In what will be a weekly feature here at BSJ, we check in with a writer for the other team that knows their stuff and we throw five questions at them to get a better feel for the opponent.
For the Saints, we check in with old friend Nick Underhill, who previously did a great job covering the Patriots for MassLive.com. Nick started covering the Saints for The Advocate in 2014, and you can read his coverage here.
1. After three-straight 7-9 seasons, the Saints started with an underwhelming loss to the Vikings. Is there any reason to think the Saints aren’t just headed for another 7-9 season again?
Underhill: You don't want to put too much on one game. The big issue for the Saints last season was their players missed 301 combined games due to injury, where the league average is around 150. There should be a significant upgrade in talent if the defense can stay upright. But the concerning thing about Monday's game was the sheer number of mental errors. I had Adam Thielen with over 100 yards on broken coverages. It's surprising because defensive coordinator Dennis Allen ran an organized unit last year. The players just stunk. Some growing pains are to be expected with so many new players filling significant roles on defense, but Monday's performance was borderline inept at times. The team couldn't even execute Cover 2.
2. Who is the one Saints player most Patriots fans don’t know right now, but will by the end of the game on Sunday?
Underhill: I assume most people highlight a good player most people do not know about in this section, and a couple of possible picks for the Saints could be third-round LB Alex Anzalone or second-round safety Marcus Williams, who are both promising players. But if the Saints stick with the same personnel they used on Monday and experience similar issues executing their coverages, there's a good chance Patriots fans will become well acquainted with some of the team's cornerbacks, such as De'Vante Harris and P.J. Williams, for the wrong reasons.
3. What’s the biggest weakness on the Saints’ offense you expect the Patriots to try to exploit?
Underhill: The Patriots need to attack the edges. Hard. New Orleans will be without starting tackles Terron Armstead and Zach Strief. It's likely that left guard Andrus Peat will slide over to left tackle, and last week's left tackle, Ryan Ramczyk, will move to right tackle. Peat has shown an inability to play on the right side of the line. Ramczyk, who was selected with the first-round pick New Orleans received from the Patriots in the trade for Brandin Cooks, only allowed one sack and one pressure last week, but he's still a little unproven and never played on the right side during the summer.
4. What’s the biggest weakness on the Saints’ defense you expect the Patriots to try to exploit?
Underhill: Right now, it looks like the coverages. I do wonder, however, if the Saints will simplify things. They aren't going to fool Tom Brady by trying to disguise things. If the Saints play more man, they should execute better. Still, one of the starting corners, Marshon Lattimore, is a rookie, and the other, Williams, has only played 10 quarters in the NFL despite being in his third season.
5. Finally, Saints win on Sunday if …
Underhill: Drew Brees plays like vintage Drew Brees. The team also needs to settle its chemistry issues on offense. Two of the top three receivers (Cooks and Willie Snead) from last season are out of action and Brees, much like Brady, reads his receivers' body language to deliver throws before they complete their breaks. There were some issues with that last week. More importantly, the defense must become organized and create some turnovers.
Nick's pick
This one feels like it could be close. The Saints have a way of rising to the occasion against good opponents. But there were just too many issues last week to give the team the benefit of doubt. But the Pats are banged up, so maybe New Orleans is catching them at the right time.
Patriots 31, Saints 28