Pre game thread- On to New Orleans... wonder which Jameis Winston we'll get this Sunday?

The first week in the NFL sees a lot of things that are aberrations. I wouldn't bet on Winston throwing close to another five TD game again this season. Maybe not even a three TD game.

What an ugly game.


.......................................................................................................................SAINTS........................................................PANTHERS

Triumph said:

What an ugly game.


.......................................................................................................................SAINTS........................................................PANTHERS

First Downs	6	28
Rush-Yds-TDs	17-48-1	33-89-1
Cmp-Att-Yd-TD-INT	11-22-111-0-2	26-38-305-2-1
Sacked-Yards	4-31	2-11
Net Pass Yards	80	294
Total Yards	128	383
Fumbles-Lost	0-0	1-0
Turnovers	2	1
Penalties-Yards	11-115	5-49
Third Down Conv.	2-11	8-15
Fourth Down Conv.	0-2	0-0
Time of Possession	21:28	38:32

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With a stat line like that, which problem does Payton spend time addressing?

TheRainMaker said:

I worry about their defense more than their offense.

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Agree completely.

MAC10 said:

From the Saints forum from a couple weeks ago....I wonder how they feel after yesterday?

I think we go 5-0 before the break

A hot start really kicks things into gear, doesn't it? I'm really liking our chances to go 5-0 before the bye week. That sets us up for a good run.The only thing I see that is really our literal achilles' heel is the injury bug. Davenport out now? He was menacing yesterday. Hope it isn't...

saintsreport.com

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Patsfans.com to Saintsreport.com: “Hold my beer”

As long as Kamara doesn't go wild we should get the W something like 17-14

Ivan said:

Agree completely.

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Davenport and Kwon Alexander are cooked for the year. That and their Covid issues likely had something to do with their shellacking this past week.

Lattimore and Gardner-Johnson have been dinged up at CB, too.

That said, I agree. Their defense was hung out to dry last week a bit, but they're also breaking in new draft picks as well.

On D, I think BB will just attack Kamara all game like he would a Marshall Faulk or a Tomlinson type. Thomas being out is big for the Pats D.

I honestly think this may be the offense's break out (for an early part of the season) game and the D takes another step. They sort of need to with that kind of confidence heading into Week 4.

NewEraWithMac said:

and their Covid issues likely had something to do with their shellacking this past week

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I think the coaches missing is overstated. Found this

The available offensive coaches are head coach Sean Payton, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry, assistant offensive line coach Zach Strief, offensive assistant Kevin Petry and offensive assistant D.J. Williams.

The available defensive coaches are defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, senior defensive assistant Peter Giunta, linebackers coach Michael Hodges, secondary coach Kris Richard, secondary assistant Cory Robinson and defensive assistant Jordan Traylor.

If you still have your head coach who is an offensive "mastermind" and your OC, you really should be doing better than 125 yards gained. I mean even the jest with Zach Wilson had a better offensive output against the Panthers and they still had their DC so really gotta wonder how you go from making Rodgers look like the jest version of Sam Darnold to Sam Darnold looking like Aaron Rodgers. Guess it was more Packers just not being prepared at all.

I think this is the week they open up the offense Abit for Mac Jones. It's okay to play a vanilla style against the Jets and Dolphins. And Bills hubris may have thought "hey I can win against these teams while not putting much on mac's shoulders"

But now you are going up against a competent coach who isn't going to let you run 3 times in the RedZone.

Getting everyone ready for Tuesday:

The thing that stuck out to me when watching the Saints/Panthers wasn't Winston. It was the Saints OL. What the hell happened? I'm going to be looking at that unit closely when i do my break down leading up to the game. They were so damn solid last year. Something going on or was it just a hiccup?

I do think missing almost all their assistants effected the game on Sunday. We will see but I do hope we can some more picks from Winston. I hope Alvin does not go off on us. He is the biggest challenge to contain especially for our LBs.

BobDigital said:

The thing that stuck out to me when watching the Saints/Panthers wasn't Winston. It was the Saints OL. What the hell happened? I'm going to be looking at that unit closely when i do my break down leading up to the game. They were so damn solid last year. Something going on or was it just a hiccup?

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I think their starting C is out with an injury, I’m pretty sure he’s going to be out this week as well. Beyond that I’m not sure what’s going on.

slash83 said:

I think their starting C is out with an injury, I’m pretty sure he’s going to be out this week as well. Beyond that I’m not sure what’s going on.

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Yup, from what I have read...the starting C was out...so they put Ruiz in at C and some guy made his first start at guard. Also, Saints fans are down on Peat big time....

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Pre-game thoughts:

On defense, J.C. Jackson on Callaway with some help just to be sure that is shut down. Everybody else on Kamara....and pressure Winston with blitzes from all directions...let's hope the offensive line has not yet gelled.

On offense...the Saints D is still competent even without Lattimore, Davenport, and Alexander. I think Lattimore plays this week....but the good news is that we don't have a #1 WR that needs to be locked down by a pro bowl CB. We can attack in many ways. We have to move bodies with the OL...so I am hoping that Brown returns this week...and think we need more Jakobi Johnson, JJ Taylor, and White mixed in with timely passes to Smith/Henry/Meyers/Bourne....the Saints will likely load the boxes and beg us to go deep...Mac will have to make 2-3 deep throws, IMO.

I think a low scoring affair is in the cards for this one....hopefully we can grind out a Dub...we absolutely need it...the schedule is brutal....

condon84 said:

Are we gonna get this Winston

or this Winston

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The intensity of that team just sends shivers up your spine

A gap pressure…

TheRainMaker said:

I worry about their defense more than their offense.

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FWIW, from last week. . . .

I'm so much more happy that we're having the discussion about how Mac can throw more vertical and in Red Zone, than the discussion they're having in NY, CHI, JAX, NO, MIA, etc... Mac is taking the trajectory the way you dream young QB's to do - be smart, don't force the ball, allow for growth where the deeper passing game develops throughout the year(s). If Mac throws less INT's than Winston this week, we'll be in good shape. Don't get me wrong, I think there are plays to be made down the field, and yes, especially in the Red Zone, but I'm thrilled we have our guy who has what 99% of QB's don't have - a mental processor with innate risk-averse decision making ability.

jdlboot14 said:

I'm so much more happy that we're having the discussion about how Mac can throw more vertical and in Red Zone, than the discussion they're having in NY, CHI, JAX, NO, MIA, etc... Mac is taking the trajectory the way you dream young QB's to do - be smart, don't force the ball, allow for growth where the deeper passing game develops throughout the year(s). If Mac throws less INT's than Winston this week, we'll be in good shape. Don't get me wrong, I think there are plays to be made down the field, and yes, especially in the Red Zone, but I'm thrilled we have our guy who has what 99% of QB's don't have - a mental processor with innate risk-averse decision making ability.

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I'll agree if the trend is risk-assessment and not risk-aversion. The former will be apparent when the team is behind and the necessity will be to take more risk to execute a comeback.

The data so far is very positive as to Jones' decision making, however it is still a possibility that he is risk averse and will only take the safe throws even moving forward. We will definitely know for sure over the next few contests.