It's no wonder the D is better with Talib

[El caliente]

How does Aquib help tomorrow in Zone Defense when the Saints take opponents over their knee who play zone defense?

 

[Ramit]

How does Aquib help tomorrow in Zone Defense when the Saints take opponents over their knee who play zone defense?

Do me a favor, if the rams win tomorrow, don't disappear from this board. We don't need you going ghost mode on us when you have crow to eat.

 

[El caliente]

Do me a favor, if the rams win tomorrow, don't disappear from this board. We don't need you going ghost mode on us when you have crow to eat.

If an undermanned Saints team beats the Rams tomorrow, promise you won’t be salty.

But that doesn’t answer the question.

 

[OntarioRam]

If an undermanned Saints team beats the Rams tomorrow, promise you won’t be salty.

But that doesn’t answer the question.

Here come the excuses before we have even played a snap.

The Rams lost Easley and Kupp. Gurley is not at 100%. Many suspect Goff might also have something nagging him. It's unknown if Talib and Peters are truly 100% after their injuries earlier in the year. There are probably more injuries that I am forgetting about because they are to smaller name players.

I am not saying the Saints are not more banged up than the Rams. It certainly appears that they are. But everyone knows health is HUGE come playoff time and a large factor in one's success. Every team has injuries to very useful players at this time of season. Year after year after year. Short of absolutely huge injuries (like what the Falcons secondary had to deal with this season), nobody will ever remember or care. Either find a way to win or you deserve to go home. "But we had injuries!" is no valid excuse to detract from the triumph of the victor or minimize/explain away the loser's defeat. Look at the Eagles just last week against your Saints. Nobody brings up the key injuries they had against the Saints last week, as if to suggest the contest could have or should have went the other way, and I would argue that Fletcher Cox getting banged up was an absolutely huge factor in that contest ending the way it did. Doesn't matter. Eagles had to get it done despite that. They didn't. The Saints were full value for their win, so here we are today in the NFC final.

 

[kmramsfan]

How does Aquib help tomorrow in Zone Defense when the Saints take opponents over their knee who play zone defense?

I dunno. Maybe because of this?

 

[El caliente]

I dunno. Maybe because of this?
View attachment 27949

Is that Talib?

 

[OC--LeftCoast]

Do me a favor, if the rams win tomorrow, don't disappear from this board. We don't need you going ghost mode on us when you have crow to eat.

Make no mistake, “El Chulpa” will be nowhere to be found say around, 22 hours from now

He’ll take the @johneric8 route, talk the talk but in the end too devestated to return for his lumps

 

[PARAM]

The smart thing for the Rams to do is draft a couple of CBs high this coming draft. Let Talib and Peters play next year and let them walk replacing them with the kids (as long as they 'get it right' in the draft) in 2020. They'll get a comp pick of two out of the deal.

 

[Prime Time]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/ne...ints-to-lean-on-more-than-just-michael-thomas

Rams' Aqib Talib may force Saints to lean on more than just Michael Thomas
BY JOHN RUGGIERO

Michael Thomas has been one of the NFL’s best wide receivers since he entered the league in 2016. This past regular season, he finished with an elite grade of a 91.3, which was the second-highest among wide receivers.

When the New Orleans Saints defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9, Thomas posted his highest single-game grade of the season (92.6) and totaled 211 receiving yards along with one touchdown. Though he torched the opposition’s secondary in Week 9, the Rams were down a key defender in that matchup: Aqib Talib.

When Round 2 happens on a bigger stage and with the NFC title on the line, Talib will be on the field and will most likely be glued to Thomas. Over the past three seasons, Talib has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and has consistently shut down teams’ number one wide receiver.

In 2016 when Denver won the Super Bowl, Talib finished with an 88.9 overall grade which was the third-highest among cornerbacks as well as a 49.5 passer rating when targeted which ranked second. Having an All-Pro with playoff success such as Talib back in the Rams secondary will bolster the unit that struggled against the pass in his absence.

This season, Talib suffered an injury that kept him on the sideline for six weeks but has found success since returning to the field. Since Week 15, Talib has earned a 79.5 overall grade which ranks fifth among cornerbacks during that span. On top of this, he totaled a 79.9 coverage grade which ranked fifth, and he snagged one interception as well as one pass breakup.

Having Talib back in the lineup has already made a huge difference in the Rams secondary, and opposing teams’ quarterbacks have not found much success through the air while targeting at the All-Pro.

Last week, when the Rams picked up a 30-22 victory over the Cowboys, Talib stepped up to the plate and shut down Amari Cooper when he was covering him. Talib earned a 74.1 overall grade and finished with a 47.9 passer rating when targeted, and while covering Cooper, he allowed two receptions that went for a mere 14 yards.

If Talib can have this kind of success against Thomas on Sunday, the Saints will need someone other than their All-Pro receiver to step up to the plate in order to secure the NFC crown.

If Talib can shut down Thomas on Sunday, two receivers that Drew Breescould look to call on are Ted Ginn Jr. and Tre’Quan Smith. Although Ginn has been injured for the majority of the season, he has been a steady deep-threat and a reliable target for Brees during his time in New Orleans. Ginn is seeing 37.9% of his targeted passes 20 or more yards downfield, he and is averaging 12.3 yards per catch.

His most impressive game of the season came in Week 16 against the Steelers, where he saw eight targets and hauled in five catches for 74 yards and finished with an 89.3 overall grade. Though Ginn finished with a below average grade of a 59.4 against the Eagles last week, he could take advantage of a favorable matchup against Rams’ cornerback Marcus Peters on Sunday.

After finishing with an impressive 81.3 overall grade last season, Peters finished this season with a 60.1 overall grade which ranked 74th out of 86 eligible cornerbacks. In coverage, Peters has allowed a 112.6 passer rating, a 69.5% catch rate and has given up 272 yards after the catch. Peters’ below average play this season and Ginn Jr’s resurgence in Week 16 will make this an exciting matchup to watch as the game plays out on Sunday.

Saints’ rookie receiver Smith can take advantage of his 6’1’’ frame and haul in passes from Brees deep down the field. On deep passes this season, Smith has 44.4% reception percentage which ranks second among rookie receivers, and he has scored two touchdowns.

On top of this, Smith has snagged 63.6% of his contested targets and has a 136.7 passer rating when targeted, both of which lead rookie wide receivers (min. 25 targets). In Week 9 against the Rams, Smith saw three targets and hauled in two of them, which included a touchdown catch when he beat Lamarcus Joyner for a 19-yard strike.

Another player that Brees could utilize in the passing attack is Alvin Kamara, who finished the season with the second-highest receiving grade among running backs (87.6). In addition to this, Kamara finished with 645 yards after the catch and averaged 2.12 yards per route run which both ranked fourth among running backs. Kamara also snagged four touchdown receptions this season, which was tied for the sixth most among running backs.

Brees may have to find success outside of throwing to Thomas on Sunday, but his numbers haven’t been great doing so this season. Brees has a 124.5 passer rating when throwing to Thomas this season, but takes a dip among his other receivers. On the season, he has an 89.6 passer rating when targeting Ginn which is a significant drop off from his numbers with Thomas. Ginn’s 59% reception percentage and Smith’s 65% is also significantly less than Thomas’ 86%.

It is evident with the return of Talib in the Rams’ lineup that Drew Brees will have to survey other options in the passing attack on Sunday. When diving into the numbers, it is clear that players like Ginn Jr, Smith and Kamara are all more than capable of making an impact against the Rams if Thomas is shut down by Talib. If the Saints want to win the NFC crown, Brees will have to take advantage of other favorable matchups to secure their spot in Atlanta on Sunday.

 

[El caliente]

Can’t Guard Mike isn’t just a nickname for Michael Thomas.

Good luck to Talib and crew in stopping him...they are going to need it.

 

[BonifayRam]

The smart thing for the Rams to do is draft a couple of CBs high this coming draft. Let Talib and Peters play next year and let them walk replacing them with the kids (as long as they 'get it right' in the draft) in 2020. They'll get a comp pick of two out of the deal.

Do the Rams really have an option here in this upcoming draft in ref to this secondary for this upcoming 2019 season?

Wade is in very good condition @ three of the five starting posts (Nickle/ Safety/ #1 corner). The other two starting posts, as they stand today are weak. The main outside corner backups Troy Hill (who will be 29 yrs old when this upcoming season begins) & 31 yr old Sam Shields will be UFA's. Neither veteran has demonstrated the needed ability here in the Wade secondary that would want me to give them large $$$ starting pay @ corner here.
Other Rams corners...Dom Hatfield is a reserve Nickle & Darious Williams is a WWC. Kevin Peterson will be in FA'cy & returning from an ACL tear.

High Safety Joyner does not fit this Wade secondary & has been in fail mode all season will not return. Non of the reserve safeties Countess & Christian need to be starting here.

I am having trouble fully understanding all this recent ROD Marcus Peters fan club rally here when he has been a weak spot all season. I lost my hope very early this season in him after disappointment & disappointment. Yes, I truly hope I am proved wrong Sunday by Peters ...however I am convinced Peters to continue as he has done for the past 19 weeks of this past season & deliver a weak performance against the Saints.

Peters is far from being "as advertised playmaking starting corner" when we gave up two draft selections (2nd & 4th round). Then if that was bad enough if you want to keep him here in 2019 thus rewarding him for this low performance @ a cost of over $9 million. Rams will need to turn on the blue lights & sirens on Peters uniform because of the pending disastrous wreck to happen.

 

[kmramsfan]

Is that Talib?

AD.
Point being, pressure will help the secondary and Talib will eat.

 

[hotanez]

I dunno. Maybe because of this?
View attachment 27949

look at #9 Brees face lol pure terror

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Can’t Guard Mike isn’t just a nickname for Michael Thomas.

Good luck to Talib and crew in stopping him...they are going to need it.

They wont stop him, he just wont get 200 yards this time around. You guys do have other weapons, obviously.

 

[Steve808]

If an undermanned Saints team.

Let's stop right there. I don't care if the Saints are undermanned. I hope you didn't come here looking for sympathy? Heck I hope the Saints team dinner was 3 week old oysters tonight.

Let's face it, both teams are 13-3. Neither team needs to apologize for anything. Both had great seasons.

But don't come to the Rams forum to make excuses before the game because I for one will not feel sorry if your "undermanned team" loses. I'm sure a Saints forum would be sympathetic to pre game excuses more than Ram's fans.

That said, good luck to you.

 

[rdlkgliders]

If an undermanned Saints team beats the Rams tomorrow, promise you won’t be salty.

But that doesn’t answer the question.

Saints = far from undermanned
Rams will not play zone entirely we have been more flexible, zone, press, straight man, bail, BnR Whatever it takes.

As we know, No one knows...…. the dudes will line it up and decide in 13 + hours and either team can win it with what they bring or lose it by the mistakes they make.
GL "The Hot"

 

[Steve808]

How does Aquib help tomorrow in Zone Defense when the Saints take opponents over their knee who play zone defense?

Aqib shuts down one side of the field so Fowler can hit Brees as he's throwing and John Johnson picks it off.

:yess:

 

[LA_vision]

Hats off to him and Wade, fantastic performance.

 

[Ramit]

If an undermanned Saints team beats the Rams tomorrow, promise you won’t be salty.

But that doesn’t answer the question.

Whos salty now?

 

[jjab360]

Can’t Guard Mike isn’t just a nickname for Michael Thomas.

Good luck to Talib and crew in stopping him...they are going to need it.

So um.. this post didn't age too well...

Good game though, brother. Best of luck to the Saints in the future, gained a ton of respect for their fans based off of how respectful they were on this board prior to the game.