Run defense still a problem (1 Viewer)

[Saint Droopy]

Run defense got gashed because they decided to play 2-high. Mahomes saw it and checked into runs. Saints were so afraid of Mahomes with no WRs they played an entire gameplan of defenses that they hardly run. They played way more zone than we're used to seeing them play, and definitely more 2-high safeties. This is a man single-high safety defense.

All that said they still only gave up 26... just needed the offense to show up.

 

[WilliamBrees]

Ideally, we should focus on a defense that can score off turnovers. We need a disruptive defense. We're close there than being an elite offense.

I honestly believe that would have been ideal this past off-season. Just clamping down on defense and allowing short fields.

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

Just ran across this from another Saints site, haven’t looked up to verify:

Speaking of Bresee and then the rest of the line….

PFF rates him 34.1
His pass rush seems solid, but is his run defense THAT bad?

While Granderson (87.6) is holding it together, the rest of them: Saunders (52.8), Turner (72.5), Young (63.6), and Jordan (54.3) also suck

Our back 7 seems to get so much crap, but maybe its the front 4 that is that bad.

If that’s accurate then ouch, that’s bad.

Just looked it up, it is that bad. Wow.

According to PFF, Bryan Bresee's run defense grade is 28.7, which ranks 182nd out of 184 defensive ends. Here are some of Bresee's other grades:

• Overall grade: 34.1, ranking 174th out of 184 defensive ends
• Pass rush grade: 55.4, ranking 134th out of 184 defensive ends

He’s not an end tho, idk why it’s grouping him there?

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

Speaking of run defense, no clue how this was called unless it’s planned that way.

 

[Hubig]

Speaking of run defense, no clue how this was called unless it’s planned that way.

If that is really a thing. The NFL should hire better script writers than "helping out KC"

Helping out, say, Detroit, would be the grand daddy story of sports in the last 60+ years if it led to them winning a superbowl.

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

If that is really a thing. The NFL should hire better script writers than "helping out KC"

Helping out, say, Detroit, would be the grand daddy story of sports in the last 60+ years if it led to them winning a superbowl.

Agreed.
Or Washington.

Think KC is the new New England.

 

[Rouxble]

Speaking of run defense, no clue how this was called unless it’s planned that way.

If anyone it looks like the call should have gone on Bresee, he keeps the guard from going to the second level.

Just ran across this from another Saints site, haven’t looked up to verify:

Speaking of Bresee and then the rest of the line….

PFF rates him 34.1
His pass rush seems solid, but is his run defense THAT bad?

While Granderson (87.6) is holding it together, the rest of them: Saunders (52.8), Turner (72.5), Young (63.6), and Jordan (54.3) also suck

Our back 7 seems to get so much crap, but maybe its the front 4 that is that bad.

If that’s accurate then ouch, that’s bad.

Just looked it up, it is that bad. Wow.

According to PFF, Bryan Bresee's run defense grade is 28.7, which ranks 182nd out of 184 defensive ends. Here are some of Bresee's other grades:

• Overall grade: 34.1, ranking 174th out of 184 defensive ends
• Pass rush grade: 55.4, ranking 134th out of 184 defensive ends

He’s not an end tho, idk why it’s grouping him there?

When I look him up he’s labeled as a DI. Ugly grades for sure.

 

[Epic Brownie]

Speaking of run defense, no clue how this was called unless it’s planned that way.

One of the most bizarre calls I've seen. Holding on the defensive end on a run play opposite side the play

 

[Domeination]

Just ran across this from another Saints site, haven’t looked up to verify:

Speaking of Bresee and then the rest of the line….

PFF rates him 34.1
His pass rush seems solid, but is his run defense THAT bad?

While Granderson (87.6) is holding it together, the rest of them: Saunders (52.8), Turner (72.5), Young (63.6), and Jordan (54.3) also suck

Our back 7 seems to get so much crap, but maybe its the front 4 that is that bad.

If that’s accurate then ouch, that’s bad.

Just looked it up, it is that bad. Wow.

According to PFF, Bryan Bresee's run defense grade is 28.7, which ranks 182nd out of 184 defensive ends. Here are some of Bresee's other grades:

• Overall grade: 34.1, ranking 174th out of 184 defensive ends
• Pass rush grade: 55.4, ranking 134th out of 184 defensive ends

He’s not an end tho, idk why it’s grouping him there?

The biggest FO fail the last 5 years has been all the D line busts the team has drafted. I don’t put Bresee in that category, but just imagine if Davenport, Turner, and Foskey were good active players on the roster. We’d probably be 4-1 right now.

 

[BreesusSaves]

Just ran across this from another Saints site, haven’t looked up to verify:

Speaking of Bresee and then the rest of the line….

PFF rates him 34.1
His pass rush seems solid, but is his run defense THAT bad?

While Granderson (87.6) is holding it together, the rest of them: Saunders (52.8), Turner (72.5), Young (63.6), and Jordan (54.3) also suck

Our back 7 seems to get so much crap, but maybe its the front 4 that is that bad.

If that’s accurate then ouch, that’s bad.

Just looked it up, it is that bad. Wow.

According to PFF, Bryan Bresee's run defense grade is 28.7, which ranks 182nd out of 184 defensive ends. Here are some of Bresee's other grades:

• Overall grade: 34.1, ranking 174th out of 184 defensive ends
• Pass rush grade: 55.4, ranking 134th out of 184 defensive ends

He’s not an end tho, idk why it’s grouping him there?

Grading IDL is tricky just like grading OL. All you can do is make educated guesses on assignments. Bresee is on pace for 13.5 sacks and when you look up when his sacks have happened, he's not just putting up trash time numbers.

IDL is a position I hear a lot of DL coaches talk about as one that players develop at a slower rate. Right now Bresee is developing wonderfully as a pass rusher, but his ability against the run needs work. He's not a guy I want to see on the field in short yardage but he often is due to lack of options on the interior.

For me personally, if you told me Bresee will forever suck against the run but be in the running every season for double digit sacks, I'd call that a huge win and take it every time.

 

[B_doggman47]

I said this in another thread about this same subject. I have been screaming for a big NT since the Saints traded Malcolm Brown away to the Jags. He could at times push the pocket on passing downs, but his forte' was stuffing the run. We were top 5 in run defense for 3 straight years. They need to let Saunders bulk back up to about 325-330#. he was a very good run stuffer when he was with the Chiefs and would disrupt plays in the backfield. John Ridgeway is the closest thing we have to NT @ 6'5"/324#. I would love to see a line-up of Jordan, Bresee, Ridgeway and Saunders Iined up along the D-Line all at the same time with Granderson and Chase out wide on the edges and let offenses try to run through that. It's basically how the Eagles lined up against us.

 

[TCUDan]

I'll say something on here that won't be popular (and I promise, I have no need to be edgy), but in his last two outings (Eagles and Chiefs) Demario Davis has not looked like himself.

Maybe he's trying to play through the groin/hamstring injury. But he was missing a lot of fits vs. the Eagles and was blowing more than his share of assignments vs. the Chiefs. They were killing him with formations, getting him out of position, and a few of those blown coverages over the middle were him getting roped into expanding out into the flats (you'll see 2 defenders buzzing on one flat route and the intermediate middle getting exposed).

The dude has earned his grace, and he looked like the same unstoppable force in weeks 1 and 2. But offenses are locking onto something. Whether it's a result of Davis playing through injury, being asked to do too much in the same of "bend but don't break," or just him finally slowing down--it's impossible to overlook.

And it's costing the defense.

*They get away with a little more when Pete Werner is on the field because he's one of the most sound/disciplined defenders on the team. But without him, things in the middle are just kind of a mess.

 

[Optimistic Ozzy]

I'll say something on here that won't be popular (and I promise, I have no need to be edgy), but in his last two outings (Eagles and Chiefs) Demario Davis has not looked like himself.

Maybe he's trying to play through the groin/hamstring injury. But he was missing a lot of fits vs. the Eagles and was blowing more than his share of assignments vs. the Chiefs. They were killing him with formations, getting him out of position, and a few of those blown coverages over the middle were him getting roped into expanding out into the flats (you'll see 2 defenders buzzing on one flat route and the intermediate middle getting exposed).

The dude has earned his grace, and he looked like the same unstoppable force in weeks 1 and 2. But offenses are locking onto something. Whether it's a result of Davis playing through injury, being asked to do too much in the same of "bend but don't break," or just him finally slowing down--it's impossible to overlook.

And it's costing the defense.

*They get away with a little more when Pete Werner is on the field because he's one of the most sound/disciplined defenders on the team. But without him, things in the middle are just kind of a mess.

This position should be a high priority, whether through FA or draft.

 

[504gks]

Foskey - Looks like a bust.
Turner - Bust.
Boyd - Unknown.
Ridgeway - Mediocre at best situational IDL.
Shepherd - Mediocre at best situational IDL.
Saunders - Mediocre at best situational IDL.
Jordan - Time to retire. Legend, all time great, but it is time.
Kpassagnon - Mediocre at best situational DE, injured, torn Achilles, may be career ending at his age.

Young - Nobody lets genuinely good DE's hit free agency, unless they can't afford them. The 49ers have $55m!!! in cap space. They let this guy walk. He's actually been a solid pass rusher for the Saints, but he just has not been able to get home to the QB. Sack numbers don't tell the whole story for Young. Does have questionable hustle issues once the play is past him.

Bresee - HUGE Hit. On pace for 13.5 sacks this season, phenomenal for a second year IDL. Thanks to being a first round pick, he has a fifth year option which the Saints would be criminally stupid to not pickup. If he develops against the run, he could be one of the best IDL in the entire league.

Granderson - HUGE Hit. Best Edge pass rusher on the team by far. From UDFA to legit NFL starter. Does need to improve against the run.


The Ain't Nobody Got Time For That Summary:
The only good DL the Saints have are all good against the pass. There are zero elite run stoppers in the line.

Breese is pretty good, but cant play the run. Granderson is good. Saunders is a good running back, ? D tackle

 

[DaveXA]

Speaking of run defense, no clue how this was called unless it’s planned that way.

That was just a completely made up call. There's literally nothing there. I'll never understand the refs making these nonsensical calls. Maybe they have money on the game. It's the only valid explanation.