The Saints offense is feeling good as it heads toward its final preseason rehearsal of the year. Both the starters and the backups showed up against the Raiders in what is generally considered the most important preseason game. For the coaches, this week has been all about watching the film and finding the remaining weaknesses that can be worked on Thursday night.
The Saints will play host to a Tennessee Titans defense that ranked 26th in the NFL in total defense in 2010. The Saints still have something to gain, however, as the Titans have added a number of pieces in an attempt to shore up the weak unit.
THE PASSING GAME
Despite the poor finish in 2010, the Titans secondary is loaded with talent. CB Cortland Finnegan is only a year removed from a season that had experts talking about his top-tier skills, and ball-hawking FS Michael Griffin picked off Jay Cutler on the second play from scrimmage last weekend. The interception was just one of four created by the Titans in three preseason games so far.
Drew Brees (and Chase Daniel) and the Saints will need to stretch this secondary and utilize advantageous matchups to pick up yardage. It is safe to assume Colston and Finnegan will get to know each other pretty well, and with Griffin watching speedster WRs Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson, there should be winnable matchups underneath with Lance Moore and Jimmy Graham matched up against linebackers. A successful running attack will also help to pull SS Chris Hope closer to the line of scrimmage and open up more passing lanes over the top.
Another important part of the passing game to watch is the pass rush of first-round pick Akeem Ayers. With Jermond Bushrod most likely tied up blocking the DE in the Titans 4-3 scheme, it will be up to the running backs and tight ends to keep this speedy pass rusher away from Brees’ blindside. It does, however, look like the Titans will be without 2010 first-rounder Derrick Morgan, so Brees and Daniel can feel just a bit safer entering this contest.
THE RUNNING GAME
The Titans run defense was a bit more stout than their passing attack in 2010, but it was the front seven that saw more turnover in the offseason. The Titans brought in long-time Buccaneer Barrett Ruud to quarterback the defense as MLB, and he will likely be expected to keep an eye on the Saints speedy new backfield addition Darren Sproles. More importantly to the run game, the Titans brought in mammoth, 325 lb. journeyman DT Shaun Smith, who will no doubt help to plug the interior of the defensive line.
It is easy to anticipate that the Saints will continue to work Mark Ingram, though the workload of the starters in general will likely decrease from last week. Ingram’s role has been increasing each week, and there is no reason to think this won’t be the case when the season starts next week. Expect Sean Payton and his staff to continue tinkering with the RB formula, as they hope to use their running game to get the offense back to what it was in 2009.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Options to consider include Brees vs. Griffin, Saints RBs vs. Ayers and Will Witherspoon in protection, but I’m going to go with Jimmy Graham vs. Titans LBs/SS Chris Hope. Graham’s size and ball skills make him a near impossible matchup for any defender in the league. CBs are too small, and most LBs are too slow to play with Graham. With the Titans secondary most likely taking away some of Brees’ options in the receiving game, expect Graham to get a number of looks as Brees utilizes his second, third, and fourth options.
