In a performance laced with mediocrity the Saints raised the ghosts of seasons past with a lethargic loss to the lowly Cleveland Browns 30 – 17. It wasn’t as close as the score would indicate, and it even occurred in the Superdome. Outperformed in all 3 phases (particularly special teams) the Saints seem well on their way to being the .500 team they are playing like. With a record at 4-3 and the hot Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town, the Saints face the distinct probability that they will be 4 – 4 at the halfway point of a season that could soon be a lost cause.
The Saints are playing like the 8 – 8 Saints of 2008. There are a couple of disturbing trends. The most disturbing one is that the opponents are finding and exploiting weaknesses – outcoaching the Saints. This week, the Browns pulled off some special team trickery that shouldn't work against a high school team. An across the field lateral on a punt return and a fake punt run of 68 yards, highlighted by Lance Moore's flailing attempt at tackling a sprinting punter, were both key plays.
Secondly, the offense effectively allowed more points than the defense, for the second time this season. This is role reversal of the highest order. Last season the Saints excelled at take aways they converted into points. This year the cleats are on the other foot and the Saints offense can't score fast enough to keep up with the points they give away.
Lastly, the Saints continue to ignore the ground game, failing to establish the run. Payton came out with Brees chucking the ball, although with defenses geared to stop the long passes, much of the Saints passing game is virtually laterals. Three screen passes after disastrous penalties put the Saints in first and 35 only underscored the problem – they can't get the ball downfield. Brees' 4 interceptions are symptomatic of the lack of rhythm. Brees threw the ball 56 times, usually a number that just won't work in the NFL.
The Saints loss total now equals the whole of last year. The plethora of injuries, the exploitation of weaknesses, and the failure to run the ball add up to a season that is on the brink. The Saints main competition to win the division, the Atlanta Falcon, are now a game ahead. The key matchups against the Steelers and Ravens outside the division now loom large.
I'm not ready to call it a Super Bowl hangover, but a little Hair of the Dog might be in order.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Saints Report # 6 - October 17, 2010
Now we know. Since that wonderful night in February, the Saints magical mojo was apparently retired to a condo in Boca. Sunday afternoon, they caravanned over to Florida and talked it out of retirement, at least for now.
The Saints dominated the Bucs 31-6 very similarly to last year’s game in Tampa. They sure do play well in Florida.
The Juicy Fruit Genius went back to the ground game that served him so well last year, and Chris Ivory sliced through the defense for over 150 yards rushing. His quickness and power were evident and it looks like the Saints have uncovered another free agent gem that should give them a 3 headed monster when Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas return.
Brees connected on two long touchdown passes and looked spry in the pocket, spreading the wealth all over the field.
Saints fans are in uncharted territory. Talk shows have been lit up with fans lamenting that the Super Bowl Champs were underachieving. Some even suggested Brees was off his game. Doesn’t take long to get spoiled does it?
While a lot of chatter was about the offense, everyone is failing to recognize how well the defense is playing depite an incredible run of injuries. The defense has given up some yardage, and isn’t getting the turnovers they did last year, but is playing as well as all but the most dominant defenses. They shut down Phoenix last week and Tampa Bay this week. The prospect of getting injured starters back in coming weeks is pretty exciting.
Well we’ll see next week if the Saints have truly returned to form. The Cleveland Browns, Scott Fujita, and Mike Bell come calling at the Superdome. Here’s hoping that Fujita and Bell get a rousing welcome. The Browns, not so much.
The Saints dominated the Bucs 31-6 very similarly to last year’s game in Tampa. They sure do play well in Florida.
The Juicy Fruit Genius went back to the ground game that served him so well last year, and Chris Ivory sliced through the defense for over 150 yards rushing. His quickness and power were evident and it looks like the Saints have uncovered another free agent gem that should give them a 3 headed monster when Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas return.
Brees connected on two long touchdown passes and looked spry in the pocket, spreading the wealth all over the field.
Saints fans are in uncharted territory. Talk shows have been lit up with fans lamenting that the Super Bowl Champs were underachieving. Some even suggested Brees was off his game. Doesn’t take long to get spoiled does it?
While a lot of chatter was about the offense, everyone is failing to recognize how well the defense is playing depite an incredible run of injuries. The defense has given up some yardage, and isn’t getting the turnovers they did last year, but is playing as well as all but the most dominant defenses. They shut down Phoenix last week and Tampa Bay this week. The prospect of getting injured starters back in coming weeks is pretty exciting.
Well we’ll see next week if the Saints have truly returned to form. The Cleveland Browns, Scott Fujita, and Mike Bell come calling at the Superdome. Here’s hoping that Fujita and Bell get a rousing welcome. The Browns, not so much.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saints Report # 5 - October 10, 2010
The Saints continued to look lethargic in their loss to the Phoenix Cardinals Sunday. With the Falcons and Bucs winning earlier in the day, this was the Saints’ first loss in a must-win situation in over a year.
With a banged up Saints defense playing well enough to win, the Saints offense continued its mistake-prone ways, especially around the goal line. I just read an article stating that the Saints best player is Drew Brees and then it ranked the rest of the players. It put Pierre Thomas 9th. Bullshit. It’s obvious to me how valuable Pierre is and maybe these games will prompt the Saints to sign him to the contract he deserves. When he is the game, the Saints are a different team.
First, take Ladell Betts. Please. At times he looks functional, but on Sunday he cost the Saints dearly with a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, a mishandled pass that got intercepted and returned to inside the 5, and appeared to cost the Saints 2 timeouts when he didn’t know where to stand with the Saints inside the 5. These are mistakes that Pierre doesn’t make. It was a team loss, but Betts was a personal 14 point swing at minimum.
Take Chris Ivory. He shows flashes of potential, but he now occupies the Aaron Stecker role in the offense. When he goes in the game, everyone in the stadium knows he’s running the ball, because he can’t do anything else. Again, not the case with Pierre Thomas.
Plus, the Saints miss Reggie Bush. The defenses are definitely game planning to stop the vertical attack. But, even then – the Saints are moving the ball pretty well. It’s just that they are settling for field goal attempts when they used to get 7. Why is this happening? Strange personnel and play calling for one. The Saints tried to throw the ball with Jimmy Graham split wide down at the goal line, and Colston and Shockey on the sidelines. Just don’t get it. If all I had was the Red Zone channel, I’d go crazy watching the Saints stumbling when they get close to the goal line.
Having said all this, the ball kept bouncing the Cardinals way Sunday at just the right moment. The Cards ran in 2 fumbles and an interception – that’s 21 of their 30 points right there. That mystical magic is gone and the Saints need to find it quickly. Tampa Bay is next and if they’re not licking their chops, they will be after watching the game film. I have no doubt that the Saints will get hot about the time they get healthy, but if they leave themselves too much ground in the standings to make up, it could make for a pretty boring January for Saints Fans. Having to win divisional games on the road to stay in the race is not generally a recipe for success in the NFL.
With a banged up Saints defense playing well enough to win, the Saints offense continued its mistake-prone ways, especially around the goal line. I just read an article stating that the Saints best player is Drew Brees and then it ranked the rest of the players. It put Pierre Thomas 9th. Bullshit. It’s obvious to me how valuable Pierre is and maybe these games will prompt the Saints to sign him to the contract he deserves. When he is the game, the Saints are a different team.
First, take Ladell Betts. Please. At times he looks functional, but on Sunday he cost the Saints dearly with a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, a mishandled pass that got intercepted and returned to inside the 5, and appeared to cost the Saints 2 timeouts when he didn’t know where to stand with the Saints inside the 5. These are mistakes that Pierre doesn’t make. It was a team loss, but Betts was a personal 14 point swing at minimum.
Take Chris Ivory. He shows flashes of potential, but he now occupies the Aaron Stecker role in the offense. When he goes in the game, everyone in the stadium knows he’s running the ball, because he can’t do anything else. Again, not the case with Pierre Thomas.
Plus, the Saints miss Reggie Bush. The defenses are definitely game planning to stop the vertical attack. But, even then – the Saints are moving the ball pretty well. It’s just that they are settling for field goal attempts when they used to get 7. Why is this happening? Strange personnel and play calling for one. The Saints tried to throw the ball with Jimmy Graham split wide down at the goal line, and Colston and Shockey on the sidelines. Just don’t get it. If all I had was the Red Zone channel, I’d go crazy watching the Saints stumbling when they get close to the goal line.
Having said all this, the ball kept bouncing the Cardinals way Sunday at just the right moment. The Cards ran in 2 fumbles and an interception – that’s 21 of their 30 points right there. That mystical magic is gone and the Saints need to find it quickly. Tampa Bay is next and if they’re not licking their chops, they will be after watching the game film. I have no doubt that the Saints will get hot about the time they get healthy, but if they leave themselves too much ground in the standings to make up, it could make for a pretty boring January for Saints Fans. Having to win divisional games on the road to stay in the race is not generally a recipe for success in the NFL.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Saints Report # 4 - October 3rd, 2010
The Saints beat the Carolina Panthers Sunday, getting 3 field goals from their “everything old is new again” kicker, John Carney, while future all-pro Garrett Hartley cools his heels contemplating his shakiness. Carney, destined to be on the Saints’ speed dial until Hartley gets over his yips, came through to lead the Saints to a 16-14 victory over the team that Sean Payton seems to have the toughest time with.
So, what’s the situation?
Drew Brees, despite a banged-up left knee, is still deadly accurate, although the long passes haven’t been as easy to come by.
The receivers are dropping the ball some.
There are a ton of injuries, with the team a long way from being healthy.
Brees, Sharper, Bush, Thomas, Gay, Prioleau, Harper, Reis, and now Porter.
The Saints have been losing the turnover battle.
The defense has been unsteady against the run.
Teams are learning how to slow down the offense.
Great Consternation among the faithful.
Yet, the Saints are 3-1, one of the best records in a parity-league. If not for the yips, they could be 4-0, albeit an ugly 4-0. Of course, they could be 0-4 pretty easily. But, that’s the NFL – the league where star quarterbacks pull out close games. That’s why everyone should just relax (after the game – it’s impossible to relax during these nail-biters.) We got used to winning pretty, now we need to enjoy winning ugly – they all count the same, and this is the way dynasties get built – winning no matter what the adversity.
Here are some observations. The Saints believe they have a plug and play running back offense, where they can pull a running back off the street and he’ll do fine – thus their reluctance to do a deal with Pierre Thomas while Reggie Bush gets hugely overpaid (it’s a draft position thing.) Unfortunately, the performance of Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory (despite his fumbling problems – 2 in 2 games) may validate their position. Too bad.
The injury bug is hitting hard. If the Saints can withstand this onslaught and get healthy in the 2nd half of the season, they’ll be fine.
Sunday they face the Arizona Cardinals – a desperate team that has to be revenge-minded thinking about last year’s playoff game, even if their best quarterback is dancing with the stars.
The Cardinals have looked terrible this year, so it should be a mismatch, right?
Wrong.
Expect a close game, a nail biter.
It’s a new year baby.
So, what’s the situation?
Drew Brees, despite a banged-up left knee, is still deadly accurate, although the long passes haven’t been as easy to come by.
The receivers are dropping the ball some.
There are a ton of injuries, with the team a long way from being healthy.
Brees, Sharper, Bush, Thomas, Gay, Prioleau, Harper, Reis, and now Porter.
The Saints have been losing the turnover battle.
The defense has been unsteady against the run.
Teams are learning how to slow down the offense.
Great Consternation among the faithful.
Yet, the Saints are 3-1, one of the best records in a parity-league. If not for the yips, they could be 4-0, albeit an ugly 4-0. Of course, they could be 0-4 pretty easily. But, that’s the NFL – the league where star quarterbacks pull out close games. That’s why everyone should just relax (after the game – it’s impossible to relax during these nail-biters.) We got used to winning pretty, now we need to enjoy winning ugly – they all count the same, and this is the way dynasties get built – winning no matter what the adversity.
Here are some observations. The Saints believe they have a plug and play running back offense, where they can pull a running back off the street and he’ll do fine – thus their reluctance to do a deal with Pierre Thomas while Reggie Bush gets hugely overpaid (it’s a draft position thing.) Unfortunately, the performance of Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory (despite his fumbling problems – 2 in 2 games) may validate their position. Too bad.
The injury bug is hitting hard. If the Saints can withstand this onslaught and get healthy in the 2nd half of the season, they’ll be fine.
Sunday they face the Arizona Cardinals – a desperate team that has to be revenge-minded thinking about last year’s playoff game, even if their best quarterback is dancing with the stars.
The Cardinals have looked terrible this year, so it should be a mismatch, right?
Wrong.
Expect a close game, a nail biter.
It’s a new year baby.
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