Saints Report #16 - January 2, 2022

The Payton 57

And then there was one.  Just weekend number 18 left, and still in the hunt.

I made my first trip to section 116 of the Superdome in 2 years and I found two differences since my last visit:  The Who Dat Chant was missing (I learned later an oversight), and the men’s bathroom had shrunk in half (not an oversight.)  I got to view the newest incarnation of the Dome Patrol up close, and they are a sight to behold.  The Saints stifled the Carolina Panthers 18 – 10 to keep their playoff hopes alive.  Now the Saints must beat the Falcons next week, and if the Rams beat the 49’ers, the Saints will displace the 49’ers as the 7^th seed.

The Panthers jumped out to a 10 -3 lead in the first half, but got shut down and shut out the rest of the way.  The Saints chipped away with chip shots.  They managed 4 field goals to take a 12-10 lead.  They finished the scoring with a swing pass to Kamara that he took 12 yards for the Saints first touchdown in 11 quarters. 

It’s a different kind of football the Saints are playing, but it can be winning football. 

Make no mistake, this Is not the high-flying days of Drew Brees, Marques Colston, and Devery Henderson.  This is ground and pound and dominate.  Don’t turn the ball over, and control field position and the clock.   The offense was missing 4 starters on the offensive line, so the battle in the trenches was ugly.  The Saints kept trying to run the ball, even though they were getting nowhere.  Where did this dedication to the running game come from?  The Saints got exactly one run of consequence from Kamara, and a few late ones from Taysom Hill, who really tried to stay in the pocket for most of the game. 

Meanwhile, the undrafted Marquez Callaway is the only receiver who hasn’t disappeared, although Deonte Harris had some impact  They beat the Bucs scoring no touchdowns, and the Panthers by scoring one.  How far can they go scoring just one touchdown a game?   

The defense allowed a total of 178 yards, 90 passing, 88 rushing.  They sacked Sam Darnold 7 times, half of them attributed to Cam Jordan, who came back from his covid break 3 weeks ago like a man from the Marvel universe.  For the season Jordan has 11 ½ sacks, but 7 1/2 of them have come in the last 3 games.  His covid game was the first game he has missed as a Saint, and he looks rejuvenated.

It was revealed that the Saints have started 57 different players this year.  With the adversity they have faced, hurricanes, injuries, and covid, including 4 different quarterbacks, you have to marvel that they have stayed competitive.  I guess it could have been worse.  We could have signed Antonio Brown.  We could have traded for “teammate of the year” Kirk Cousins, who refused to get vaccinated, then was sidelined with covid before their biggest game of the year. Goodbye playoffs.  Game after game Payton has pieced things together, while adapting his offensive attack to the weapons that were available.  To be 8-8 and still in contention is pretty amazing.  

If the Saints can close this out with a little 6 game winning streak, Mrs. Benson would have to buy a record number of rings.

It’s unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

Saints Report # 6 - October 13, 2019

The Saints traveled to Jacksonville and out-pounded the Jacksonville Jaguars 13 – 6.  The defenses were so dominant the only thing missing was throwback jerseys.  The Saints moved to the most improbable 5-1 in their history.

It was ground and pound and punt most of the day, and new Saints Latavius Murray and Jared Cook showed why the Saints signed them as free agents.  Murray took the load off of a hobbled Alvin Kamara and Jared Cook caught the two biggest passes of the game.  First, he caught a 4 yard touchdown pass to give the Saints their final margin, and then in the 4^th quarter he took a 3^rd and 1 reception 20 yards to help the Saints maintain possession on their final drive of the game.  That drive ended with Teddy Bridgewater kneeling inside the five.  Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone was Sean Payton’s first offensive coordinator on the Saints, and he didn’t call his last timeout, and Sean Payton didn’t try to ram in a meaningless score, as the respect the two coaches have for each other was obvious.

That’s what real writers would call “burying the lead” as the real story of this game was the defense.  Defense travels, and the Saints front line, anchored by Cam Jordan, simply dominated the game.  Jordan had two sacks, quelling Minshew mania for a day, and the defense bottled up Leonard Fournette.  It looked like Demario Davis was assigned to shadow him, as he repeatedly tackled Fournette.  The Saints secondary, led by Marshon Lattimore bottled up the receivers, and the Jaguars could only manage two field goals. 

Michael Thomas was key to moving the chains in the short passing game, as Bridgewater was like a pitcher throwing on too much rest.  He was high in the strike zone several times.  Sean Payton has adjusted the game plan for Bridgewater to a conservative, grind it out approach.  Punter Thomas Morestead keeps the Saints in control of field position, and I actually think the absence of Brees has affected the opposing teams more than the Saints.  They also play it closer to the vest, because they don’t prepare for a shoot out, they think it will be more traditional.  More about field position.  It’s throw back football.  Lattimore, Jordan, Thomas, and possibly Davis are headed for the All-pro team, and the Saints placing more defensive than offensive players on that would be unprecedented. 

Now, the Saints go to play Chicago.  (Why do the Bears never come to New Orleans?)  It will probably be a slugfest.  They might as well take the facemasks off and leave the sprinklers on all night.  Maybe Ditka and Butkas will suit up.  Oh, and one unsung hero to watch.  Zach Line, the Saints full back.  He’s getting a lot a playing time to help protect Bridgewater.  Watch for him to be waiting for Khalil Mack in the backfield.  It will be the throwback matchup of the day.