Saints Report #7 - October 27, 2013

The New Orleans Saints extended their record to 6 – 1 on Sunday with a 35 -17 victory over the Buffalo Bills, but not before they extended their bye week by more than a quarter and a half.  It was late in the first half, with the Saints trailing 10 – 7, and looking lethargic and out of sync on offense, when the urgency of the clock shook the offense out of the doldrums, and the Saints busted loose for 2 touchdowns.  I have to admit that a hint of worry was creeping in when Brees and company began to matriculate their way to a 21-10 halftime lead.

The familiarity of the Saints system was undoubtedly helpful to the Bills staff, many of whom were on Payton’s staff when he first arrived.  The Bills started the game with a read option – quarterback keeper that they would never run again.  Linebacker David Hawthorne, who is making it look like Jonathan Vilma may have a problem cracking the lineup if and when he comes back, absolutely creamed QB Thad Lewis.  It was a “welcome to the NFL” moment for Lewis, who although he fumbled on the play and was down for 3 minutes, came back to acquit himself pretty well.   The Saints failed to capitalize because a) Sean Payton still doesn’t realize 2^nd and 4 is a good thing, and certainly not the down and distance to go to an empty backfield/shotgun play, and b) Garrett Hartley is back to pulling his field goal attempts, which he did twice on the day.  John Carney probably has some missed calls on his iphone.  Are we sure Thomas Morestead can’t place kick?  He seems to drill every kickoff through the uprights, and it just seems like he’s got a 70 yard attempt in his future.

Every QB has a rough time with pressure, but while he makes an occasional mistake, nobody is better under duress than Drew Brees, and his 5 touchdown passes while he was getting clubbed around was pretty impressive.  The Saints biggest evolving weakness and thus their main playoff obstacle is their offensive line.  Even though Pierre Thomas is a reliable 4 to 5 yards a carry, no one is going to mistake the Saints for a running team.  Brees set an NFL record by throwing 5 td's for the 8^th time, and someday I hope to have grandchildren on my knee so I can tell them I saw him play.  He's the ticket.

So, like the Super Bowl march of 2009, the Saints get to preview the stadium where the “Big Game” will be played.  They travel to play the New York Jets who are on the standard week-off/week-on program of many .500 teams.  They upset the Patriots, then got embarrassed by the Bengals and sit at 4-4.  The Ryan Bowl should be interesting.

Saints Report #6 - October 13, 2013

The New Orleans Saints were eased out of the unbeaten ranks Sunday 30-27 by the New England Patriots when a frustrated Tom Brady threw a game-winning touchdown pass with 5 second left.  The story of this game was that Brady and the Patriots, down by 1, then 4, squeezed 3 possessions out of the last 3 and a half minutes.  I can’t account for an unexplained critical clock stoppage at 2:26 after a Saints running play, but the Saints just couldn’t control the clock, and it cost them when Brady led his last drive after getting the ball back with 1:13 and 70 yards to navigate with no timeouts .  He made it look easy.

Sometimes one team deserves to win and doesn’t.  Sometimes it’s the opposite.  This was a game where I can honestly say both teams played well enough to win.  Patriot’s coach Bill Belichick’s defensive plan was masterful as he took away Jimmy Graham completely by putting a cornerback on him.  Aqib Tahib shut the tight end down with no catches.  Expect this to be a blue print going forward for every team in the league. 

New Saints took up the slack.  Rookies Khiry Robinson and Kenny Stills scored, as did 2^nd year running back Tavaris Cadet.  But with Lance Moore still sidelined, Robert Meachum ineffective, and Marques Colston almost as blanketed as Graham, Brees options were limited.  Despite great protection most of the game, Brees had trouble finding open receivers.  The Saints ran the ball effectively at times, but refused to make it easy.   If I see another empty backfield on 2^nd and 4, with no threat that they might run, I’m going to throw up.  Sean (EDIAPD) Payton just can’t take what the defense gives him.  He wants more, more, more. 

The Saints were dominated in the first half and trailed 17 – 7 at the half.  As you would expect with their veteran leadership, they battled back to tie, and finally take the lead. 

Four years ago, in the magical 13-0 start on their way to their Championship, the Patriots came to the dome to provide a measuring stick for the Saints.  The Saints dominated that contest and it was a huge validation win.  This time the measuring stick yielded a different result.  The Saints are a very good team.  They aren’t great yet, but the potential is there.  A few holes got revealed, like the lack of a deep threat, and a heavy reliance on a few players who can be taken out of the game.  Their clock management was inexplicable in the last 3 minutes, but at least they fell victim to a great QB, not an average one.  That’s going to happen, but it doesn’t lessen the pain.

Now it’s a week off, and then a tough 10 games to complete the season  In the NFL, you can’t take anything for granted. 

Saints Report # 5 - October 6, 2013

The curse is broken.  The Soldier Field curse.  Drew Brees had never won at Soldier Field in three previous tries, and the Saints hadn’t had much luck there throughout their history.  All that changed on Sunday when the Saints went in and exerted their muscle on the usual sloppy Chicago field, 26 – 18, moving to a perfect 5-0.

The Saints defense was again impressive, although they allowed Jay Cutler some yardage.  The Saints ran the ball a little more than usual, and Sean “every down is a passing down” Payton turned to the reliable Pierre Thomas, who caught two touchdown passes, one on his patented screen pass to complement the Graham and Sproles show.  Pierre and his mates ran the ball effectively helping the Saints control the clock with their short passing game.  The effect is that they’re keeping the defense fresh. 

Da Bears played like they were the visiting team.  They fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, committed a critical offsides in the final minutes, and dropped a perfect 4^th and 1 pass.  They seemed jittery.  The Saints took full advantage.

So now there are three.  The Saints joined the surprising Kansas City Chiefs, and the not surprising Denver Broncos as the last of the undefeated teams in the NFL.  The meat of the schedule is ahead, and it’s off to New England against a Patriot team that is sure to be in a foul mood, with a returning Rob Gronkowsi on Sunday.  Saints fans are getting that 09 feeling again and who can blame them? 

At the Cinema - September 2013

Elysium – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a.  Science Fiction
b.  Matt Damon
c.  Heroes and Villains

Matt Damon is Max, a car thief of the future, but he’s been convicted and he’s therefore watched closely even though he toils away in a mundane job.  When he gets radiation poisoning on that job, he can easily get cured, but not on earth – only on Elysium, a space station circling earth populated with the rich and privileged. They have all the luxuries of the future on Elysium, and they guard them closely.  The Secretary of Defense is played coldly by Jodi Foster who grew into a mature lady while we weren’t looking.

All this is ludicrous of course, but good science fiction makes it believable, and this all seems to work.  Matt’s poisoning has made him weak, so he has to get outfitted with hardware welded to him so that he becomes a robotic superman.  Transformer-like battles ensue as Damon tries to make the commute from Los Angeles to Elysium.  Director Neill Blomkamp inexplicably became a hot property after his District 9 became a hit, although I didn’t care for it at all.  He redeems himself here with a more entertaining metaphorical leap.  We’re headed for separate planets (or space stations) with the widening divide between the haves and the have-nots.  I guess the Conservatives get a planet, and the Liberals get a planet.  Let’s hope there’s a third choice.

Lee Daniels’ The Butler - 7
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a.  Historical Perspective
b.  Interesting Characters
c.  Great Acting

This is an interesting movie in many ways.  Unfortunately, it is also deceptive.  If you walked in off the street knowing nothing you would believe that this is a true story of a man (not Lee Daniels - he's the director) who is a White House butler through several administrations.  You would be wrong.

Forest Whitaker plays The Butler, Cecil Gaines, a character “based on a true story.”  It’s loosely based on Eugene Allen, who was a White House servant through 8 administrations, and a whole lot of discrimination.  Oprah Winfrey plays his wife, and they both do a great job.  There is a parade of Presidential caricatures’ as the movie unfolds, with the emphasis on the Civil Rights movement, and one can’t help wonder what’s real and what isn’t. 

Did Ronald Reagan really think he was on the wrong side of the civil rights movement even as he was unwinding legislation?  Did Nancy Reagan really invite a Butler and his wife to a state dinner?  What’s real here?  Should I really have to research a movie when I leave to find out what was real and what was fictional?

We watch Forrest Gump and we understand that it is just entertainment.  Here, we are baffled.

But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t significant merit to the movie.  It does a fine job weaving old footage of key historical events with character evolution as the years go by in Gaines’ life.  Most interesting is his relationship with a rebellious son who is in the thick of key events. 
All of which is interesting, but too important to be a mishmash of truth and fiction, one that made me more and more uncomfortable as I learned more.  Movies like this can be so important.  The truth is fascinating enough.  Why leave us guessing?

In a World… - 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. An original subject
b. Movie Trailers
c. Voice Overs

It seems talented actresses like Lake Bell and Brit Marling (The East) have to write their own movies to land a decent role.  In this case Lake also has to direct and produce.  That’s a shame, because here Lake Bell the wonderful actress gets let down by Lake Bell the writer, producer, and director.    This is a wonderful premise that never quite ignites.

Lake plays Carol Solomon, a vocal coach who longs to break through the male-dominated profession of movie voice overs.  One of the males that dominates is her own father, a bundle of ego who has no intention of letting his daughter break through.  Another male is Don LaFontaine, the author of the famous “In a world where” preface to so many movie trailers.  LaFontaine has died (he actually died 5 years ago) and the studio wants to revive his signature phrase, perhaps even with a woman.  Carol should be so lucky. 

Unfortunately, this wonderful backdrop deteriorates into a couple of love story soap operas that we’ve seen a million times.  Too bad.  Nice try, in a world where women have to write movies to get a decent role.

The Family – 4

You’ll like this movie if you like:
a.  Waterboarding for fun
b.  Dianna Agron
c.  Tedium

This movie is so shockingly tedious that you’ll wonder who green-lighted the script.  I feared the worst but agreed to go because of the presence of the beautiful Agron, whose charisma is sorely missed on Glee.  I would have rather watched an interview of her, or just a still picture, or paint dry.

The biggest problem here is that this is as humorless a movie as one could imagine, and it is sorely in need of humor, anything to break the monotony of seeing Robert DeNiro play Robert DeNiro for the 23^rd consecutive movie.  Michelle Pfeifer and Agron are wasted.  You see, DeNiro testified against his mob buddies and he and his Munchasen family are in witness protection under a dour Tommy Lee Jones.  Even the inevitable violent ending is dull. 

I can’t think of a single reason to make this movie, and I surely can’t think of a reason to see it.  Another high school role for Agron surely wasn’t it.  Note to Hollywood:  Dianna Agron is a potential star and it’s time for her to graduate from high school and take on an adult role.  That might be worth seeing.   This wasn’t.

Saints Report #4 - September 30, 2013

The undefeated Miami Dolphins came to the Superdome for a check on their progress Monday night and left dazed and confused.  They fell victim to another Monday night showcase by Drew Brees, who passed for over 400 yards in a 38-17 shellacking.   This will all be forgotten by Sunday morning when the talking heads, an average 7 per pregame show, resume rhapsodizing about Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.  That’s a shame because through 4 games Brees has kept pace with Manning.  He does everything they do. 

The bad news for the NFL is that the Saints offense for the first time looked in rhythm and in sync.  The Dolphins learned that there is just no way to cover David and Goliath, Darren Sproles and jimmy Graham.  They each had 100 yards in receiving and Marques Colston came close.  The Saints were still unable to establish much of a running game, but rookie Khiry Robinson got some playing time while Mark Ingram was inactive with turf toe.  He may be inactive for a while as Robinson makes Ingram look like he’s running in concrete galoshes.

Meanwhile the defense continues to surprise.  They continue to create turnovers and now the offense is capitalizing.  A few extra possessions a game, good red zone defense, and field position advantage gained through an efficient kicking game are all very positive indicators.

But, here’s reality.  The Saints desperately needed to start off 4 – 0, because now the schedule is brutal.  It’s not just that they have to play Chicago, Seattle, and New England, but they have to travel to do it.  Trips are ahead to play the Jets, Falcons, Panthers and Rams, and the Cowboys and 49’ers are among the dome visitors ahead.  This was the start they needed.  Four in the bank is a nice deposit.