Black & Gold Xs & Os | Saints Offensive Gameplan Vs. Detroit

(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Update:  The West Hills Wolfpack Freshman Football team (I'm the Wide Receivers Coach) lost 28-0 yesterday, although they were only down 7-0 at the Half, and had about a 40 yard pass play near the end of the half, but could not score in four tries from the two-yard line. The Wolfpack are now 0-2, but are optimistic that they are improving as a team, even if the score may not say so.

As for the matchup the Saints have this weekend with the Lions, I would be remiss if I painted a picture of a grueling defense that strikes deep fear into Pete Carmichael and Sean Payton.

Truth be told, the Saints should light up the scoreboard early and often on Sunday. They should be able to run and throw the ball at will. It should be a beatdown similar to last year's Week 16 matchup.

Lions Defensive Personnel & Overall Game Plan

The Lions base defense is a 4-3 with a lot of zone coverage and hard rushing defensive ends. It is similar to what you saw from Tennessee last night versus the Steelers-- they try to get pressure from their front four, almost exclusively.

The difference between the two defenses is that Tennessee has the talent to make such a scheme work exceptionally well. Detroit is still lacking in the talent department.

Cliff Avril, defensive end, is a second-year player who is quick and has great athleticism, but lacks the strength to hold up in the run game. On the other side Detroit starts Dewayne White, a veteran who played some of the very good Tampa Bay defenses. This kind of gives it away as to what their overall system is.

As I already mentioned, they want to get pressure from their front four by speed rushing on the outside, and they sacrifice some ability to hold up in the middle or against the run, although White is solid against the run.

In the middle are Grady Jackson, a big huge veteran who is getting up there in years, and Sammie Hill, another second-year player. Together, they're a formidable duo, but neither has the burst to consistently pressure the quarterback. And over the course of a game, neither can hold up against an attacking offensive line.

The linebackers are great in name, with Julian Peterson, Larry Foote, and Ernie Sims. The problem is that the defensive system doesn't really fit Peterson's strength--to get after the QB. He is forced to play coverage and doesn't do that so well. In Nickel packages, though, he sometimes puts his hand on the ground and rushes, where he's definitely more effective.

None of these guys are huge, or powerful enough to consistently play the run over the course of the game, and they all struggle in coverage.

Finally, the secondary, which is very talented but lacks the playmaking ability that can potentially cover up another defensive deficiencies.

Anthony Henry and Phillip Buchanon man the corner spots. Interestingly enough, both have actually a great deal of personal success against Mr. Brees, especially in opening-day games. Both have picked Brees off, and just last year Buchanon returned one for six points.

The safeties are Marquand Manuel, who was released by the Bengals not too long ago, and Louis Delmas, a rookie who I graded out as a fourth rounder last draft season.

Both lack the necessary instincts to make plays over the middle consistently. Both will come up and play the run a little bit, but can be had on playaction as well.

The Lions will play a lot of Cover Two and Cover Three with an effort to keep the ball in front of them. This means an offense can throw underneath and eat them up by methodically moving the ball.

What the Saints Will Likely Do On Offense

First & Second Down

Look for Sean Payton to be very aggressive on first down, with reverses, playaction, and deep routes. The Lions play first down pretty conservatively, meaning being aggressive against that is in the Saints favor.

In the running game, Reggie Bush

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