches so they've been trying to work Jonathan Williams into Ingram's role while he's out for another week.
I didn't realize how good Michael Thomas is at breaking tackles and getting extra yardage until I caught some of the Falcons game. Holy shit, that guy is indeed a fearsome opponent.
Jordan is every bit the match-up nightmare on the end of the D-line as Watts was...maybe more. NYG will have to be aware of his position lining up and make sure help is available on his side. That said, if Eli has time the O should look good against a poor pass D. If Saquon gets going in this one then we could put up the most points we've seen in a while.
Hopefully the Giants just keep building on what they did right against Houston and we get a second W, but consistency hasn't been a strong suit for quite a while.
Quote:
Kamara is the best player on that offense right now but Michael Thomas has been a fucking monster. I have faith in Jenkins to keep him from having a game-wrecking day against us - so at least we have a bit of an answer for that.
I didn't realize how good Michael Thomas is at breaking tackles and getting extra yardage until I caught some of the Falcons game. Holy shit, that guy is indeed a fearsome opponent.
It's hard to figure out why he wasn't the consensus #1 WR in that draft. It's not like he played for a school where he didn't get enough national exposure. I whiffed on Treadwell - Thomas is so much better.
80.6%, 1078yds, 8tds, 0 ints
Unless there is rain/swirling winds, he is going to take apart this secondary, especially if he has the time to throw....
Would be nice to have OV back, but even if he played, how effective would he be?
The formula for winning is the same as last week.....give up a lot of yardage but force turnovers....
And the offense has to go Lady Gaga scoring points this week....Eli has been missing OBj on numerous occasions.....I think a little misdirection with a pump fake, and then to OBj will work...of course, though, you need the time to do that....
So much focus on SB, defenses seem extremely vulnerable to a sluggo with OBJ
Will this be the 1st game our crappy oline doesn't look like crap vs. crappy NO D?
He'll go against Wheeler. Jordan is an Left DE.
He tends to want to move up the pocket far more than side-to-side, so even some pressure from the middle has been more effective against him.
You may get beat deep, but better to have the corners play up tighter so that he has to go thru at least some progressions. If the rush never gets there then we lose anyway...
in the Giants' open stadium is around 23 points.
I'm hoping for a windy day.
Against the pass one of the worst in the league.