PatsPropaganda

Someone’s been reading Football Outsiders, eh? 

Honestly, just fake game planning for the Saints offense in my head gives me the shakes. Part of me wonders if you throw all the matchups out the window and just focus on playing good D regardless of who goes where. Of course the scary thing there is when suddenly Jimmy Graham is on Arrington or Dennard. At least both of them are physical despite having a size disadvantage. 

The thing I wonder is will the Saints be tempted to attack the Pats’ weakness at defensive tackle with their running game at the expense (somewhat) of their passing attack? 

Collins was missing from practice today, so that bears monitoring. There’s just no easy solution to Graham, I think it will be by committee, with the only real objective being to avoid having Arrington or Dennard on him, they’re at a severe size disadvantage.

If he’s in tight to the formation I like having Hightower or Ninkovich designated as the jam guys. That’s the biggest thing, not letting him off the line. If he’s split out with I think you have to put Talib on him given your other options.

Is Jamie Collins ready to be the cover guy on him? I have my doubts, he’s been worked in slowly so far, and this would be a huge test for him.

I think this is a game where the lack of a great dime linebacker, like we had hopes of Adrian Wilson being, hurts. Gregory doesn’t quite have the size and Tavon Wilson hasn’t played a snap of defense yet this season.

So I think the main guys dealing with him are Hightower/Ninkovich at the line, Mayo in coverage and maybe some Collins, with a little Talib and Gregory sprinkled in.