Let’s check out my game notes from the Saints 14-9 win over the Vikings down in New Orleans at the Superdome…
Game plan notes…
Favre: The Vikes’ QB made some big time throws last night down the seam, but where is the outside vertical passing game? Bernard Berrian was a no-show, as was Percy Harvin. Got to see Greg Camarillo late in the game on a Flat/ 7 route, but outside of that, this Minnesota offense is strictly a west coast team that relies on the running game and short to intermediate routes. The Vikings have to find a way to stretch the field and test CBs next week. Every offense needs to pick up explosive plays. Favre finished 15-27 for 171 yards with a TD and one INT.
ICONBrees and the Saints had a unique game plan last night for the Vikings.
Payton’s offense: Not surprising to see the Saints spread the field and use multiple personnel groupings to start the game with the lack of depth in the Vikings secondary. We saw the stack looks; empty sets and QB Drew Brees get time to throw the football. A lot of combination routes. Reggie Bush became the primary back because of his dynamic ability out of the backfield. But, it changed in the second half. More of a base look from New Orleans and two-back runs (Power O, Lead, Lead Open) with Pierre Thomas as the feature back, finishing with a TD and 71 yards on 19 carries. Necessary to control the pace of the game and it also gives the Saints future opponents plenty to prepare for. When opposing defenses turn on the tape from last night’s game, they will see how multi-dimensional this team is from an offensive perspective.
Williams’ call sheet: Throughout the first half and into the third quarter, the Saints were a coverage team under Greg Williams. Saw a lot of Cover 2. But, Williams started to dial up pressure in the second half, leaning on his zone pressure schemes. Just like we talked about earlier this week on the chalkboard, the Saints will bring pressure and use their underneath defenders to as vertical hook players—where they can run underneath routes creating a matchup zone look.
The Vikings defense: We saw tonight why Leslie Frazier’s defense can play Tampa 2 as a core call and use their zone blitz schemes—because the Vikings tackle well as an entire defense. Force the ball to go underneath, make a tackle and get off of the field. Basically, take away the deep ball. This is very well coached defense.
Scheme talk…
Shiancoe: Let’s talk about the TD reception. Shiancoe ran the TE “shake” route (out and up) against the Saints’ Cover 2. The Mike Backer’s responsibility is to run the inside vertical seam. Bu,t when he settled his feet on the double move it created a hole in the defense. Great throw, great catch and a great call in that situation.
ICONThe Saints' Reggie Bush.
RB “ghost” motion: Once the Saints started running the ball in the second half, we saw them bring their “Pony” personnel (2 tailbacks in the game) on the field. In doing that, they used “ghost” motion with Bush (motion into the backfield). It is a solid scheme, as it forcers the outside contain of the defense to play the fake reverse to Bush—limiting their ability to crash to the ball carrier.
Henderson’s TD: This is a great coaching point. The Saints aligned in an empty set and Devery Henderson ran the out route. But, when Brees stepped up into the pocket, he converted his route up the field—essentially running a “9” route. The CB is caught looking into the backfield and the Henderson now has him on his back hip.
Vilma’s INT: We talked about Williams’ zone blitz schemes above, and this is another example. The Mike Backer is counted in the protection scheme for the Vikings, but leaves at the snap as a zone dropper. Favre gets pressure off the edge and doesn’t account for Vilma running underneath the option route to Shiancoe.
Personnel notes…
Garrett Hartley, Saints: Can’t miss two field goals and leave points on the field. Don’t be surprised to see the Saints bring in kickers off the street for workouts this week. Hartley could be out of a job by next Sunday.
ICONPeterson finished with 87-yards on 19 carries.
Adrian Peterson, Vikings: Still amazes me how hard he runs with the football. The Vikings opened up their entire playbook last night in the run game: the stretch, the zone, the 2-back power runs, etc. 19 carries for 87 yards.
Jared Allen, Vikings: Didn’t see much from Allen. New Orleans relied on LT Jermon Bushrod and used the RB to chip in certain situations. Bottom line: he wasn’t a factor.
Jabari Greer, Saints: Very quick feet in his backpedal and good coming out of his breaks. Plus, he can tackle. He can react to the ball in the flat and get the ball carrier on the ground.
Quick hits…
- As sloppy as the game might have looked, we didn’t see the amount of turnovers that are associated with the first game of the season.
- Give the Vikings’ secondary some credit. Those guys played hard and challenged routes. Tough to do with injuries and make-shift secondary against New Orleans.
- Malcolm Jenkins can be a player at safety for the Saints. Showed some hitting ability last night.
- Don’t usually see New Orleans miss on scoring opportunities. In the red zone, you have to score touchdowns.
Check back to the NFP tomorrow for the Bump and Run podcast where Joe Fortenbaugh and I will preview and pick winners for the rest of the Week One NFL action.
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Hi Matt - just joined up and am REALLY looking forward for more of your Post Game Notes during the season. This was GREAT!!!!!
Hi Matt - just joined up and am REALLY looking forward for more of your Post Game Notes during the season. This was GREAT!!!!!
Matt--
There was one particular throw Brees made that just blew me away. On his own two-yard line on second down, Brees botches the snap. Busted play. He picks up the ball, rolls to his right, and with a defender grabbing at his feet and another right in his face, he throws the ball twenty-six yards to Robert Meacham (I believe that was who it was) for the catch and the first down. That was an All-Pro play.
Matt,
Great stuff as always. Looking forward to another great season of NFL and the NFP website.
Brett was not sharp last night. Accuracy could have been better and made mental mistakes. It looked like he could have used another week or two of training camp and some more preseason game action. If I was a Vikings fan, I would put a lot of the blame for this loss on his shoulders.
Thanks,
Fridge
@Journeyman-
Agree on the throw by Brees. What impressed me the most about that play was his ability to stay calm with the ball on the ground in his own endzone. Most players would panic in that situation...
That could have been a disaster, yet it tuns out to be a huge play for field position.
The story of the game was the absense of Sidney Rice (and how much that effected the passing game) and how ludicrous the play-calling is getting from so-called "offensive geniuses".
I think both Payton and Childress called horrific games but fortunately one had to win and will continue to get praised.
18 passes and 1 run to start the game?
Giving up on Peterson after he had almost 60 yards on 12 carries in the first half?
I swear it's getting more like Madden Football every week and everyone in the media is afraid to call these guys out on it.
Just because you CAN throw, doesn't mean you have to do it every down. When will these so-called gurus realize that?
I wish Lombardi was still around to break down Childress' use of the clock too. I miss that rant every other week.
They threw hot on the blitz and the guy caught a slant that Porter jumped on for a hard hit and a three yard gain. Many hits on Berrian or Harvin like that, they will make less catches for the rest of that quarter. Williams wants you to throw hot it is why he does that blitz. Should have sluggo'd over it.
The Vikes tried making Harvin their third down back at times for a mismatch, Williams blitzed him to force his hand in protections. Harvin did well enough at it, but when the Vikes starting tackle went out it really changed what they could do, Schianco had less chance to line up on slot or away from formation, and a back to chip on the tackle opposite that was needed more. That could limit some of their sets or formations to a point recognition got easier so more routes could get jumped on.
A handful of plays decided the outcome, mostly on Brees scrambles for completion and Favre's one costly turnover. The Vikes were closer only because the Saints left points on the field against a secondary playing on skates. Bet Aaron Rodgers is licking his chops and will drool all over the film room floor when he sees their game.
Dome field teams should never miss field goals indoors. Hit it or split it, good call by Matty, on kickers in the help wanted for the Times Picayune.
deljzc,
Do you honestly think that Payton and Williams were going to throw their best game at the Vikes in week 1? Clearly, they wanted to show as little as possible while still playing to win. And beyond that, what is so special about running the ball that it MUST be a large part of the strategy to start the game? If a team can spread the field and complete a high percentage of underneath passes, doesn't that accomplish the same thing? I loved that the Saints kept throwing in the first half, especially since Minnesota and it's Williams Wall was supposedly hard to run against. Only an idiot would insist on running the ball into the biggest strength of a defense and expect it to be effective. You are correct about Childress, though. Who on earth abandons their most effective play calls down the stretch in close game? His only discernable value as the head coach seems to be his ability to kiss Favre's ass so sloppily that he keeps coming back from retirement.
Dude, they are not going to fire the kicker that put them in the Super Bowl after one bad week. Hartley will be just fine, thank you very much.
Vilma's pick reminded me of an Urlacher pick a few years ago vs. Green Bay--Brett continues to make the same mistakes, even after all these years.
To quote Esther Dyson: "Only make NEW mistakes"....something to teach your children and players, it's served me well for years!
I noted that Al Michaels repeatedly stated that Favre, in essentially his third preseason game, appeared to have little faith in his receivers. That "faith" is built up during repetition during OTAs and training camp. Hard to develop that faith when you don't know the names of the guys in the huddle.
If Childress is concerned about Favre's faith in his receivers, he should dispatch Longwell, Hutchinson, and Allen down to Hattiesburg and plead with the Hattiesburg High players to come north to play the wideout positions for Favre. Brett spent his entire summer building his rapport with those guys.
Matt: how can anyone argue with all those X's and 0's? However, outside of the absence of Allen, I thought the lineplay on both sides of the ball was telling. The Vikings showed weakness on both sides that may not be easy to fix. Am I crazy? Throw in the fact, that the Saints were tepid with pressure.
Matt, I've been reading your column for more than a year now. Your knowledge is obvious and admirable. Your grasp of written English is not. I often have a hard time following what you are trying to say because you are not articulating it clearly. I offer this criticism in the same spirit that a good football coach would: you have too much talent to waste on undisciplined technique. If I were cruel, I'd tell you to get an editor. Instead, I'll ask that you please learn how to write more clearly. Your page is as good as it gets for tactical analysis, but it has the potential to be insurmountable. Please, for all of us, use unambiguous English, and do not suppose at all times that your reader can follow what you think you are saying. Again, I intend this without any hostility--I want to understand the analysis you have to offer.
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Sep 10, 2010
01:51 AM
I rally think the Saints will win the Super Bowl.