Saints Report # 3 - September 27, 2015

The NFL season is 3 games in, and before any more quarterbacks get hurt, I move we proceed immediately to the Super Bowl with New England and Arizona.  It would be entertaining, and would feature the two teams that are playing really good football.

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints continued what looks like is going to be another lost season, falling to 0-3 with a 27-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers.   The Saints were in position to win on the final drive, but that position evaporated with 4 dropped passes and one of several poor coaching decisions which ended up as an end zone interception.

Luke McCown, filling in during Drew Brees’ first game missed due to injury since high school, operated the short passing game very crisply as the Saints, despite the usual lack of running game, moved the ball fairly well all day.  Then, with a chance to win and possession of the ball with 3 minutes left, Willie Snead missed a pass, followed by Marques Colston dropping three.  Inexplicably Sean Payton decided to go for a touchdown prematurely and McCown threw his only bad pass of the day, a lob to 5’10” Brandin Cooks resulting in an end zone interception.  There was 1:15 left on the clock and Carolina had no timeouts.  It’s 3^rd and 4 from the 24, we’re moving the ball, we’re chewing the clock on a potential game winning drive – yep a perfect time for a pass into the end zone.  That was Payton’s second bad coaching decision of the day.   With two timeouts remaining, it was an ideal time to take 2 shots at a first down and continue the march.  Payton’s impatience was front and center. 

The Saints jumped off to a 10-0 lead in the first half, but when the Carolina pulled within 3, Payton made his first poor coaching decision.  Knowing that the Panthers would be getting the 2^nd half kickoff, the Saints had driven to their own 39 with 6 minutes left in the half.  They were victimized by a very poor spot by the referees, and facing 4^th and one, the Saints punted when they should have gone for it.  Had they been successful, and driven for a touchdown they would have gone ahead 17 – 7.  Instead they punted, and Carolina drove the ball to a tying field goal to go in to the half 10-10.  Punting is the enemy when you have a sub-par team.

In the second half rookie Marcus Murphy bailed this decision out with a 74 yard punt return for a touchdown leading to the question, why isn’t he part of the offense more?  He could be spelling “hit the wrong hole” Mark Ingram, and add a little quickness to an offense that can’t run the ball.   Does anyone else get the feeling that the personnel “packages” are tired and predictable?

Meanwhile the Saints fans still moan about players that aren’t here, especially Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles.  Such is life in the salary cap NFL.

Patriot fans miss Vince Wolfork (although not much).  The Patriots have never hesitated to cut loose a player a year early.

Eagle fans are complaining that DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, and Nick Foles are gone.

Ravens fans complain that Torrey Smith is gone.

Denver fans complain that Julius Thomas is gone.

Dallas fans complain that DeMarco Murray is gone.

Carolina fans complain that Steve Smith is gone.

And so it goes.

There are actually positive signs for the Saints.  Swann and Breaux look promising at defensive back.  Anthony looks promising at Linebacker.  The National Media is calling for the Saints to be blown up.  Got news for them.  It’s already happening.

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However, it’s important to note there are some things the Saints can’t do:

They can’t run the ball.  This is the biggest deficiency They can’t pressure the opposing Quarterback.

 They can’t keep the opposing Quarterback contained in the pocket. 

 They can’t blitz

 They can’t cover speedy receivers.  At least Brandon Browner can’t, and it’s a coaching problem that  he’s been matched up with them.  The thinking was he would be covering the Vincent Jacksons, not  the Ted Ginns

 They can't avoid penaltie
 They can’t win the turnover battle.  They can giveth, but they can’t taketh awayeth. 

 They can't avoid penalties 
 They can’t catch the ball.  The receiving corps has been underwhelming to say the least.

 They can’t convert 2 point conversions and they’re not automatic on 1 pointers, as they missed one of each.  They’re still running the Lance Moore 2 point conversion play from the Super Bowl and it hasn’t worked since the Super Bowl.

   

So, where do we go from here?  If the Saints can turn the corner on injuries, like getting Jairus Byrd on the field, or Keenan Lewis, and continue to improve on defense, about mid-year they may turn the corner.

However, Rob Ryan has to find a way to pressure the Quarterback into some mistakes, and I frankly don’t know how he’s going to do it.  The defensive line is young and clueless.  Someone wrote that Sunday the Saints had $78 million in contract money not on the field. 

That’s not a quick fix, it’s a mortgage that needs a long term loan.