Going Back To The Big Easy - Saints Talk

[PhillyPhreak54]

The Giants game was a tough one because not only was it a division rival but because it was the third meeting of the year. Those two teams always play tough and close ones.

But now the Eagles travel back to N'awlins on a short week. They have to face Sean Payton again. I hate seeing that guy coach against the Eagles. The Saints have a refined Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister and a guy in Drew Brees who loves the short step drops.

The Birds will be without Lito Sheppard, the best CB on the team. Sheldon is struggling with coverage lately. Him, Roderick Hood, Will James and Joselio Hanson better be ready. It's nice to have James here as a safety blanket though. Also Quintin Mikell's play of late will help fill the void by Lito. He can be mixed in there on some packages.

The Saints came on this year. Much like the Bears did in 2001 when the Eagles had to take it on the road and win. They won at Soldier Field ("Who the hell is Shane Miller?!?). Is this a similar scenario? Can they go on the road and get it done?

The Saints lost to the taterskins at home. I repeat. The Saints lost to the taterskins at home. And that was with something to play for and they laid an egg.

4 out of 6 of the Saints losses came at the Superdome.

Stallworth will actually play this time too.

Garcia has to play better this week too.

[MDS]

I don't know. I'm really not feeling good about this game. The Saints are basically coming off a 2 week lay off. We saw how the Eagles were real sloppy in the first quarter before they got shtein together, so perhaps that's an advantage. This is the NFC Championship, though. Chicago and Seattle suck.

[Munson]

If I'm not mistaken, last time the Saints were doing a good job sniffing out the Eagles screens/short passes to Westbrook, preventing him from getting YAC. They gotta do a better job disguising that stuff, as well as just plain running the ball more this time. Let Westbrook and the o-line take it to thier kinda-crappy front 7.

I don't have a good feeling about this game, but that's how I've felt for the last 2 months really so....lets get it on. [/Judge Mills]

[PhillyPhreak54]

They spied Westbrook with Scott Fujita. He did a good job at sniffing out the screens and dump offs. Westbrook only had 16 carries partly because they were behind early and partly because the newfound commitment to the running game hadn't showed up yet.

Run Westbrook early and often. Get the LBs and the extra safety crowded up and then attack. If they use Fujita to spy again send Westbrook on crossing routes so he can separate from the LB. Don't give Fujita time to square him up.

[SD_Eagle5]

A couple of other things I'd like to throw in there was Moats stupidly running into the PR and causing a TO and TD for the Saints right before the half is likely not to happen again, and we were coming off an enormous win vs. the Cowboys. I hate the Payton factor and the fact that they have a 1-2 punch at RB.

[shorebird]

Joe Horn burned us last time. I'd like to see Darth knock his friggen' block off.

Was it my imagination, the weather, or does Garcia look like he has a tired arm?? Some of his passes were floaters, wounded ducks. He has to do better against the Saints. He could have easily been picked twice yesterday. He was lucky, damn lucky. I was hollering for Feeley there at one point in the first half, can't remember just when.

[bobbyinlondon]

If I'm not mistaken, last time the Saints were doing a good job sniffing out the Eagles screens/short passes to Westbrook, preventing him from getting YAC. They gotta do a better job disguising that stuff, as well as just plain running the ball more this time. Let Westbrook and the o-line take it to thier kinda-crappy front 7.

I don't have a good feeling about this game, but that's how I've felt for the last 2 months really so....lets get it on. [/Judge Mills]

The Eagles depended too much on the long pass in the first game--too much in love with how they beat Dallas. When they finally started throwing shorter passes, they started moving the ball. Also, when they started running Westbrook in the 4th quarter, they were getting positive yards.

[bobbyinlondon]

Joe Horn burned us last time. I'd like to see Darth knock his friggen' block off.

Was it my imagination, the weather, or does Garcia look like he has a tired arm?? Some of his passes were floaters, wounded ducks. He has to do better against the Saints. He could have easily been picked twice yesterday. He was lucky, damn lucky. I was hollering for Feeley there at one point in the first half, can't remember just when.

Garcia admitted in one of the papers that he was too hyped up for the game and that he had butterflies. Marty said they had to throw out the gameplan after they went nowhere in the first three drives because the Giants were defensing what they were trying to do too well. It was when they went 3 WRs that they started moving the ball--with the run.

[hunt]

in case you don't remember the game earlier this season... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=261015018

The Saints outplayed the Eagles in all three phases of the game (offense, defense and special teams). The Saints used a ball-control game plan to keep Donovan McNabb and the Eagles offense off the field, winning the time of possession battle in the first and fourth quarters. The Saints had the ball for close to nine more minutes than the Eagles. Drew Brees (above) used a short, quick-rhythm passing game to get the ball out of his hands before the Eagles' pass rush could put pressure on him. With the Saints running the ball effectively it set up the play-action pass.
McNabb and the Eagles' offense struggled to move the ball in the first half. The Eagles missed WR Donte' Stallworth, who was inactive due to injury. His replacement, rookie Hank Baskett, struggled to get open and to hold onto the ball.

this is the game where they kept throwing deep to baskett & he kept dropping them...also, it's the game where wynn muffed a punt right before halftime.  and i don't think hood played in the game.

[Drunkmasterflex]

This game worries me more than most.  We can't count on Brees to play like Manning did yesterday.  If ever a commitment to a running game was needed it needs to be next week. 

[hunt]

farg the saints!  the eagles played like garbage in their earlier meeting & had no running game at the time.  it was one of those games where they passed twice as often as they ran.
...and the saints still needed a last second field goal to win.

[PhillyGirl]

Sheldon got hurt last night too. MCL joint sprain.

[hunt]

yeah...i'll be worried if lito AND sheldon are out.  but i think they can get by if lito's the only cb out.

[Seabiscuit36]

Thats his shoulder right PG?  i thought he dislocated it the way he slumped off the field.  His tackle was sort of like portis's tackle in the preseason.  Once tehy shot him up he was fine

[Sgt PSN]

The MCL (medial collateral ligament) is in the knee.  Unless there's another type of MCL that I'm not familiar with.