With The First Pick
Fansided

Sean Smith Will Bounce Back Against the Atlanta Falcons

By Carl Cockerham

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) runs past Oakland Raiders defensive back Reggie Nelson (27) and defensive back Sean Smith (21) and outside linebacker Ben Heeney (50) for a 98 yard touchdown during the third quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Raiders defeated the Saints 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) runs past Oakland Raiders defensive back Reggie Nelson (27) and defensive back Sean Smith (21) and outside linebacker Ben Heeney (50) for a 98 yard touchdown during the third quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Raiders defeated the Saints 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) strips the ball from New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) strips the ball from New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Pass Rush

There is no NFL cornerback that can consistently cover an NFL receiver for four or five seconds. So you need a pass rush that won’t allow the quarterback that much time to throw the football. You especially need that pass rush when the opposing team throws the deep ball.

But the Raiders, coming in with Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin, didn’t get pressure on Brees. For most of the day, the Saints offensive line gave Brees all day to throw. When that happens, we should expect Brees to throw for over 400 yards like he did last Sunday.

Tackles Terron Armstead and Zack Strief are among the top tackle combos in the NFL. As a whole, Pro Football Focus has the Saints offensive line ranked No. 3 in the NFL last year.  And they won their matchup with the Raiders’ No. 5-ranked defensive front led by Mack and Irvin.

Do not be fooled by the sack-fumble Irvin had early in the game last week. I counted five seconds that Brees had the ball in his hands in the pocket without moving on the play. You read that right, the one sack the Raiders had was when Brees had fives seconds to throw.

Next: Bottom Line

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