both Cameron Jordan and Sean Payton gave their thoughts on what lead to a shoddy defensive performance.Now what if I told you those quotes were following the loss to the Vikings LAST YEAR in Week 1 and then pointed out how similar they were to this years assessment?Three years of data going back to 2016 suggest that the Saints defensive line is a notoriously slow starting unit that improves significantly from week 1 to week 2.In 2016 vs the Raiders they produced 0 scks Cheap Austin Carr Jersey , 4 def, and 3 QB hits.They followed that up with a 2 sck, 4 def, 2 QB hit performance. They doubled their sacks and Cam Jordan himself seemed to wake up from his slumber by chipping in with 8 tcks 2.5 for loss, 1 pdef, and a sack after only posting 1 solo tackle and a QB hit against OaklandIn 2017 vs the Vikings it was more of the same.They generated 1 scks, 2 pdef, and 2 QB hits only to come out the next week and double down on every category with 2 scks, 4 pdef, and 4 QB hits vs Tom Brady and the Patriots.Last Sunday vs Tampa Bay the defensive front posted a paltry stat line of 0 scks, 3 pdef, and 2 QB hits that fell right in line with their week 1 modus operandi.That brings us to the Browns and their QB Tyrod TaylorScott R. Galvin-USA TODAY SportsThe last time the Saints faced off against the Browns elusive quarterback(then with the Bills) they generated 2 sacks, 5 pass def, and 3 QB hits. Taylor delivered a performance that was so abysmal it got him benched in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman.Ironically enough after joining the Browns #5 is in a similar scenario but with a much higher profile rookie, Baker Mayfield, waiting in the wings.Meanwhile his Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley employs 5 step drops that are designed to attack downfield and Tyrod likes to hold onto the ball. When both factors of that relationship are working this can result in chunk yardage plays but when it’s not it gets your QB beat up. This was not more evident than in last weeks game vs the Steelers as Pittsburgh racked up 7 sacks, 10 pass def, and 11 QB hits of Taylor.While the New Orleans defensive line will find themselves hard pressed to duplicate such a dominant effort, Cleveland’s scheme and QB should give them ample enough chances to try.Now to jump into some burning questions the Saints need to answer heading into Week 2.Which new receiver steps up to claim a role?Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsNew Orleans has three receivers on the 53 that weren’t there a year ago. Austin Carr, Tre’quan Smith, and Cam Meredith combined for 2 catches and 22 yards on 2 targets in Week 1. Against Tampa Ben Watson proved to be reliable in key situations (the seam route was beautiful) and Ted Ginn continued his potency in the deep threat role most recently occupied by Brandin Cooks.Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara can’t sustain last weeks production for 16 games so one of the aforementioned players needs to separate from the pack. I expect the picture to be a little clearer after the final whistle on Sunday.Where will the running game come from?Chuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsSean Payton said he “hated that the game got one dimensional”.Drew Brees ended up throwing 45 passes and while the offense put up 40 points it wasn’t because they were balanced.One could even assume that lack of balance lead indirectly to the defensive line seeing 50+ snaps last Sunday.New Orleans has yet to call Boston Scott up from the practice squad hinting that if Payton has a plan to remain balanced it’s going to happen because he trust either Mike Gillislee or Jonathan Williams to get the job done.After a paltry 3.4 yards per carry effort vs Tampa one can only assume the run game has been a point of emphasis this week.Who’s the man in the middle ?Chuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsI get that the Saints are rotating LB’s to figure out who does what best but your Mike LB is the last position that should be unclear in week 2.When asked about it following the game, none of the LB’s seemed to have a clue they’d be rotated the way they were during the game.All responded valiantly with some variation of “I do my job when my number is called” but it’s slightly concerning that the guy who will play next to Davis in over 60% of the snaps hasn’t been chosen yet.Random Thought – Cleveland’s O-line is mushy on the left side after the retirement of Joe Thomas. Marcus Davenport will see more than the 23 defensive snaps he saw against Tampa. Rookie gets the first sack of his NFL career.Though I’d like to have written a section about the secondary I’m going to take Marshon Lattimore’s word that “there’s nothing to panic about” just yet. The defensive line has more draft collateral thrown into it and is the engine that makes the entire train go. I need to see that unit tune things up before I can give an accurate assessment of the defensive backs. Sean Payton vs Gregg Williams is its own storyline but I think New Orleans overcomes their history vs Cleveland.Saints win 30-20 The New Orleans Saints did something they had not accomplished since 2006 in last week's win over the Minnesota Vikings. They won a game where quarterback Drew Brees failed to pass for at least 150 yards. It wasn't as if Brees played badly, he still competed 78% of his throws, but only attempted 23 passes. While that doesn't happen often, it shows that the Saints do not need a heavy emphasis on the pass to win football games. New Orleans, who have won six consecutive games, now face a star-studded defense in the undefeated Los Angeles Rams. Both teams have all pro caliber players on every level of this side of the ball, but today's preview shows us that key to the game might very well lie in the trenches. SAINTS PASS OFFENSE vs. RAMS PASS DEFENSE Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsThe Saints are averaging 282 yards per game through the air, ranking 9th in the league. Brees threw his first interception of the year last week against Minnesota, but is as sharp as he's ever been. The NFL's all-time leader in passing yardage and completions has thrown 14 touchdown passes this season, and has completed nearly 78% of his passes for 1,990 yards. The success of the New Orleans passing game runs not just through their legendary quarterback, but is also keyed by the abilities of Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. Thomas, the dominant third year wideout, has caught 58 of his 64 targets for 669 yards and 4 touchdowns. He has been almost unstoppable on short and intermediate routes, using his strength to win positioning against nearly every defensive back. Kamara, the reigning offensive rookie of the year, has added 47 receptions for 393 yards and two scores, all second best on the team. Kamara provides the ultimate mismatch, able to line up anywhere along the offensive formation and able to run any route. The Saints continue to have trouble getting their other weapons consistently involved in the passing game, increasing the pressure on Kamara and Thomas to produce. Rookie third round pick Tre'Quan Smith has flashed the potential of a solid number two receiver, and has been more involved in the offense over the last month, but has just ten catches for 191 yards and two scores. Offseason acquisition Cameron Meredith has been a disappointment thus far Cheap Sheldon Rankins Jersey , catching only nine passes for 114 yards. Brees does trust his tight ends in short yardage situations, particularly Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill, who have combined for 31 receptions and 354 yards. The Saints offensive line has been exemplary in protecting their 39-yr. old quarterback, allowing just 9 sacks on Brees against some formidable pass rushers, and often giving him plenty of time while pass routes develop. Tackles Ryan Ramczyk and Terron Armstead are the best outside combination in the NFL, particularly in pass protection. The Saints interior trio of guards Andrus Peat, Larry Warford and center Max Unger give Brees clear passing lanes and a clean pocket to step up and buy time. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty ImagesLos Angeles added a number of highly regarded veterans in the offseason, especially on the defensive side. They are still led by Aaron Donald, one of the finest defensive players in the league, but free agent pickup Ndamukong Suh gives the Rams perhaps the NFL's most disruptive pair of defensive tackles. Los Angeles then added 2015 3rd overall draft pick Dante Fowler in a trade with Jacksonville on Tuesday to bolster their edge rush alongsideMichael Brockers, John Franklin-Myers, and Samson Ebukam. Brockers, a 2012 1st round pick, is a big bodied defender who can also move inside, is off to a bit of a slow start but is a handful for blockers. The Rams also added a number of big names to a secondary that has surrendered 231 yards per game passing, ranking tenth in the league. They will be without one injured all star, cornerback Aqib Talib, but still have Marcus Peters, Sam Shields, and Nickell Roby-Coleman to battle opposing wideouts. Peters in particular, is a playmaker in the secondary who has one interception this season, but 20 pickoffs in his four year career with four defensive touchdowns, including one this season. Los Angeles also has a capable duo at safety in LaMarcus Joyner and John Jackson, who are among the team leaders in tackles. The Rams defense is built to protect the early leads that their high powered offense often gives them, and they have 22 sacks and have forced 13 turnovers, including 7 interceptions. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports~ Matchup to Watch: Andrus Peat/Larry Warford vs. Aaron Donald/Ndamukong Suh ~Donald, has 49 sacks in just over five seasons, and leads the NFL with 10 sacks so far, already just one off his career best. Suh, who has 3 sacks this season, has 54.5 takedowns through his nine year career. The success of the Los Angeles defense starts with these two All-Pros, and opposing teams have yet to slow them down in 2018. Peat, Warford, and Unger are next in line for the task. Warford is a pro bowl caliber lineman, Unger is one of the better technicians in the game, and Peat looks healthy from the numerous injuries that had slowed him to start the year. Their ability to slow the fierce rush of Donald and Suh are undoubtedly one of the keys to the game. They must also manage to clear a path for the Saints running game, in order for New Orleans to have the offensive balance needed to sustain drives. SAINTS RUN OFFENSE vs. RAMS RUN DEFENSE Nov 27, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; NChuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsMark Ingram has yet to hit the form that paced him to over 900 yards rushing in three of the last four seasons. Ingram, who has 148 yards rushing and two scores in his 3 games since returning from a league suspension, is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. In Ingram's defense, the Saints have played three of the better defenses in the league since his return in Washington Cheap Alvin Kamara Jersey , Baltimore, and Minnesota. Kamara continues to lead the team in rushing, with 408 yards on 92 carries, 7 rushing touchdowns and two more 2-pt. conversions. Although coaches would prefer to get their playmaker in space so he can work his magic in the open field, Kamara has shown the ability to pick up tough yardage between the tackles. Backup quarterback Taysom Hill is used in new ways each week, but is basically an additional weapon in short yardage and goal line packages. Hill did complete a 44-yd. pass to Michael Thomas on their opening drive against the Vikings, but he is essentially a runner, able to add an additional threat on the ground. The Saints pick up the bulk of their rushing yards over the right side, where Warford and Ramczyk are athletic road graders who blow open initial holes then get to the second level quickly to create big plays. Peat is a mauler at left guard as well, but also creates vital cutback lanes for the Saints three headed rushing attack. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY SportsThe Rams rank 12th against the run, an improvement from their 2017 number 28 ranking. They allow 101 yards per game on the ground, but opponents have gained 4.8 yards per carry. Lost amid all their big name acquisitions on defense was that Los Angeles lost two standout defenders in linebacker Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn. Some believed that the Rams defensive weakness would be at the linebacker position, but they have gotten some solid play. Corey Littleton leads the team in tackles, while Matt Longacre, Mark Barron, and Ebukam are versatile defenders.Nov 26, 2017; Los Angeles, CARobert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports~ Matchup to Watch: Mark Ingram/Alvin Kamara vs. Rams LB's ~Los Angeles had no answer for Kamara in last year's meeting between the two. He caught 6 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, and added 87 more on the ground in just five carries, including a career high 74-yd. touchdown run. Ingram may not have had a big statistical output yet, but he rushed for a season high 63 yards against the Vikings last week, and has performed well in the 4th quarter of each of the last two games. These two teams look evenly matched in most areas, but this is one spot that the Saints look to have a distinct advantage with the athletic ability and versatility that both Ingram and Kamara bring to the field. WHAT TO LOOK FOR:November 26, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) drops back Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY SportsRams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, even moreso than most coordinators, predicates his scheme on putting heavy pressure on the offensive backfield. With such imposing defensive tackles, it would be a little surprising to see the Saints open up the game with a dropback passing attack. New Orleans has set a physical tone on their opening drive in the last few contests, and could have success by running straight at Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh. Brees had 246 yards passing and a score when these teams met a year ago, but was sacked three times. Outside of Kamara's long touchdown run, the Saints struggled a bit on the ground, averaging just 3 yards per rush and only attempting 17 runs against 35 pass attempts. Receiver Michael Thomas will have a key matchup with Marcus Peters when they line up across from each other. Peters, like Thomas, likes to play physical, and he's one of the most dangerous ballhawks in the league. Tre'Quan Smith and the other wideouts must be more productive to allow Brees to spread the ball around and keep the Rams defense off balance. Given the talent on the outside, don't be surprised to see the Saints utilize the tight end position more as well. Expect both Ingram and Kamara to be heavily involved in the New Orleans game plan, hoping to take advantage of what looks like a mismatch against the Rams linebackers. Early downs will be vital. The Saints were just 3 of 13 on 3rd downs last year against Los Angeles. Being in a 3rd and short situation will open up Payton's playbook a bit, and even more importantly keep the Ram rushers from pinning their ears back on Brees and the pass pocket. Much of the media is focused on the productive Rams offense, but remember that New Orleans has actually averaged more points per game (33.4). Offenses that have had success against the Rams defense this season have been able to match them toe to toe physically, but have also been able to maintain balance throughout most of the game. The New Orleans Saints have been able to establish a physical advantage in most of their games in each of the last two years, and they have more balanced offensive talent than anyone the Rams have yet to face during the 2018 season.
