Saints Report #11 - 11/29/2020

The Saints went to Denver and easily disposed of the rudderless Broncos 31-3.  Any long suffering Saints fan who has seen so many breaks go against the Saints in recent years (while totally forgetting breaks they’ve gotten,) will take this win with no objection.  It helped the Saints move to an unexpected record of 9-2, leading the NFC. 

But, make no mistake, this was a ball game unworthy of “the shield.”  The Broncos were forced to play with no viable NFL quarterback, as their whole QB room had to be virus-sidelined.  It was as embarrassing as you would have thought it would be.   The NFL, long protective of competitive balance and fair play, seems to be all over the map on when to play a game and when to postpone it in the year of covid, and it’s quite possible that The Shield is reaching the point of just outright skipping games, and the revenue that goes with them.  They are resolute in sticking to their post-season schedule.  With many stadiums not allowing fans, and one team (the 49’ers) essentially banned from their county of residence, the NFL eyed the reduced stadium revenues and ame up with the only logical solution:  Add a playoff team, and a playoff game.  Thus there will be only one bye per conference, and the Saints want that bye, they need that bye. 

Taysom Hill, who was all the rage last week, was pedestrian in drop backs this week, and while he ran easily for two scores, Sean Payton did the strangest thing – he stuck to the running game, an extremely effective one.  With Alvin Kamara still slowed by injury, Latavius Murray ran for over 100 yards and two touchdowms.  Murray has been excellent all year.  With not much to watch in this game of run, run, and punt, I turned my attention to first year players who have been solid contributors:

Check out this year’s rookies:,

Cesar Ruiz (1^st round) – starting right guard, occasional mistakes, but going to be a starter for a long time.
Zack Baun – (3^rd) – limited action
Adam Trautman (4^th) - steady contributor, probably the tight end of the future
Tommy Stevens (7^th) – practice squad
Marquez Callaway (FA) – solid contributor as a kick returner and 4^th receiver
Malcom Roach  (FA) – starting DL, solid as a rock.

So, with only 4 draft picks, the Saints pick up 4 contributors in their rookie year.  Once again the scouting department adds playmakers.

Now its off to Atlanta.  The Falcons looked like a completely different team Sunday as they unexpectedly trounced the Raiders.  The Saints embarrassed them last week, so look for a dog fight.  The Saints dominated with their ground game Sunday, and a rushing attack is a fine way to get through December.  The Saints have a one game lead over the Packers, who beat the Saints so they would have the edge if they both finish with the same record.  The Saints still have to play the Chiefs and magician Mahomes.  The Saints sometimes struggle as the weather turns cold.  All this should make for an interesting December, and not just in the electoral college.  

Saints Report #10 -- November 22, 2020

With a little help from their friends, (Phillip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts who knocked off Green Bay), the Saints moved into the top spot in the NFC @ 8-2.  The Saints punished the Atlanta Falcons 24-9 Sunday.

The spotlight before, during, and after the game was on Taysom Hill, selected to start at quarterback over Jameis Winston, due to the Drew Brees injuries, plural.  Hill turned in a solid B+ performance in his audition for the franchise quarterback spot that might be available next year. 

But focusing on Taysom Hill would miss the point of this game.

What everyone should be spotlighting is the Saints defense.  It is generally assumed that Drew Brees will be retiring this year.  By the end of this game, Matt Ryan had to be considering retirement.  Ryan is a quarterback in the statuesque tradition of Drew Bledsoe.  Ryan’s only chance is to get the ball off, because footwork is not in his DNA, much less scrambling.  The Saints sacked the statue like protestors after a fiery speech.  Eight times they bulldozed Ryan in the backfield.  You almost had to feel sorry for him.  Almost

At this point the Saints are loaded at every position.  The front four is dominant, and no one can run on them.  Demario Davis is everywhere, and it looks like newly acquired linebacker Kwon Alexander has displaced Alex Anzalone in the starting lineup.  CJ Chauncey Gardner is becoming a star, and the defensive backfield is taking advantage of the pass rush.  The Saints defense is simply playing lights out and had complete control of the game.

Back to Taysom Hill.  The good was that his passing was excellent for the most part.  He was smart enough to seek out Michael Thomas to the tune of about 104 yards.  He ran the ball effectively although in those situations that he was obviously going to run, I don’t understand why they don’t just hand it to Latavius Murray, who is tremendously effective running the ball straight ahead.  Hill fumbled once, and he has shown the propensity to fumble a little too much.  Other than that issue, which can be coached up (as coaches would say), the Saints have put themselves into the driver’s seat for the #1 seed in the NFC and home dome advantage.  There is a long way to go yet, but the Saints are on a steamroll.  

 

Saints report #9 - November 16, 2020

With their precise and splashy victory over the Brady Bucs in the rear view mirror, the Saints plodded their way through a mistake-filled victory over their long-time nemesis the San Francisco 49’ers by a score of 27-13, moving their record to a surprising 7-2.  It was nowhere near as interesting as it sounds.

The Saints needed every one of their 4 takeaways to score 27 straight points after the 49’ers jumped out to a 10-0 lead to start the game.   The Saints’ lethargy was largely predictable after their Tampa romp.    Kyle Shanahan had a nice game plan to start things.  Nick Mullens, who looks like a young Drew Brees, was efficient with ball control.  The viewer trial was having to listen to Mark Schlereth drone on and on about it.  He acted like Drew Brees hasn’t seen this before, many times.  Brees comes back from an early deficit the way we drive home from the store.

After a field goal made it 10-3, Brees got thumped to the ground.  In pain, he guided 2 touchdown drives to take the lead at the half, 17-10.  Unfortunately, his injury stiffened up at halftime and he could not continue.  He stood glowering on the sideline, not acknowledging his pain, nor getting treatment.  The competitiveness that he brings was evident under his helmet, which he didn’t even take off.  As I write this, it has been announced that he has several fractured ribs and a punctured lung.  Not good.

Jameis Winston and Tayson Hill finished the game off in the 2^nd half.  The Saints had a hard time adjusting to the absence of Brees.  Payton seems to prefer using Hill over Latavius Murray, but neither can really be stopped.  Hill lost a fumble, and neither team seemed to be able to catch a punt.   Deonte Harris muffed a punt when it hit him in the facemask but he made up for it with a long kickoff return, helping the Saints win the field position battle all day.  Rookie Marques Callaway continued with his impact plays, as he recovered two fumbled punts.  When was the last time you saw three muffed punts in one game?  As usual, Alvin Kamara was terrific, scoring 3 touchdowns.

The Bigger Question was, when have you seen the Saints defense play this well?  Malcolm Jenkins and Patrick Robinson, both members of the Eagles Super Bowl Champions, but now back with the Saints, had interceptions.  But it was the mercurial CJ Chauncey-Gardner and Demario Davis who wreaked havoc on the 49’ers all day.  After the first two drives, the defense kept San Francisco in check. 

The Saints now have to play the Birty Dirds twice in the next three weeks.  Can Taysom or Jameis keep things going?  For all their talents, neither has the discipline or the ability to read defenses that Brees has, so the betting line will tighten, along with all the throats in the who dat nation.  It’s about to get interesting.