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What's The Deal???
Posted by
Saints Fan in Austin
,
14 October 2010
·
505 views
So everybody is wondering what is wrong with the Saints. I know I am. The board is. The media is. Hell, the players are. Let’s examine what is different this year from the last…
The first thing that stands out to me is the lack of big plays on both the offensive and defensive ends. Well, I guess that was the obvious observation. The less clear conclusion, unless you look at the scoreboard, is that some players got a little fat on their success over the offseason. I don’t mean to call out names but Jahri Evans, Robert Meachem, Anthony Hargrove, and even Jabari Greer aren’t having the impact that they had a season ago. Of all players though, quarterback Drew Brees performance has been the most disturbing. I’m not going to say that he coasted in the offseason because I do not believe it is in his nature, but I do think that something is different. The interceptions are inexcusable.
The media has been pointing to the absence of Reggie Bush as the reason why the Saints offense has been sputtering but I have a newsflash… The Saints offense was horrible before Reggie got hurt. The play-calling has been frustrating to say the least. In fact, did we actually have our rookie TE run a reverse on the opening drive a few weeks ago? Even with a Super Bowl ring, it appears that our coach, Sean Payton, has some of that mad scientist still in him. It wasn’t quite the double reverse on 4th down on our side of the 50 yard line to kill a shot at winning at home against Tampa Bay but it did bring back memories. Don’t act like you don’t remember that game!
Though I expect a little crazy sprinkled in with my Saints on offense, I must say that I expected more of our defense after the season Gregg Williams put together last year. I mean, after the 3-3-5 in the Super Bowl to confuse Peyton Manning and the Colts, I expected the Saints defense to bring all sorts of exotic pressures to get to the quarterback. Instead, the Saints have 10 sacks in 5 games, two of which were against the likes of Jimmy Clausen ( Carolina ) and Max Hall ( Arizona ). The Giants had ten sacks in a half a few weeks ago. Am I the only person who sees a problem with our sack numbers?
Here’s a little bit of advice for our beloved team… Start Meachem. Brees and Meachem have great efficiency numbers together. Let’s explore that further. Also, bring Bobby McCray back. He can’t get to the quarterback in the pocket but he sure can knock one out of a game via the crack-back block. By any means necessary…
Last year, this team won as a team and this year, they appear to be losing as a team. Going 3-2 is not horrible. Playing 5 straight weeks of bad football is. Here’s hoping the Saints get it together and quick. I plan to celebrate my birthday on Sunday, October 31st in the Dome when the Saints host the Steelers and I don’t need another bad loss hosing it up.
The first thing that stands out to me is the lack of big plays on both the offensive and defensive ends. Well, I guess that was the obvious observation. The less clear conclusion, unless you look at the scoreboard, is that some players got a little fat on their success over the offseason. I don’t mean to call out names but Jahri Evans, Robert Meachem, Anthony Hargrove, and even Jabari Greer aren’t having the impact that they had a season ago. Of all players though, quarterback Drew Brees performance has been the most disturbing. I’m not going to say that he coasted in the offseason because I do not believe it is in his nature, but I do think that something is different. The interceptions are inexcusable.
The media has been pointing to the absence of Reggie Bush as the reason why the Saints offense has been sputtering but I have a newsflash… The Saints offense was horrible before Reggie got hurt. The play-calling has been frustrating to say the least. In fact, did we actually have our rookie TE run a reverse on the opening drive a few weeks ago? Even with a Super Bowl ring, it appears that our coach, Sean Payton, has some of that mad scientist still in him. It wasn’t quite the double reverse on 4th down on our side of the 50 yard line to kill a shot at winning at home against Tampa Bay but it did bring back memories. Don’t act like you don’t remember that game!
Though I expect a little crazy sprinkled in with my Saints on offense, I must say that I expected more of our defense after the season Gregg Williams put together last year. I mean, after the 3-3-5 in the Super Bowl to confuse Peyton Manning and the Colts, I expected the Saints defense to bring all sorts of exotic pressures to get to the quarterback. Instead, the Saints have 10 sacks in 5 games, two of which were against the likes of Jimmy Clausen ( Carolina ) and Max Hall ( Arizona ). The Giants had ten sacks in a half a few weeks ago. Am I the only person who sees a problem with our sack numbers?
Here’s a little bit of advice for our beloved team… Start Meachem. Brees and Meachem have great efficiency numbers together. Let’s explore that further. Also, bring Bobby McCray back. He can’t get to the quarterback in the pocket but he sure can knock one out of a game via the crack-back block. By any means necessary…
Last year, this team won as a team and this year, they appear to be losing as a team. Going 3-2 is not horrible. Playing 5 straight weeks of bad football is. Here’s hoping the Saints get it together and quick. I plan to celebrate my birthday on Sunday, October 31st in the Dome when the Saints host the Steelers and I don’t need another bad loss hosing it up.
Secondly, it gave our offense some attitude...mainly the O-line. Why does this matter? Because the mentality of pass blocking and run blocking are totally different and if you aren't used to dealing and gearing up to block the run you get yourself in a tough situation when it comes time to convert that oh so dear 3rd or 4th and short. Your lineman aren't used to firing off as low and with explosion. A lot of college coaches teach that whoever gets to the third step in a blocking sequence (oline or Dline) usually wins the battle. The lack of being in the frame of mind of run blocking can cause you to react slower which can be the difference in blowing a guy off the ball or being in a stalemate or worse getting bull rushed.
Thirdly, running the ball keeps our defense on the bench resting. If we constantly are throwing the ball 50+ times a game...odds are the defense is having to be on the field a heck of a lot which doesn't boad well for fourth quarters. Lastly, if you are able to run the ball succesffuly you dictate what the defense does....not the other way around.