Steve Young's first comments: New Orleans defense is too bad to threaten the Packers. (1 Viewer)

[BreesusSaves]

Our defense reverted back to 2009 form tonight, which is EXACTLY what we need going down the stretch. Many said our 2009 defense wasn't stout enough to win a Superbowl... The formula on defense now without a doubt is the takeaway. The Packers are 11-0, and their defense holds up because it has 29 takeaways. In yardage, they are 30th in the league! Everyone is moving the ball on the Packers, the problem is they average nearly 3 takeaways a game. 3 more possessions for a QB like Rodgers? Game over. We all saw firsthand what ONE turnover did for the Saints chances against Rodgers in the opener.

It is the same thing with Brees. Tonight the Saints got 2 turnovers early and the Saints leapt out to a 35-10 lead. Yea, Manning threw a million checkdowns in a row and the Giants racked up all kinds of yards... all while they were down 25 points and playing catchup. The Saints traded yards for time off the clock. To my knowledge the Saints have 11 takeaways this season, and have turned 9 of them into touchdowns. 2 of those takeaway into touchdowns came tonight resulting in that huge lead.

In my opinion, for the Saints to get to the Superbowl in 2011 the formula on defense is turnovers. It is far too late to think the tackling issues can be fixed. That will have to happen in the camps for 2012. The Saints took a step in the right direction tonight getting those early turnovers, they have to build on that for the playoffs. If the Saints start forcing 2-3 turnovers a game like in 2009, a lot of our defensive headaches will fix themselves.

 

[L.A.Saint!]

He is right. This defense is not good enough. The defensive line is underachieving. The linebackers are physically not good enough. And I don't know what is happening with our secondary, though it has been clear for much too long that Robinson lacks the instincts for the game.

Even the announcers were talking about PRob playing so far off the receiver and there were at least two tackles where he should have made, but he let the receiver run for more yards. But I believe he improved tonight..... I wonder if his play would be different if we didn't blitz as much....

 

[ianm892]

I've heard it all day on Espn Tom Jackson:"this team can't win a playoff game outside" umm how about the super bowl

I don't think we have 09's defense, but a better D than Espn is giving us credit for

I think if we meet packers again, we will give them their biggest test in the playoffs

 

[bornnraisedwhodat]

If our dline continues to suck, we will not sniff Another SB appearance

Because our d-line during our SB run in 09 as elite right?

Bobby McCray, Remi Ayodel, Ellis, and Smith were some head hunters?

 

[Marlboro Man]

Steve Young is a pathetic whining bum. He thinks his ONE Super Bowl win gives him validation because Montana won 2 or 3 but his ONE validates him? NO IT DOESN'T. He's a complete arse plain and simple. I don't know why anyone even wants to hear what he has to say. Hey Steve, don't go away mad, just go away you bum.

 

[First Time Poster]

First off, I have an issue w/ Young immediately criticizing a team when they just dropped half a 'hunded on a Giants team that everyone (including himself, he admitted as much) was nut riding a few weeks ago. We had nearly 600 yards of offense against the same defense that held the Pats to 20 points IN THEIR HOUSE. Where they never lose. Same D. How did they do that? Turnovers. 4-2 in that game. That is how they stopped the great Tom Brady in that game. That is the formula. Every offense, no matter how great, every quarterback, no matter how hot, can be brought back down to earth with turnovers.

Speaking of the Giants and Patriots. Does anyone else remember around 4 years ago another "unstoppable" offense with a super-hot "GOAT" QB putting up "ungodly" numbers leading his undefeated team into the playoffs. Game over right. How did that turn out? Held to 14 points by a defense ranked 17th in points allowed that year? Stop with the hyperbole. If we get GB again it will be a shootout and the deciding factor will be turnovers.

 

[Elvis]

I think the Defense played a lot better tonight, with the exception of Garbage time.

One big thing I noticed was Casillas seems to have learned to wrap up on tackles. Nice to see someone other than Greer do that.

 

[Sackhappysaint]

He may be right. Defense was atrocious.

Without Brees we would be sub .500, all else equal.

Pay Brees now.

Every defense is too bad to threaten the Packers at this point.

I've been pretty critical of our defense this year but if we are gonna start calling out our guys for this, why don't we call out the rest of the NFL defenses as well?

Right now Aaron Rogers and those Packers wr's are making any defense they face look totally incompetent. Hopefully that offense cools off soon so the Saints at least have a chance in Lambeau. The way the Pack is playing right now? Nobody stands a chance.

 

[Sackhappysaint]

The Packers D gives up gobs of yards too.

If anything tonight proved we could easily hang with them just like we did on opening night.

Yeah, but if we face them again it will be cold out there. Our wr's have a really hard time with their footing in those environments. I'm really not sure why but they just fall all over the place.

 

[GreMillionaire]

1. We held this offense to 10 points through 3 quarters.
2. How many drives were extended due to awful penalties called by the officials? Everyone seems to be forgetting that the refs were basically wearing Giants uni's out there.
3. We played a lot of prevent and at the end, we had Eli throwing the ball away and overthrowing his guys because he didn't wanna get hit again.

Steve Young was looking at numbers and stats, not what we did out there. NFL QB or not, he's wrong tonight, as is ESPN on most subjects.

 

[DrummerRick]

We are the obvious choice to stop Green Bay's Superbowl run. Our defense is suspect (gasp, shock!)

imho, If we play the run like we did against the Giants, we are unbeatable (+/-7 points lol). That other 7 comes from us blitzing so much it becomes predictable.

 

[RJ in Lafayette]

Green Bay's defense has playmakers, as did our defense in 2009. Our defense does not. And the comments of Young, who was one of our biggest fans in 2009, go beyond one game. Generally speaking, we have problems rushing the quarterback, and we are not making enough big plays, though we made some last night. Jenkins and Porter are not having the year many had hoped. The defensive line has been disappointing considering the investments in that unit. Because of our offense, we are a very good team. We may win 11 games, which in so many ways is outstanding. But the reason is the second best offense in the league and good special teams. I was equivocal over the Ingram deal last April in part because our defense needs help. I agree with a post above that the game has changed, favoring greatly the offensive side. But for a championship, a team needs, if not a great defense, a defense that has some playmakers and can pressure the quarterback. The Colts with their defensive ends and at safety had in the past those attributes. Green Bay may give up yards, but its defense has playmakers. We don't. Not this year.

 

[RJ in Lafayette]

A quick postscript. I said above that we have the second best offense in the game, which will doubtless generate some reaction. We are in the same zip code as Green Bay as far as offense. The two offenses are very comparable, and I could easily have said that we have one of two best offenses in the league.

 

[mikaloyd]

We only need to wait til next Sunday to see how the Packers do against these same Giants

 

[SaintLuke]

I try to ignore most of what they say as I know they are just filling in time between the commercials and play on the field. I paid a little more attention to him when he said the Packers will put 35 points on the board on the frozen tundra and the Saints is the only team that can do the same.