Week 2 Keys to the Game (1 Viewer)

saints4life25

Who Dat?!?!
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Week 2 brings us a match up with the Giants, who are coming off a win vs. East foe Dallas. Through one week, the Giants receiving corp and defense seem to be improved from a year ago, although, we have no idea what kind of opponent Dallas is at the moment.

These will be my keys to the game. I'm going to try to refrain from using the more obvious ones. Won't talk about turnovers or who runs the ball better or anything like that. I'm going to try to focus on individual match ups that will affect the game, outside of obvious ones, like can our corners cover OBJ. So, here goes...

Andrus Peat vs. Oliver Vernon: Vernon is listed as a DE, but plays inside quite a bit. Reminds me a lot of Cam Jordan. While he didn't have a sack last week, he racked up 6 pressures, according to PFF. Vernon lines up on the left side of the offensive line, which means he got to see a lot of Tyron Smith and La'el Collins last week. After a quiet first half on the outside, Vernon moved inside and absolutely dominated Collins at times, in the pass game and run game. Peat being able to hold his own here will be key. I would expect plenty of help from Unger when Vernon slides inside. Peats balance has been talked about a lot lately, and staying on his feet today will be needed against a top notch defensive lineman.

Jairus Byrd vs. Eli Manning: Byrd had a rough game last week. He made some nice tackles, but also took a horrible angle on the long TD run. With Breaux in the game last week, Byrd was able to shade over the top of Williams side and basically take away the deep ball. It worked well. It will be interesting to see how he plays this week without having a lockdown corner on one side. His help of the young corner will be imperative. OBJ made him look silly on a deep post last year. Those plays can't happen this year. Manning will usually give a secondary a couple chances to make plays a game. Hopefully Byrd can makes some.

Saints DT in the run game: For the majority of the game last Sunday, I felt the interior of the line did a very good job holding their own in the run game. Maintaining gap control and getting some push. Then the long TD run happened. The big plays have to stop in order for this defense to get better, and it starts with the fundamentals. The biggest thing I notice when watching Carolina play is the way their DTs dominate the interior of the line and allow Kuechly and Davis to shoot gaps and make plays. It's not very often you see either of their LBs with a guard on them. That's because the guys in front are doing their jobs. In order to stop the run effectively, you have to keep your LBs clean and let them do their jobs. That starts with domination from Fairley and crew.

Onyemata vs Giants interior: Onyemata was easily the most impressive interior rusher for me last week. While raw, his ability as a pass rusher inside is apparent. If he can make some noise on the inside, so that teams can't double Cam so much, our pass rush will improve greatly. Watch Onyemata when he's in the game. If he's able to get some push, we may just get a sack.

Here's to a good win with a chance to come home and get over .500 with a win vs. the Falcons on prime time! Who Dat!
 
I see two keys: Special teams play (we allowed 2/3 two point conversions and went 2/4 on field goal attempts not to mention poor kickoff returns and coverage) and the ability of the Defense to cover a no-huddle offense (poor execution of this against Oakland A's well as Pittsburgh)
 
I see two keys: Special teams play (we allowed 2/3 two point conversions and went 2/4 on field goal attempts not to mention poor kickoff returns and coverage) and the ability of the Defense to cover a no-huddle offense (poor execution of this against Oakland A's well as Pittsburgh)

Agree on special teams, outside of the missed field goals. Not going to complain about 2-4 on attempts when one was from 61. You'd like him to make the 50 yard kick, but he hit it well. I'm confident in his ability, as is Payton and the kicker himself.

Kickoff returns have to improve. If Murphy is going to stay on the roster as a returner, he has to offer us something. The final kickoff sticks out as something that could have literally cost us the game. A few more yards or less wasted seconds and maybe we have a better chance at a kick.
 
Need better play out of DEs and inside LBs and of course secondary.

Please blitz Sean Payton. For the love of God don't just sit back and watch our talent poor defense get destroyed up and down the field without taking a risk for a good play.
 

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