Saints Report # 8 - October 27, 2019

Much of the sports world was saying “come on baby what’s your hurry?”  

Sean Payton crooned “Nice and Breesy does it every time.” 

The first half of the season has been magical for the Saints, and after 5 games on the mend, Drew Brees stepped right back in to the lineup as if he had never been away, toasting the Cardinals 31 – 9.  All he did was complete more passes in a game than he had in 3 years, going 34 of 43 for 373 yards.  Michael Thomas caught his requisite 10 for 100, well actually 11 for 112, and Latavius Murray continued his strong play filling in for Kamara, going over 100 yards rushing for the second straight game.  Taysom Hill performed like an all-pro without a position, adding his 3^rd touchdown of the year. 

Meanwhile the defense was dominant, and didn’t relax at the end this time.  They had their second game of the year not giving up a touchdown.  They are a defense sorely in need of a nickname, and I would suggest “Smothered Gravy.”  They allowed 40 yards rushing, as they bottled up another running threat at quarterback in rookie Kyler Murray.  The suspension of PJ Williams has allowed CJ Gardner-Johnson to get on the field and play like he is possessed by demons.  CJGJ has the look of a star, joining the perpetual motion machine Cameron Jordan, lockdown Marshon Lattimore, demented Demario Davis, and on and on. 

About halfway through the game it dawned on me why the Saints were so hot to get Brees back for this game (besides his indomitable competitiveness.)  Perhaps it goes back to summer when Sean Payton expressed dismay at the Head Coach hiring process sweeping the NFL, with the focus on potential whiz kids.  He didn’t see how a Kliff Kingsbury could get a job after being fired from a college job, over some of Payton’s coaches like Dennis Allen, Pete Carmichael, and Dan Campbell.  He lamented the inexperience of the new coaches, and vowed to make them pay, saying “we play some of those teams.”  Teams are always looking for motivation, and Payton is a master at seizing on something like that.  He was out to prove a point.  Kingsberry may have proved it for him with a questionable decision to go for a 4^th down deep in his own territory in the 3^rd quarter.  The Saints smothered it like gravy and a game that was still close was broken open with a short Saints drive for a touchdown.  The Saints rolled from there.

I continue to be amazed by how the Saints have drafted so well to build this team.  This year they only had 5 picks, but 4 have stuck and join “stickers” from previous drafts:

2019:  Erik McCoy, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Saquan Hampton and Kaden Ellis.

2018: Marcus Davenport, Tre-quan Smith, and Wil Clapp

2017: Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, Alvin Kamara, Alex Anzalone, and Trey Hendrickson

2016: Sheldon Rankins, Michael Thomas, David Onyemata

2015:  Andrus Peat, and PJ Williams

2013:  Terron Armstead

2011:  Cameron Jordan

2009:  Thomas Morestead

The Saints are now 33 – 11 since their three straight 7 – 9 seasons.  That turnaround can be traced to great drafting, including 11 impact defensive players out of the draft. 

Let’s catch our breath.  Let’s take a week off.