5 Saints That Need to “Come Up Big” to Beat the Bucs
By Bob Rose
Nov 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New Orleans Saints free safety Vonn Bell (48) celebrates after a fumble recovery against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi
Vonn Bell, Free Safety
Bell was the Saints leading tackler last week, but struggled to shut down a Cardinals team that finished with over 300 yards passing.
The second round pick from Ohio State has shown enough this season to believe that he could be a future star at free safety.
His biggest weakness this season, however, has been a penchant for some mistakes in coverages that have led to big plays. Bell has not yet become the playmaker the Saints were hoping when they drafted him.
Bell must be instrumental in shoring up the middle of the field against tight end Cameron Brate and running back Doug Martin, as well as providing better help over the top against the Bucs wideouts to prevent the New Orleans corners from being exposed in deep coverage.
If unable to contain the Tampa passing game, the Saints’ only hope of victory will lay in a repeated “shoot out” of last week, meaning that we would need to see big performances from…