With wildcard weekend officially in the rear-view, it’s time to look at this week’s positonal grades. Some units shined this past week, while others still have a ton of work to be done in order for the Saints to move along deeper into the playoffs.
Pass Offense: A+
Brees mercilessly carved up a below-average Lions secondary, connecting on 33 of 43 passes for 466 yards and 3 touchdowns. Marques Colston was the top target from Saturday night, catching 7 balls for 120 yards. Deep threats Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson each had touchdown scores.
Even more impressive was the protection that Brees received all game long. The Lions defensive front, a much vaunted unit all season, only accumulated 2 sacks. Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks continue to make a case for the best offensive guard tandem in the NFL.
Run Offense: B+
Between Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, and Darren Sproles, the Saints gained 167 yards on 36 attempts for an average of 4.6 yards per carry. A solid performance from a deep running back rotation. The 4.6 yards per attempt figure allowed for Brees and the passing offense to set up play action passes, keeping Lion defenders on their toes all evening.
Pass Defense: D+
The weakest link in the Saints’ defensive armor this season has been in defending the pass, and that was certainly the case against Detroit. Lions QB Matthew Stafford threw for 380 yards and 3 scores, torching an overwhelmed Saints secondary. WR Calvin Johnson was simply unbelievable, amassing 211 yards and 2 touchdowns on 12 catches. Johnson is an instant mismatch for pretty much every defensive back in the league, but it seemed like he was left wide open on a variety of third-and-long situations.
The only real positive? A pair of interceptions from CB Jabari Greer, who is quietly having a very good season. Will Greer be the defensive playmaker in the playoffs that the defense has been lacking all season? That remains to be seen. If Greer can replicate his performance moving forward, however, the entire team will benefit greatly.
Run Defense: A+
An inconsistent Lions running game was no match for the Saints run defense. Lions RB Kevin Smith was limited to just 21 yards on 6 attempts. Not since Jersey Girl has a Kevin Smith done so poorly. (Sorry. I had to.) The Lions simply looked disinterested in establishing any sort of running game, and quickly abandoned it altogether after New Orleans started to get going offensively. A good job by the Saints run defense, with help from Brees and the offense, in eliminating any semblance of Detroit rushing success.
Special Teams: A
P Thomas Morstead continues to be a game changer in field position, kicking touchback after touchback when called upon. He had a quiet evening otherwise, as the Saints did not punt at all. Darren Sproles didn’t have a great game returning (4 punt/kickoff returns for 29 total yards), but didn’t fumble or do anything to hurt field position.
Coaching: B+
Props to Sean Payton for making necessary adjustments, leading the offense to scoring 35 points after the half. Not many teams have the ability to go into halftime, refocus, and look like a completely different squad coming back into the third quarter. Playoff games often come down to who has superior quarterback play and superior coaching, and the Saints certainly had the advantage in both categories.
One has to question the defensive strategy of Gregg Williams, however. I understand the concept of the “bend, but don’t break” defensive model, but there has to be, to borrow a Malcolm Gladwell term, a tipping point. The philosophy currently reflected by Williams and the defense relies way too heavily on the shoulders of Brees and the offense. If Brees doesn’t have the type of success that he has enjoyed all regular season, the Saints’ championship hopes are in serious jeopardy.
