Mr. Magoo
Ayatollah of rock and rolla
- Joined
- May 1, 2008
- Messages
- 2,701
- Reaction score
- 32
Obviously, that was a very dominating performance by the Saints against the Giants, and given the chief weakness of our team (pass defense), and the main strength of the Saints (uh, passing), it'd be easy to say, you know, we're about to get our ***** handed to us.
But, when you look a bit further into things, I think there's a few things to feel pretty good about.
First off, the fact that the Saints are 5th against the run is entirely overstated. They've played a few horrible rushing teams (Philadelphia, Detroit), and usually get far enough ahead that other teams have to abandon the run.
I've seen them play, and it's plain they can be run on. The Jets averaged nearly 5 yards a carry, the Bills averaged 4.2, and the Giants averaged 4.4.
None of those teams are as good on the ground as the Dolphins.
As a result, there's really no surprise what the gameplan here will be. After all, our gameplan is pretty much the same every game.
Run the ball. Control the clock.
After all, running the ball is the perfect antidote to a blitzing defense (overload blitz to the wrong side, you know, and there goes at least 20 yards), and forces you to win man to man matchups up front. Whatever improvements the Saints have made to their scheme (and they certainly have), the Saints' front seven simply doesn't have the man power to stop what we do. Just as it seems hopeless for a team with a bad seconday to stop the Saints, a team with a mediocre run defense like the Saints is fairly hopeless against our road grating run defense.
All of this is by way of saying that I think we won't have too much trouble running the ball.
The key, as everyone knows, will be our secondary.
And, well, you know. What can you say? It's hard not to notice the game Mark Sanchez had against the Saints (awful), us (pretty good), and the Bills (truly awful).
The point being: we even made Mark Sanchez look pretty good. Ouch.
I'm personally hoping for an unending stream of newspaper articles talking about how our secondary can't stop them, most explosive offense ever, etc. The pass defense feeling it's been disrespected and out to make a statement game against an offense that will (for good reason) be very confident is really our only hope in that phase. We'll have to catch them napping and everyone on defense will have to play completely out of their minds.
Will that happen? It's anyone's guess. My personal guess: probably not. But, you know, hopefully.
Also, don't underestimate the fact that the Dolphins will be at home (or perhaps more importantly, not in the Superdome), and on a bye week.
After the bye last year the Dolphins held Philip Rivers (in what would become a 4,000 yard, 34 TD season) to 13/28 for 159 yards and a TD. Tomlinson was held to 35 yards.
Will the Sparano and the boys be able to cook up a scheme to reign in Brees and Co.? That's the question of the week.
Of course, it's a new season, and as good as the Chargers were on offense last season (and they were very good), the Saints this year are better.
Should be a great game.
But, when you look a bit further into things, I think there's a few things to feel pretty good about.
First off, the fact that the Saints are 5th against the run is entirely overstated. They've played a few horrible rushing teams (Philadelphia, Detroit), and usually get far enough ahead that other teams have to abandon the run.
I've seen them play, and it's plain they can be run on. The Jets averaged nearly 5 yards a carry, the Bills averaged 4.2, and the Giants averaged 4.4.
None of those teams are as good on the ground as the Dolphins.
As a result, there's really no surprise what the gameplan here will be. After all, our gameplan is pretty much the same every game.
Run the ball. Control the clock.
After all, running the ball is the perfect antidote to a blitzing defense (overload blitz to the wrong side, you know, and there goes at least 20 yards), and forces you to win man to man matchups up front. Whatever improvements the Saints have made to their scheme (and they certainly have), the Saints' front seven simply doesn't have the man power to stop what we do. Just as it seems hopeless for a team with a bad seconday to stop the Saints, a team with a mediocre run defense like the Saints is fairly hopeless against our road grating run defense.
All of this is by way of saying that I think we won't have too much trouble running the ball.
The key, as everyone knows, will be our secondary.
And, well, you know. What can you say? It's hard not to notice the game Mark Sanchez had against the Saints (awful), us (pretty good), and the Bills (truly awful).
The point being: we even made Mark Sanchez look pretty good. Ouch.
I'm personally hoping for an unending stream of newspaper articles talking about how our secondary can't stop them, most explosive offense ever, etc. The pass defense feeling it's been disrespected and out to make a statement game against an offense that will (for good reason) be very confident is really our only hope in that phase. We'll have to catch them napping and everyone on defense will have to play completely out of their minds.
Will that happen? It's anyone's guess. My personal guess: probably not. But, you know, hopefully.
Also, don't underestimate the fact that the Dolphins will be at home (or perhaps more importantly, not in the Superdome), and on a bye week.
After the bye last year the Dolphins held Philip Rivers (in what would become a 4,000 yard, 34 TD season) to 13/28 for 159 yards and a TD. Tomlinson was held to 35 yards.
Will the Sparano and the boys be able to cook up a scheme to reign in Brees and Co.? That's the question of the week.
Of course, it's a new season, and as good as the Chargers were on offense last season (and they were very good), the Saints this year are better.
Should be a great game.
