In other news Obama says that guy in the mountains of pakistan is a bit of a nuisance. Stop the wildcat and we win , simple
Posted the below on an earlier thread -- the key is that the crashing DBs have responsibility for outside contain and the interior DLs need to keep either/both the Mike and the SS clean... "Not trolling and am happy to leave but thought you might be interested in some of the detail of the Saints playing against the Dolphins Wildcat. The Saints did stop the Wildcat and did so primarily by crashing DBs on the corners but not as a blitz per se --- the DBs crashed the outside blockers but retained outside contain responsibilities. This allowed the DEs to go pretty much straight upfield and maintain their gap responsibilities with the DTs taking their gaps and eating the internal blockers and, the main thing here, keeping Vilma and the SS position clean to come up and make the tackle. This approach puts you at risk of giving up the 1-3 passes that they might attempt out of the Wildcat, but you take that chance particularly with the hands-of-stone receivers that the Fins have. The results? - Overall, on 14 Wildcat plays, the Dolphins garnered only 31 yards (2.2 ypc). And I think the Saints are the first team this year to stop the Dolphin's Wildcat on 3rd down with less than two yards to go. - The Saints had 138 rushing yards compared to the Dolphins 137 (particularly impressive if you take out Ricky Williams' 68 yard TD run - which was not out of the Wildcat - and on which Vilma was in position to make the tackle but was clearly held on the play). The Saints averaged 5.1 yards per attempt on 27 carries. The Dolphins averaged 4.6 yards per attempt on 30 carries. Saint's time of possession was 33:02 and the Dolphins time of possession was 26:58. - New Orleans did not punt in the second half and scored 24 points on its final four possessions, with drives of 82 (TD), 79 (TD), 60 (TD) and 64 (FG) yards in the second half. The defense held the Dolphins without a first down on six of their first seven series of the half. Even when down 10 pts twice in the second half, we ran the ball MORE, and eventually ate their lunch down the middle of the field, particularly with Shockey. In short, the highlights focus on Ricky's long run and the Saints' defensive touchdowns but the reality is that the Saints went into Miami and kicked the shit out of the Dolphins at their own game -- at least in the second half -- to the tune of 36 to 10, with a missed FG, extra point and 2 pt conversion. Much of the Saints' woes in the first half might be traced to Payton's total lack of run balance in play-calling in the first half. When he got back to the run in the second half, the field opened up completely. Anyway, I'm happy to leave you to your discussion if you're not interested in this stuff -- but if you stick to the run and play disciplined defense and dare the Dolphins to pass, you'll kick their ass this time around."
Saints posted that the other day. The analysis makes a great deal of sense. in short the D should not worry about covering for plays that will not be run out of the wildcat. Knock in the outside blocks while still being able to cover if the play goes outside. For example, the ball can't get there as fast as from the shotgun.
Here's the only analysis you need... Northeast team. 60 degree weather at home. Playing in 80 degree weather away. 4th quarter collapse... Story in a nutshell winning after 3 qtrs, and...after 56 minutes.. It will be less of a contest this time around. You don't find it ironic that the only two wins they have came against cool weather teams playing in the autumn Miami heat?
They also need to penetrate the backfield quickly before the play is allowed to develop. Much of the success depends on Williams and Brown crossing for the handoff or the fake. Begin to disrupt that and you have won half the battle.
"They also need to penetrate the backfield quickly before the play is allowed to develop. Much of the success depends on Williams and Brown crossing for the handoff or the fake. Begin to disrupt that and you have won half the battle." Well that might work but I think the Saints' approach was more of a mush rush (although I need to go back and watch the game a third time) to better maintain gap assignment.
Since Jenkins was the man on the DL who best disrupted plays, that will be more difficult now that he's out. Others will have to step up.
Bingo! This is the most serious challenge we face Sunday, bar none. I could have bought into the idea of stopping the Wildcat if Jenkins was still healthy, but we didn't get enough pressure all the way around last time with Jenkins in the game, so I'm not sure how well we'll do this time around. The three advantages I see possibly helping us Sunday are: 1) Time to review game film and particularly the Saints game and draw up a plan. 2) We appear to be running the ball better. Mixing in more of Greene and Woodhead and hopefully Cotchery might be enough to keep the offense on the field for long runs and keep Henny and Ricky and Ronnie off the field, and 3) The weather and home field will be a slight factor, but maybe enough to make up the 4 points we lost by the first time around.
So we have to stop the wildcat? Thank you captain obvious, might as well say you need you make tackles Mr. Pace
