From: scsd1055@altair.selu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Saints defensive "strategy"
Date: 21 Dec 92 22:42:22 -0600
Organization: Southeastern Louisiana University

>From: CCP17BK@AUDUCADM.DUC.AUBURN.EDU (Bill Kelly)
>Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 02:21:00 GMT
>
>Sob...

Maybe that should be S.O.B.!  I know those little letters crossed my
lips many times in the second half.

>Well friends, we did it again...play tough D against a great team in
>the first half, then lose our defensive minds in the second half.
>Can someone please explain to me why, clinging to a six point lead
>against a team like the Bills, our secondary goes into the "prevent"
>(translated - "prevent us from winning") defense by giving up the
>10-15 yard passes with a full quarter to go???  We were doing great
>putting the pressure on Kelly, covering close in the flats,
>*everything* in the first half.  Then our defensive coaches decide
>we'll "give up the short ones", so that the Bills can march right
>down the field for the go-ahead TD.

I noticed that too.  Here's another one, why go to the prevent, which is 
primarily a pass defense, when Thurman Thomas and Gardener (BTW can some one
tell me how much that fat load Gardener weighs?  He was listed as 225 on the
program, but he looks like a miniature Heyward...I'm guessing 250) is  running
all over, around, and through your defense?   Mora and his "coordinators" never
cease to amaze me.  Also, why go to the prevent when the opposing QB has less
than 130 yards passing????  Why?  WHY? WHY????
I think one thing that the Saints need to start doing on defense is mix in
the blitz a little more.  I think they rely to heavily on Swilling and Jackson
to commit themselves to the pass rush (in essence making them down lineman that
have a very predictable outside rush...which the Bills took advantage of by
running draws, off tackle stuff, and short passes).  I noticed Toi Cook 
blitzing twice, from the left side of the defensive line, but by the time he
got there Kelly had already  released the ball.  I say, if you're going to
blitz Kelly, try it from the middle a couple of times...it freezes the backs 
coming out of the backfield, and  creates a little up the middle push...which 
the Saints were not getting from Martin or Warren (who were being double 
teamed at times).

>Yeah, I guess like all Saints fans I rely on the defense too much;
>if the offense had been able to move the ball worth a shit in the
>second half maybe things would've been different.  My gripe is that
>the only time the "prevent" defense makes any sense is when there's
>only enough time for one possession for the opposing offense and a
>field goal won't beat you.  Certainly not with 13 minutes to go in
>a six point game!!

You certainly have a point there!  Two games, including this one against the
Bills, would have been wins for the Saints IF the offense would have had
a FAIR-GOOD second half.  Instead, both times the offense came up lame...and
left the game in the hands of our defense...which shouldn't have happened.

>I'm not giving up hope on winning a playoff game, but until we can stop
>teams like the 9ers and Bills from coming back on us like that, the
>Super Bowl is a pipe dream.

Yeah, I haven't lost hope either.  Besides, the Saints didn't need this game 
as badly as the Bills did.  With the 49ers in the driver seat of the West,
the Saints really had nothing to gain by winning...except respect.  And now
the Bills have my respect, and I hope my mom can exchange that Saints
Starter jacket for a Bills one....NOT!  Just kidding...

Bill P
- Geaux Saints!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro