Analysis Week 14 Post-game AMA: Ugly win at a high price (1 Viewer)

[TCUDan]

Has Rizzi out coached anyone across the way yet to put his guys in position to succeed?

I think that's more a coordinator question. What I see from Rizzi is more game management and decision-time focus. The result is 3-1 and two of those wins being decided by less one score or less. I am really unsure saying this, because it *feels* like I might be wrong... but I think 2 wins in games decided by less than a TD is already better than DA in that category over his entire HC tenure with the team.

But yes--I have seen the Saints outcoaching teams at times. But I also see them still blowing situationals, which, honestly... as down as they are on depth, that's usually where it shows up.

The difference in NFL talent, generally speaking, between your #1 and your #2 at a position isn't that glaring. It's the situational play where you get exposed. With the game on the line, a play where Tyrann Mathieu nabs an int. to win the game, Jordan Howden triggers to early and runs into his own teammate.

 

[Snakehead]

I wouldn't say he's officially moving, but yes, he is being used to fill that void a bit at WR, whereas Holker and Moreau are being used more in the in-line TE roles.

Thanks, that's exactly what I've seen the last few games. If he were to move back and fill the Jennings role or more, it could really help KK build this offense and allow us to look at different positions in the draft. There aren't many Big X WRs in the draft nor are there ones built to play the Jennings role, but the draft is loaded and deep at TE.

 

[Elvis]

I see no issue. First and foremost with Carr, you rarely see an HC (or any coach) get loud with the starting QB. It's a confidence position and ints are part of the game. They happen. You want your QB to forget them afterward, not get beaten down and not recover.

Same for the missed FG. Missing a field goal is a bang-bang thing, a poor plant, a poor snap, a poor hold, eyes flicking the wrong way in half a second. You rarely if EVER see a kicker get lambasted for missing one. Yeah, he can get cut if it happens to much--just like a QB can get benched for throwing too many ints. But these aren't positions or situations where ripping into the player does any sort of good.

So why was Hayball's different? Yes, Rizzi is an ST guy, but Grupe is an ST player too, so why?

B/c Hayball didn't shank a punt. He didn't even mishandle the snap or get it blocked. He did the dumbest imaginable thing that could have cost the team the game (if the return TD would have stood). And it wasn't bang-bang... it was very deliberate either lack of awareness, lack of discipline, or both.

On just about every punt coverage scheme in existence, and I'm talking from pop warner up through the NFL, the punter is a safety. He punts the ball and hangs back behind the coverage in case the returner breaks free. But Hayball inserted up into the coverage and not only sh*t on his ONE responsibility, he got in another coverage player's lane and prevented them from making the tackle.

I'd have lit his a$$ up just the same. It's not really comparable to a "normal" mistake like throwing an INT or missing a field goal. It would be more like Carr stripping the ball from Kamara's arms and the defensive picking it up and running it back for a TD.

I appreciate the coaches perspective. Thanks.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Not a question about this particular game, just a general gripe

Maybe it's not the case but it sure feels like when we face a team and it's weakness vs weakness, our weakness is weaker than theirs

If we have a bad run defense and they have a terrible running game they put up 200+ yards on us

If we are having trouble scoring red zone TDs and they allow the highest red zone TD percentage we have 5 red zone trips zero touchdowns

We allow a lot of sacks, they haven't gotten a sack in a month - 6 sacks allowed

Is that my imagination or does that happen?

 

[AARPSaint]

Not a question about this particular game, just a general gripe

Maybe it's not the case but it sure feels like when we face a team and it's weakness vs weakness, our weakness is weaker than theirs

If we have a bad run defense and they have a terrible running game they put up 200+ yards on us

If we are having trouble scoring red zone TDs and they allow the highest red zone TD percentage we have 5 red zone trips zero touchdowns

We allow a lot of sacks, they haven't gotten a sack in a month - 6 sacks allowed

Is that my imagination or does that happen?

It does seem that way. What disturbs me is how the starting OL couldn’t run block against the Giants DL minus Dexter Lawrence and one of their other DTs.

 

[TCUDan]

Not a question about this particular game, just a general gripe

Maybe it's not the case but it sure feels like when we face a team and it's weakness vs weakness, our weakness is weaker than theirs

If we have a bad run defense and they have a terrible running game they put up 200+ yards on us

If we are having trouble scoring red zone TDs and they allow the highest red zone TD percentage we have 5 red zone trips zero touchdowns

We allow a lot of sacks, they haven't gotten a sack in a month - 6 sacks allowed

Is that my imagination or does that happen?

I mean it definitely happens sometimes, but there's probably some bias involved b/c it's happening to your team. It's the NFL and even a team that is poorly coached or thin at a certain position is still pretty competitive. Even a team that's like 32nd in run defense or running the ball will have a good game sometimes. It's not like college football (or any other level) where that difference in talent or size or speed is glaring. These are NFL teams with NFL players. Parity is real, and sometimes that's how it shows up.

That said--playing down to your competition is also a real thing. Some of that comes down to coaching, but there's other external factors that can range from anything from one or a few guys not sleeping well, being under the weather, having problems at home or other distractions or just the wear and tear of the season.

On the coaching front, I always preach that our biggest competitor is not the other team, it's ourselves, and that means our level--our attitude, our effort, our performance and preparation--should always be consistent, no matter who's across the line.