The Saints have won two games in a row, but it hasn't been without frustration, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
And with that in mind, there are two things, specifically, that Bobby Hebert wants to see when New Orleans heads up north for a showdown with the Vikings.
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"Who can get off to a quick start?" Hebert asks. "I’m just looking for Dennis Allen and the Saints to not have … now would be five straight games where our defense is not kicking butt in the first half. Can we please do that?"
It's a fair critique. As elite as the Saints defense has been at closing out games, it's been equally as ineffective when it comes to shutting them down early. The Saints have allowed 14-plus points in each of the past four first halves. Many of those scores have come during the scripted portion of the opposing offense, which typically consists of 15 or so predetermined plays that will often feature new wrinkles and/or unscouted looks.
What's also been an issue is Hebert's second request: Limit the rushing yardage from the QB position. It's been an issue all season. In a close loss to the Jaguars, QB Trevor Lawrence was the leading rusher despite no designed runs. He would check his first read then look for an escape route, which always seemed to be there. The same was true for Bears QB Tyson Bagent in the first half of Week 9, a game he finished with 70 rushing yards in the Saints 24-17 win.
The Saints have allowed the third-most rushing yards in the NFL to opposing QBs, and newly established Vikings starter Josh Dobbs is only behind Lamar Jackson when it comes to rushing yards at the QB position. He rolled up 65 yards and a touchdown on the ground in a Week 9 win over the Falcons.
“We want to sack Joshua Dobbs," Hebert continues. "We want to get after him, but you cannot be out of control and you’re not doing your gap assignment because you can’t let him get off, because he will run.”
