Going Back To The Big Easy - Saints Talk

[PhillyPhanInDC]

ESPN's Scouts Take FWIW:

Why To Watch

Can the Saints continue their Cinderella season against an Eagles team that is playing with a lot of confidence? When these teams meet in Week 6, the Saints outplayed the Eagles in all three phases of the game. Saints head coach Sean Payton will rely on quarterback Drew Brees to attack with short, rhythm passing game to set up the run. Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson must find a way to neutralize the Saints' running game, while pressuring Brees in the pocket.

Look for Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to continue to stay balanced by relying on RB Brian Westbrook to set up the play-action pass against a suspect Saints run defense. Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs will rely on his attacking multiple fronts to disrupt the Eagles' blocking patterns, while trying to keep QB Jeff Garcia in the pocket in passing situations.

When the Eagles have the ball

Rushing: Since the season-ending injury to QB Donovan McNabb, the Eagles have shown outstanding balance. Look for the Eagles to continue to rely on Westbrook to set up their play-action attack. Westbrook is an explosive playmaker who has taken pressure off Garcia. The Eagles have a big offensive line that has done a good job of creating downhill space for Westbrook. Westbrook is at his best in open space where he can use his elusive running style to create on his own, while making defenders miss.
The Saints will rely on his attacking up-field schemes to disrupt Philly's blocking patterns. NT Hollis Thomas is expected to return this week after missing the last four games of the regular season due to a league-imposed suspension. Thomas was dominating in the first meeting between these teams in the way he attacked and controlled the interior of the Saints' run defense. Saints MLB Mark Simoneau, and outside linebackers Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita must be disciplined in their run reads and gap integrity when attacking downhill. The Saints' game plan on defense will be to focus on stopping the Eagles' rushing attack, while forcing Garcia to make plays inside the pocket.

Passing: The Eagles love to spread the ball around in the passing game, and they will use a lot of movement to create individual matchups they can exploit on the backend. The key for Gibbs will be to keep Garcia inside the pocket. Garcia can be very dangerous when moving around in the pocket to buy time, while creating passing windows to overcome his relative lack of height. He lacks the arm strength to stretch the field vertically, but Garcia has been very accurate in the Eagles' quick, controlled passing attack. Look for the Eagles to try to get Garcia into rhythm early by attacking with either WR Reggie Brown or TE L.J. Smith off play-action. Brown had six receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown in the first meeting.

The Saints have the ability to create pressure off their four-man rush with defensive ends Will Smith, Charles Grant and LDT Brian Young. The Saints' emphasis this week will be the proper rush lanes when forcing Garcia to stay in the pocket. Gibbs has done a good job of dialing up blitz pressure packages in critical third-down situations. Because the Eagles lack a true No. 1 receiver, the Saints can stay balanced on the backend with a lot of Cover 2 principles, while rushing four and being physical on the outside with their corners.

When the Saints have the ball

Rushing: The Saints will continue to attack through the air to set up the run. Payton loves to spread the field by using both his standard and two-tight end packages, which create better run space between the tackles for RB Deuce McAllister. McAlister is a tough inside runner who has the speed to bounce outside and get on the edge of the defense. He runs with a good low center of gravity while lowering his shoulder and exploding after contact on the second level.

The Eagles' Johnson is one of the most innovative and aggressive coaches in the league. The Eagles love to utilize their rotation on the defensive line and attack gaps with up-field penetration. Look for Johnson to use a lot of movement with his fronts, while running zone-blitz run schemes that attack the interior of the Saints offensive line and force McAllister go more east-west rather than north-south. The Eagles have some aggressive linebackers led by MLB Jeremiah Trotter. However, the Eagles must be sound this week in their responsibilities when attacking up-field gaps.

Passing: New Orleans finished the regular season with the No. 1-ranked pass offense. The Saints averaged 281.4 yards a game, while the Eagles' pass defense allowed 191.7 yards a game. Payton was very creative throughout the regular season in his formational designs and personnel groupings when trying to keep defenses off balance, especially by using RB Reggie Bush detached in the formation. Brees has been unbelievable in his ability to play mistake-free while managing the game. Brees' quick release and ability to make all throws place a lot of pressure on Eagles' pass defense. In the first meeting between these teams, Brees did not take a sack as the Eagles struggled to get consistent pressure on him, which exploited their backend in coverage.

Johnson loves to rely heavily on his pressure packages and will attack the pocket with multiple-zone pressures along with playing a lot of single-safety and no-safety schemes. However, the Eagles are expected to be without Pro Bowl LCB Lito Sheppard, who dislocated his right elbow in last week's win over the Giants. Look for Payton to spread the field that create mismatches by isolating Roderick Hood, Joselio Hanson or William James in passing situations. The key for the Saints will be their ability to pick up the Eagles' blitz packages, while giving Brees time in the pocket to attack the Eagles secondary. Also, look for the Eagles to play a lot of sub defensive personnel (nickel-dime) against the Saints' high-powered offense.

[BigEd76]

Under Andy Reid, the Birds have not won a playoff game in which they've allowed 20 points or more (0-3).

uh Les, they allowed 20 to the Giants and won.  Besides, that stat is probably similar for most teams when it comes to the playoffs...

[Wingspan]

Under Andy Reid, the Birds have not won a playoff game in which they've allowed 20 points or more (0-3).

uh Les, they allowed 20 to the Giants and won.  Besides, that stat is probably similar for most teams when it comes to the playoffs...

the patriots are 3-0 under belechek when allowing 20 or more points. and two of those are super bowls

[BigEd76]

3-1 (last year at Denver), 3-2 overall including the Browns.  He's one of the few with a winning record.

A few other examples of 20 or more in the playoffs:

Cowher = 2-8
Parcells = 2-7
Dungy = 2-7
Landry = 4-14
Shanahan = 2-5
Coryell = 2-5
Schottenheimer = 4-8
Reeves = 6-8
Jimmy Johnson = 2-3

[bobbyinlondon]

3-1 (last year at Denver), 3-2 overall including the Browns.  He's one of the few with a winning record.

A few other examples of 20 or more in the playoffs:

Cowher = 2-8
Parcells = 2-7
Dungy = 2-7
Landry = 4-14
Shanahan = 2-5
Coryell = 2-5
Schottenheimer = 4-8
Reeves = 6-8
Jimmy Johnson = 2-3

Johnson's record should be 2-6--after all, that last playoff game he coached, the Dolphins gave up 62 points to the Jags.

I e-mailed Bowen and he answered saying he got his info from the Eagles' media dept and they hadn't updated their stats. He said he recieved "many" e-mails.

[Seabiscuit36]

I'm not worried about Bush at all saturday

[PhilLeeD]

All these little biddy guys aren't going to stop him!

[BigEd76]

Marino was the only one of the four on Inside the NFL to pick the Eagles...

[MDS]

Midget Bob, Cris Carter and Collinsworthless picked the 'aints?

zOMG

[PhilLeeD]

I was just kidding about the lil' guys Seabiscuit...  That was pretty cool the way you did that.

The Eagles have been able to stop most of the best runners in the league, although they lost their minds in the middle of the season...

The Eagles need to concentrate on the Saints Receivers and blocking their DLine.  I always liked Hollis. (that may come to an end!)

Oh and 3 little words: Fu Ji Ta

[BigEd76]

Sim on eau

[MadMarchHare]

No one on CNN picked the Birds to win, and only the Harmon Forecast on CBS picked the Eagles to even cover.

And this all means.....not much.

[Rome]

A guy on the EMB whipped this one up:

[SD_Eagle5]

He wasn't banned for that?

It's extremely sad that we have to post this message, but it is apparent that some people who post here need this to be spelled out for them.

Any ridiculous comments directed towards Saints fans about Hurricane Katrina or any attempted "joke" using Katrina and you'll be banned. No warnings, no suspensions. Your account will be banned.

Come on people. Be a little classy.

[Seabiscuit36]

He wasn't banned for that?

It's extremely sad that we have to post this message, but it is apparent that some people who post here need this to be spelled out for them.

Any ridiculous comments directed towards Saints fans about Hurricane Katrina or any attempted "joke" using Katrina and you'll be banned. No warnings, no suspensions. Your account will be banned.

Come on people. Be a little classy.

For that picture?