Saints Report #6 - October 15, 2015

In a strange turn of events the New Orleans Saints offense, defense, special teams, and boisterous crowd all showed up on a Thursday night and stunned the previously undefeated Atlanta Falcons in the Superdome.  The result was a decisive and surprising 31-21 victory by the much maligned, but perhaps prematurely buried Saints.

I’ve had a few favorite all-time Saints players.  They were typically massive over-achievers who willed their way into my fandom. 

From 1969 to 1971 it was a wide receiver/kick returner named Al Dodd.  What about Al?  Tom Dempsey is not a legend without Al Dodd, because in the two plays preceding Dempsey’s 63 yard field goal, Dodd sets it up with a 30 yard kick-off return and a spectacular stop-clocking catch. 

From 1977 to 1983 it was a similar player named Rich Mauti.  He fought for every yard after his catches and punt returns.

And of course there’s Pierre Thomas who typified the early guts of the Payton/Brees era.

Memories of Dodd and Mauti returned this pre-season when the Saints traded with the Vikings for Rich’s son Michael, a Mandeville, LA native who was supposed to be a special team demon.  I took notice, largely because I was thinking, geez I’ve been following the Saints for a long time.  Before the game I wondered aloud, because I was standing there without a program, if Michael was on the team.

Before the first quarter was over Mauti would answer by electrifying an already well-lubricated crowd with a punt block and touchdown to give the Saints a 14-0 lead.  With Steve Gleason in attendance it was much like that night in 2006.  The Saints were off and running and the momentum carried them to victory.  

Here’s what I took away from this surprising game:

The Saints apparently figured out that the Falcons can’t cover the tight end and deployed Ben Watson to a career game – 10 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown, dare I say Graham-like numbers. And it could have been even better if a late first half pass from Brees hadn’t been a little high – it looked like it would have gone for a touchdown too.

The Saints signed Brandon Browner because they desperately needed a corner to play opposite Keenan Lewis.  They got one, but it isn’t Browner.  His name is Delvin Breaux and he’s improving every game.  He spent much of the game shadowing all-world Julio Jones and fared about as well as a corner can against Jones. 

The Falcons are a superior ground team.  They stopped the Saints and ran easily on them.  The Falcons plowed huge holes, and the Saints had none.  However, three fumbles by the Falcons effectively wiped out that advantage.

To Payton’s credit he stuck with the ground attack to shorten the game, keep the clock moving, and rest the defense. 

Reports of Brees’ demise have been greatly exaggerated.  The offense had great tempo, and Brees played a near-perfect game, to the point of making some phenomenal throws.  Yea, let’s run him out of town.

Brandon Coleman, the highly touted wide receiver playing opposite Brandin Cooks has been a complete no-show for the season:  6 games, 9 catches, 113 yards - about what a starter should have in one game.  

Rob Ryan said before the game the Saints defense was on the verge of a breakthrough.  He got it, at least in the red zone, as while the defense gave up some yardage they stiffened in the red zone.

I doubt there will be a game with more quarterback roll outs all year.  Brees, and to a lesser extent Matt Ryan, were running around like they had visited the fountain of youth.

Finally, the Saints pass rush showed up.  While getting gashed on the ground and leaving those tackles to Daneel Ellerbe (13 unassisted tackles – he was all over the field making the Kenny Stills trade look palatable) and Stephon Anthony, they put pressure on Matt Ryan on most of his drop backs, and Cameron Jordan sacked Ryan 3 times in the 4^th quarter.

It was exciting.  Sean Payton was aggressive all night.  The only time that hurt the Saints was when they tried 2 long field goals.  That is something that Zach Hocker does not appear to have in his repertoire.

If this team shows up, let’s say 8 more times this year, it could be a respectable year after all.  Hopefully all those suggesting we “move on” from Payton and Brees will keep that to themselves for a few weeks.