Saints Report #3 - September 22, 2013

The story of many a life is to get things backward.  I admit it.  My Saints analysis was completely backwards.  The 31-7 slow burn they did on the Arizona Cardinals was the proof.

I didn’t think the Saints defense could transform so quickly, but they have.  After an opening drive for a touchdown the Cardinals were completely stifled by the Saints defense.  The D has developed a most important commodity – a pass rush.  That has allowed 1^st round pick Kenny Vaccaro, and free agent cornerback Keenan Lewis to thrive in the secondary (when did you ever think you’d hear that phrase) and they both picked off passes from Carson Palmer to prove it.  The line play, led by Cameron Jordan has blossomed, and the Saints defense has dominated each game.  It's almost as if Ricky Jackson has suited up.

The new defensive confidence was in evidence as the second half began to wind down, and with the Cardinals trying to drive, Sean Payton kept calling time-outs as if to assist them.  It became obvious at that point he didn’t think there was any way Palmer could hurt the Saints, much less score. 

The offense is another story.  I don’t know if it’s a good sign or a bad sign that Robert Meachum caught the Saints first touchdown pass.  The Chargers released him, reportedly because he’d lost his hands, his speed, and his body control.  A chemistry with Phillip Rivers never developed either.  That he has been able to slide right into his old role with the Saints makes me wonder.  Good or Bad?  I liked our young receivers, but is Meachum better?

Well, we know the Saints can’t run the ball.  They don’t try much, and only when they had worn the Cardinals down in the 4^th quarter did they accumulate any ground yardage.  Again, is this good or bad?

When your quarterback is your most effective rusher going into the 4^th quarter, and he’s not doing any read option, well, is this good or bad?  Is our run blocking bad because it’s an afterthought?

The offense isn’t clicking yet, although they did a nice job on the short drives, and no one can keep Jimmy Graham off the backboard, I mean out of the end zone.  If they can add a running game, or if Payton will call a running play in something other than a short yardage situation, and the offense becomes a little more consistent, well, I could get some of my questions answered.  For now, I'll lean to "good."