Saints report # 2 - September 16, 2012

This is what we couldn’t wait for?

After the Carolina Panthers pasted the Saints 35 - 27 to drop them to 0-2 (and 0-2 by more than a touchdown each game) to start the season for the first time since 2007, I think I’m ready to draw 10 conclusions:

1. The worst off-season an NFL team has ever had has morphed into what may be an equally disastrous regular season.
2. Sean Payton must be feeling pretty good about his self-worth right now.  Rightly or wrongly, most Saints fans do not believe the Saints would be 0-2 if he were on the sidelines.
3. Thus Roger God-dell’s punishment, as I’ve said all along, was a punishment leveled against a fan base, particularly season ticket holders.  He essentially punished us for pre-game rhetorical bullshit.  Some people should have been punished, but I didn’t see (and I suspect the Judges involved didn’t see) the on-field manifestation under which he has jurisdiction.  Where were the cart-offs?  Hell, where were the tackles?  Where was the money trail?  And most importantly, are you sure every other team wasn’t doing the same thing?  Can I go on strike?
4. The Saints have several problems.  The biggest one so far is that they don’t match up well against speedy quarterbacks (and I suspect most teams won’t.)  The Saints linebackers in particular are just too slow, as they have been for years.  Do you remember an outside linebacker making a tackle so far in two games?  If they did, I must have had my head in the refrigerator digging for dip at that moment.  Come to think of it, we can’t catch anybody running the ball, much less option quarterbacks. 
5. Our two safeties are clones.  Good in run support, but can’t cover a bed with a sheet.  I like them both, but as tacklers, not in coverage.  I actually think the defensive line is improving, but they still can’t seem to pressure the quarterback without blitz help.  Can’t judge Spagnulo’s defense yet, but I don’t think he can teach speed, and we just don’t have enough, particularly at outside linebacker.
6. The Saints offensive line is not giving Drew Brees the protection he’s used to.  Since I’m not an offensive line expert, I have no clue why, unless Carl Nicks was really that good.
7. I don’t think the offense has played very well either, but I actually liked their running game against Carolina.  I only screamed once – you see I think it is ridiculous to line up in a shotgun on 2^nd and 1, so I scream.  I scream even louder if it’s an empty backfield, which they did twice against the Redskins.  Just run the ball and take the first down already.  Anyway, the Saints two best players on the field were Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles, but whether or not they’re being handed the ball, or Drew is dinking and dunking it to them – you can’t do that for a whole game, because:
8. When your deep threat is your tight end, you’re in trouble.  I think the biggest problem on offense is the wide receivers.  For several years now, we’ve had two field stretchers (Henderson and Meachem) and two possession guys (Moore and Colston).  Last week, with Meachem still playing for San Diego, and Henderson on the sideline with a concussion, the deep threat became Joe Morgan who looks like a great pre-season player whose hands have turned to stone.  Meanwhile Colston has dropped several passes to go with a critical fumble, and he’s either hurt or we’re in big trouble.  Lance Moore has been consistent, but even he dropped one last week.  So, now Jimmy Graham is our big receiving threat, and teams know it and are covering him, and he’s dropped a few as well.  Is it just me, or are the windows to throw into a little tighter this year?    
9. Then there’s Drew, who is being asked to come from behind multiple scores in the fourth quarter.  Now he’s thrown some horrendous interceptions, but he’s always done that, and that’s part of the reason we’ve been behind.  He’ll be fine if the receivers start catching the ball, and the offensive line gets their act together.  But there’s no question he misses Sean Payton’s adjustments that he would be making about now.
10. Finally, this week KC comes to town with their traditional pocket quarterback Matt Cassell.  Matt, buddy, please stand still.  Stay in the pocket.  Right there, where we can find you.  Don’t be moving around.  I know you’ll be tempted to add some college run options after you see the film, but don’t do it.  Just stay still.  Don’t move.  Stay where we can find you.

If the Saints don’t right the ship against KC, it’s going to be a long season. 

This is what we waited 6 months for?