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

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 could be used effectively outside zone (stretch) running plays, where the line seals off the edge, allowing Bush to use his speed and go one-on-one with a safety. This play will be most effective out of a two-back set, because that will allow for the Lions to play a more aggressive set with their linebackers up on the line, making them more reachable to block.

Two backs brings the linebackers up, which also makes playaction more effective. Expect some seam routes to be caught by Jeremy Shockey, but also for receivers to flood the flats off playaction with receivers clearing out, in order to get a Bush, Shockey, or Thomas/Bell out in space. For that matter, Heath Evans also could see the ball out there some this week as well.

Robert Meachem or Devery Henderson are pretty much locks to get a reverse in this game, and maybe they both will since the ends are not very disciplined or quick enough to react and make a play.

I would also look for Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem to be constant deep threats running down the sidelines when Brees sees the Lions in a Cover Two defense. He will try to hit that "9 route" in between the corner who is on the receiver's hip, and the safety trying to come over.

One-back sets will allow for cutback runs against this defense, especially with motion away from the play, as that will cause the defense's strength to change. The cutback is similar to the stretch in that you are trying to seal off an edge, in this case up the middle. The running back starts off going one direction for a step or two, and then cuts back through a gaping hole up the middle. Thomas or Bell are the likely ball-carriers on this play.

Finally, the Counter Trey and Trap, where lineman on the opposite side of the run pull to cut off a rushing end or backer, will be effective. The running back must follow the lineman pulling until he sees daylight, and then explode through that hole. Any back would be effective on this kind of run.

Third Down

The Lions do not make radical changes on third down, and they stay rather conservative, mostly only rushing four, with an occasional fifth. Against pocket passers, they try to blow up the "A Gap" by bringing everyone in it, which is where a blitzer could come outside. However, they haven't shown that too much.

As a result, protection can be pretty standard, and five receivers can get out into the pattern. Marques Colston will be effective in the slot running Seam Routes, Dig Routes, and Crossing Routes against the occasional man-to-man look.

Meachem and Henderson can stretch the defense deep, but are also good guys to have run across the middle on third down to catch and run with the ball. The screen game to the running backs can be effective in a 3 x 1 set away from the three-receiver side.

In short-yardage situations the Lions bring everybody up, again making playaction a nice option. When running the football, the Lions can be sealed off, which can be done effectively pulling a tackle or guard to the side of the run and having a tight end block down, with the play going between the tight end and the tackle. Having a fullback lead up the hole can also be effective on inside runs up the middle.

Red Zone

In the Red Zone, the Lions like to crowd the line of scrimmage. They also play man-to-man, which is great news for Marques Colston, as that boundary fade route that he and Brees connect on so well will be open. The slant route that the Saints generally love down there, will likely not be open.

The running game really is the same as in short-yardage situations. But because the Lions play man in the red zone, crossing routes, which lead to rubs, are going to be open. 

Playaction also will be effective, especially with a tight end or running back getting out to the flat where Brees can hit him on the run and let him do the rest.

Two-Minute Offense

Expect the Saints to use their base two-minute offense, while being patient, and allowing the big play to open up. The Saints run one of the best two-minute offenses, so against a poor defense I am not too worried about its scheme. It will be fine.

Final Analysis

I mentioned Jeremy Shockey's name quite a bit in this preview. That's because he is a perfect fit for this defense that the Lions play. In truth, so is Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem. The running game should go well over 100 yards, and the team should score at least four touchdowns.

This should be a nice tuneup for the Eagles a week from now. Hopefully, the whole team can avoid injuries and be at full strength as Philadelphia is always a tough win, especially early in the year.