falcon057 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) THEIR Saints linemen say chemistry is key to successBy BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer 1 hour, 51 minutes agoMETAIRIE, La. (AP)—Moments after his missed block caused a recent sack of Drew Brees, right tackle Zach Strief looked up to find fellow Saints linemen converging on him.Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans told Strief to “flush it” from his mind, while New Orleans’ two other Pro Bowl linemen, guard Carl Nicks and left tackle Jermon Bushrod, teased him about it.“I knew what they were all doing is saying, `Hey, it happens, we’re behind you,”’ Strief said as he recalled the aftermath of a sack in the Saints’ first-round playoff win over Detroit last weekend. “I was able to smile and move on rather than sitting there stewing about it.” AdChoices <SCRIPT language='JavaScript1.1' src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/N3285.yahoocom/B2343920.1687;abr=!ie;sz=160x600;click=http://global.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=15onus3ap/M=810691.15012807.14717281.4402949/D=sports/S=95858717:SKY/_ylt=Aiy158DEBtu1hpN8boVPlhEdsLYF/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1326463625/L=bixgrEwNdHHWmEZtTQKeDwGjSrDJi08QHmkAAiui/B=t871AEwNPHU-/J=1326456425372255/K=hfbsvAt.ygSf6O547MOpYg/A=6567309/R=1/*;dcopt=rcl;mtfIFPath=nofile;ord=0.26872370279080127"></SCRIPT> At Saints headquarters, everyone from coaches to star players such as Brees and Darren Sproles say the success of their record-breaking offense starts with their big blockers up front.“They’re smart, they work hard, but the thing about them, whatever they see on tape, they always come back and tell us so we’re always on the same page,” Sproles said. “They’ve got to know a lot of stuff, so they play a big role.”The linemen, meanwhile, say it’s more than their size and ability that has made them a force both in pass protections and in blasting open holes for the running game.They also get along well, which makes it easier to work together.“During a football season, for about 25 weeks, we see each other about eight to 10 hours day, six days week. If you don’t like each other and you don’t get along, it grinds on you,” Strief said. “You get to a point where you don’t want to go to work. We have the absolute polar opposite of that.”Saints offensive linemen go out for dinner together every Thursday night with Brees. They also tend to work together on charity events, socialize after games and hang out at Saints headquarters during breaks between practices and meetings.“Being close and having that kind of togetherness, that’s real, it’s not forced,” Strief said. “That stuff carries over to the field.”Strief’s contention is backed up by the results.Brees, who was sacked a relatively low 24 times, set an NFL single-season record with 5,476 yards passing. Meanwhile, the Saints were sixth in the NFL in rushing with 133 yards per game, helping them gain more offensive yards in one season—7,474—than any team in league history.The offensive line’s contribution was not lost on those with Pro Bowl votes. The Saints had three of their starting five linemen named to the NFC squad.“We’re just a bunch of guys trying to get it done,” Bushrod said, “and I guess somebody noticed.”The Saints have bucked recent trends in the way they’ve built their offensive front.While a top priority for many teams is finding an elite tackle to protect their quarterback’s blind side, the Saints placed more emphasis on their interior line, acquiring and keeping two of the best guards in the NFL in the 6-foot-4, 318-pound Evans and 6-5, 343-pound Nicks.With the middle of the line strong enough to hold its ground consistently, offensive tackles don’t have to tie up defensive ends so much as divert them into a wider rout into the backfield while Brees steps up in the pocket.“Other teams don’t do that because they can’t,” Strief said. “It’s not like we came up with something no one ever thought of. It’s just that we have an interior that can do it.”The San Francisco 49ers, who’ll host the Saints in a second round playoff game Saturday, have noticed how effective the Saints’ blocking scheme has been.“They just have everything you want in a big guard, especially the way they pass protect,” Niners defensive tackle Justin Smith said. “(They) let the tackles get beat around the edges so Brees steps up in the pocket.”Of the Saints’ starting linemen, only Brian de la Puente, a 6-3, 306-pound center, has been in New Orleans fewer than four years. He joined the club in 2010 as a practice squad player and worked his way into the starting lineup in the middle of this season.The 6-7, 320-pound Strief also is a first-year starter at right tackle who spent his first five seasons as a backup at both left and right tackle.Bushrod, who is 6-5, 315, has started since 2009, the season the Saints won their first Super Bowl.Evans has started since the first game of his career in 2006, while Nicks worked his way into the starting lineup as a rookie in 2008.“Any offensive line has to be a very close-knit group of guys, kind of with the same vision,” Bushrod said. “We know the system. We know what we need to do to have success. We have to be in synch with the quarterback, the running backs. We all have to work together.“Sometimes it’s the running backs making us look better than what we usually are, but we’ve got a very talented, skilled group of guys.” xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxIts much cheaper to get and keep guards than tackles as you move forward trying to keep the line intact. With the price of tackles thru the draft and f/a we may need to follow a similar path. Edited January 13, 2012 by falcon057 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 You may think it's cheaper but if the Saints resign Nicks, they will have 2 $50MM OGs. This is also another reason why I see Nicks not staying. He wants/deserves to get paid and the Saints probably won't be able to accommodate. Nicks and Grubbs will be priority #1 for TD. Yes Blalock just got a good 6 year $38M contract, but TD should be able to make a contract fit with Nicks or Grubbs if he gets rid of some serious dead weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenkdenk Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) You may think it's cheaper but if the Saints resign Nicks, they will have 2 $50MM OGs. This is also another reason why I see Nicks not staying. He wants/deserves to get paid and the Saints probably won't be able to accommodate. Nicks and Grubbs will be priority #1 for TD. Yes Blalock just got a good 6 year $38M contract, but TD should be able to make a contract fit with Nicks or Grubbs if he gets rid of some serious dead weight.I doubt the Saints don't resign Nicks. When it comes to spending money, most GM look at it, unit by unit. The Saints spend very little money one the OT (both OT are signed for the near futur and cost less than 4M/year for both fo them) and OC (de la puente cost nothing) so even if they give Nicks the same contract Evans got (or slightly higher) their Oline remains fairly cheap compare to most. Edited January 13, 2012 by lenkdenk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gritz Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 .......but TD should be able to make a contract fit with Nicks or Grubbs if he gets rid of some serious dead weight.Shouldn't be all that hard to identify those guys on the Falcons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE ICEMAN Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Carl Nicks is maybe the best OG in the NFL because he is elite in both the pass and run and I just don't see NO letting a guy like that walk they also have a lot of dead weight they could trim off there roster as well to open up cap space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon057 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 You may think it's cheaper but if the Saints resign Nicks, they will have 2 $50MM OGs. This is also another reason why I see Nicks not staying. He wants/deserves to get paid and the Saints probably won't be able to accommodate. Nicks and Grubbs will be priority #1 for TD. Yes Blalock just got a good 6 year $38M contract, but TD should be able to make a contract fit with Nicks or Grubbs if he gets rid of some serious dead weight.IN the draft? F/A? not cheaper come on you got to be kidding me / lol tackles vs gaurds even the best in each position compare! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madman88 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 You may think it's cheaper but if the Saints resign Nicks, they will have 2 $50MM OGs. This is also another reason why I see Nicks not staying. He wants/deserves to get paid and the Saints probably won't be able to accommodate. Nicks and Grubbs will be priority #1 for TD. Yes Blalock just got a good 6 year $38M contract, but TD should be able to make a contract fit with Nicks or Grubbs if he gets rid of some serious dead weight.I dnt see TD paying 50mil to a G.. we have a more pressing need at LT... I dnt care wat anyone says LT is still the most important position on the line.... Were nkt in a place to drart a good T in the 2nd that we feel confident can fome in and start... I rather draft or give johnson a try at G... I dnt want to wast a 3rd on a guy who hasnt even got a chance at the spot yet.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega Flare Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Most important member of the Aints offense: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I doubt the Saints don't resign Nicks. When it comes to spending money, most GM look at it, unit by unit. The Saints spend very little money one the OT (both OT are signed for the near futur and cost less than 4M/year for both fo them) and OC (de la puente cost nothing) so even if they give Nicks the same contract Evans got (or slightly higher) their Oline remains fairly cheap compare to most.They may not have a choice. I constantly keep having to say the Saints have $106M in cap room. They have $14M in cap room with Brees, Nicks, Colston, Meachem, and Porter are FAs, among others. I don't see the dead weight they have like we do. Do they let both WRs walk? Porter walk? Of course they can make it work, but it will be dam hard and pressing on other positions. Would they rather try and replace him in the draft? Who knows. I am all for giving Johnson a shot. I think our RG will be Johnson, Nicks, or Grubbs.. I would be fine giving it to Johnson and signing Gaither to an incentive laden contract. If he fails or gets injured, we still have Svitek to step in smoothly again. Plus he would be cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbendon Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 This line is built to Brees skill set. I've been saying this almost all season. Their guards allow absolutely no pressure up the middle, Brees takes deep drops to draw DE's deep and then has killer room to step up in the middle and deliver his passes. Ryan is less mobile. I don't know if this same scheme will work for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capologist Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I dnt see TD paying 50mil to a G.. we have a more pressing need at LT... I dnt care wat anyone says LT is still the most important position on the line.... Were nkt in a place to drart a good T in the 2nd that we feel confident can fome in and start... I rather draft or give johnson a try at G... I dnt want to wast a 3rd on a guy who hasnt even got a chance at the spot yet....Johnson couldn't even beat out Reynolds at guard. I had high hopes for Johnson but it's not looking good and I'm really of the opinion that ship has probably sailed. Your best hope is that Jackson can step up quickly or that we draft one in the 2nd round. As for tackle, teams generally don't let good ones hit free agency. This is probably another area that will be a draft pick move or go the Saints way and pair up another mammoth guard with Blalock and try to make due with Svitek for another season... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madman88 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Johnson couldn't even beat out Reynolds at guard. I had high hopes for Johnson but it's not looking good and I'm really of the opinion that ship has probably sailed. Your best hope is that Jackson can step up quickly or that we draft one in the 2nd round. As for tackle, teams generally don't let good ones hit free agency. This is probably another area that will be a draft pick move or go the Saints way and pair up another mammoth guard with Blalock and try to make due with Svitek for another season...johnson got hurt and put on IR in preseason with no offseason... Ithats hard to expect anything like that... Hel# if were goin to give all this time to baker id be dam if we just give up on a 3rd guy just last year... As far as tackles go. They guy in Buf or levi brown are both upgrades over wat we have... We dnt need a jake long. But we need more then baker and sivetk... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer2 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 This line is built to Brees skill set. I've been saying this almost all season. Their guards allow absolutely no pressure up the middle, Brees takes deep drops to draw DE's deep and then has killer room to step up in the middle and deliver his passes. Ryan is less mobile. I don't know if this same scheme will work for him.I disagree. I think that scheme would work well here. I've seen Matt step up in the pocket beautifully, it's just not usually an available option. I doesn't take mobility to move successfully in the pocket. It takes pocket presence, which I believe Matt has. Plus, we've all seen Matt all too often out of the pocket and that doesn't work well for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon057 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 Johnson couldn't even beat out Reynolds at guard. I had high hopes for Johnson but it's not looking good and I'm really of the opinion that ship has probably sailed. Your best hope is that Jackson can step up quickly or that we draft one in the 2nd round. As for tackle, teams generally don't let good ones hit free agency. This is probably another area that will be a draft pick move or go the Saints way and pair up another mammoth guard with Blalock and try to make due with Svitek for another season...thats what i was thinking and maybe looking at a F/A center as well ( if we can afford it) we got plenty of back-ups, It is a lot easier to step up in that pocket than to be chased out of it, I think Matt skill set would be just fine LOL beef it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blizzard_falcon Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 You may think it's cheaper but if the Saints resign Nicks, they will have 2 $50MM OGs. This is also another reason why I see Nicks not staying. He wants/deserves to get paid and the Saints probably won't be able to accommodate. Nicks and Grubbs will be priority #1 for TD. Yes Blalock just got a good 6 year $38M contract, but TD should be able to make a contract fit with Nicks or Grubbs if he gets rid of some serious dead weight.If we can afford to sign Tony G to a $7 million extension, we can pay Nicks or Grubbs $7-8 million a year to play guard. I think Grubbs is the more likely target because the Cowboys are also interested in Nicks, and I'm not sure we could outbid them and still bring in all the free agents we need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulitik Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Brees isn't as mobile as everyone thinks he is. You look more mobile when you have fantastic protection, because of a nice roomy pocket. Matt hasn't had that luxury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon057 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 Brees isn't as mobile as everyone thinks he is. You look more mobile when you have fantastic protection, because of a nice roomy pocket. Matt hasn't had that luxury.I agree with you, and i can't think of many of our q/b's ever having that luxury. I think Art is looking for that situation for Matt . He was quick to lay into TD about that in their news conference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citsalp Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 This years draft is loaded with OL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citsalp Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I disagree. I think that scheme would work well here. I've seen Matt step up in the pocket beautifully, it's just not usually an available option. I doesn't take mobility to move successfully in the pocket. It takes pocket presence, which I believe Matt has. Plus, we've all seen Matt all too often out of the pocket and that doesn't work well for us.Excellent observation, I will also add due to him constantly being pressured last year his pocket awareness is @ an all time high. Let's just give him some time in the pocket, I can't imagine what this offense would look like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJoe Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Exactly. The DEs chase on the arc/the OTs guide them toward the elusive "Bait" deep in the pocket. The bait just steps up into his throw, or steps and shuffles laterally. The C and Gs are busily pushing the DTs either left or right.. whichever they try to go around them they simply help them further in that direction.This is why I got so sick of watching us rush 3, rush 4, with no one (or two) coming down the pipe at Brees. We tried actually blitzing him in the last game in 2010 and it worked... right up until we stopped doing it AT ALL in the 4th Qtr, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega Flare Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 WHO DAT!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel City Falcon Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I would kill for their O line lol.. Well at least Nicks, Evans, and Bushrod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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