Saints Report # 11 - November 29, 2015

The New Orleans Saints came off their much needed bye week with their batteries recharged, their legs rested and their psyche refocused.  So, they zipped over to Houston and promptly delivered a performance even more lackluster than their last.  The Houston Texans spanked them 24-6, a punishment that was fully deserved.  It moved the Saints into a “lost season” mode that they haven’t experienced in November in a very long time.  Can you say wasted December?

If you had told me that after 12 weeks the Saints would have more wins than only 6 teams I never would have believed you.  I’ve listed the things the Saints can’t do.  Now let’s list the things that they CAN do.  …………………………

In this disastrous loss, the Saints failed to score a touchdown for the first time in 155 games, ending the second longest streak in NFL history.  Drew Brees also had his streak of 45 games with a touchdown pass snapped.  At this point the Saints are inept.

So, while there are many problems with the Saints, here’s one more that I will mention before I retire to watch some real football.

Saints depth chart at wide receiver:

1.

2.

3.  Brandin Cooks

4.  Willie Snead

When a tight end, Ben Watson, is your most reliable threat, it’s time to go after some wide receivers.  Of course they have needs just about everywhere on both sides of the ball.  They are like the guy that walked up to the airline counter and said, “Give me a ticket.”  The desk agent said “to where?”  He replied, “Doesn’t matter, I’ve got business everywhere.”  Which is exactly where the Saints have problems.  

Saints Report # 10 - November 15, 2015

The 2015 version of the New Orleans Saints travelled to the nation’s capital Sunday and got humiliated 100-14.  It was as if Louisiana hadn’t been purchased yet.  They fell to 4 - 6 in their worst loss of the era, and comparable to their bygone era.  The real score was 47 - 14.  

I’m not sure when the Brees/Payton era officially ended. 

Maybe it was when the Saints traded Darren Sproles. 

Maybe it was when they signed Jimmy Graham to a contract that they could not possibly live with.  Maybe it was when they established the defensive coordinator position as a rotating door. 

Maybe it was when they blew several drafts in a row.

Maybe it was bountygate.

Maybe it was when they decided to not bail out Darren Sharper.

Maybe it was when they thought the Buffalo Bills would be a great source of free agents.

Or maybe it was in the fourth quarter when Drew Brees officially took over the decision making from the coaching staff.  I don’t know if this will be a big story or not.  The press corps that covers the Saints appear to be somewhat intimidated by Coach Payton, and nobody asked him about it in the press conference.  But, they sure asked Drew Brees, who had apparently noticed that the Saints were down 30 and punting would be kind of pointless.  So, he waved the punting team back to the bench, to attack a 4th and 4 backed up to their own end zone.  I wonder how much discussion there will be on Brees’ action.  It didn’t appear that Payton was too happy, but he wasn’t so unhappy that he called a timeout to force the punt.  Brees apparently failed to inform Mark Ingram to run a route beyond the 1^st down marker, and his pass fell incomplete.  The Redskins took over inside the Saints thirty, and the Saints held them to a field goal.  I’m with Brees on his decision.  There is really no reason to punt for the rest of the year.  This time it wasn’t a nail in the coffin.  It was just salt on the open wound that the announcers kept liberally referring to as a “defense.” 

There’s not much more that can be said about the Saints defense.

They can’t cover.

They can’t tackle.

They can’t stop the run.

They can’t pressure the quarterback.

They can’t play off blocks.  Their defenders are the most easily blocked players in NFL history.  What stood out Sunday is that the evasiveness of the Saints could be rated zero. 

When the opposing offense is in the film room studying, well, watching the Saints defense, Pavlov’s dog would take a back seat to the salivating that must go on.

They know that every play they will run will go exactly the way it is drawn up, as if it were a video game.

They know that if the Saints make a big play on defense, it will immediately be wiped out by a yellow flag.

They know that their quarterback will sit back in the pocket and survey his field of dreams.

They know their offensive records may fall.

They know the only defensive player that can hurt them is a new one they have never heard of.  Sunday, some dude named Obum Gwacham got the Saints only sack, and I immediately commissioned an investigation.  Questions abound. 

Who is he? 

Where did he come from? 

How did Rob Ryan let him in the game? 

How much longer will Rob Ryan keep his job? 

Outside of those girls in The Shining, has there ever been a more disappointing set of twins than Rob and Rex Ryan?  

Could Rob Ryan himself be a set of twins?

What's he hiding under that sweatshirt?

His resume, I hope?

For a long time Saints fan, keeping perspective is difficult.

For most of the Saints history the Saints have been a well below average team.  Those of us who endured that era, do not take the Saints last 10 years for granted, because for much of that time, the Saints have been above average.  Right now they have fallen back to below average and sinking. 

Recent fans who have been spoiled by the Brees/Payton run of success may as well learn the new reality.  1) The party is winding down.  2) we all need a week off.

Saints Report # 9 - November 8, 2015

I give up.

I can’t figure them out.

The Saints are like a girlfriend you’ve been having a great time with for a few weeks, and she walks in and announces that she’d like to see other people.

In a game that should have had a degree of difficulty of about 0, the Saints managed to cough up a game to the single-win Titans 34-28, in overtime.  Overtime was a mercy rule for the Saints, as Tennessee would have kept right on rolling to a 56 – 28 win if allowed to continue.

Oh, the Saints picked up where they’d left off last week, as they scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, and Brees was having his way.  It was then that the Titans made a fateful decision.  They decided Brees could not throw from the ground.  The Saints protection began to collapse and the Titans took control.

This was the kind of defensive adjustment that evades the Saints, right up there with tackling and coverage.  Quarterback Marcus Mariotta was given a ticket to ride all day long, as the Saints front four never laid a hand on him.  He stood back in the pocket, and said, “wait, is this the NFL?  Where’s that Cameron Jordan I’ve been hearing so much about?”  Maybe Marcus is a future star.  As usual, the Saints did their part to accelerate the young quarterback’s progress.  It’s a fleur de lis tradition.

The Saints secondary, which was showing so much progress just a few weeks ago, was in complete disarray as Jarius Byrd doesn’t seem to grasp the concept of “safety” and Brandon Browner can only grasp.  Of course, they get no help from a pass rush, and there is one sure way to win in the NFL, and it’s with a pass rush,

You will find here a list of players who effectively rushed the passer:  ……………………….

Then there’s the list of players who can consistently run the ball: ………………………

That’s right.  The Saints still can’t rush the passer and can’t rush the football. 

Good thing they're not a fraternity dependent on rush.  They'd be extinct.

Yes, there was some luck involved.  What should have been a routine interception was bounced up and turned into a long touchdown pass for the Titans.   The Saints had a potential game-winning field goal blocked.  Marcus Murphy fumbled his 2^nd punt in his last 3 returns early in the game.   On paper, this should have been a blowout with the Saints doing the blowing.  Instead, they got blown, in a bad way.

So the Saints, after battling so hard to get back to .500 have sputtered back to 4-5.  They have eliminated any room for error they might have had to make the playoffs. 

They may be headed for an ugly breakup.  Just when we were thinking about a promising future together.

Saints Report # 8 - November 1, 2015

In recent news:

October 21^st – ESPN lays off 300 people

October 29^th – ESPN says a trade of Drew Brees to the New York Jets for a 3^rd round draft choice is a “trade they’d like to see.”

October 30^th – ESPN shuts down their prestigious web site Grantland.

November 1^st – Drew Brees goes 40 for 50 for 511 yards and an NFL record-tying 7 touchdowns.

A credibility deficiency for the World Wide Leader?

It was an all day, all Saints Day party as the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants played a classic in the Superdome.  You don’t see many 52 – 49 games that don’t include Baylor, but if you were lucky enough to be in the dome Sunday, you saw it, and you won’t forget it.  It was more exciting than the final score would indicate, if that's possible.

It was like 7 on 7 drills as Brees and Eli Manning (6 touchdowns) put on a passing display that may never be matched.  Their 13 combined passing touchdowns set an NFL record.  Back and forth the teams went up and down the field.  It was an amazing show of offensive firepower. 

Non – quarterback Key players – Willie Snead, who went from hero to goat to hero.  He caught Brees’ first touchdown pass on a flea flicker in the first quarter.  His fumble after a vicious hit was returned for a touchdown that temporarily put the Giants ahead 49 – 42 in the 4^th quarter.  Then on the final punt of the game he saved the day by grabbing Marcus Murphy’s potentially disastrous fumble.  The punter grabbed his facemask for a 15 yard add-on to set up…..

Kai Forbeth, the kicker who was perfect on 7 extra points (no mean feat in today’s NFL) and the 50 yard game winner as the clock ran out.

Marques Colston who scored his first touchdown of the year, his record 69th for the Saints.  He had 8 catches for 114 yards,

Brandin Cooks, who looked for the very first time like the receiver the Saints say he is with 6 catches for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Benjamin Watson.  9 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown.  Jimmy who?

It was a less than spectacular performance by the defenses as Brees and Manning were under little duress and both secondaries got toasted like stale bread throughout the game.  The game winning field goal was an abrupt end to a game that seemed to be headed for overtime.

The Saints move to 4-4 with the victory and back into the playoff conversation. 

Remember early in the year, when the pundits were saying Brees was through?

Well, he’s hot now and the receivers are improving. 

The Saints have reestablished their dome field advantage.

They’re rolling.

Now, as long as they don’t listen to ESPN.