Who What?: Sean Payton expects to see lots of blitzing
The Vince Lombardi Trophy on display at the Super Bowl. It's troubling for Falcons fans that their hated rivals actually own one of these. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC)
FLOWERY BRANCH – Got to check out the guys on Inside the NFL last night on Showtime and Cris Collinsworth, Warren Sapp and Phil Simms were making their picks.
Sapp and Simms picked the Falcons to beat the Saints. Collinsworth picked the Saints to win.
Earlier, a few members of the media chatted with Saints coach Sean Payton on the conference call. We didn’t ask him to pick a winner.
NFC South foe New Orleans coach Sean Payton.
But here’s what he had to say on a few subjects leading up to the 82nd regular-season meeting between the Saints and the Falcons.
ON THE SAINTS JAGGED SCHEDULE TO START TO SEASON: “I think part of that comes with winning. When we came here in ‘06 I think every game was at 12 noon and we had one Monday night game. That was the result of losing. When you do start having success I think you find yourself playing on some of those time slots. Sunday evening, Monday nights, Thursday to open the season, Thanksgiving; there are about five of them this year. It can be challenging, but I think it’s really what your goal was in the beginning; is to put yourself in that position.”
ON HIS PLANS TO REPLACE REGGIE BUSH: “I don’t know if you replace him. Your packages change. Probably, similarly in Atlanta with them (losing) Norwood. There are certain things you do and maybe certain things you stay away from with the player out.”
ON DREW BREES INSTINCTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF HIS PASSES: “I do think he has good instincts. He spends a lot of time studying film and defenses. It’s not often that he’s surprised with something he sees. I think half of the battle with protections at that position is at least knowing when you are protected or when you might be short (of protection). He is certainly one of those players that understands that. I think he has a quick release and he’s able to key and diagnose, make decisions fast. All of those things serve him well.”
Safety Thomas DeCoud "congratulating" Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Monday Night Football on Nov. 2. The hit led to a Falcons touchdown.
ON THE FALCONS REVAMPED DEFENSE: “Certainly, when you watch them, they’ve got exceptional team speed. They run to the ball. They are very aggressive. They give you a lot of looks. . . We saw a lot of pressure last year in both of our games. Certainly when you watch the early part of this season, you see the same thing again.”
ON THE FALCONS RUNNING GAME: “Atlanta has always had an outstanding running game. When you go back to since Coach Mike has been there. It’s certainly been big part of what they want to do. They have great balance. They do a great job with their play action and can pass off of that. The numbers the other day were certainly staggering when you consider the amount of yards they rushed for.”
ON MALCOLM JENKINS AT SAFETY: “He’s playing well. He is someone that is very intelligent. He’s a quick study. I think he’s got good football instincts. We are pleased from the first two weeks with the way he’s play.”
ON PENCHANT FOR SAINTS CREATING TURNOVERS: “The one thing we’ve seen in our league the last 8 to 10 years is the emphasis placed on tackling the ball and ball disruptions. I had this conversion recently with a coach. Teams do such a good job now of emphasising that now that ball carriers, the receivers, the tight end and the running back, all of those players that have the ball in their hands, are certainly mindful of it. We were able to come away with four turnovers Monday night and that was big in our win. One thing that hasn’t changed is that statistic still wins and loses game.”
ON RODDY WHITE’S START TO THE SEASON: “He’s got great speed off the line of scrimmage. He’s an extremely talented receiver. He can hurt you down the field. Certainly you see Matt’s confidence with him. He’s a special player.”
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124 comments Add your comment
Ueeediot
September 23rd, 2010
2:10 pm
What is an illegal screen pass? Havent seen one of those, ever.
The only thing that the Saints repeatedly get away with is using the OLB as a pick against the nickel back so their slot receiver gets open on the slant faster.
But the NFL officiating has become a joke.
Did you see the obviously incomplete pass they allowed to be played out as a fumble in week 1?
CTK
September 23rd, 2010
2:14 pm
B4, Breesus, hiram, FALCONS SORRY- Make sure you bring your sorry behinds back after Sunday! Don’t wait to show back up in November.
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
2:15 pm
Yep. That is one thing Payton is good at. The Saints bend the rule until the ref starts throwing flags for it.
Look at the Farve beat-down. Williams basically dared the refs to throw roughing flags and they never did. By the end of that game the Saints were teeing off knowing no flags were coming.
Both games last year showed Grimes has Brees’ number. The only way out was for the refs to get out the hankies.
NOT THIS YEAR!
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
2:17 pm
And the refs were throwing the flag on Grimes as a result of Payton whining on the sideline to them.
I sit on the front row / visitor side and I heard it myself. You are most likely a TV watcher and therfore missed it.
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
2:19 pm
Front Row,
The Saints were called for roughing the passer twice in the game you reference. Grimes made a hell of an athletic play in that pic in the Superdome last year, but he was also burnt toast on 5 more plays… So I am not really worried about Mr. Grimes. You really come across as a sore loser with all this whining lol. Do you every post comments on any of the Minnesota Vikings blogs?
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
2:21 pm
Receiver pick is OFF INT. Linemen downfield is illegal screen.
Payton teaches both.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
September 23rd, 2010
2:22 pm
DOL, could you tell if Payton had a buzz? Narcotics, like the ones he lifted, can cause slurred speech.
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
I expect the Saints to make a few plays. What I don’t expect and what I hate paying for is seeing the refs make up for the times the Saints (or any team) don’t make plays.
Falcons made it to the SB once and, unlike you, I am totally willing to admit the Falcons got alot of lopsided referee help on the way.
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
2:28 pm
Front Row,
I am gonna let you in a tiny secret…. EVERY team in the NFL runs pick plays where they use the umpire (one of the reasons they moved them behind the line of scrimmage) as interference or 1 of their own players. As long as the offensive player does not put his hands out and make it obvious this penalty is almost never called across the board in the NFL. The Saint’s surely aren’t the only team in the NFL that uses this to get receivers open.
Like I said, the Saints are taking over the NFL 1 illegal screen pass at a time, lol
Ueeediot
September 23rd, 2010
2:28 pm
lol @ proud
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
2:30 pm
you were complaining earlier about offensive pass interference because the Saints start blocking before the receiver catches the ball. You obviously don’t even know the rules! It is perfectly legal to block while the ball is in the air as long as the pass is behind the line of scrimmage.
Ueeediot
September 23rd, 2010
2:33 pm
Using the ref as a pick is the same as when the goal posts were on the goal line and used the same way. The ref is part of the field. Thats not why he was moved. He was moved because they were getting their old man asses kicked by MLBs and RBs.
You don’t have to put your hands out for it to be illegal. Any NBA style pick causing a receiver to change his route is illegal.
I think what we all agree on is that the NFL officiating needs a serious review. This “carrying the ball through the ground” stuff is nonsense. Calvin Johnson caught that ball, had two feet down, and was down by contact before the ball came out. It would never have been ruled a fumble so how is it an incomplete pass.
The roughing the passer rules are stupid and allow all the umpires to call it differently. Did you see the ones in Week 2? How about Ray Lewis being called for tripping?!?!?!?
SeenThisB4
September 23rd, 2010
2:37 pm
Anybody know when was the last time Drew Brees threw an interception?
Let me give you a clue: cowboys.
If there’s any falcant fan out there who thinks that they have seen all the Saints screens, a bit of advice: keep thinking that!
Oh and PLEASE send that falcant blitz, please! Do it often! Cause that will shut down Drew Brees, in his tracks. So, go ahead, send it! Trust me, the Saints don’t have a clue how to exploit that!
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
2:40 pm
Wrong again Breesus. Last year at the GA Dome the Falcons got called for OFF INT twice; Saints NONE.
All pick plays (bubble screen, quick flanker, whatever u wanna call it) are illegal no matter where the hands are.
Behind the line is OK but when the offensive linemen is 5 yds downfield it’s a 5 yard penalty (referece P Thomas 4th quarter against the 49ers).
Those are plays are used by “finess” teams. The Falcons play smash mouth. I prefer the latter and I despise wimpy teams (Saints, former 49ers, Patriots) that can win without cheating.
SeenThisB4
September 23rd, 2010
2:40 pm
Ueediot, wow! You’re ancient! Either that, or a historian of sorts, probably both. You remember when the goal posts were on the goal line.
Ueeediot
September 23rd, 2010
2:42 pm
it is spelled G-o.
Geaux is not a word. Mushmouths
SeenThisB4
September 23rd, 2010
2:42 pm
FrontRow: Most NFL players would say they are only illegal, if you get caught. So stop your whinning girl, man up. You lost. End of story. Nobody cares about blown calls.
SeenThisB4
September 23rd, 2010
2:43 pm
And neither is: Ueeediot!
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
2:43 pm
I agree that there are bad calls made seemingly almost every game. However, regardless of the teams playing, in almost every instance (Calvin Johnsons’s catch/non-catch being an exception because of the timing in the game) the team on the opposite end of a bad call has a chance to make a play. This has been the way football has been since it’s inception. It happens, the good teams, just keep playing and make their own luck despite whatever calls went against them. I agree that the pass interference call against Grimes was probably a bad one, but the Jenkins dropped TD hurt and last I remembered the Falcons had the ball on the last posession of the game with a chance to win and were stopped cold.
The thing with Calvin Johnson wasn’t really the ref’s fault because they interpreted the rule correctly, but it’s a stupid rule that needs to be changed, that is the responsibility of the competition committee. That indeed should have been a catch
Ueeediot
September 23rd, 2010
2:46 pm
I never saw football when the posts were on the line except on TV. You know, TVs? Those things you loot from the neighbors?
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
2:50 pm
Not every game. The Falcons-Steelers game was really good (despite the outcome) partly because the refs stayed out of the outcome and let the teams play.
Being a Saints watcher, you are probably unaware that games are played weekly where the refs keep the flags in their pocket and let the players play. I’ve been to hundreds of games and the “let em play” games are the best as long as the non-calls are even.
But you fair weather Saints fans most likely have never seen one of these.
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
2:51 pm
Ueeediot,
This post is about football right? Not politics correct? I mean I live in Atlanta, is there really a need to air all of it’s dirty laundry?
But then again, that’s all you have to go on when your team is mediocre, and deep down in your heart whether you will admit it or not, you know that it is! You can’t talk your way out of the Saints owning the Falcons since Brees singed
SeenThisB4
September 23rd, 2010
2:51 pm
Coach Williams: Hey Ayodele, Ellis, come ovahere!
Ayodele, Ellis: Yeah coach?
Coach Williams: #73 and #63, I want them out of the game, early, got me?
Ayodele: Yeah coach, no problem.
Ellis: On their first possession okay?
Coach Williams: Yeah, their first possession, make sure they don’t forget ya.
Ayodele: No problem coach.
Ellis: What about their QB coach?
Coach Williams: What are you kidding me, we want that fool to stay in the game! Just rough him up a little, make him feel at home.
Ayodele: Aw right coach, you got it.
SeenThisB4
September 23rd, 2010
2:54 pm
I never looted my neighbors…Wal-Mart maybe, not my neighbors!
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
2:56 pm
You’re right Front Row,
You are the only one in the United States with the appropriate football acumen to address the public masses on correct calls/proper officiating. I on the other hand, have never seen a football game that didn’t involve the Saints. Who knew they played football outside the Superdome? I was a season ticket holder for the 6 years preceding the hurricane (of which the Saints never made the playoffs) and went through alot of lean years 20+ yrs ago so I am hardly a fairweather fan
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
2:56 pm
B4, Breesus, et.al. I’ll bust your ‘nads about the game and the teams but, outside of calling you a wimp or a bonehead, I don’t get personal.
The fake names and out of bounds insults are not me.
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
2:58 pm
You want to talk about bad calls, how about the Hoculi call where the ball was clearly a fumble and he ruled it an incomplete pass in the Denver/SD game? Denver should have lost because SD clearly recovered the ball, but they went on to score the game winning TD and 2 pt conversion… There is one very clear example of a ref screwing up that didn’t involve the Saints! Who kne that could be possible?
Ueeediot
September 23rd, 2010
3:00 pm
Breeesus, thats exactly what I am arguing. The rules need to change. The refs interpreted the rules correctly. But what a crap rule. If it wouldnt have been a fumble because he was down by contact, how can it be an incomplete pass? This happens a lot. I agree a receiver coming down and hits the ground and the ball pops out…incomplete pass.
Receiver catches the ball, establishes possession and is down by contact? Play over.
All the arguing about Jenkins catch (deserved) and etc is moot if you have a FG kicker.
Same goes for the game in Atlanta last year. I think its obvious our (really terrible) backup QB outplayed the aints. As goes football…the aints got the breaks last year. Every team that goes to the super bowl has that singular issue in common. Throughout the year, when the ball bounced, it went their way much more often that not. Let’s see if it can continue.
It should really be interesting. Both teams have really good schedules that could easily put both teams in the playoffs. Unless one beats the other twice and helps themselves. The aints get the panthers, cards, bucs, and browns next. I think we can all agree the falcons schedule is more difficult than the aints.
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
3:02 pm
Aww..that’s as close as you come to admitting your team is getting it’s fair share of official treatment.
How about we agree to hope for an evenly controlled game.
ReddJonn68
September 23rd, 2010
3:07 pm
Hey D-Led we gonna get a heavy dose of passes, they signed LaDell Betts yesterday, who used to play for the Redskins & can catch out of the backfield, much like Snelling. We will get a good look at our revamped secondary & find out if we really can rush the passer. Even though San Fran sacked Brees twice, none came at critical times in the game & Minn only got to him once. Our D is gonna win or lose this one for us, even if we come out on fire & go up a cpl of TDs, we all saw last year what Brees can do coming from behind !!! Should be a barn burner. Gooo Birds !!!!
Ueeediot
September 23rd, 2010
3:12 pm
Yes, the facts are 7-1 over the last 8 games. But that really is quite skewed. 2006…Mike Vick…our coach was terrible then too…the reopening of the superdome…lets agree not to include 2007, that cant count. Lets talk about Brees vs Ryan. you still are ahead, 2 to 1. But thats the only fair comparison right now.
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
3:12 pm
I do hope that it is… I pull for my team by I am always objective about good/bad calls
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
3:17 pm
Ueeediot,
I thought that you and Ron Mexico were best friends? Now those 2 wins don’t count? lol
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
3:18 pm
The Falcons only sacked Anderson twice. However, he took alot of hits and in the 3rd qtr Mr. Moore popped his chops forcing a timeout. At that point, the game (as far as Mr. Anderson was concerned) was over.
I don’t think we need to do that. Falcons shut down the NO offense most of last year by filling lanes, getting their hands up, and the secondary doing a good job of turning their heads with the ball in the air.
Mr. Payton mentions the speed but I don’t think the Saints players will be ready for the difference in speed (and NASTY) between this year and last.
Or at least the Saint’s bloggers aren’t ready for it. Are you really encouraged to go up against Mr’s Witherspoon and Moore?
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
3:36 pm
The 1 thing the Saints have proven over and over again, is that regardless of the opponent their offense can’t be stopped. Teams have slowed them down, but no one has been able to just shut them down. So I don’t think it matters who the Falcons brought in. I still don’t think Matt Ryan is ready for prime time. You find out when you have a great QB and leader when you start to consistently lead your team to victory on the road. Ryan has not proven he can do that yet, so I give the Saints the edge because they are at home. Ryan will make a mistake at some point that will kill your dreams! Just like he did in the Superdome last year
Falcandoit
September 23rd, 2010
3:40 pm
Start William Moore and Chris Owens over Erik Coleman and Brent Grimes, and the Falcons will win.
hiramsaint
September 23rd, 2010
3:47 pm
thats a good lookin’ trophy isn’t it!
hiramsaint
September 23rd, 2010
3:48 pm
i’ve not read any post but i’ll bet front row is already boo- hooing about something. good practice , though , for sunday afternoon
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
3:50 pm
I beg to differ. In the toilet dome game, the Saints offense scored 1 TD in the second half. In the GA dome they had 13 points in the 3rd before the fake hankies came out.
First game Saints got 28 in the first half and 7 in the second. Next game they lost with only 17 points. The adjustments made at the half of the first game are matriculating throughout the league hence lower output this year.
Matt did not make a mistake – first pick J Vilma layed the reciever out with the ball in the air. Second pick J Vilma made a great play.
Does Vilma have the speed this year to have his finger in that position? So far the Saints LBs as a whole have looked very slow.
They really really need to fix what was broke against SF. If not, Turner Turner Turner.
hiramsaint
September 23rd, 2010
3:54 pm
well , i’ve read a number of post and as usual , i’m right! front row crying like a little schoolgirl. all the falclowns fans using the new tactic of the pre-emptive excuses. no wonder the nfl won’t give you a lombardi- y’all are always crying abvout something and never seem to be able to man-up
hiramsaint
September 23rd, 2010
3:57 pm
@ front row—wah wah wah. maybe the refs will give you 1 of those errant hankies so you can dry your little punkie girl tears. what a friggin’ cry baby!
K Bird
September 23rd, 2010
4:00 pm
Good calls/ bad calls, don’t care. Just be back on this blog Breesus after the Birds hand the Aints their arses Sunday, and take your medicine.
DrJ
September 23rd, 2010
4:01 pm
After watching the last Saint’s outing, we mainly have to keep a tremendous amount of pressure on Brees. But I don’t see us blitzing that much, as Brees is so good at beating the blitz. He is going to be surprised by the improvement in our secondary, and he will need some band-aids after the game.
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
4:02 pm
Just reality. Falcons gotta beat the stripes to beat the Saints.
hiramsaint
September 23rd, 2010
4:05 pm
wah wah wah wah wah wah- i’m front row and all i know is how to whine- want a little cheese to go with that?
K Bird
September 23rd, 2010
4:08 pm
No, we will have Aints arse with a beer.
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
4:12 pm
Front Row,
The Saints lack of scoring to end the season was due to the team being tired. If it was teams “scheming” that stopped the Saints, then how do you explain them scoring 45, 31, and 31 in the post season stretch?
K Bird
September 23rd, 2010
4:14 pm
How can you live in Hiram but be an Aints fan? That has got to be some kind of messed up. I mean, even Paulding County is not as bad as Lousey-Anna.
FrontRow
September 23rd, 2010
4:14 pm
Maybe that’s all your hear cuz you are a Saints fan. Give me a 10-9 defensive battle any day over a drama logged hanky filled Saints game.
Breesus
September 23rd, 2010
4:15 pm
Only thing teams are doing differently is playing off and keeping the safeties deep to keep the Saints from going over the top. That’s also why Brees is completing 75% of his throws and the Saints don’t have a turnover this year. Pick your poison, either way the Saints will get it done