Some Defensive Stills

[Merlin]

Someone had asked for SJD stills in the OL thread, so figured I'd go through some of the defensive snaps and see what's what. Interestingly enough we see SJD show up on the first snap from scrimmage lol.

15:00 1st Quarter, Saints ball on their 25, 1st and 10. Payton elects to go Kamara up the middle here and our NT is ready...

Pre-snap we have SJD lined up at 1T, Rams 7 in the box and Weddle lurking:

At the handoff Saints have stepped right and the play flow is away from AD, who of course instantly beat his blocker and is single-handedly sealing off the cutback action. SJD & Brock holding the point on the 25 well. Hager has the outside hole covered. Good physical look by the Rams.

As Kamara hits the hole SJD tosses McCoy and AD closes in. Kamara wants that cutback and all that green. Note that while Hager is getting erased the outside hole isn't an option due to Matthews, who sets a hard edge while owning Hill.

SJD wraps him up for a 2 yard gain, win for the defense. Hill trying to block Matthews lmao, dude gets driven back and tossed like a gnat.

 

[Merlin]

14:48 1st Quarter, Saints ball on their 27, 2nd and 8. Saints go with another run here, trying to get it established early with a second run in a row to start the game.

Pre-snap the Rams are in base again, Saints start off showing strong left then motion Hill back to the right.

At the handoff things don't look too good. Fowler has crashed in so quickly it's freakish tbh, but has lost contain. Lot of green to the right for a dude like Kamara.

As Kamara hits the hole we see Littleton save the edge by taking a very good angle, forcing Kamara upfield. Not sure if this was planned, if not Littleton is just really intelligent. AD is doubled, removed from the play with the Saints' RT half bear hugging him from behind lol.

Saints' RT stays on AD too long, and Hager gets past him to make the stop for another short yardage win for the defense.

 

[Merlin]

12:58 1st Quarter, Saints ball on their 47, 2nd and 6. Payton dials up a pass here.

Pre-snap shows a 3 man rush by the Rams:

Protections at the drop:

Coverages at the drop show Kamara doubled and Cooks is the sole open option:

By the time the ball gets there Weddle is ready to make an All-Pro play:

Turnover for the Rams:

Note: this is a crazy play, to see how open Cooks looked there for a minute then for him to get hit so quickly as the ball shows up. Part of that I think is Brees' weak arm (probably a late throw too idk), but also Weddle's excellence at safety. It's gonna concern opposing QBs IMO.

 

[Merlin]

7:53 1st Quarter, Saints on their 49, 2nd and 5. This is a critical play for the Rams with the Saints threatening to push across the 50 with a favorable down/distance.

Pre-snap Saints flip the formation again, getting Fowler on the wide hash side. Last time with this look AD was doubled and sealed inside:

Right after the snap we see the RT doesn't help out on AD, electing to remove Littleton who saved the day the last time they ran this play. AD singled up here and the RG is probably thinking he's got the outside shoulder now just seal him inside :

At the handoff AD is already deep into the backfield:

AD SMASH:

This puts the Rams back on track with a 3rd and 8 on the next play where the Saints inexplicably try to block AD with the LG solo which sets up the injury to Brees and a punt.

 

[Merlin]

Next play. Just gonna put the still of AD smokin the LG. Payton can blame himself for the loss of his QB lol...

 

[Merlin]

3:29 1st Quarter, Saints ball on the 50, 1st and 10. Bridgewater in now at QB, Saints try again to establish the ground game...

Pre-snap we see the Rams in base, and Ebu has subbed in for Matthews. Seems to me at this point the Saints prefer Fowler on the wide hash side:

Right after the snap AD has already taken the B gap and anchored in with no lateral movement, dude is a machine. Littleton's got the A gap on the run action side. Hager sees the lead blocker and is moving to fill. SJD doubled and about to be driven back a bit:

Kamara wisely dips inside:

4 yard gain Saints win the snap.

 

[Merlin]

2:45 1st Quarter this is a play where Cooks (who on the previous play got away with a push-off on Rapp for a short completion) draws the 5 yard penalty from Johnson for illegal contact but check out the hold on Fowler lmao:

 

[Merlin]

2:14 1st Quarter, Saints on our 35, 1st and 10. Saints been gettin away with some stuff and looking to finish the drive...

Pre-snap we see the Saints again showing strong left then motioning Hill right. This gives them Fowler & AD right side formation but on the short hash:

At the snap we this is a handoff to the right but designed for Kamara to take it left. AD has already beaten his block and is in the backfield:

At the handoff AD is already blowin it up from the backside. On the front side the Rams have won every matchup across the LOS:

AD SMASH:

 

[JonRam99]

Loving these stills Merlin!

 

[Merlin]

1:59 1st Quarter, Saints on our 40, 2nd and 15. Saints going backwards now and attempt a screen to slow the rush.

Pre-snap we see AD lined up strong side 3T, with Ebu outside him. 2-5 look with Brock on the nose:

At the snap the Saints elect to pinch AD between the center and RT with the RG blocking down/assisting the LT.

At the drop Brock (who had a great game) is in Teddy's face. And the rookie center McCoy holds AD:

Holding, move 'em back:

 

[Merlin]

0:39 1st Quarter, Saints on our 45, 2nd and 20. Previous play they gave AD a blow (DL had zero rush) and the Saints completed a pass but it was ruined by an illegal block. At this point they're trying to get into FG range...

Pre-snap 2-5 personnel with Brock at 3T and AD at 4T strong side:

At the snap we see Teddy ready to dish a quick pass to the edge:

Coverage at the snap:

As the ball arrives NRC is in great position:

Harris' little @$$ somehow escapes and he loses more yards, but then Murray decides to lay Ebu out with a drive-by lol:

Move 'em back more.

 

[SteveBrown]

WOW, these are great! THanks....

Can you do O line ? Pretty please

 

[Merlin]

0:30 1st Quarter, Saints on their 45, 3rd and 20. At this point they're just trying to get off the field to punt so they can make adjustments lmao...

Pre-snap lots of comms with Weddle & Rapp, AD gettin a rest:

At the drop Fowler stays home on Kamara:

Coverages at the drop:

Teddy throws in the towel:

 

[Merlin]

WOW, these are great! THanks....

Can you do O line ? Pretty please

Did them already in other thread.

 

[Merlin]

14:21 1st Quarter, Saints on our 41, 1st and 10. Rams just 3 'n outed and the Aints get great field position. Payton calls a boot to get Teddy out of the pocket and moving...

Pre-snap Rams in base, Gaines in for SJD, Ebu in for Fowler:

At the fake Matthews stays home, Brock & Hager see the boot action. :

On the boot Johnson erases Cook, and while Thomas looks open he's got safety action over the top and Hager is turning to him:

Coverages on the boot:

Bridgewater settles for 4 yards and a good snap result:

 

[Merlin]

14:11 2nd Quarter, Saints on our 37, 2nd and 6. Payton goes back to the run here...

Pre-snap:

Right after the snap we can see they're doubling Gaines and praying AD will run himself out of the hole I suppose:

At the handoff Brock has muscled his blocker into the backfield. Rams look good in their matchups across the LOS:

Murray hits the hole:

Respectable 4 yard gainer:

 

[Merlin]

12:31 2nd Quarter, Saints on our 20, 1st and 10. Payton continues with the run here...

Pre-snap base D with Smart subbed for Donald:

At the snap the LG doubles down on SJD:

At the handoff Smart is knocked back enough to impede Littleton from filling the hole. Hager has his side covered as SJD is eating the double:

Kamara cuts it back:

Ebu with the tackle, 4 yard gain:

 

[RamDino]

Great stuff Merlin!! Now we know what that coaches are seeing. Thank you!

 

[Merlin]

3:06 2nd Quarter, Saints on their 48, 4th and 1. Payton being Payton by going for it...

Pre-snap:

At the snap:

At the handoff Rams winning across the LOS:

Payton with some buttholeface on the sideline I'm betting:

 

[Merlin]

That's the key plays in the first half. Got some running around to do might put some up later. Some notes...

* Bridgewater was inaccurate and not by Brees standards. He missed some key throws and I didn't put up those stills.
* Saints OL pretty much got whipped in the trenches.
* AD had a ton of effect on this game, just crazy how good he is Saints had no answer for him.
* Brock played great with pressures, stuffs, stout vs the run, etc. He's a different DL this season.
* SJD held his ground well on the nose. Gaines in the short series he was in did as well. We are indeed 2 deep at the position.
* Matthews is an outstanding strong edge OLB, Saints had nobody who could handle him in the run game.
* Fowler's quickness is rare. It's a pleasure to watch how fast he can move and disrupt. He blows contain at times but you can't make a guy like that think you want him let loose nice job by the Rams in getting him playing how he is right now.
* Talib played way off quite a bit, which I understand. I get the feeling the Rams knew they had this one wrapped the moment Brees went out.