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Scouts Inc - Texans at Saints

Section516

Warrior
QB - Saints
RB - Texans
WR - Texans
OL - Saints
DL - Texans
LB - Saints
DB - Saints
ST - Texans
Coach - Saints

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Texans-Saints matchup.

1. Houston needs to get to Drew Brees: Few quarterbacks do a better job than Brees of recognizing blitzes and checking off to the most effective solution. Houston defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is a master at bringing heat from different directions, and Phillips has done an excellent job putting OLB Mario Williams in position to make plays, and Williams and his mates need to get Brees out of rhythm because the Saints can carve up a defense when given time.

2. Be physical on the perimeter: When defenses bring pressure they generally put their cornerbacks on an island and trust them to play tight man coverage with little help over the top. That means Houston's corners will be an a lot of press coverage where they will be asked to get their hands on receivers and jam them at the line of scrimmage, disrupting their ability to get into routes.

3. Get WR Andre Johnson involved early: Johnson is leading the Texans with 14 receptions, seven in each of the first two games, and can take over a game. Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison must get the ball in Johnson’s hands early and often. If Johnson gets off to a fast start he could help limit the ability of New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to bring pressure, because there will be more room for the running game to milk the clock and negate pass rush pressure.

4. Look for the Texans to disguise coverages: Few quarterbacks in the NFL understand schemes and how to utilize personnel packages like Brees. He is a smart quarterback who is quick to recognize coverages and knows what his best options will be in the passing game. The Texans will want to utilize a lot of different personnel packages and coverage schemes, disguising the coverage before the snap to make Brees just a bit slower to make decisions.

5. Matchup to watch: Houston TE Owen Daniels vs. New Orleans SS Roman Harper: Johnson is Houston’s most explosive weapon and will likely draw a lot of double coverage. The should create room for an overlooked target in Daniels, who is due for a breakout game. Harper will spend a lot of his coverage time on Daniels and will be fighting a three-inch height disadvantage.

6. Spread the wealth: Few teams to a better job than the Saints of distributing the ball to multiple weapons. Part of the credit goes coach Sean Payton, who is a master at using multiple groupings that take advantage of personnel strengths, and part of the credit goes to a quarterback who understands how to read coverages and takes what the defense gives him. When defenses know that any of several different weapons could be the first option, it makes it hard to focus on shutting down one particular player.

7. Account for Mario Williams: Williams is looking more comfortable at outside linebacker after moving from defensive end after last season, and is already a very effective pass-rusher when blitzing. Don’t be surprised if defensive coordinator Wade Phillips moves Williams to make it more difficult for New Orleans to slide protection to his side. The Saints need to keep him out of the backfield and away from Brees on passing downs.

8. Give Matt Schaub a lot of different looks on defense: Gregg Williams uses a lot of different personnel packages and heavy blitz schemes to not only keep his personnel fresh, but also to slow down the decision making process of the opposing quarterback. Williams loves to pressure the pocket and is apt to be as blitz happy as Phillips will be on the other sideline.

9. Protect the football: These teams have a history under their current head coaches of winning the turnover battle. After two games the Texans are plus-1 and New Orleans is minus-1 overall, and the team that comes out on top in this game will have a distinct advantage.

10.Matchup to watch: New Orleans QB Drew Brees vs. Houston defensive coordinator Wade Phillips: This will be a classic chess match between the mad blitzer and the counter-puncher. Phillips loves to bring the heat and try to force an early throw or get a sack before the quarterback can get the ball off. Brees is one of the best at recognizing coverages and blitz packages and knows who to go to when he sees pressure coming from one side.

Final - Hou 24, Saints 27

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/scouting?gameId=310925018
 
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Porky

Hall of Fame
Actually, for a change that's a pretty darn good anaylsis, and I can't argue with much of anything here. Thanks for sharing.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
QB - Saints
RB - Texans
WR - Texans
OL - Saints
DL - Texans
LB - Saints
DB - Saints
ST - Texans
Coach - Saints
I really wish they would do these comparisons in a way that makes more sense.

If he is saying the Saints have a better offensive line, it doesn't mean that our OL is crap... or that the Saints RBs aren't any good.

Texans OL vs Saints DL
Texans RB vs Saints LBs

Shaub vs Saints Pass D
Saints running game vs Texans Rush D

something like that would be more useful I think.
 
I really wish they would do these comparisons in a way that makes more sense.
I have no idea how the Saints LB corps gets the nod over the Texans group. No clue.

Vilma missed practice this week. Aside from him we have Shanle and Herring (who is pretty terrible).

I might be tempted to take the Texans LB corps if you ran a 4-2-5 with Williams and Cushing and the Saints ran a 3-7-1 with Shanle, Herring, Vilma, Casillas, Dunbar, Wilson and moved Harper into the box.

So the methodology is... at the very least, bewildering.
 
I have no idea how the Saints LB corps gets the nod over the Texans group. No clue.

Vilma missed practice this week. Aside from him we have Shanle and Herring (who is pretty terrible).

I might be tempted to take the Texans LB corps if you ran a 4-2-5 with Williams and Cushing and the Saints ran a 3-7-1 with Shanle, Herring, Vilma, Casillas, Dunbar, Wilson and moved Harper into the box.

So the methodology is... at the very least, bewildering.
Agreed, Texans LB core is easily superior.

Other than that, though, the article is spot on. I see it be a bit more high scoring, but I think Saints by 3 is about right.
 

TheCD

Rookie
Nice breakdown.

9. Protect the football: These teams have a history under their current head coaches of winning the turnover battle.
Don't we always end up complaining about how our ofeense turns the ball over and the defense can't? Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure we've been in the negative column for turnovers since Kubiak has been here.
 

Joeycharp89

Waterboy
Nice breakdown.



Don't we always end up complaining about how our ofeense turns the ball over and the defense can't? Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure we've been in the negative column for turnovers since Kubiak has been here.
Apparently our new history is the last two weeks. We'll just ignore anything before that.
 
The only thing I disagree with is the RB position and LB position. I think they have the advantage at running back. Sproles is lethal out of the backfield in many ways. Pierre Thomas runs hard and has good vision, and Ingram the former Heisman winner is their third string back. I think that is easily the Saints if Foster is not 100%. We do run the ball more than the Saints though.

Linebacker has to be the Texans, Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, Demeco Ryans, and Connor Barwin. With homer glasses off, I can see the clear advantage here.

I think the Saints will win in a close game. Win or Loss, we will kick the crap out of Pittsburg in Houston.
 
The only thing I disagree with is the RB position and LB position. I think they have the advantage at running back. Sproles is lethal out of the backfield in many ways. Pierre Thomas runs hard and has good vision, and Ingram the former Heisman winner is their third string back. I think that is easily the Saints if Foster is not 100%. We do run the ball more than the Saints though.

Linebacker has to be the Texans, Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, Demeco Ryans, and Connor Barwin. With homer glasses off, I can see the clear advantage here.

I think the Saints will win in a close game. Win or Loss, we will kick the crap out of Pittsburg in Houston.
I've got to agree with this take.
 

DocBar

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Agreed, Texans LB core is easily superior.

Other than that, though, the article is spot on. I see it be a bit more high scoring, but I think Saints by 3 is about right.
The football fan in me agrees with this, but the Texans :homer: in me sees 28-17 Texans.

The only thing I disagree with is the RB position and LB position. I think they have the advantage at running back. Sproles is lethal out of the backfield in many ways. Pierre Thomas runs hard and has good vision, and Ingram the former Heisman winner is their third string back. I think that is easily the Saints if Foster is not 100%. We do run the ball more than the Saints though.

Linebacker has to be the Texans, Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, Demeco Ryans, and Connor Barwin. With homer glasses off, I can see the clear advantage here.

I think the Saints will win in a close game. Win or Loss, we will kick the crap out of Pittsburg in Houston.
We better. I'm 39 miles SW of Pittsburgh and talking much ****!!:gotexans1
 

bus driver

Practice Squad
Greetings Texans fans!

I will agree with the group here - the Texans' linebackers are hands down better than the Saints. Outside of Vilma, our LBs have looked downright pathetic (and even Vilma hasn't been on his game). We have one promising OLB in Jonathan Casillas, but he doesn't start for whatever reason and we're stuck with Shanle and Herring/Dunbar.

The Saints RBs are better than people think, although they haven't showed much so far. We were never able to establish a running game against Green Bay since we were down two scores halfway through the first quarter and had to play catch up. Ingram is an excellent compliment to Pierre Thomas, and Sproles plays his role well.

My rational mind says this game could go either way.
 

Texas T

Veteran
Greetings Texans fans!

I will agree with the group here - the Texans' linebackers are hands down better than the Saints. Outside of Vilma, our LBs have looked downright pathetic (and even Vilma hasn't been on his game). We have one promising OLB in Jonathan Casillas, but he doesn't start for whatever reason and we're stuck with Shanle and Herring/Dunbar.

The Saints RBs are better than people think, although they haven't showed much so far. We were never able to establish a running game against Green Bay since we were down two scores halfway through the first quarter and had to play catch up. Ingram is an excellent compliment to Pierre Thomas, and Sproles plays his role well.

My rational mind says this game could go either way.
Welcome to the board. There is always room for some good FB discussion here!! I think most of us agree that this should be a close game and could go either way.

It will definately tell us something about both teams!
 

Joeycharp89

Waterboy
I don't think our offense is gonna be able to win a shootout with Brees, and their run game isn't far behind ours, not to mention they currently have more depth than us considering our injuries. It personally seems like it would come down to our defense breaking up big plays, getting a small lead and running down the clock with Tate.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
When the game day thread starts, I hope people don't panic when the Saints make a big play, because it's going to happen.


Actually, I hope our team doesn't freak out & allow more & more... they need to forget the big play & focus on the next play.

If they can do that, I'm booking a hotel room in Indy for early mid to late january
 
Vilma is officially out, so i doubt their LBs have the advantage now.
Nope. Vilma is officially Doubtful.

Per Sean Payton this afternoon:

“Here’s our final injury report: K Garrett Hartley (right hip) did not practice, he’s out for this game; LB Jon Vilma (left knee) did not practice, he’s doubtful; WR Marques Colston (right shoulder) did not practice, he’s out for this game; CB Tracy Porter (left calf) was limited, he’s questionable for this game. The next four players are all probable: S Jonathon Amaya was limited today, LB Jonathan Casillas was full today, S Roman Harper was full today, and DT Tom Johnson was full today.”


Was there a setback with Vilma?


“It wasn’t a setback. It was just a matter of just trying to track his progress and every morning when we come in the first thing we do is go see Scottie (Patton) and see the player and see how these guys are doing. The concern is, especially at that position with what he’s doing, we want to see him at one hundred percent or at least in a percentage where he’s comfortable enough to function. I think he knows that too. There wasn’t any specific setback, it just hasn’t come back as quickly as we had hoped and we’ll see how it is tomorrow.”
 

Ryan

THIS YEAR
Nope. Vilma is officially Doubtful.

Per Sean Payton this afternoon:

“Here’s our final injury report: K Garrett Hartley (right hip) did not practice, he’s out for this game; LB Jon Vilma (left knee) did not practice, he’s doubtful; WR Marques Colston (right shoulder) did not practice, he’s out for this game; CB Tracy Porter (left calf) was limited, he’s questionable for this game. The next four players are all probable: S Jonathon Amaya was limited today, LB Jonathan Casillas was full today, S Roman Harper was full today, and DT Tom Johnson was full today.”


Was there a setback with Vilma?


“It wasn’t a setback. It was just a matter of just trying to track his progress and every morning when we come in the first thing we do is go see Scottie (Patton) and see the player and see how these guys are doing. The concern is, especially at that position with what he’s doing, we want to see him at one hundred percent or at least in a percentage where he’s comfortable enough to function. I think he knows that too. There wasn’t any specific setback, it just hasn’t come back as quickly as we had hoped and we’ll see how it is tomorrow.”

Pish Posh. He's not going to play.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
God how I hate fantasy football.
You losing your league too?

I just don't know where I went wrong this year. I still think my team is strong, just not playing out the way I planned.

I'm going to be all over the waiver wire though, just don't know who to drop.
 

DBCooper

Outlaw
Contributor's Club
You losing your league too?

I just don't know where I went wrong this year. I still think my team is strong, just not playing out the way I planned.

I'm going to be all over the waiver wire though, just don't know who to drop.
You're funny.

It's evil I say, Evil!


It's against my religion to play, I'm in a offshoot sect of DreadHead.
 

hradhak

Veteran
Press Coverage? Last week we were playing off the line and giving a 7-8 yard cushion on nearly every play. I'm hoping that we do a little more bump and run, but I worry about KJ and Allen being able to press.
 
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