Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley pushed back on comments made by ESPN analyst Troy Aikman on Monday Night Football.
With 2:43 left in the third quarter of the Saints’ 45-24 loss, Aikman said Staley had no answers for the Falcons. Atlanta gained 420 yards, including 205 rushing yards, and the Falcons scored five rushing touchdowns.
The Saints played without linebacker Kaden Elliss and edge rushers Carl Granderson and Andernee Jennings.
“Brandon Staley, he just doesn’t have any answers, and I think he knew that when we talked to him coming in,” Aikman said Monday night. “I think he knew it. He didn’t tell us, but the guys that are out – their big rushers and the guys that can play the run and set the edge – aren’t on the field, and they just don’t have that star defender who can erase other people’s mistakes.
“It was a matchup problem in that game, and it turned out to be true.”
Staley heard the comments and said he had “no idea” what Aikman was talking about.
“It was a tough night for us, and certainly, I am responsible. I call the defense, but we have a great group of guys,” Staley said, via Katherine Terrell of ESPN. “Nobody defended that runner (Bijan Robinson) better last year than us. He’s a hell of a player. But our group defended him twice last year, better than anyone during his entire time in the NFL.
“We’re focusing on Minnesota and learning the tough lessons from the other night. We have the right guys to bounce back.”
Staley admitted the comments bothered him “because they’re not true.”
He also defended his players’ efforts after Aikman said some of the Saints “stood there watching the play, missed tackles, bad football” on the fifth rushing touchdown.
“Our guys played the right way,” Staley said. “And it’s mainly the mission, the technique, the effort, all rolled into one. I think the other night we were missing two out of three. Our effort was there.”
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