METAIRIE, La. - New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley took issue Thursday with comments made by ESPN analyst Troy Aikman during the Saints' 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Aikman weighed in on the Saints' struggles on defense with 2:43 left in the third quarter of the "Monday Night Football" broadcast, saying that Staley didn't have any answers for the Falcons. The Saints, who came into the game without linebacker Kaden Elliss and edge rushers Carl Granderson and Anfernee Jennings, gave up five rushing touchdowns and 205 rushing yards.
"Brandon Staley, he just simply doesn't have any answers. And I think he knew it when we talked to him coming in," Aikman said during the broadcast Monday. "I think he knew. He didn't tell us, but the guys that are out ... their big edge rushers and guys who can play the run and set the edge, they're not on the field, and they just don't have that star defender that can erase mistakes for other people.
"This was a matchup issue coming into this game, and it's proven true."
Staley said he had heard the comments but had "no idea" what Aikman was talking about. Staley said the Saints defended Bijan Robinson well in both meetings last season, when they held him to 33 and 70 rushing yards in those respective games.
"It was a tough night for us, and certainly, I'm responsible. I'm calling the defense, but we've got a great group of guys," Staley said. "No one defended that runner last year better than us. He's a hell of a player. But our group defended him twice last year better than anyone through his time in the NFL.
"We're focusing on Minnesota, learning the tough lessons from the other night," Staley added. "We've got the right guys to bounce back."
Staley said the comments bothered him "because they're not true." He said Robinson's 59-yard run just three plays into the game was a "shock to everybody" because the Saints haven't given up runs like that this season, and said his defense played well for the next three possessions until a fourth-down penalty resulted in Robinson's second touchdown.
"There were plenty of good moments in there in the first half, but after that possession, it was really up and down," Staley said. "We did not play a good game after that fourth-down penalty. We never got our rhythm back as a defense. And that's what stood out to me. And that's why I say it was very uncharacteristic of us because, since I've been here, we've been very steady. But that game got away from us."
Aikman also said Staley wouldn't like the effort, noting that guys were "standing around watching the play, missed tackles, just bad football," on the fifth rushing touchdown.
Staley said some of the big plays given up were assignment and technique issues, but he didn't question the effort.
"Our guys have played the right way," Staley said. "And mainly that's assignment, technique, effort, all in one. I think the other night, we were missing two out of the three. Our effort was there."
The Saints, who are 1-3 after the loss to the Falcons, host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.