It’s hard to fool Saints QB Drew Brees, so this chess match could be interesting. As a result, the inability to affect the passer became a problem for players trying to cover receivers down the field. They have playmakers on that defense, especially along the defensive line with Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul.
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The Saints released Spiller on Tuesday after being a healthy inactive for the team’s Week 1 loss against Oakland.
That game was indoors in New Orleans and Brees has a 5-1 career record against the Giants (4-1 with Saints, 1-0 with Chargers). “Offense has to score points”, said Beckham. But what happened in the first half? “Things that they did, if somebody else wants to do that, can be used to our benefit in the future”. That kept them from going after him with a full-blown rush.
“We have to be better in that area (rushing the passer), and sometimes it’s going to come from more than a four-man rush – or a pressure”, coach Sean Payton said. Although they walked away with the win there are still plenty of things that this team can look to improve upon going into week 2. “That’s all there is to it”. He completed 30 of 41 passes for 350 yards and six touchdowns in a 52-49 loss.
On his radio show Monday night, Payton disagreed with the penalty. “Someone asked (Archie’s oldest son) Cooper who his favorite quarterback was, and he said Roger Staubach”, who starred for the Dallas Cowboys while the elder Manning played for the Saints.
“The judgment on the field was that he was contacting the running back coming out of the backfield”, Payton said before admitting there were other opportunities to get off the field prior to that crucial play. I just see them playing really well together.
“But if you play long enough you’re going to have days like that”, Smith said.
“We have to scheme and get ready for it”, Mack said. “So you always have to be anxious about that going in and facing that team”. “There just needs to be clear contact”.
After a high-scoring game that allowed 101 total points in the previous season, what’s in store for the upcoming matchup?
Delvin Breaux, a Saints player, will not be present as he is still nursing a broken fibula.
Ivory rushed for 1,070 yards in his last season with the New York Jets before signing a five year contract with the Jaguars, putting them in an interesting position with T.J. The wealth was spread out amongst the Giants’ receivers, with Odell Beckham Jr. leading the way with 73 receiving yards on 4 catches, while rookie Sterling Shepard caught his first National Football League touchdown, and Victor Cruz was welcomed back with a touchdown of his own in his first major National Football League game action in almost two years, prompting his infamous salsa dance after making the reception. Guard Jahri Evans, cut by the Saints in the offseason and by the Seahawks this summer, was re-signed by the Saints last week. He underwent surgery and is expected to miss six weeks.
When veteran weakside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe is slowed – like the nagging quadricep injury that will keep him out for the second straight week Sunday against the New York Giants – the Saints know where to turn.
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He had been limited in practice last week with a calf injury, but the reason for his hospitalization was unrelated.
