Saints Report # 4 - October 1, 2017

And just like that the Saints are alive and Tom Petty is dead.  The Saints had to travel to England and play on something called the pitch to pitch a 20-0 shutout at the free fallin’ Dolphins and their out-of-retirement-broadcaster-never-really-was-very-good quarterback.

We’ll take it.

We’ll take it because

• It shows we won’t back down from anyone
• We are controlling the clock and keeping the defense rested and off the field.  With a 35-25 time of  possession ratio, and a 70-47 edge in plays run, it’s a nice formula
• We haven’t turned the ball over in 4 games.  Couldn’t have predicted that.
• We have a running back draft pick (Alvin Kamara) who is keeping a Hall of Famer on the sidelines (although if I’d heard the term “man-crush” one more time I was going to Breakdown.)  Adrian Peterson is really not able to say “don’t do me like that” as long as the Saints are winning.
• I scoffed when they drafted another tackle in the first round at the expense of giving up Brandin Cooks.  Turns out you can’t have too many tackles.
• You can’t have too many cornerbacks either, and the Saints appear to be well stocked at the position as they wait for the return of Delvin Breaux.  The Saints have 4 rookies making significant contributions on defense.

Let’s not get too heady, but let’s enjoy a bye week sitting at .500, considering after 2 weeks I thought they were going to be draggin’ my heart around all year.

And goodbye Tom.  You were one of the greats.

Saints Report # 3 - September 24, 2017

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Saints broke out the text book.

There seems to be another side to these Saints, and we got to see it.

They vanquished Carolina 34 – 13.  They dominated in all phases for what has become the rarest of events – a September win.  Now that they have halted their September swoon they head to London to face the Dolphins, with the hope that by Sunday noon (our time) they will be back in the hunt with a 2-2 record.  This is a must win if they want to stay out of the cellar of the packed and stacked NFC South.

They employed the game plan that would have seemed to be available in training camp:

A Three Headed Monster at Running Back.
A very young aggressive defense.

A balanced attack.

Yes, Drew Brees threw for less than 300 yards.  And that’s a good sign.  There was no need for all that clock stopping.
The Saints didn’t get rattled by two ominous opening drives by the Panthers, holding them to 2 Field Goals.  It became obvious that Can Newton’s shoulder is not healed, and the Saints picked him off 3 times.

With the running backs of Peterson (who looks terrific in limited touches), Ingram, and Kamara all doing damage, the Saints controlled the clock, gave the defense a little less time on the field, and contained the Carolina rushing attack. 

It’s the right formula for winning football games, especially when you are starting 3 rookies on defense.   Let’s hope they continue to grind.

Meanwhile the NFL is glistening in controversy fueled by Presidential comments.
All I’m going to say is that there are good men on both sides, BOTH sides.

Wink.