ESPN.com - NFL - Take 2: Saints vs. Chargers Friday, November 5, 2004
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Saints and Chargers. Now they're back with a
second look.
San Diego TE Antonio Gates has excellent versatility and offensive
coordinator Cam Cameron takes advantage by moving him all over the field.
Cameron will line Gates up at receiver where Gates' size will cause
matchup problems for New Orleans DC's Fakhir Brown and Mike McKenzie.
Gates will also line up at fullback in certain situations. The Saints
cannot afford to cover Gates with a linebacker when this happens because
he has the speed and burst to dominate single-coverage matchups working
against linebackers.
Cameron will also use Gates a decoy and No.2 TE Justin Peelle has
benefited. At times Gates will line up on the outside shoulder and just
behind Peelle. Gates will either slant across the middle or run downfield
allowing Peelle to slide out into the flat. Although Peelle isn't as big a
playmaker as Gates, he rarely drops passes that he should catch so New
Orleans cannot afford to lose him in the shuffle.
Chargers' QB Drew Brees is clearly more comfortable in the pocket than he
has been in the past and he is starting to do the little things well as a
result. Last week, Brees froze Oakland's secondary with a couple of great
pump fakes. The Saints' safeties must be aware of this and wait until
Brees releases the ball or they could get caught out of position, making
them vulnerable to the big play in the vertical passing game.
San Diego DC Sammy Davis appears to have handled the Chargers' decision to
bench him two weeks ago well. While Drayton Florence's ankle injury
allowed Davis to regain his starting job last week, he has made the most
of the opportunity. Davis needs to have another strong game working
against New Orleans WR Donte' Stallworth. Stallworth has excellent speed
and is dangerous after the catch. Davis must keep Stallworth in front of
him and make sure to wrap up upon contact.
Although the Saints used some of the bye week to prepare for San Diego,
they also spent plenty of time evaluating their performance over the first
seven games. One of the biggest concerns heading into the bye was a run
defense that is the second worst in the NFC. The hope is that New Orleans
can learn from its mistakes and do a better of filling the correct gap,
keeping the back contained and wrapping up in the open field. If the same
problems continue to plague the Saints, expect Chargers RB LaDainian
Tomlinson to have another big game.
It now appears that a knee injury could prevent New Orleans MLB Courtney
Watson from playing and Orlando Ruff is expected to start even if Watson
is in the lineup. However, this won't diminish FB Lorenzo Neal's impact,
as he is powerful enough to root both Ruff and Watson out of the hole. One
of the ways San Diego will help the aging Neal, who no longer has ideal
lateral mobility, is to put him in motion creating a better angle for him
to reach his blocks at the second level.
The Chargers' run defense has excelled since moving to the 3-4-front but
San Diego still inserts four and five defensive linemen into the game in
short-yardage situations. Last week the Chargers got caught caving into
the middle allowing the back to bounce his run outside near the goal line.
While San Diego could be having a harder time keeping contained without
four linebackers on the field, the problem has to be fixed. With Saints RB
Deuce McAllister's ankle feeling better, he should have more success
bouncing his runs outside after starting inside. As a result, the Chargers
have to attack outside-in in short-yardage as well as goal line
situations.
Brees doesn't show great speed or elusiveness as an open field runner but
he is surprisingly mobile and will run when the opportunity presents
itself. New Orleans runs a one-gap scheme and the defensive line is very
aggressive getting upfield. The Saints' defensive ends cannot allow Brees
to get outside and their defensive tackles must get good push up the
middle so no seams open up between the tackles.
There are four former Chargers on New Orleans' roster and they play
significant roles. PK John Carney, LOG Kendyl Jacox, and DCs Fakhir and
Ruff all played for San Diego at one point during their careers. All four
will want to play well against their former team.
Florence could miss his second game in a row, as he is listed
questionable. In the event that he can't play, expect San Diego to play
backup SS Clinton Hart in its Nickel package. Hart, who signed with the
Chargers after the start of the season, has picked up the defense quickly
and impressed the coaching staff with his strong play. However, he lacks
the cover skills to stay with Saints No. 3 WR Jerome Pathon in man
coverage so San Diego will have to give him safety help if Florence is
unavailable.
Special Teams
Chargers PR Eric Parker returned a punt 32 yards last week and he is a
shifty runner capable of making the first defender miss. KOR Tim Dwight
has one return for a touchdown thus far and he is always a threat to make
the big play when he has the ball in his hands. Both of New Orleans' cover
teams will have to be at their best if it expects to win the battle of
field position.
Both place kickers have missed just one field goal attempt but Carney is
far more experienced than San Diego rookie PK Nate Kaeding and he has
proven he can handle pressure. If the game comes down to a field goal
attempt that experience could prove to be the difference.
Prediction: Chargers 24, Saints 20
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Saints and Chargers. Now they're back with a
second look.
San Diego TE Antonio Gates has excellent versatility and offensive
coordinator Cam Cameron takes advantage by moving him all over the field.
Cameron will line Gates up at receiver where Gates' size will cause
matchup problems for New Orleans DC's Fakhir Brown and Mike McKenzie.
Gates will also line up at fullback in certain situations. The Saints
cannot afford to cover Gates with a linebacker when this happens because
he has the speed and burst to dominate single-coverage matchups working
against linebackers.
Cameron will also use Gates a decoy and No.2 TE Justin Peelle has
benefited. At times Gates will line up on the outside shoulder and just
behind Peelle. Gates will either slant across the middle or run downfield
allowing Peelle to slide out into the flat. Although Peelle isn't as big a
playmaker as Gates, he rarely drops passes that he should catch so New
Orleans cannot afford to lose him in the shuffle.
Chargers' QB Drew Brees is clearly more comfortable in the pocket than he
has been in the past and he is starting to do the little things well as a
result. Last week, Brees froze Oakland's secondary with a couple of great
pump fakes. The Saints' safeties must be aware of this and wait until
Brees releases the ball or they could get caught out of position, making
them vulnerable to the big play in the vertical passing game.
San Diego DC Sammy Davis appears to have handled the Chargers' decision to
bench him two weeks ago well. While Drayton Florence's ankle injury
allowed Davis to regain his starting job last week, he has made the most
of the opportunity. Davis needs to have another strong game working
against New Orleans WR Donte' Stallworth. Stallworth has excellent speed
and is dangerous after the catch. Davis must keep Stallworth in front of
him and make sure to wrap up upon contact.
Although the Saints used some of the bye week to prepare for San Diego,
they also spent plenty of time evaluating their performance over the first
seven games. One of the biggest concerns heading into the bye was a run
defense that is the second worst in the NFC. The hope is that New Orleans
can learn from its mistakes and do a better of filling the correct gap,
keeping the back contained and wrapping up in the open field. If the same
problems continue to plague the Saints, expect Chargers RB LaDainian
Tomlinson to have another big game.
It now appears that a knee injury could prevent New Orleans MLB Courtney
Watson from playing and Orlando Ruff is expected to start even if Watson
is in the lineup. However, this won't diminish FB Lorenzo Neal's impact,
as he is powerful enough to root both Ruff and Watson out of the hole. One
of the ways San Diego will help the aging Neal, who no longer has ideal
lateral mobility, is to put him in motion creating a better angle for him
to reach his blocks at the second level.
The Chargers' run defense has excelled since moving to the 3-4-front but
San Diego still inserts four and five defensive linemen into the game in
short-yardage situations. Last week the Chargers got caught caving into
the middle allowing the back to bounce his run outside near the goal line.
While San Diego could be having a harder time keeping contained without
four linebackers on the field, the problem has to be fixed. With Saints RB
Deuce McAllister's ankle feeling better, he should have more success
bouncing his runs outside after starting inside. As a result, the Chargers
have to attack outside-in in short-yardage as well as goal line
situations.
Brees doesn't show great speed or elusiveness as an open field runner but
he is surprisingly mobile and will run when the opportunity presents
itself. New Orleans runs a one-gap scheme and the defensive line is very
aggressive getting upfield. The Saints' defensive ends cannot allow Brees
to get outside and their defensive tackles must get good push up the
middle so no seams open up between the tackles.
There are four former Chargers on New Orleans' roster and they play
significant roles. PK John Carney, LOG Kendyl Jacox, and DCs Fakhir and
Ruff all played for San Diego at one point during their careers. All four
will want to play well against their former team.
Florence could miss his second game in a row, as he is listed
questionable. In the event that he can't play, expect San Diego to play
backup SS Clinton Hart in its Nickel package. Hart, who signed with the
Chargers after the start of the season, has picked up the defense quickly
and impressed the coaching staff with his strong play. However, he lacks
the cover skills to stay with Saints No. 3 WR Jerome Pathon in man
coverage so San Diego will have to give him safety help if Florence is
unavailable.
Special Teams
Chargers PR Eric Parker returned a punt 32 yards last week and he is a
shifty runner capable of making the first defender miss. KOR Tim Dwight
has one return for a touchdown thus far and he is always a threat to make
the big play when he has the ball in his hands. Both of New Orleans' cover
teams will have to be at their best if it expects to win the battle of
field position.
Both place kickers have missed just one field goal attempt but Carney is
far more experienced than San Diego rookie PK Nate Kaeding and he has
proven he can handle pressure. If the game comes down to a field goal
attempt that experience could prove to be the difference.
Prediction: Chargers 24, Saints 20
