I rarely bet on football. When I do it’s because I perceive that one team has a huge emotional edge. I should have seen this coming a mile away. I didn’t. Or maybe last week I was just a week early in my premonition of doom.
When the Saints got bowled over by the St. Louis Rams 31-21 Sunday in a game that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate, they seemed to move to 0 for St. Louis in my lifetime. They also have yet to tackle Steven Jackson in my lifetime. There have been some dismal loses to St. Louis, but none more unexpected than this one. The Saints wandered into a World Series inspired city and got trounced just one week after embarrassing another winless team. The Rams are winless no more, as they chose to win one for their sidelined quarterback, Sam Bradford. The Rams may have taken themselves out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes with this inspired victory.
If Hector Cruz had caught that line drive for Texas to win the World Series in game 6 none of this would have happened. Now, the St. Louis Cardinals’ incredible comeback from 10 ½ games out in late August to win the National League pennant, then the World Series has served to inspire the Rams to do the impossible, starting with stomping the Saints, even with journeyman AJ Feely at quarterback. Pencil them in for the Super Bowl.
All the Cardinals, including Tony LaRussa showed up, and it would have been horrible etiquette for the Rams to play less than inspired football. Saying that they dominated the Saints at the line of scrimmage doesn’t fully describe this game. The most positive thing you can say is that at least Drew Brees didn’t get hurt while he was getting pounded
I know if you’ve been living on a couch, you’re surprised that Texas and St. Louis have baseball teams. The Major League ESPN league consists solely of the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, so this development had to be distressing to the baseball powers. That these two obscure teams produced a sloppy (ever play baseball in Arctic weather?) but thrilling World Series is further evidence that baseball is such a great game. While I love football and basketball, their suspense is greatly artificial due to bizarre and ever-changing rules.
Examples? The onside kick. Imagine if a baseball team got an extra inning when they wanted it. Advance the ball to half-court. Can we start the final inning with a runner at second base? Not enough offense? Constantly change the rules to protect the players. You know, the offensive ones.
Meanwhile baseball slogs along with the same old rules, and whether or not it’s a 1-0 game or a 10-9 or even 10-0 one, there’s a magic to this ancient game. There is no clock. Time never runs out. Only the strikes run out.
Time ran out on the Saints Sunday, and now they must do what they couldn’t do a few weeks ago – beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will have had 2 weeks to prepare.
Can you say big game? The Saints are a disappointing 5-3. Disappointing not because they’re out of it, but because their road to a reprised Super Bowl now almost surely runs through Lambeau Field. In January. On the tundra. Frozen. Blech.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Saints Report # 7 - October 23, 2011
I know football.
I was worried about the Saints Sunday night matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
I thought it was a trap game.
I thought the Saints might take the Colts lightly because the Colts were winless.
I thought the Colts were improving.
I thought the Colts were primed for a win.
I thought the Colts would want revenge for their Super Bowl upset by the Saints.
I thought the Saints would make a star of a new opposing quarterback, as is their tradition.
I thought the Saints would run the ball like the 2010 Saints that showed up in Tampa last week.
I thought the Saints defense would continue to struggle.
I thought the Saints offense would suffer without Sean Payton on the sidelines.
I thought the Saints would have problems getting the plays in.
I thought the Colts would onside kick at some point.
I thought the Saints would miss their starting center who threw in the towel during the week.
I thought the Saints would struggle to block the Colts defensive ends.
I was worried.
Guess I don’t know football.
With Drew Brees playing a nearly perfect game without so much as a word from Sean Payton, the Saints rarely even saw a 3rd down. It was a dominant performance unlike any a Saints team has ever put on.
How good was Drew Brees? Let me quote the local paper:
“Brees completed 21 of 26 passes for 260 yards in the first half. He finished the game completing 31 of 35 passes for 335 yards and 5 touchdowns….”
Guess I don’t know football.
I was worried about the Saints Sunday night matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
I thought it was a trap game.
I thought the Saints might take the Colts lightly because the Colts were winless.
I thought the Colts were improving.
I thought the Colts were primed for a win.
I thought the Colts would want revenge for their Super Bowl upset by the Saints.
I thought the Saints would make a star of a new opposing quarterback, as is their tradition.
I thought the Saints would run the ball like the 2010 Saints that showed up in Tampa last week.
I thought the Saints defense would continue to struggle.
I thought the Saints offense would suffer without Sean Payton on the sidelines.
I thought the Saints would have problems getting the plays in.
I thought the Colts would onside kick at some point.
I thought the Saints would miss their starting center who threw in the towel during the week.
I thought the Saints would struggle to block the Colts defensive ends.
I was worried.
Guess I don’t know football.
With Drew Brees playing a nearly perfect game without so much as a word from Sean Payton, the Saints rarely even saw a 3rd down. It was a dominant performance unlike any a Saints team has ever put on.
How good was Drew Brees? Let me quote the local paper:
“Brees completed 21 of 26 passes for 260 yards in the first half. He finished the game completing 31 of 35 passes for 335 yards and 5 touchdowns….”
Guess I don’t know football.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Saints Report #6 - October 16, 2011
The Saints travelled to Tampa without their usual mojo and magic and surrendered control of the division to Tampa in a lackluster 26-20 loss. When Sean Payton got Paterno’d early in the game it was a sign of things to come. Payton suffered a broken kneecap and torn MCL and never came out for the 2nd half.
Last year the Saints blow-out victory in Tampa was highlighted by Chris Ivory’s breakout game as he ran wild. This time the Saints running game was nowhere to be found. The Saints couldn’t run the ball at all, and when this quarterback is the most effective rusher, that’s a really bad sign. The passing game lacked the precision of games past as balls were dropped and Drew Brees threw 3 interceptions, including a 4th down end zone pick late in the 4th quarter. A touchdown would have put the Saints ahead, but if they had pulled it out, it would have gone down in the “won one we didn’t deserve” column. That the Saints were even in position to go ahead after 4 turnovers is a tribute to their resilience.
Two years ago, the Saints defense was a turnover-creating machine. That’s the biggest absence in Gregg Williams’ defense. Like every other defense in the NFL they get riddled by the passing game. Unlike the others, they just can’t seem to ever get a turnover. There’s no room for offensive error the way the defense is playing, and there were too many offensive errors Sunday. Their last two opponents have featured often inaccurate quarterbacks hitting wide-open receivers. The lack of a pass rush is still a problem for the Saints. This was an old-fashioned ball game, won in the trenches and the Bucs offensive line played better than the Saints offensive line.
Suddenly the Saints are in a tough position. Their Head Coach is scheduled for knee surgery Monday and that leaves a lot of questions. Fortunately the winless, Manningless Colts come to the dome and the Saints early tough schedule is in the books. If the Saints take care of business with the Colts and Rams, it sets up a pivotal rematch with the Bucs on November 6th. Let’s hope that both Payton and his Saints are on their feet.
Last year the Saints blow-out victory in Tampa was highlighted by Chris Ivory’s breakout game as he ran wild. This time the Saints running game was nowhere to be found. The Saints couldn’t run the ball at all, and when this quarterback is the most effective rusher, that’s a really bad sign. The passing game lacked the precision of games past as balls were dropped and Drew Brees threw 3 interceptions, including a 4th down end zone pick late in the 4th quarter. A touchdown would have put the Saints ahead, but if they had pulled it out, it would have gone down in the “won one we didn’t deserve” column. That the Saints were even in position to go ahead after 4 turnovers is a tribute to their resilience.
Two years ago, the Saints defense was a turnover-creating machine. That’s the biggest absence in Gregg Williams’ defense. Like every other defense in the NFL they get riddled by the passing game. Unlike the others, they just can’t seem to ever get a turnover. There’s no room for offensive error the way the defense is playing, and there were too many offensive errors Sunday. Their last two opponents have featured often inaccurate quarterbacks hitting wide-open receivers. The lack of a pass rush is still a problem for the Saints. This was an old-fashioned ball game, won in the trenches and the Bucs offensive line played better than the Saints offensive line.
Suddenly the Saints are in a tough position. Their Head Coach is scheduled for knee surgery Monday and that leaves a lot of questions. Fortunately the winless, Manningless Colts come to the dome and the Saints early tough schedule is in the books. If the Saints take care of business with the Colts and Rams, it sets up a pivotal rematch with the Bucs on November 6th. Let’s hope that both Payton and his Saints are on their feet.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Saints Report # 5 - October 9, 2011
There’s a scene in the over-the-top Patrick Swayze movie Roadhouse where the late singer Jeff Healey says “the name is Dalton.”
For Saints fans, the name is Brees.
The good news is that we should be the beneficiary of another five years or so of his magic. The bad news is that it looks like we have 15 years of Cam Newton ahead of us in the NFC South.
While Newton isn’t an accurate passer (yet) he’s nothing but a football player. Exceeding the expectations of everyone in the league, Newton competes for 60 minutes. Seeing him twice a year won’t be fun. But on this Sunday Brees and the Saints’ 30 point consistency was just enough as time ran out on the Panthers 30-27. The Saints moved to 4-1 and control their destiny now as they sit alone atop the division.
The Saints final fourth quarter drive was a thing of beauty, as not only did they patiently work their way down the field, Brees made sure they used just enough clock, spoiling Saints fans once again.
On a Sunday when the Saints employed their own “just win, baby,” mantra, the death of long-time owner Al Davis fired up his Raiders, although with his death, they now become the favorite to move to Los Angeles. While the Raiders have often been good, it was the Raiders of the Mad Bomber, Darryl Lamonica, that were most fun to watch in the days of Al Derogatis and the AFL. Davis must have gotten a kick out of the NFL becoming such a passing league, with each team bombing away the way Darryl used to.
More than ever, it’s a quarterback league.
The Saints have a great one.
The name is Brees.
For Saints fans, the name is Brees.
The good news is that we should be the beneficiary of another five years or so of his magic. The bad news is that it looks like we have 15 years of Cam Newton ahead of us in the NFC South.
While Newton isn’t an accurate passer (yet) he’s nothing but a football player. Exceeding the expectations of everyone in the league, Newton competes for 60 minutes. Seeing him twice a year won’t be fun. But on this Sunday Brees and the Saints’ 30 point consistency was just enough as time ran out on the Panthers 30-27. The Saints moved to 4-1 and control their destiny now as they sit alone atop the division.
The Saints final fourth quarter drive was a thing of beauty, as not only did they patiently work their way down the field, Brees made sure they used just enough clock, spoiling Saints fans once again.
On a Sunday when the Saints employed their own “just win, baby,” mantra, the death of long-time owner Al Davis fired up his Raiders, although with his death, they now become the favorite to move to Los Angeles. While the Raiders have often been good, it was the Raiders of the Mad Bomber, Darryl Lamonica, that were most fun to watch in the days of Al Derogatis and the AFL. Davis must have gotten a kick out of the NFL becoming such a passing league, with each team bombing away the way Darryl used to.
More than ever, it’s a quarterback league.
The Saints have a great one.
The name is Brees.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Saints' Report # 4 - October 2, 2011
The New Orleans Saints travelled, probably for the last time, to Jacksonville to take on Jack “12 games to go” Del Rio’s “most-likely-to-be-Los Angeles” Jaguars and their rookie quarterback.
The results were comfortably predictable as Drew Brees threw more passes than were probably needed in disposing of the Jaguars 23 – 10. There was a time when the Saints made stars out of opposing rookie quarterbacks. No more, as defensive coordinator Gregg Williams indiscriminately unleashes his full defensive playbook no matter who is taking snaps. Blaine Gabbert felt the pain this time, as he struggled most of the afternoon.
How cool is it the Saints, one-season removed from a Super Bowl title, are developing new stars? One year ago Jimmy Graham was a late round draft flyer. Sunday he only caught 10 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Many are drafted because of their potential, but few realize it. Chalk another one up for the Saints scouting department. Graham has become a new threat that has been added to the already deep Saints receiving corps. He snatches passes like they were rebounds, and he’s got the speed to get deep. I’ll admit I wasn’t buying the release of Shockey to turn the workload over to Graham. If Graham continues at this pace, Pro Bowls are waiting. I’m sold.
Then there’s Darren Sproles, all 5’6” of him. The Saints knew they had a potential replacement for dancing Reggie Bush. Reggie has not been missed as Darren Sproles, he of instant acceleration, is providing that consistent production that Reggie never could. He produced 188 yards Sunday, playing “tackle me if you can find me.”
Best news of all was that Saints ran the ball effectively with Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram also finding holes. Just 7 days until we find out what Coach Williams has in store for Cam Newton, whose addition has made the NFC South the strongest QB division in the NFL. Should be a great one.
The results were comfortably predictable as Drew Brees threw more passes than were probably needed in disposing of the Jaguars 23 – 10. There was a time when the Saints made stars out of opposing rookie quarterbacks. No more, as defensive coordinator Gregg Williams indiscriminately unleashes his full defensive playbook no matter who is taking snaps. Blaine Gabbert felt the pain this time, as he struggled most of the afternoon.
How cool is it the Saints, one-season removed from a Super Bowl title, are developing new stars? One year ago Jimmy Graham was a late round draft flyer. Sunday he only caught 10 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Many are drafted because of their potential, but few realize it. Chalk another one up for the Saints scouting department. Graham has become a new threat that has been added to the already deep Saints receiving corps. He snatches passes like they were rebounds, and he’s got the speed to get deep. I’ll admit I wasn’t buying the release of Shockey to turn the workload over to Graham. If Graham continues at this pace, Pro Bowls are waiting. I’m sold.
Then there’s Darren Sproles, all 5’6” of him. The Saints knew they had a potential replacement for dancing Reggie Bush. Reggie has not been missed as Darren Sproles, he of instant acceleration, is providing that consistent production that Reggie never could. He produced 188 yards Sunday, playing “tackle me if you can find me.”
Best news of all was that Saints ran the ball effectively with Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram also finding holes. Just 7 days until we find out what Coach Williams has in store for Cam Newton, whose addition has made the NFC South the strongest QB division in the NFL. Should be a great one.
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