Saints vrs Dolphins matchup..news, injuries, etc..

we will need to win the turnover battle to win this game imo

"firedan wrote:

I'm more concerned with Jimmy Graham than the Taints wide out s this week,that dude is a beast.

He's my concern as well along with Brees. I'm with those that rate Colston behind Jones, White and Wayne. I'm also worried about how effective their backs are out of the backfield.

Some of you may not think Colston is anything special but if he is on Caroll's side of the field than Caroll wlll lose badly.

"Frumundah Finnatic wrote:

Some of you may not think Colston is anything special but if he is on Caroll's side of the field than Caroll wlll lose badly.

That's a tough matchup for us. Although I'd feel pretty confident with Grimes on him. IMO Colston has some specific strengths, but is nowhere near the best WR we've faced this year.

"rafael wrote:

He's my concern as well along with Brees. I'm with those that rate Colston behind Jones, White and Wayne. I'm also worried about how effective their backs are out of the backfield.

Which does have me curious as to whether we simply blitz when Sproiles is in the game.

"rafael wrote:

That's a tough matchup for us. Although I'd feel pretty confident with Grimes on him. IMO Colston has some specific strengths, but is nowhere near the best WR we've faced this year.

Problem I'm envisoning is the Lb's covering that 8-10 yd area beyond the LoS

I have an upper respiratory infection. But I'm on anti-biotics, steroids, and I'm hoping to be 100% by Monday.

"ckparrothead wrote:

I disagree. Marques Colston is the second best receiver the Dolphins have faced, easily. Jimmy Graham is by far the top tight end we've faced. Darren Sproles is most definitely the most dangerous pass catching tailback we have faced. And these are all on the same unit.

I have to disagree with you. Atlanta has the best receiving core in the NFL IMO. I think Jimmy Graham will def get his, but I feel like we have the ability to "contain" the others.

Drew Brees' abiltiy to air it out along with our problems in containing TE's is huge in this game.
Lessened ability to pressure Brees with Wake out hurts.
Additionally as I mentioned in another thread, Atlanta outed Carroll last week.
Brees and the Saints have watched that tape. Brees will throw at him early and often mark my words.
We won't win this one and the defense will have to rethink some things after to adjust to certain weaknesses.
Good thing is you don't play offenses and QB's like this every week.

"FanMarino wrote:

Im suprised nobody is mentioning our ST's. Sturgis, Fields who right now though i havnt looked regarding stats are top 3 imo. Thigpen is due a TD. He had one called back. We all saw what Jones did and he's been consistent. I just think our ST's are an element that have been missed. Nobody is mentioning them. Its an Elite unit that shouldnt be dismissed.

Just earlier tonight I said I feel like we have the ST advanatage. Unlike you, I'm more afraid of Thiggy making a stupid play that I feel like he can break one. He worries me w/ his decision making.

"btdickey99 wrote:

I have to disagree with you. Atlanta has the best receiving core in the NFL IMO. I think Jimmy Graham will def get his, but I feel like we have the ability to "contain" the others.

Atlanta may have the better 1-2 punch, but NO has the better group top to bottom, and a better TE.

"Coral Reefer wrote:

Drew Brees' abiltiy to air it out along with our problems in containing TE's is huge in this game.
Lessened ability to pressure Brees with Wake out hurts.
Additionally as I mentioned in another thread, Atlanta outed Carroll last week.
Brees and the Saints have watched that tape. Brees will throw at him early and often mark my words.
We won't win this one and the defense will have to rethink some things after to adjust to certain weaknesses.
Good thing is you don't play offenses and QB's like this every week.

Unfortunately, I have to agree. But this coaching staff, unlike previous ones, seems able to learn from exposure of its weaknesses, even if ultimately what needs to be done can only be addressed in the postseason. If there's a game we have to lose, I'd rather it be a road game against a championship caliber non-conference opponent, while our injured guys sit and get another week to heal, than a game against a team in our division.

Besides, a miracle may happen. The stars could align, the breaks could go our way and we could beat the Saints in their house. How big would that be?

"ckparrothead wrote:

Wow. Did not realize people thought so little of Marques Colston around here. Learn something new every day I guess.

Agree to disagree. Colston is a unique, fantastic receiver, IMO.

I don't think people think little of Colston, some just see HoF-bound Wayne as a better receiver, even now. A legitimate position to hold, and it doesn't mean that folks think Colston isn't a very good receiver.

"Stitches wrote:

Atlanta may have the better 1-2 punch, but NO has the better group top to bottom, and a better TE.

Tony Gonzales makes it a 1 2 3 punch.

"djphinfan wrote:

Tony Gonzales makes it a 1 2 3 punch.

Totally agree, but I think with brees he makes NO's unit a better overall unit than ATL's with Matt Ryan

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/dolphins-blog/sfl-paul-soliai-and-cameron-wake-participate-in-thursdays-practice-20130926,0,7358340.story

More Good News, Soliai and Wake practiced today. Probably limited, but a good sign nonetheless

I hate losing patience on injured players because we don't know the severity..but Pattersons freakin crotchal region is pissin me off..

It's one of those injurys that just lingers. As long as he's back after the bye week I'm okay with it.

"Section126 wrote:

Problem is the best Non-QB Offensive Player we will face is Jimmy Graham, and he comes with the Best QB we will face all year.

I didn't know that Jimmy Graham was traded to the Patriots. When did that happen?

"pats1960 wrote:

i didn't know that jimmy graham was traded to the patriots. When did that happen?

lol!

This is probably the more appropriate thread for this.

The two injuries on their side that interest me most are to DE Tyrunn Walker and CB Jabari Greer.

Walker has not gotten many snaps, but he's been highly impressive on the ones he's gotten. I've had a crush on him as a player since I saw him first in preseason of 2012. He was a nightmare to block, all over the place. PFF has him 16th out of 66 in Pass Rush rating among 3-4 DEs and that's with only 35 snaps. That's like a guy being 16th in receiving yards while only playing 10 snaps a game. If you flip to their efficiency metrics which take into account number of snaps, he's top 3 amongst 3-4 ends for pass rushing. If he's unavailable, even for those 12 snaps or whatever, that's a good thing.

Jabari Greer isn't a special corner but he is their starter. His being Limited in practice is interesting.

The other injuries, I'm not sure how much they work in our favor. Guard Tim Lelito was out of practice but Jahri Evans is back on a Limited basis and he's the starter. Lelito had an AWFUL game in place of Evans, according to PFF.

Lance Moore could be out but Nick Toon comes in his place and the way Moore has fizzled I'm not sure the younger, more energetic Toon isn't an upgrade. He played really well this preseason.

Mark Ingram continues to be out of practice and that's a positive because it means they dish the carries to Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Khiry Robinson, all of whom are an upgrade.

Broderick Bunkley continues to hurt but he's only played 7 snaps this year anyway, he's not been part of the defensive turnaround at all.

Roman Harper possibly being out is interesting. Harper hits like a mack truck. But I have ALWAYS considered him much more of the PROBLEM on that worst-in-history type defense the Saints ran prior to 2013, than the solution. I don't know what the fascination is there. He missed Week 3 and that was their best game of the season, defensively. Rafael Bush looks like a straight upgrade.

I'm going to go ahead and guess that Paul Soliai, Cam Wake and Dimitri Patterson miss this game.

Wake is the toughest call, IMO. He will want to go. But we have a pretty conservative staff that has already gone through some situations where they suffered setbacks (Dimitri Patterson, Jamar Taylor, Dion Jordan) that cost players more time than they thought. But this is the best player on the football team. You can't mess around with him. If he does play, it will be situationally on obvious pass rush downs.

I think Koa Misi will play with a harness. Dannell Ellerbe will play through the pain. Chris Clemons will be a go, just as he was last week.

None of the other injuries are of consequence.

Our secondary against their skill units and quarterback does scare me. Nolan Carroll, Jimmy Wilson, Chris Clemons...Reshad Jones has NOT been good in coverage this year...

"Pats1960 wrote:

I didn't know that Jimmy Graham was traded to the Patriots. When did that happen?

You have the team confused with the Broncos.

I wouldn't necessarily say Jones has been great against the run either. It's been a disappointing 3 games so far for him.

The X-factor in the secondary could be Will Davis and/or Jamar Taylor. There is not much film for Brees to study on these guys. Would be nice if that counted for something, but I'm not counting on it.