Saints Report # 10 - November 15, 2015

The 2015 version of the New Orleans Saints travelled to the nation’s capital Sunday and got humiliated 100-14.  It was as if Louisiana hadn’t been purchased yet.  They fell to 4 - 6 in their worst loss of the era, and comparable to their bygone era.  The real score was 47 - 14.  

I’m not sure when the Brees/Payton era officially ended. 

Maybe it was when the Saints traded Darren Sproles. 

Maybe it was when they signed Jimmy Graham to a contract that they could not possibly live with.  Maybe it was when they established the defensive coordinator position as a rotating door. 

Maybe it was when they blew several drafts in a row.

Maybe it was bountygate.

Maybe it was when they decided to not bail out Darren Sharper.

Maybe it was when they thought the Buffalo Bills would be a great source of free agents.

Or maybe it was in the fourth quarter when Drew Brees officially took over the decision making from the coaching staff.  I don’t know if this will be a big story or not.  The press corps that covers the Saints appear to be somewhat intimidated by Coach Payton, and nobody asked him about it in the press conference.  But, they sure asked Drew Brees, who had apparently noticed that the Saints were down 30 and punting would be kind of pointless.  So, he waved the punting team back to the bench, to attack a 4th and 4 backed up to their own end zone.  I wonder how much discussion there will be on Brees’ action.  It didn’t appear that Payton was too happy, but he wasn’t so unhappy that he called a timeout to force the punt.  Brees apparently failed to inform Mark Ingram to run a route beyond the 1^st down marker, and his pass fell incomplete.  The Redskins took over inside the Saints thirty, and the Saints held them to a field goal.  I’m with Brees on his decision.  There is really no reason to punt for the rest of the year.  This time it wasn’t a nail in the coffin.  It was just salt on the open wound that the announcers kept liberally referring to as a “defense.” 

There’s not much more that can be said about the Saints defense.

They can’t cover.

They can’t tackle.

They can’t stop the run.

They can’t pressure the quarterback.

They can’t play off blocks.  Their defenders are the most easily blocked players in NFL history.  What stood out Sunday is that the evasiveness of the Saints could be rated zero. 

When the opposing offense is in the film room studying, well, watching the Saints defense, Pavlov’s dog would take a back seat to the salivating that must go on.

They know that every play they will run will go exactly the way it is drawn up, as if it were a video game.

They know that if the Saints make a big play on defense, it will immediately be wiped out by a yellow flag.

They know that their quarterback will sit back in the pocket and survey his field of dreams.

They know their offensive records may fall.

They know the only defensive player that can hurt them is a new one they have never heard of.  Sunday, some dude named Obum Gwacham got the Saints only sack, and I immediately commissioned an investigation.  Questions abound. 

Who is he? 

Where did he come from? 

How did Rob Ryan let him in the game? 

How much longer will Rob Ryan keep his job? 

Outside of those girls in The Shining, has there ever been a more disappointing set of twins than Rob and Rex Ryan?  

Could Rob Ryan himself be a set of twins?

What's he hiding under that sweatshirt?

His resume, I hope?

For a long time Saints fan, keeping perspective is difficult.

For most of the Saints history the Saints have been a well below average team.  Those of us who endured that era, do not take the Saints last 10 years for granted, because for much of that time, the Saints have been above average.  Right now they have fallen back to below average and sinking. 

Recent fans who have been spoiled by the Brees/Payton run of success may as well learn the new reality.  1) The party is winding down.  2) we all need a week off.