Saints Report # 11 - November 25, 2012

The 49ers came to the Superdome Sunday afternoon and whipped a little halftime blackjack on the Saints en route to a 31-21 win.  The Saints held a 14-7 lead with a minute left in the first half and after a rare interception had the ball at midfield with a chance to go up by two touchdowns going into the half.  The crowd was rocking and the Saints were rolling.  Then disaster occurred in the form of a Drew Brees interception that he will probably dream about this summer.  He threw into a middle that was clogged all day and Ahmad Brooks stepped in and took the pass all the way to suddenly tie the game at 14.

The 49ers came out of halftime fired up and put together their best drive of the game to take a 21-14 lead which they augmented on Brees next pass, which they also turned into a pick 6, and the football equivalent of blackjack - 21 unanswered points.  Just like that a game that was so promising was over.  The Saints fought back with a drive of their own to get to 28-21, but the Niners tremendous defensive line overmatched the Saints patchwork offensive line.  Brees was sacked 5 times and was lucky to get out without injury.

Observations? 

First, the Saints running game was ineffective.  Darren Sproles playing time came at the expense of Pierre Thomas, who has only been the Saints best all-around player this year.  But, to their credit, they kept pounding with Ingram and Ivory.  The 49er front 7 was all it was cracked up to be.

Secondly, the Saints defense continued to improve, although they inexplicably declined to blitz a 2^nd time starter at quarterback.  They put absolutely no pressure on the quarterback.  Good teams hit the other quarterback and protect theirs.  The Saints did neither.

The 49ers are a very good team that have been built block by block through the draft.  The Saints have been tremendous at evaluating offensive skill talent, but sub-par at evaluating defensive talent.  Despite a constant rotation of free agents on the defensive line, and drafts that were mostly defense, they’ve consistently misjudged. 

Prediction – Sean Payton is seeing what we’re seeing and will be taking a long look at wholesale replacements on defense.  The Saints can't challenge without a consistent pass rush, and they desperately need to add speed.

Next up Atlanta, and the Saints will need a miracle to pull back to .500.  Frankly I don’t see it.   Not this week.