Expect a Different approach from our Offense

[WildBB]

With our Defense hurting and exhausted from the Packer game, I expect the Cardinal offense to take a different approach. Instead of throwing it all over the field & having 3 minute drives, expect the Cardinals to pound the rock & try for long, time consuming drives. For our D to have a chance in this game, they will need far more rest than what they got in the Green Bay game. There's a reason why Marino never could get back to the SB. They threw the ball so much & scored so quickly that their defense was always on the field & wilted late in games. Whiz is a brilliant strategist & knows that it would be SUICIDE if we employ the same approach as we did against GB. Hell, as great as his offensive gameplan was, it almost backfired.

Just hang on to the ball baby!

 

[conraddobler]

It'll come down to turnovers, it almost always does.

Vermeil pounded that into the Chiefs heads with a graph once that showed how often in the NFL you win when you lose the turnover battle.

It's huge in just the regular season but in the playoffs it's like mega huge.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2006-02-04-turnovers_x.htm

In the 57 playoff games since the 2000 season where Team A has an edge in turnover margin over Team B, Team A is 46-11, including 7-2 in this postseason.

In the 31 Super Bowls where one team wins the turnover battle, that team is – get ready for this – 29-2. The last team to win a Super Bowl but turn the ball over more than its opponent? Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XIV against Los Angeles.

It seems the farther along in the playoffs you go the more important winning this battle is.

So we REALLY need to win that battle.

I'd be working with DRC and Antron and Wilson and CO, to TAKE CHANCES and go for the pick.

Work on stripping the ball.

I wouldn't say a word to my offense, talking about turnovers is bad juju.

 

[MrYeahBut]

Was it the Colts this season that trounced the Cards and they were playing on a short week and overtime game???

just sayin

 

[cardsfanmd]

Was it the Colts this season that trounced the Cards and they were playing on a short week and overtime game???

just sayin

Yes and no. I would say it was Tim Hightower and Warner who turned the ball over in the red zone that trounced the Cards

 

[daytripper]

i think it'll be a 1 2 punch. we'll go early with an aggresive passing game and try to jump out to a 2 score lead. This will cause the Saints to go 1 dimensional and allow us to turn loose the blitz. We'll then go into ball control mode until they get within one score then back to the vertical game. Short story 2 scores up run, 1 or less pass.

 

[PJ1]

Yes and no. I would say it was Tim Hightower and Anquan Boldin who turned the ball over in the red zone that trounced the Cards

Freeney abused us and Manning toyed with us in that game. Turnovers or not we lose bad. Horrible game.

 

[Russ Smith]

I guess I'm confused we definitely have defensive injuries but tired players? Most of our defensive starters barely played the last game of the season so they had much more rest before the playoff game. Yes we lose a day but to me that's more about less preparation time and healing of injury time than rest time.

I believe players got tired during the game Sunday but I don't believe players will come into the Saints game tired?

FYI I do think we'll run more this time but not because of fatigue, because the Saints run defense is not as good as the Packers was. The Saints allowed 40 more rushing yards per game and almost a full yard more per carry than GB did. GB was the #1 rush defense, NO is #21. We'll run more on them(unless they stack the box) because they don't defend the run as well.

The Saints pass defense is far better than their run defense, they have the 3rd lowest passer rating allowed in the NFL, just ahead of GB. Green Bay gave up 29 TD passes this year, NO 15, I'd be pretty surprised if we're not running more against them. Short of them just loading the box and daring us to throw I don't see any way we throw as much or as effectively, but I do think we can run the ball on them.

 

[Zeno]

The Saints have only allowed 20 sacks all year. Brees, cozy and comfy in the pocket will be like Rogers on roids! Our secondary will be carved and shredded...

Brees sacked 20 times in 534 drop backs (514 attempts + 20 sacks)

Warner sacked 24 times in 537 drop backs

Not a huge difference and Brees is more mobile.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Wells, Wells, and more Wells!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mulli]

Unlikely. Saints will score fast and often IMO. Pounding the rock won't allow us to keep pace.

I agree. Throw the ball to set up the run. But keep throwing the ball on the makeshift secondary of the Saints.

 

[joeshmo]

Coach Wiz is not going to base his offensive game plan on our defense. He is going to base his offensive game plan on their defense. The way our defense played has nothing to do with how Wiz will game plan for this week. He will make his offense play as best it can based on their D and tell our D to step it up.

In actuallity we made Rodgers look way better then his stat line showed. Of his 400+ yards, 223 of them came from YAC. Which is double the average YAC per catch in the NFL. Which means missed tackles and only hurt ourselves. Now add in two missed tackles/sacks by Adams on corner blitzes (one of which would have been on the long jump ball to Finley over McFadden which was on 3 and 5 on their own 30 and if Adams didnt jump past Rodgers like a fool they would have punted and not start to gain momentum late in the 2nd quarter), 3 PI against Adams, and every other DB whiffing on tackles including Wilson and you have what we saw on Sunday. The D played sloppy, sloppy football.

 

[PACardsFan]

Coach Wiz is not going to base his offensive game plan on our defense. He is going to base his offensive game plan on their defense. The way our defense played has nothing to do with how Wiz will game plan for this week. He will make his offense play as best it can based on their D and tell our D to step it up.

In actuallity we made Rodgers look way better then his stat line showed. Of his 400+ yards, 223 of them came from YAC. Which is double the average YAC per catch in the NFL. Which means missed tackles and only hurt ourselves. Now add in two missed tackles/sacks by Adams on corner blitzes (one of which would have been on the long jump ball to Finley over McFadden which was on 3 and 5 on their own 30 and if Adams didnt jump past Rodgers like a fool they would have punted and not start to gain momentum late in the 2nd quarter), 3 PI against Adams, and every other DB whiffing on tackles including Wilson and you have what we saw on Sunday. The D played sloppy, sloppy football.

Great assessment - you're dead on correct. Whiz was on Mike & Mike this morning & pretty much echoed your sentiments. Our tackling in the secondary was nothing short of attrocious. I expect our D to play much better on Saturday.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Brees sacked 20 times in 534 drop backs (514 attempts + 20 sacks)

Warner sacked 24 times in 537 drop backs

Not a huge difference and Brees is more mobile.

Wasn't attempting to suggest there was a big difference. My point is simply that 20 sacks is extremely low - as are the 24 on Warner. Therefore, you give either of these QB's that amount of time and comfort in the pocket, and they will eat you alive.