I liked what Sean McDermott had to say when asked about what he thought Jim Johnson would say to him after his outstanding debut against the Panthers.
The Eagles current defensive coordinator said, “He probably would have slapped me on the back and said, ‘Good job, now let’s see what you can do next week.’”
This is the challenge facing McDermott, who had big day last Sunday in his coming out party against Carolina. Can he and his defense do it again?
I’m concerned about this football game because it’s going to be a tough strategic battle versus one of the best game planners and quarterbacks in the league.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is an extension of Payton. They seem to think and talk the same. Payton designs it and Brees executes it.
McDermott’s battle with Payton will be difficult because Payton knows how to disarm a blitz package.
He knows if he catches the Eagles in a blitz and his quarterback Brees is able to get rid of the football, the Saints could very well be headed to a big play.
Payton will mix things up like a good pitcher. He’ll send all his receivers out on one play, then send out only two and go to maximum protection on another.
On the maximum protection, many times he’s going for the defense’s jugular by going deep.
Getting some hits on Brees could create problems for the Saints. If they can’t find a way to get to Brees then they must pound his receivers every time they touch the football.
Payton is also willing to patientlly put the ball on the ground and pound it, if that’s what works for them. McDermott will have to decide whether to send run blitzes or pass blitzes.
First downs will be a major key to who wins this football game. The Eagles defense must win on first down by holding the Saints to three yards or less.
Will Payton being throwing on first down or running the football? In the past he has thrown the ball on first down against Jim Johnson, because he knew the Birds would be in a zone defense.
I’d like to see McDermott play man to man on first down and have his corners walk in press technique and jam the Saints receivers as they release.
They can’t let Brees get into his rhythm.
The first two or three times the Saints have the ball, both of these guys will be feeling their way as they identify what the game plan is of the opposition.
Regardless of what happens in this game, McDermott will learn a lot from this one because he won’t face another offensive coordinator the rest of the way, which will give him any more trouble than Payton.
Turnovers and disrupting the timing is what the Birds are looking for. They must, I repeat they must tackle well.
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