Offense Problems

[FleaFlicker]

There are so many offense problems that i saw today, i am just hoping that we can improve this. Defense didn't look good either but thats a new thread, i will be looking forward to seeing Peyton's post game conference after the game.

[NinersLacking]

New Orleans Saints

KC Joyner
ESPN

The New Orleans offense features almost the same cast that put up very explosive numbers in 2006. This year, the Saints have scored only 24 points, and seven came courtesy of the defense.

So what are teams doing to stop Sean Payton's offense? First of all, they are sitting back in coverage. Of the 91 times Drew Brees has dropped back to pass this year, he has faced a blitz only five times. On every other play, the defense has rushed four or fewer linemen and dropped everyone else back into coverage.

The result has been the elimination of the vertical passing game from the Saints' repertoire. Brees has attempted only three deep/bomb passes in two games and completed zero. Considering that Brees' 1,295 combined deep/bomb pass yards were the most of any quarterback in 2006, it is a major hindrance to this offense to have those passes taken away.

New Orleans might be able to work around that issue if it had a group of high-percentage receivers who could allow the offense to dink and dunk its way downfield. However, the numbers indicate the Saints receivers certainly are not high-percentage players.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/6615/untitleduo8.png (http://imageshack.us)

To put these figures in perspective, consider that a YPA average of less than seven yards typically will rank a wide receiver or tight end near the bottom of the league. The Saints have only two receivers over that mark at this point.

Another remedy could be the running game, but the Saints are having just as many issues on that front. The only consistently successful running play the Saints have this year is the draw. They have gained 81 yards on 13 draws (6.2 yards per carry). On all of the other types of running plays, New Orleans has totaled 124 yards on 39 carries (3.2 yards per carry).

Those rushing numbers are even more disturbing when you consider that defenses are sitting back to stop the pass. Until this unit can run with consistency and force teams out of the deep-coverage shells, the Saints likely will stay in this funk.

[FleaFlicker]

This next game, being a home-opener, is a good time to turn it around.