Disagree. Greatest strength is stopping the run and 2nd is causing TOVs. 3rd is probably not given up TOVs. Special teams is also a big strength especially punting and kicking with Lee and Akers. Big problems which I worry about this game are defending the deep ball and red zone O. Saints are very good at the deep ball and not bad of a red zone D. while I disagree the pass rush is our biggest strength, it is something that the team is pretty good at.

With the Saints on the one yard line with a chance to tie the game

Yeah but this year they have Thomas, Sproles, Ivory, and Graham instead of Julius Jones, Reggie Bush, and Jeremy Shockey at the same positions. They're just a hell of a lot better this year, period. Doesn't mean they can't get beat on an off day, though.

inm before SF shows the nation they are better than their division and what the masses think.

uhmmm... that list of guys isn't noticeably better to me than the other

If that's really true, then you are an idiot.

MT2R obviously basing his opinions on college careers and draft position

Reggie Bush has more impact due to number of touches and that guy is pretty good.

Thomas with both squads, no?

Mmm, this sentence doesn't make much sense.

They put Sproles in Bush's role this year. He broke the record for all purpose yardage. Pierre Thomas was injured last year. Julius Jones isn't even in the league anymore. Jimmy Graham >>>>>>>>>> Shockey. Ivory is over 5 ypc as well. It's not even close.

Not to mention our secondary is actually healthy this year and Brees is a million times better than he was last year.

You guys are saying that Bush isn't >>>>>> Sproles? Really?

You might be the only person on Earth who thinks Bush >>>>> Sproles. It's on you to demonstrate how that's true.

lol

yeah... only me and, wait, NFL executives making the personnel decisions for millions of dollars agree

do you even watch the NFL? i don't like the saints but your opinions are lol mT2R.

If they agree with you, then why did the Saints give Bush away in a trade and sign Sproles to a four-year deal?

It's remarkable how little you know what you're talking about here and yet how much you're acting like what you believe should be blatantly obvious to everybody.

So excited! I was 13 the last time my favorite NFL team made the playoffs. Legggoooo Niners! I can't wait until ESPN has the headline "whose got it better than us? Nobody!" With Alex Smith holding the Lombardi trophy

1st qtr is going to be huge.

I don't think people outside of New Orleans realize how good Ivory has looked when healthy, too. It's obvious to everyone around here that Ivory>>>Ingram from what little we've seen from both of them so far. I think Ingram was a huge waste of a draft pick simply because we have Ivory and Thomas and could have added similar depth at RB later.

Anyway, we have a legit run game and megaelite TE this year which should help us in an outdoor road game.

Also, Reggie Bush might be a better full time back than Sproles could be, but the Saints never wanted to use Bush that way. For what the Saints need out of that role on offense, Sproles is way, way more effective. 6.5 or so YPC this year, ffs!

Its cute you think the Saints can run the ball vs Niners

Thought I would share this:

Saints score TDs in the Red Zone on grass 32% of the time. Niners give up red zone TDs 25% of the time at the Stick

Wrong. Ingram was a waste of TWO draft picks!

We didn't have Sproles at the time, though. No way we make that move again if he's on the team-- at the time, it was looking more like we'd have to use Pierre Thomas in the Sproles role and Ingram/Ivory as the hammers.

Also, Darren Sproles actually averaged 6.9 YPC this season! In five seasons in New Orleans, Reggie Bush averaged more than 4.2 YPC once. He averaged just under 4 YPC (3.988) for his NO career. Sproles had 1313 YFS this year; Bush's high was 1307, his rookie season, and he never topped 1,000 after that.

This is something funny i read...


According to Saints radio announcer Jim Henderson, New Orleans came after 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and Co. because Harbaugh failed to contact Saints head coach Sean Payton the week of the game to discuss how the game would be approached in terms of blitzing. The result was Williams called 18 blitzes in the first half, sacking the 49ers quarterbacks five times and forcing two fumbles in the 24-3 New Orleans win.

I didnt know teams did this and discussed preseason things

Saints tied for 4th in the league this regular season in YPC with 4.9. I mean they might not rush for 150 yards, but I wouldn't expect to see them get completely shut down in the run game, either.

It's a good thing we can score from outside of the redzone. Also, we'll make twice as many trips there as most teams.

Forgot about the trade up for Ingram. Also, didn't know the timeline on the Sproles signing with regard to the draft. Makes it a little more excusable, but still a big mistake. Overreaction to last years injuries at RB, imo.

Will be interesting to see how the 9ers deal with Sproles. He's a tough match-up for a LB, but Bowman or Willis might be up to the task.