Saints Report # 14 - December 17, 2018

Drama.  An NFL team’s season is comprised of 16 individual dramas.  Each game is different and soon forgotten.  What’s left is a win or a loss.  Nobody cares how pretty it is and Monday night’s 12-9 victory over Carolina (their 4^th straight win over the Panthers) was anything but pretty.

The game was a "suffering" marathon.  Saints fans had to suffer through ESPN’s announcers’ fixation on Luke Kuechly and Cam Newton.  They had to suffer through the constant drumbeat of “what’s wrong with the Saint’s Offense?”  And they had to suffer through Booger McFarland’s play calling from a crane.  I like almost every football announcer.  I think they are amazing.  But for some reason Booger grates on me like nails on a blackboard, and I really don’t care what he would run in “that” situation.

Here’s what I saw:  A Saints Defense that is coming in to its own.  Instead of putting the blame on Carolina, let’s say this:  Other than a trick play for a touchdown, and a fancy play for a long run on which they fumbled, the Panthers never really threatened.  I never thought Carolina’s offense could score.  Cam Newton looked like a running quarterback looks after 7 years of hits.  He’s never been accurate and his big arm looks like the punishment has taken its toll.  Take note Lamar Jackson.  While Drew Brees was throwing into tight windows, Cam was trying to hit the barn wall. 

The Saints offense threatened four times, and would have put the game away if not for a-little-too-cute running play that Tommylee Lewis fumbled into the end zone from the one yard line for a touchback under the 2 minute mark.  It was the worst thing that could happen.  Look for TommyLee to be written out of next week’s game plan.  Call me crazy, but don’t the Saints have two pretty good running backs that could carry the ball in that situation?  Had the Saints scored, or even just kept the ball, the drama would have been over.  As it was, the Saints defense had to stop Cam one more time, which they did. 

So let’s summarize the 3 game road trip the Saints completed.  They went 2-1 and gave up 14, 13, and 7 points.  That’s a total of 34 points in 3 games, and if you’ve forgotten that first loss in the first game, they gave up 48 to Tampa, and that was in the Superdome.  Yep, the defense has come a long way. 

                                                                

So, what’s wrong with he Saints offense?  Nothing that getting back home won’t cure.  Defensive Coordinators catch up to offenses as the season goes on, and the scores get lower and the games that were September track meets are December grinds.  Those big strike plays are being prevented, so the games are ball control, clock management, and finding a way to just be ahead at the moment the gun goes off.  Doesn’t bother me at all, although I wouldn’t submit to a blood pressure test during one of these dramas.

Now the Saints close their season with 2 tough home games, Pittsburgh and Carolina again.  The scoring will go up a little, and so will the tension.  The Saints are 12-2 and with two wins would wrap up home field advantage and their best record ever.   That would mean a path like 2009 to the Super Bowl.  Wouldn’t that be nice?

 

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.