NFL Week 5 Featured Preview: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

October 6th, 2007 10:32 pm
by Pro Set

Carolina (2-2) @ New Orleans (0-3) 1pm ET on FOX

This divisional game will be an opportunity for two disappointing teams to get back on track. One of them, however, will fall into a deep abyss.

New Orleans

When the Saints have the ball, RB Reggie Bush needs to be decisive against a supposedly dominant defensive front. With RB Deuce McAllister out (knee), Bush will be doing most of the running. I would like to see New Orleans run Bush from the true I formation. From what I have seen of the Saints this season, running from singleback has not been working. Bush needs to be disciplined and hit the right holes. Good lead blocking will reduce the amount of decisions he needs to make, and allow him to let his talent take over.

In the passing game, some actual catching of the ball would assist QB Drew Brees. WR Marques Colston has to be able to beat CAR CB Chris Gamble or drive back to the ball. Brees has been throwing into coverage and serving up turnovers. To reduce the giveaways (7 INT so far this season) the Saints must block DT Kris Jenkins and DE Julius Peppers. When the Panthers made the Superbowl in the 2003 season, their NFC title game win was highlighted by front four pressure and excellent cover corner play.

Carolina

When Carolina has the ball, QB David Carr is likely to be the leader. QB Jake Delhomme likely won’t start against his former employer. With potential uncertainty in the passing attack, RB DeShaun Foster will be expected to be the showpiece of the offense. Foster is a solid back, but has not progressed sufficiently since taking over from Stephen Davis. Look him to favour right side runs behind road-grader RT Jordan Gross.

Clearly, when Carolina throws, all attention will be upon game-breaker WR Steve Smith. Frustrations were evident last Sunday, in the home loss to Tampa Bay. Carr will need to take advantage of any matchup where Smith is one-on-one. I think that New Orleans has little option but to use CB Mike McKenzie to shadow Smith wherever he lines up. McKenzie, remember, was part of the famous “Stop Moss” draft campaign where the Packers selected whatever defensive backs they could to combat Randy Moss.

Conclusion

This game is hard to read. Carolina looks like the more solid football team. New Orleans, however, has a proven quarterback and an angry team that is coming off a bye week. This game has the feel of a tight contest between clubs with much to lose.

Prediction: New Orleans

Posted in Carolina Panthers, David Carr, Deuce McAllister, Drew Brees, Jordan Gross, Kris Jenkins, NFL, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Game Previews, NFL Players, New Orleans Saints, Reggie Bush, Steve Smith | No Comments »

NFL Week 3 Featured Preview: Tennessee Titans @ New Orleans Saints

September 24th, 2007 5:56 am
by Pro Set

Tennessee (1-1) at New Orleans (0-2) Monday Night Football; 8:30pm ET on ESPN

This game is far more important for New Orleans. For Tennessee, a road non-conference loss will not ruin their season. Regarding the Saints, an 0-3 start will ruin their season.

Unless the Saints can absolutely destroy the Titans with their rushing attack, this is the time for QB Drew Brees to take over and dominate this contest. RB Reggie Bush needs to hit the first hole hard and not risk negative plays. RB Deuce McAllister needs to be money on short yardage. When the Saints are throwing, expect Brees to try his favorite trick of looking off the safeties to the sideline before hitting the seam passes. If Brees becomes impatient and tries to force the ball, Tennessee could be in business.

The key for Tennessee will be to frustrate the New Orleans offense. In QB Vince Young, the Titans have a weapon that can be critical in the time of possession game. If the Titans can keep it to 3rd & 5 or better, the running power of Vince Young can move the chains and frustrate the Saints. So the key here is for RB Chris Brown to be productive on early downs. New Orleans, however, plays in the NFC South and should have plays ready that were designed to corral former Atlanta QB Michael Vick.

I think that the pressure will get to the Saints and that the Titans can win this game. Having said that, I thought that Atlanta would beat New Orleans in Week 3 of last season, when the Saints played like, well, semi-divine beings in manhandling the Falcons.

Anyway, enjoy the battle of the pocket passer (Brees) versus the new-age hybrid QB (Young). This is the first prime-time exposure for Young, and I expect him to handle the spotlight well. Unless there are special teams meltdowns, this should stay close.

Posted in Analysis, Chris Brown, Deuce McAllister, Drew Brees, Game, Monday Night Football, NFL, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Game Previews, New Orleans Saints, Reggie Bush, Tennessee Titans, Vince Young | No Comments »