Saints vs. Skins: Five Keys to the Game
In order to not just win the game on Sunday, but to place ourselves on the right track, we need to keep our hearts and minds on the following key areas of the game when the Saints come marching in.
- Offensive line – Without a doubt, this is perhaps the most important key to the game this Sunday. If we can’t control the line of scrimmage, Jason Campbell will have a very long day. That said, Campbell needs to trust the education he’s been receiving in this offense and not hold on to the ball. Tempo, tempo, tempo!In addition, we need to help our QB by getting Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts through the running lane and into their secondary. If we do that, we have a chance to make yardage in chunks. Thus, Campbell will find it easier to settle down.
- Guard against the big play – Drew Brees can strike his WR’s at anytime on the field. With Marques Colston out for this game, and the next four weeks, one of his weapons is former Redskins receiver David Patton. I don’t know what caused Patton to falter in his play while he was with us, but he seems to have figured it out.On the other side is Devery Henderson, who can flat out play ball. Believe. These two guys can make like difficult for either of our CB’s. Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers, and Fred Smoot will be running up and down the field all day. That said, after the first half of the Giants game, we seemed to shut Plaxico Burress down. Whatever scheme Greg Blache called to make that happen, needs to be called again this week.
- Get to the QB - To help the defensive secondary, we have got to get to Drew Brees, quick, fast, and in a hurry! We need Jason Taylor, Erasmus James, Andre Carter, and company to get penetration and put Brees on his behind. That is the most effective way to keep him from taking over a game.
- Trim the Bush – I can’t emphasize this enough. It appears that over the course of the spring and summer, Sean Payton has come to realize what everyone else has known for some time. Reggie Bush, getting the ball in space with opportunities to make people miss, is an extremely scary concept to consider for a defense. I don’t know of anyone of our team that can run with Bush. He’s an amazing talent when used properly. And, based on what I saw last week, the Saints appear to get it. Our best defense against him is to keep him from getting the ball. Short of that, I hope our defense remembers that real basic concept that they teach in pee-wee ball; everyone run to the ball. No doubt, Bush is gonna get the ball. How we respond is the key.
- Shadow Shockey – Jeremy Shockey is one of those guys who likes to have fun and runs his mouth. He’s a very good option for Drew Brees and if we’re not careful, he can keep the chains moving for the Saints all day.
