Whatever it takes to get the upper hand New Orleans Saints T-Shirt , you do it!Tre’Quan Smith, Cameron Meredith, Ted Ginn Jr., and Alvin Kamara will all be doing something slightly different than they’ve done up to this point in the season when they arrive in Atlanta to face the Falcons in Week 3.For Smith, this appears to translate into an expanded role according to head coachSean Payton.“We have to find ways to get him more touches. He is handling our installation. He knows what we are doing game plan wise, and I think he is ready to prove that.” I get it.This is a chance to see what the rookie can do in an important game where any wrinkle can result in an upper hand.He’s shown a lot in camp and during preseason, so now is as good a time as ever for him to swim or sink.The question is, will he look more like Kenny Stills or Robert Meachem? Meanwhile, following an injury to return specialist Tommylee Lewis that placed him on injured reserve, the Saints have inserted two new candidates into the now vacant punt return duties.One of those candidates Sean Payton said, “I know I’m comfortable with Alvin (Kamara) back there” but the other he was a little more guarded about and used it as a chance to give the player a vote of confidence“Ted Ginn is someone who’s done it and we just got to get that gas can in his locker and get him going. I think he’s someone who can give you some juice in that area.”Notice the highlighted “subtle” differences in the certainty of the two individual players?Over his career as a punt returner, Ginn has fielded 257 punts for 2,600 yards and 4 TDs.The drawback to some of that “juice” Payton alluded to is that he’s also had 16 fumbles in that time span.Two of them last year as a Saint that had Payton suggesting they “needed to find someone they can trust” before relieving him of those duties.When Payton had his issues with Reggie Bush, he used Lance Moore for the fair catch scenarios.I’d imagine something similar with Kamara and Ginn on Sunday.Finally, Cameron Meredith looks set to make his much anticipated regular season debut as a Saint after being inactive for the previous two games.“He’s doing well. He’s healthy. And this will be a week we’ll look to see how he progresses and see if we can get him into this plan.”Now granted, I trust that the staff knows when he’s ready to contribute but practice speed and game speed are two different things.His first preseason game saw him drop a pass (albeit thrown with questionable touch) that resulted in an INT for his quarterback.He would go on to fair much better in his fourth preseason game with 2 catches for 77 yards and a TD.It obviously took him some time to get up to speed, but those games were meaningless and the current scenario now begs the question - Does game rust and lack of action in the offense for Meredith show up at an inopportune time?I brought all of this to you to make a single point.There is some serious boom or bust potential with the timing of these changes.On one hand, the “newness” of these players and roles could give the Saints a slight advantage in what will be an otherwise close game. On the other they provide a breeding ground for potential mishaps because of that very same “newness”.In a rivalry that is usually won by the team that makes the fewest mistakes, we’ll find out which side of the coins these moves land on following Sunday’s game.Matchup to watch vs FalconsThe Falcons offensive line is missing starting left guard Andy Levitre after he was placed on IR earlier this week.If the secondary is going to hold up against Atlanta’s receiving talent, the defensive line will need to be the catalyst that makes it all possible.Yes, it’s important that the defensive backs force Ryan to go through more than his 1st or 2nd read, but it’s up to the front seven to make him pay when he does.Once you begin hitting Ryan (like any other quarterback) that’s when the mistakes and the second guessing start to appear.If they can rattle him Marshon Lattimore, Ken Crawley New Orleans Saints Hats , and Marcus Williams should have a chance to turn some tipped passes or errant throws into turnovers late in the game.Random Thought IEven at a young age, when you walk out on the field with your friends you know the consequences of playing tackle football.While being hurt as a kid was more likely than getting injured, you still recognized it’s a gladiator sport.Interesting that many QBs are coming out and trashing the NFL’s current aims to protect the quarterback position.Random Thought IIAdd the recent news that Saints plan to start P.J. Williams in place of Ken Crawley, as another change that has boom or bust potential.The Saints offense is moving the ball and the Falcons offense is moving the ball.The Saints defense is giving up points and the Falcons defense is giving up points.Per usual in this rivalry, it could all come down to which defense or special teams makes the key play that ultimately ends up being the difference in this game.There will be plenty of opportunities for either side but with the Falcons down at least three of it’s primary play makers and the Saints fairly healthy New Orleans should could steal a victory in Atlanta.Prediction: Saints win 28-27 The New Orleans Saints have a 4-1 record in part due to a defensive performance that has improved with each week after a awful start. They return to action this Sunday after a bye, faced with the task of taking on the AFC North leading Baltimore Ravens (4-2) on the road. Despite more impressive results on the defensive side of the ball in the last two games, Saints opponents have still averaged 28 points and 369 yards per game, hovering around the bottom of the league. Baltimore has averaged nearly 26 points per game, and lines up with a passing attack looking to strike down the field. Let's see how the New Orleans defense, riding a wave of momentum, will match up against a veteran Ravens offense. SAINTS PASS DEFENSE vs. RAVENS PASS OFFENSE Photo by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesThe Saints have had an effective pass defense over their last two games, putting consistent pressure on the passer and preventing big plays, something that plagued them over the first three games. The team still ranks just 30th in passing yards surrendered, giving up 298 yards per game, but have actually allowed only Tampa Bay's Ryan Fitzpatrick (417 yds) and Atlanta's Matt Ryan (374) to eclipse the 300-yd. barrier. The New Orleans defensive line has been able to apply good pressure in recent weeks, and have collected 3 quarterback sacks in each of the last four games. Cameron Jordan is having another All-Pro season, and continues to beat his blockers with either power, speed, or finesse. He leads the team with 5 sacks, and is one of the most underrated defensive players in the league. Marcus Davenport is showing why the team traded up to take him with the 14th overall selection in last spring's draft. He has two sacks thus far, and is second only to Jordan on the team in quarterback pressures. Davenport is becoming an overwhelming force with a rare blend of athleticism and strength, and looks to have just scratched the surface of his vast potential. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins has been dominant at times this season as well. He also has 2 sacks, but has become had an impactful presence in nearly every game New Orleans Saints Hoodie , consistently disrupting the opposing pass pocket. Demario Davis was already known to be an outstanding run defender when acquired as a free agent this offseason. Davis has also proven to be a devastating blitzer, his two sacks tying with Davenport and Rankins for second on the team, and has played very well in pass coverage. Fellow linebackers A.J. Klein, Alex Anzalone, and Craig Robertson have complimented Davis well, and the Saints are no longer as vulnerable to running backs coming out of the backfield in the passing game as a result. The Saints have just 2 interceptions so far this year, after 20 a season ago. Second year cornerback Marshon Lattimore is again playing at a pro bowl level after a slow start, and free safety Marcus Williams is also beginning to play at a high level again. Another standout performer over the last two games is safety Vonn Bell, who has played extremely well after a poor start. All eyes continue to be on cornerbacks Ken Crawley and P.J. Williams, who are considered to be the weakest points of the defense. Both players have played better, but were beaten deep repeatedly over the first three games. Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty ImagesBaltimore will attack the Saints defense with the league's 9th ranked passing attack, averaging 294 yards per game. Quarterback Joe Flacco (1,788 yards, 9 td, 4 int.) is having a good bounce back year after 2017 struggles. The Ravens armed their 11th year signal caller with an entirely new receiving corps over the offseason. Veteran wideout Michael Crabtree is Flacco's favorite target, and has 30 catches for a 343 yards and two scores. Former Saint Willie Snead is enjoying a bounceback year of his own after a lousy '17 campaign with New Orleans. Snead is tied with Crabtree for the reception lead, going for 313 yards and a touchdown. Speedster John Brown is the type of deep threat that has caused the strong-armed Flacco to thrive earlier in his career, and precisely the type of receiver that gave the Saints secondary nightmares early in the season. Brown has caught just 21 of his 47 targets, but they've gone for a team-high 424 yards and 3 touchdowns. Baltimore running back Javorius "Buck" Allen gives the team a solid receiving threat out of the backfield. Allen has 24 catches and 149 yards through the air. The Ravens have a four-headed tight end threat that is as individually talented as almost any in the league. Mark Andrews, Hayden Hurst, Maxx Williams, and Nick Boyle have combined for 40 receptions and 410 yards, and all are capable of making big plays down the field as well as moving the chains on intermediate routes. Hurst Customized New Orleans Saints Jerseys , the first of the team's two 1st round picks this past spring, missed the first part of the year with a foot injury, but fellow rookie Andrews (3rd round) has made an immediate impact. Flacco has been sacked 11 times this year, but is a stationary passer within the pocket. Baltimore's line will be shorthanded, after losing guard Alex Lewis to a neck injury, perhaps creating an interior protection issue for their quarterback. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images~ Matchup to Watch: Safeties Marcus Williams and Vonn Bell vs. Ravens WR's/TE's ~Given New Orleans' early season struggles against the deep ball, facing a gamebreaking threat like Brown could net terrifying results. The communication on the back end has been far better in recent weeks, but the Saints safeties will be seriously tested during this game. Lattimore's man to man skills are more likely going to be used most often on Crabtree or perhaps even Snead, leaving Flacco's favorite long ball target in the hands of Crawley or P.J. Williams. Bell and Marcus Williams will each need to be at the top of their game to prevent momentum changing strikes down the field, but must also limit the effectiveness of the Ravens talented tight ends. SAINTS RUN DEFENSE vs. RAVENS RUN OFFENSE Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsIt's gone largely unnoticed because of early season struggles against the pass, but New Orleans has had the NFL's best run defense for a number of weeks. The Saints rank 3rd in rushing yards surrendered, giving up only 72 yards per game, and opposing rushers are averaging only 3.1 yards per carry, tops in the NFL. New Orleans defensive tackles Rankins, Tyeler Davison, and undrafted rookie Taylor Stallworth have obliterated opposing interior lines at times, all but eliminating inside rushes. Stallworth will likely miss a few weeks with an ankle injury, but the team re-signed Jay Bromley to team with David Onyemata to provide solid depth inside. Cam Jordan is as good a run defender as any edge player in the league, and Davenport has worked into an every down player due to his solid play against the run. Alex Okafor gives the team outstanding depth along the edge, and the Saints don't miss a beat when he's in the lineup. The performance of the defensive line has allowed the New Orleans linebackers to flow freely and aggressively to the ball. Demario Davis and A.J. Klein in particular are shutting down the run quickly, often making hits in the backfield. The rush defense gets an added boost this week with the expected return from injury of Manti Te'o, who has missed the last three games. The team's secondary has done an exemplary job of run support, able to snuff out runners quickly if they do get into the open. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesBaltimore averages just 99 yards per game on the ground www.authenticsneworleanssaints.com , and have managed only 3.4 yards per carry. Alex Collins is the team's primary back, and has 76 carries for 271 yards, but has scored 4 times on the ground. Buck Allen has added 3 rushing touchdowns, but has only rushed for 97 yards and 2.8 yards per carry. Baltimore's second of their two 1st round picks last April, quarterback Lamar Jackson, adds athleticism to the running game in short yardage packages and has averaged 5.5 yards per carry. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports~ Players to Watch: Demario Davis/A.J. Klein ~Davis and Klein are the leaders of an improved Saints linebacking unit that has made some key plays at crucial moments. The onus will be on this group to shut down what has been a subpar Baltimore rushing attack, making the Ravens one dimensional. The linebackers must also be able to take on coverage responsibilities. Not just on Allen coming out of the backfield, but even more importantly against the dangerous Baltimore tight ends, which would allow the Saints safeties to guard against the deep strike from Flacco to his wideouts.WHAT TO LOOK FOR:Chuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsThe Ravens have the second most pass attempts in the league, and have a deep group of targets that are capable of making big plays. While it's vital that the Saints play well in coverage, most definitely an issue early in the year, it will be the showdowns up front that could be the key to New Orleans success. Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport have important match ups on the edge against Baltimore tackles Ronnie Stanley and James Hurst, or rookie Orlando Brown if Hurst moves inside to replace the injured Lewis. Rankins and his inside linemates must create disruption against veteran guard Marshall Yanda and the interior of the Ravens line. On paper, the Saints defensive line looks to have the advantage, and certainly possess the ability to take over the game. Flacco doesn't have the athletic ability to escape from the rush, and has a long history of making big mistakes when pressured heavily. Baltimore executes third downs at a 46.9% rate, so New Orleans must stop the run and short passes early to force the Ravens into 3rd and longs, where they will look to heavily pressure the immobile Flacco, perhaps resulting in turnovers. The explosive Saints offense could have their hands full against a strong Baltimore defense, so the key to an important road victory in this one could come down to big plays on defense. Custom Miami Dolphins Jerseys
