[bigboydan]

That Saints defense just blows this year, and it shows big time too. However, the total hasn't had much movement at all which surprises me a little bit.

MNF: Young and Titans take on Bush and Saints

09/24/2007 09:25 AM
By: Chance Harper


Last time Vince Young and Reggie Bush were on the same field in a game that meant something, the Longhorns popped the Trojans for the BCS title. Now the meet on an NFL gridiron with all the pomp and circumstance that is Monday Night Football. Can Bush and New Orleans get into the win column against Tennessee?

Way down South in the land of cotton, Super Bowl dreams have been forgotten.
MNF: Young and Titans take on Bush and Saints

The New Orleans Saints have been so ugly this year, their supporters can’t help but to look away. New Orleans is 0-2 straight up and against the spread after a pair of very disappointing blowout losses at Indianapolis and Tampa Bay. But Monday night features the Saints’ home opener, and they’re laying four points to the pesky Tennessee Titans.

Tennessee is making money hand over fist in the Vince Young Era. Since the former Texas quarterback made his first start in the NFL, the Titans are 9-6 SU and a bankroll-fattening 12-3 ATS. Tennessee was only favored twice during that stretch; once was in last year’s season finale against the New England Patriots, when the Pats were expected to rest their starters in preparation for the playoffs. Eventually, someone is going to have to take these guys seriously.

Although Young is one of the league’s most popular young QBs, the Titans are still in something of a rebuilding mode after winning just five games in 2004 and another four in 2005. The Tennessee offense is anything but flashy; they’ll run the ball right down your throat, using both LenDale White and Chris Brown as well as Young’s scrambling to sit fourth in the league in rushing efficiency after two games. It’s dull, and it works.

The Saints, on the other hand, are very much a public team with all the tools on offense. It only took one year to go from 3-13 to 10-6, thanks to a total makeover that included the additions of QB Drew Brees, RB Reggie Bush, WR Marques Colston, and coach Sean Payton. However, last year’s success came despite a below-average defense, and the Saints are showing cracks on both sides of the ball in 2007.

New Orleans has slipped from No. 19 in the league in defensive efficiency all the way to No. 31. The Saints have found out the hard way why Indy let CB Jason David walk as a free agent; as well, the thin front seven has been further weakened by DT Kendrick Clancy’s turf toe. With DT Brian Young still suffering the effects of offseason foot surgery and DT Hollis Thomas reporting to camp overweight, the Saints have yet to record a sack this year.

The Saints might be able to get away with their weaknesses downfield. Vince Young is not much of a threat to throw the ball deep; although he has a strong arm, he’s not very accurate or deceptive with his delivery. Young has improved on his shorter passes, though, and tackles Michael Roos and David Stewart have developed nicely in Year 3 of their NFL careers, giving Young plenty of time in the pocket. The Titans should be able to do enough damage through the air Monday to really open things up for their running attack.

If the Saints’ defense can avoid getting turned into mulch, it will be up to the offense to work out the problems it suffered through in the first two weeks. The most obvious of those problems has been the reluctance to give RB Deuce McAllister much of a chance to work. He’s supposed to provide the power to complement Bush, but McAllister has gotten just 10 carries in each of the first two games. Bush has thus far been prevented from turning the corner, and the Saints have fallen behind early and been forced to play catch-up by going to the air.

Tennessee’s defense held the fort against both Jacksonville and Indianapolis, although those two offenses weren’t clicking in those particular matchups. The Titans are ranked 26th in the league in defensive efficiency. Those numbers should improve as DT Corey Simon plays his way back to health alongside newly arrived Bryce Fisher from Seattle. Their depth will help support the talented duo of Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth, who were very effective when paired on the right side against the Colts.

This is still an opportunity for the Saints offense to get back on track, yet there are far too many issues for them on defense to make New Orleans worth supporting against a Titans team that is on a serious ATS tear.

The total opened at 45½ and hasn't budged much. ESPN's broadcast is set for 8:30 p.m. (ET) in front of what should be a raucous New Orleans crowd.

[SBR Lou]

That is an excellent write up. I was going through records yesterday and recognized the same, they are seriously on an ATS tear as he mentions.