Matchups: Defense vs Saints

0:00Do you seek adventure and want to serve your country? The Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations is hiring. As a member of our team, you'll work on high-impact operations around the world, safeguarding our nation and making a difference. We are looking for individuals with a can-do attitude and a collaborative mindset if you are looking for a challenging and rewarding role. Explore available opportunities and apply online at CIA.gov slash careers. This podcast is supported by your Southern California KIA dealers. Around Southern California, it's easy to spend plenty of time behind the wheel. Whether you're commuting from OC or heading to Santa Barbara for the weekend, going farther between fuel stops is something everyone can appreciate. That's exactly what KIA's hybrid lineup is built for. KIA offers five hybrid models that combine turbocharged power with hybrid efficiency with some delivering more than 600 miles of driving range on a single tank.

1:00One model that really stands out is the all-new 2027 KIA Tell You Ride Hybrid. It offers seating for up to seven passengers, the confidence and capability of a three-row SUV, and a turbocharged hybrid powertrain that delivers impressive efficiency for fewer stops at the gas station. It's ready for weekday errands, weekend getaways, and everything in between. If a hybrid fits the way you drive, KIA has a model designed to fit your needs. Learn more at KIA.com or visit your Southern California KIA dealer. Hi folks, welcome to the episode of Film Study. This is Ken McKusik, and we're here for our matchup show this week. As always, joining me is my friend Frazier Tepar. Frazier, how you doing? Doing good, Ken. Got to be back on for this week's matchup show against the Saints. Really came in with a star-studded performance on defense. Some issues, especially on the first drive, but looking to see how we can build on top of that against the Saints' offense.

2:02Saints came back from a 21-0 deficit versus the Lions. They ended up losing that game 31 to 30 on a failed two-point conversion and over time. No, not too many people had their Bingo card. I doubt on the Bingo card, but they're down to 21-0. We can maybe talk a little bit about whether it means the Lions aren't really as good as we thought. The Saints aren't as bad, probably a little bit of both, I think, or true. Yeah, I think what I did like about the Saints is that when they did catch fire, they got into some really good rhythm, especially in that over time, when they drove down the field. But when it looked bad, it looked really, really bad for the Saints. So I think we're going to talk about it today, really just confusing show is going to be the main thing for the defense. All right, let's start off with the defense, of course, here in this first show. And what do you have to talk about? Yep, I have the Ravens linebackers versus the Saints running backs in short pass game and or extension of the run game. The Ravens really didn't run into those issues last week.

3:05John Attetaylor was efficient on the ground, really, nothing to note of in terms of the short game because the culture were down so much that they had to start pushing the ball downfield. I think shook is not someone that is not willing to check the ball down. I think there was one play where he tried to check it down to alignment because he was in trouble. So I think if we're able to prevent them from running those concepts of the receivers, just running go routes and it's possessed, essentially just the quick hit route by the running back to extend the run game. We need to be able to either be ready to put our hands up on the defensive line or just rally to tackle to prevent extra yardage. I really think Simpson had a really good game last week. Obviously there was some issues with the past pro especially on that first drive.

4:07Everyone had issues on that drive, but I think he was able to settle in a run game could be better but still look good overall. Rhoqal looked back to himself as usual, especially on the interception. Really put Daniel Jones scared straight the rest of the game because he really didn't really try over the middle that much. So really good to see you out of linebackers have shaped out. I think this week is a different challenge in itself. All right. I mean, the Saints running back, they may or may not have Kamara back for this game, but Travis at the end was pretty good in the first game. Ten rushes for 47, but he also caught maybe eight out of nine balls or something. Say a significant amount of yards there, which is probably his bigger value is. I think of these guys and at the end, fits into this category. Similarly, the Steelers running back to the last few years, they've been good tackle breakers and their past game is kind of an extension of the run game. I think shook through a ton of passes in this last game.

5:09I don't know if it was like 65, which is up close there towards the all-time record for an NFL games within about seven passes or so. So impressive reliance on him. And he certainly rolled up a ton of yards, even though when you get down to it, it wasn't a particularly efficient day in terms of yards per player or anything. In terms of the run game, this is a Saints team that runs almost exclusively zone. We'll see what they do this week. The Ravens ought to have some familiarity with that now that they're basically a zone team themselves. So ought to be something where they're almost looking in the mirror. There's another way they're looking in the mirror too is on the other side of the ball. In the fact that this is very much the Saints team that plays big nickel most of the time. So they ought to have an understanding of what they're trying to do in terms of supplementing the run game in that respect as well. Yeah, I'm really interested to see how we attack in terms of just their personal because they weren't really the best at tackling.

6:09And then we'll go over that later, but really a key issue for the Saints. All right, let's move on and talk about the offensive line a little bit for the Saints. And I think that'll be a challenge for the Ravens front seven. The Saints offensive line kind of perpetually a little disappointing. They've got a veteran offensive line that is not particularly great. And most of them are homegrown players. They've got three of their own number one draft picks and one number two draft pick. You know, all the run and they're and I think they may. Forwaga is still on his first contract and of course, Kellen bags is still on his first contract. He looks like the real deal. But they still have Caesar Ruiz. I think he might be at about his eighth year with the team. He's just a whipping boy for Saints fans in terms of not being a particularly good or effective right guard. So they're on him a lot. He is actually in the same draft group with Bredesen and on Weinau and the interior of that Michigan line is played a long time in the NFL. On Weinau still around, I'm not sure about Bredesen whether or not he's retired at this point. But to have three interior guys all played this long in the NFL because they were all

7:13played in Michigan in 2019 is unusual to say the least. Ruiz tremendously overdrafted at number 24. So basically, I titled a Linda bomb comp, but he hasn't been as good. So that's been a problem in those terms. Eric McCoy spent his entire eight year career with the Saints as well. He was drafted number 48 in 2019 at the center. And then they picked up left guard David Edwards is a fifth player after three years in, sorry, he had played solidly for this last three years in Buffalo. He had played before then. But he was their big UFA signing this season. So they have a lot invested this line, both in the combination of draft, capital and current contract value of these guys. And Kelvin Banks is really the guy who has stood out. He's been a little penalty prone so far. One snap every 88.8 snap. Sorry, one penalty every 88 point. He snaps as a rookie drafted him nine overall last year, but he does certainly look like the real deal.

8:16What else to say about this? What the Ravens need to do in this game in terms of the matchup is to make Chuck throw to win the edge defenders need to keep plays certainly turned to the inside and keep their running game on check. Now they'll try and pass away from those edge defenders as well. But the Ravens edge defenders, I thought the first week did an excellent job. I'm not expecting the Ravens to go to more base defense this week. I filled in that trap last week. You know what they ended up doing for a year? Two snaps of base defense the whole game. So they showed no respect at all for the Colts offensive line. If you don't respect for the Colts offensive line, you know, way you're having respect for the Saints offensive line. Yeah, even even on the when the Saints were backed up when Miss that fourth down, they didn't go to base. I'm sorry, even say that again. When the Colts were backed up on their goal line, yeah, when we back four down, you would expect them to at least come out with three, three, four down lineman, try and stop them because they're probably going to try and run out the end zone,

9:16but when they're going big nickel on that in there. Yeah, the only two times they played base once was when they put a six offensive line in the game. And once from first and goal at our five yard line. So base is the new jumbo for this Baltimore Ravens team. I said, I thought it'd be an under on 9.6%. I was actually kind of chewing on my fingernails a little bit as I was making that prediction. Now I'm not concerned about it at all anymore. I think they'll be well under that this year and big nickel will be their most common package by far. And certainly looks like we're not seeing any change in the way Mitter wants to run the defense from last year. Yeah, really interested to see if we continue to keep contained to because Shug had a lot of his big plays last week late in the late in the game on just rolling out, just getting out of some pressure and throwing it down, feel given his guy a chance. So we could just keep him in the pocket and then hopefully Hendrixson can get home and finish it off this week. All right, moving on to. We'll take a break here. We'll be right back.

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11:19Download the app today and use code Ravens to get $150 instantly in lineups. If you win your first $5 lineup, that's Ravens for $150 in lineups. If you're in your first $5 lineup, price picks, run your game. Do you seek adventure and want to serve your country? The Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations is hiring. We are looking for individuals with a can do attitude and a collaborative mindset. If you were looking for a challenge, apply online at CIA.gov slash careers. This podcast is supported by your Southern California KIA dealers. Around Southern California, it's easy to spend plenty of time behind the wheel. Whether you're commuting from OC or heading to Santa Barbara for the weekend, going farther between fuel stops is something everyone can appreciate. That's exactly what KIA's hybrid lineup is built for. KIA offers five hybrid models that combine turbocharged power with hybrid efficiency, with some delivering more than 600 miles of driving range on a single tank.

12:19One model that really stands out is the all new 2027 KIA tell you ride hybrid. It offers seating for up to seven passengers, the confidence and capability of a three row SUV, and a turbocharged hybrid powertrain that delivers impressive efficiency for fewer stops at the gas station. It's ready for weekday errands, weekend getaways, and everything in between. If a hybrid fits the way you drive, KIA has a model designed to fit your needs. Learn more at KIA.com or visit your Southern California KIA dealer. All right, we're back and it's your turn again. Frazier, give us your second matchup. Yep, I have the Ravens DBs versus the Saints wide receivers. This is pretty much the matchup of the game. If the Bravens DBs who are going to be without Tampa and held up pretty well last week, they can contain Chris Olave, number 14 on the Saints.

13:20It made some really big catches down destruction in that game. If they can end it also Hamilton against Johnson, Johnson is not a slight matchup. He's very quick. He's a former wide receiver. He can really get to the top of the route and wiggle. I think Hamilton does have his hands full with him in the past game. In terms of the outside guys, I really expect Nate Wiggins to basically travel with Olave. I don't know how they're going to match up with that in the slot, whether it's going to be rivers or Martin. I expect whenever Olave is on the outside, it's going to be him and Wiggins pretty much all day. Then Marlon's been playing great as well. I think he can just plug them in anywhere across the board. He can really play to defense well. I think Jesse Menner has helped the DBs in terms of not being predictable on what they're doing.

14:20That was evident in Kyle Hamilton's PBU over the middle on Alec Pierce when it was the inverted cover two. When they had three deep pre-snap and then Kyle Hamilton rotated so I get that pass break up over the middle. Really good to see how Jesse Menner is playing with the quarterbacks keys, the offensive keys, and then also helping the defense to make plays on the back end. I love the layered coverages, that's for sure. They got a wonderful underneath pick because Roku was right in the right place with great coverage on downs. The receivers for the Cold City really have great spacing. You get those kind of picks because you have seven in coverage as opposed to six. It gives you a better chance to have force the quarterback into a more difficult up and down throw, which they did with Daniel Jones. Touch is not his best thing. He got picked off in that game.

15:22Both turnovers, by the way, very excited with the fact that they're second man turnovers. Second man turnovers aren't all just fumbles, where you come and strip the ball late. It's over throws in a loose bracket. The ball being picked off in the lane when somebody closes a window. It's all of the things where not the primary defender makes the play on the ball. Humphrey and Rokuan, neither of them were the primary defender on their individual plays, but they came in and got the ball free and took it over for the Ravens. That was great to see. If I'm looking at something else about what they're doing, I don't believe they're going to travel this week. Last week would have been the perfect opportunity. Perfect opportunity because they had, you know, pierced on one side. We talked about this in our last matchup show. Of course, it seemed like Wiggins might follow him and Humphrey then would have a keen and Alan. They stayed exclusively right corner, Humphrey left corner, Wiggins the entire game. And there was, Minter was asked a question about it at the podium today

16:23about whether or not they would travel, you know, what their philosophy was on travel. Cordell asked it and he said that it becomes a little difficult when you and I'm paraphrasing now when you're, they're receiver moves at the slot. And then how do you change where that guy goes? Yeah, that's the, that's, that was my point, like you're saying, because Cordell did ask a good question. You want the best matchup on Olave. I think you could put Humphrey on him, just to beat him up in the slot when it gets to that point and then just sticking with the speed on the outside, but Nate. So I think Ravens have a lot of things they could do, but back to my point earlier, I think Justin Minter has this the DB's playing in a way where the quarterback really doesn't know who's doing what and it's just playing into their hands and really interested to see if they can get

17:25another interception this week too. All right, this one kind of plays into my second one, which is Minter versus Shuck, Shuck, a classic pocket passer by the way, if you haven't seen him play before, 65225, he looks to push the ball down field, kind of, kind of has the gunslinger Brett Farve kind of tag on him, but he's definitely a big quarterback of the classic mold as opposed to a Lamar Jackson or a mobile kind of quarterback. He's not particularly careful with the football. He's prone to interceptions. He's also prone to fumbles and they got him twice in the last game. He's fumbling all twice and one of them they actually recovered, but he's a guy who certainly has some problems taking care of the football. I think again, presenting layer defense team is going to is going to pay dividends. I think already Minter has proven from this first game that he can get pressure with four by manufacturing free runs, even against a very good offensive line with the Colts have the same sort of step down from a Colts. So they're going to be able to hopefully generate some of those similar pressures.

18:30They got 18 pressures on 33 pass plays this last week. That's 55%. That's just outstanding. And if they can do anything like that in terms of generating pressure that way, they'll do it. I do think this is a game where think of it as they need a combined arms approach to it. You don't want just infantry. You don't want to start artillery. You want all the elements together, infantry, artillery, air support, all the drones probably in today's warfare. You want all that stuff in order to take care of your opponent and they'll mix past rush, deception, coverage versatility to do all of that. So I think this is this is a game where they'll need to do it all. Yep. And I think I really want to see a better game from my green disappointing to see his showing last week really didn't flash. Like I mentioned, Henry send look really good, really unfortunate holdings that didn't get called on him. But Tavius Robinson just was dominant from the beginning of the snap.

19:32So two things going on with with with Robinson and green green. Those two guys are both chosen. They are anointed this year. And how do I know that? Well, the thought they had six long plays of third and very long, like eight plus. One of them was that third and 16 and the Ravens played a 32 dimes. They had two inside linebackers and only three guys at the line of scrimmage. Very unusual, but it was a gimmick kind of because they thought they would go with an underneath play and they just want to have some speed on the feed to try and track down the ball carry. In fact, they ran the ball for seven yards with Taylor and they got him on the ground. It was actually Tavius Robinson who got him down on that. The rest of the time they used the same four men at the line of scrimmage to rush the pass. And the four guys were Mike Green, Gray Hendrickson, Clayis Campbell and Tavius Robinson. Very surprising to me, the Tavius is in that most extreme kind of a pass rush group. Or in some ways the Campbell might have been there.

20:33Campbell, you know, the guy who I really expected to be there was Travis Jones. The guy who expected to be there in the future is not anybody about a BK. But you know, it's surprising to me. It looks to me like mentor values. A lot of the stunt games they can play at a higher level. And so they they've used Tavius in that group was he may have adapted better to that. And by the way, all four, all four of Tavius's quarterback hits in this game were generated free runs by some other form of game. He's stung at himself another time Hamilton picked off the right tackle. Yet another one where he was unblocked and Hamilton actually turned down Daniel Jones towards the right side. He had to had to scramble to the right right into the arms of Tavius Robinson. That was on the sack. But it was all made for him. I mean, Tavius Robinson had a good game because he converted his opportunities. But man, you know, on the C on PFF or something, he doesn't have a particularly high rush grade because

21:34he man, he got some great opportunities. It's like he kept throwing a bill, bill high fastballs and yeah, he hit him out of the park. Yeah, that's fair. And that's that's what you want though. You want those opportunities that you wait for to be executed at a 100% rate because Tavius didn't miss anything. And I think it's going to be interesting where this goes this week. Like, obviously the Saints offensive line isn't as strong as the cold. So it was interesting to see how Jesse Minnard had generated the past rush. It was very stale in the beginning. But as the game progressed, it picked up more and more as a cold skyd desperate on deep on off. The only rushed by the way, five or more, seven times the whole game. Five of them were six, sorry, six of them were six man rushes and one of them, sorry, five man rushes and one was a seven. And the seven was only the very last play of the game where they got that gratuitous sack that for starts. But, but yeah, they were when they rushed when they bliss,

22:35when they may, when they rushed five plus, I should say, they gave up minus 1.6 yards per play. Now, you can win a lot of football games with what they did with a four man rush because they gave up 6.2 yards per play. That's fine. You can do that. You can win, you can win. But wow, when they rushed numbers, the, the, the colds had no answer. Yeah, I'm really interested to see exactly how he, they continue to build off the scheme because you obviously, you can't show the same things week over a week. So I'm going to be interested to see how he wrinkles it this week. But who does he bring? Who's he bringing this week? Let's see. All right. Frazier, always a pleasure to do this show with you. Where can folks talk football with you online? You guys can reach me at Twitter slash x at f underscore rave eight. That's f underscore rave eight. All right, everybody, thanks for listening so much. Send your questions if you would to film study mailbag at gmail.com. I'll put them on the appropriate show. We had a huge number of questions tonight. I'll say at the live show at elephant, the room.

23:36Hope people can come out to that. A lot of fun out there at a very big crowd today. So we appreciate that. Frazier, thanks again for for doing the show. And we'll talk to you next time on film study. With the Amit's goal card, you can earn four times points at US supermarkets because the best nights in start with the grocery run that makes it happen. Apply for the gold cart at american express.com slash explore dash gold. Terms and points cap apply.