Saints Report #11 - 11/29/2020

The Saints went to Denver and easily disposed of the rudderless Broncos 31-3.  Any long suffering Saints fan who has seen so many breaks go against the Saints in recent years (while totally forgetting breaks they’ve gotten,) will take this win with no objection.  It helped the Saints move to an unexpected record of 9-2, leading the NFC. 

But, make no mistake, this was a ball game unworthy of “the shield.”  The Broncos were forced to play with no viable NFL quarterback, as their whole QB room had to be virus-sidelined.  It was as embarrassing as you would have thought it would be.   The NFL, long protective of competitive balance and fair play, seems to be all over the map on when to play a game and when to postpone it in the year of covid, and it’s quite possible that The Shield is reaching the point of just outright skipping games, and the revenue that goes with them.  They are resolute in sticking to their post-season schedule.  With many stadiums not allowing fans, and one team (the 49’ers) essentially banned from their county of residence, the NFL eyed the reduced stadium revenues and ame up with the only logical solution:  Add a playoff team, and a playoff game.  Thus there will be only one bye per conference, and the Saints want that bye, they need that bye. 

Taysom Hill, who was all the rage last week, was pedestrian in drop backs this week, and while he ran easily for two scores, Sean Payton did the strangest thing – he stuck to the running game, an extremely effective one.  With Alvin Kamara still slowed by injury, Latavius Murray ran for over 100 yards and two touchdowms.  Murray has been excellent all year.  With not much to watch in this game of run, run, and punt, I turned my attention to first year players who have been solid contributors:

Check out this year’s rookies:,

Cesar Ruiz (1^st round) – starting right guard, occasional mistakes, but going to be a starter for a long time.
Zack Baun – (3^rd) – limited action
Adam Trautman (4^th) - steady contributor, probably the tight end of the future
Tommy Stevens (7^th) – practice squad
Marquez Callaway (FA) – solid contributor as a kick returner and 4^th receiver
Malcom Roach  (FA) – starting DL, solid as a rock.

So, with only 4 draft picks, the Saints pick up 4 contributors in their rookie year.  Once again the scouting department adds playmakers.

Now its off to Atlanta.  The Falcons looked like a completely different team Sunday as they unexpectedly trounced the Raiders.  The Saints embarrassed them last week, so look for a dog fight.  The Saints dominated with their ground game Sunday, and a rushing attack is a fine way to get through December.  The Saints have a one game lead over the Packers, who beat the Saints so they would have the edge if they both finish with the same record.  The Saints still have to play the Chiefs and magician Mahomes.  The Saints sometimes struggle as the weather turns cold.  All this should make for an interesting December, and not just in the electoral college.  

Saints Report #10 -- November 22, 2020

With a little help from their friends, (Phillip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts who knocked off Green Bay), the Saints moved into the top spot in the NFC @ 8-2.  The Saints punished the Atlanta Falcons 24-9 Sunday.

The spotlight before, during, and after the game was on Taysom Hill, selected to start at quarterback over Jameis Winston, due to the Drew Brees injuries, plural.  Hill turned in a solid B+ performance in his audition for the franchise quarterback spot that might be available next year. 

But focusing on Taysom Hill would miss the point of this game.

What everyone should be spotlighting is the Saints defense.  It is generally assumed that Drew Brees will be retiring this year.  By the end of this game, Matt Ryan had to be considering retirement.  Ryan is a quarterback in the statuesque tradition of Drew Bledsoe.  Ryan’s only chance is to get the ball off, because footwork is not in his DNA, much less scrambling.  The Saints sacked the statue like protestors after a fiery speech.  Eight times they bulldozed Ryan in the backfield.  You almost had to feel sorry for him.  Almost

At this point the Saints are loaded at every position.  The front four is dominant, and no one can run on them.  Demario Davis is everywhere, and it looks like newly acquired linebacker Kwon Alexander has displaced Alex Anzalone in the starting lineup.  CJ Chauncey Gardner is becoming a star, and the defensive backfield is taking advantage of the pass rush.  The Saints defense is simply playing lights out and had complete control of the game.

Back to Taysom Hill.  The good was that his passing was excellent for the most part.  He was smart enough to seek out Michael Thomas to the tune of about 104 yards.  He ran the ball effectively although in those situations that he was obviously going to run, I don’t understand why they don’t just hand it to Latavius Murray, who is tremendously effective running the ball straight ahead.  Hill fumbled once, and he has shown the propensity to fumble a little too much.  Other than that issue, which can be coached up (as coaches would say), the Saints have put themselves into the driver’s seat for the #1 seed in the NFC and home dome advantage.  There is a long way to go yet, but the Saints are on a steamroll.  

 

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.