You would think by now, after embarrassing losses in the recent past , the Saints under Sean Payton would have learned their lesson. Yet there they were again, unprepared to play against a team, on paper, not in their league.
Saints fans will here the" We said all week we won't underestimate this team" crap ad nauseum. Payton said in the post game presser. So did Brees. You can bet any other Saints player facing a mic and camera will say it as well.
Well in the words of the great Johnny Unitas, "talk is cheap".
And so was the performance the 5-2 Saints displayed against the Rams. The 0-6 Rams. A team whose six losses came by scores of 31-13, 28-16, 37-7, 17-10(Redskins), 24-3 and 34-7. A team whose head coach recently downloaded the Monster.com app to his IPhone. Calling this performance cheap is an insult to thrift stores everywhere!
I could site numerous examples of this amazing knack Payton's St. Jude Saints have for generosity to the NFL's hopeless causes but why be redundant.
However there is another explanation as to why this keeps happening, but I'm not so sure Saints fans are prepared to hear. Maybe they just aren't that good.
A closer look at the 5-3 2011 Saints reveal a team that resembles more 2008 than 2009. That 2008 team finished 8-8, had the number one offense in the league but couldn't "finish" games in the fourth quarter. They started 1-0 then blew a 10 point 4th quarter led to the Redskins in D.C( I wrote them off right then) then missed a game winnning FG in Denver. Yet when they won, it was by scores like 31-3 to the Raiders, 51-29 to the Packers, 42-7 to the Lions. Give up 3 points one week, give up 30 the next. Made us all crazy. Missed the playoffs for the second straight year. Back then everyone said, "if we only had a defense to go with that offense...". Sound familier?
The 2011 Saints results are similar, but they resemble a team sleepwalking with an ocassional jolt of energy then back to sleep. They got away with it against two rookie QBs, but then it bit them against Tampa and now this.
Maybe they aren't sleepwalking. Maybe they are just a so-so team. The offensive line has been outplayed in 6 out of 8 games thus far. Thus the Saints have been unable to muster any kind running attack to speak of. Not that Payton has ever committed to the run anyway, but this Saints team doesn't seem tough enough.
The defense has ZERO playmakers, something sorely lacking since the departure of Darren Sharper. Malcom Jenkins is okay but doesn't wow anybody. The DBs and LBs have gotten their hands on many passes only to come up empty. The pass rush has to be manufactured now as it's becoming clearer by the week the free agents brought in at DT are busts. Don't even get me started on the run defense.
So who are these 2011 Saints. The team that conducted offseason workouts on their own. The team that had every pundit drooling in traing camp.
Win a game look great, win a game look average, lose three games, look awful. Seems like 2008 all over again.
In training camp I sensed something missing with these guys. I mentioned it on the air with Eric Asher. I thought it showed in the preseason. Lackluster performances were written off as "camp legs", etc. I feel it again, can't shake it.
Now that the upcoming schedule seems more daunting than it did Saturday, they better shake it. With games against Tampa, Atlanta, the Giants, then the Lions, 5-3 could easily turn into 5-7, by then this team may look like 2005.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Saints, Tigers and Wave, oh my!
As we head into game six of the Saints season, the personality of this 4-1 team continues to be not much different since 2006. Great offense, ranked second in the NFL in yards per game and 5th in scoring per game, lead by my early pick for MVP in Drew Brees. Special teams lead by a field position changing punter and steady veteran field goal kicker. A defense that is okay, 16th in yards per game but 23th in scoring defense. Still not enough turnovers. The Saints missed out on at least 2 more picks last Sunday. At times it seems like DC Greg Williams is too worried about scheming and "looks" than just getting after the damn QB. Sundays like the Carolina game rather than the Bears game could be on the horizon.
Next up is the 3-2 Tampa Bay Bucs coming off a 48-3 reality check from the 49ers. Don't let the score fool you, it wasn't that close. While some pundits feel this is not an indication of the real Tampa team, I feel it's closer to that than the 10-6 team from last year. Their three wins came against the 2-3 Falcons, 1-4 Vikings and the 0-5 Colts. The other loss came to the Lions, at home, on opening day.
Why?
Film.
Teams have enough film on Josh Freeman to gameplan him now. As a result, he is now the 29th ranked passer per game and second only to Mike Vick for most int's with 6. Tampa's running game is solid behind LeGarrett Blunt but teams are now loading up to stop the run and forcing Tampa to win with Freeman's arm. Tampa is finding out what it means when you can't sneak up on anyone anymore. The Saints continue their mastery of Raymond James Stadium.
There is no mistaking the personaltiy of the 2011 LSU team. Defense and plenty if it. In my mind the best in the country, giving up only 12.5 points per game. Consider the offenses LSU has faced. Outside of games against LSU, Oregon is averaging 56 points per game,West Virginia 45, UF 34 and MSU 30. Added to this is an offense that excels in the ball control running game and play-action passing attack. They are lead by a stock pile of running backs and a QB everyone had all but given up on. Throw in the most influential punter that I've ever seen at LSU and this could very well be an LSU team for the ages.
Tennessee is next with a year long simmer that can't wait to explode. This game has been circled on HC Derek Dooley's calender since he threw his headset at Les Miles' feet and stormed off the field in bitter disgust after his first signature victory as UT coach was snatched from his hands. That will get them through the first series. But with their starting QB,WR and RB out with injuries, Tennessee will have to wait for another time to get their payback. LSU rolls, again.
What can you say about the Green Wave? After putting up a forty burger in the opener against SE Louisiana, it seemed Tulane might be on to something. But the same old ghosts showed up. The annual loss to Tulsa was followed by a road win in Birmingham. Woohoo! Then came Duke. Then Army. And a close call to Syracuse. Then we all knew. Same old Wave. It's a shame too. I wish Tulane can turn it around someday.
Next up UTEP. This is a good chance to get back on track but with games at East Carolina, at SMU and Houston at home on the horizon, this could be HC Bob Toledo's swan song.
Mike Leach anyone?
Next up is the 3-2 Tampa Bay Bucs coming off a 48-3 reality check from the 49ers. Don't let the score fool you, it wasn't that close. While some pundits feel this is not an indication of the real Tampa team, I feel it's closer to that than the 10-6 team from last year. Their three wins came against the 2-3 Falcons, 1-4 Vikings and the 0-5 Colts. The other loss came to the Lions, at home, on opening day.
Why?
Film.
Teams have enough film on Josh Freeman to gameplan him now. As a result, he is now the 29th ranked passer per game and second only to Mike Vick for most int's with 6. Tampa's running game is solid behind LeGarrett Blunt but teams are now loading up to stop the run and forcing Tampa to win with Freeman's arm. Tampa is finding out what it means when you can't sneak up on anyone anymore. The Saints continue their mastery of Raymond James Stadium.
There is no mistaking the personaltiy of the 2011 LSU team. Defense and plenty if it. In my mind the best in the country, giving up only 12.5 points per game. Consider the offenses LSU has faced. Outside of games against LSU, Oregon is averaging 56 points per game,West Virginia 45, UF 34 and MSU 30. Added to this is an offense that excels in the ball control running game and play-action passing attack. They are lead by a stock pile of running backs and a QB everyone had all but given up on. Throw in the most influential punter that I've ever seen at LSU and this could very well be an LSU team for the ages.
Tennessee is next with a year long simmer that can't wait to explode. This game has been circled on HC Derek Dooley's calender since he threw his headset at Les Miles' feet and stormed off the field in bitter disgust after his first signature victory as UT coach was snatched from his hands. That will get them through the first series. But with their starting QB,WR and RB out with injuries, Tennessee will have to wait for another time to get their payback. LSU rolls, again.
What can you say about the Green Wave? After putting up a forty burger in the opener against SE Louisiana, it seemed Tulane might be on to something. But the same old ghosts showed up. The annual loss to Tulsa was followed by a road win in Birmingham. Woohoo! Then came Duke. Then Army. And a close call to Syracuse. Then we all knew. Same old Wave. It's a shame too. I wish Tulane can turn it around someday.
Next up UTEP. This is a good chance to get back on track but with games at East Carolina, at SMU and Houston at home on the horizon, this could be HC Bob Toledo's swan song.
Mike Leach anyone?
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Two Words: Drew Brees
Drew Brees.
Is there anything else to say?
After Sunday's performance agianst the Texans, that's all I can think of.
Brees lead his team to a 40 point day. A day which he threw his first two interceptions of the year. That bears repeating. Drew Brees lead his team to a 40 point day despite throwing two pics!
You don't have to be Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory" to figure this out, that there Saints QB is pretty darn good.
Ask the Texans.
After being smoked like a brisket on a Texas spit, all they could do was spew cliches and platitudes. "They're not unstoppable, we just couldn't stop them", claimed the chorus of Texans' DBs fresh off giving up nearly 400 yards. You can hardly blame them for sounding so lame, I'm sure their heads are still spinning. Spinning to left for Lance Moore, spinning to the right for Jimmy Graham. Spinning like Linda Blair for Darren Sproles. I mean, who can blame them for such foolish talk.
Once again Brees displayed why he should always be mentioned in the same breath as Brady and Manning. After Matt Schaub hit TE James Casey on a 26 yard pass to put Houston up 26-17 with 14:54 remaing in the game, it looked like the Saints defense was gong to have to take another one on the chin. Then Sean Peyton went to the empty backfield set. This left Brees with the game in his hands. Houston was forced to man coverage which created great match ups for the Saints. Sproles, Graham and Moore were the benefactors of Brees' uncanny knack for pre-snap reads. A 27 yard pass to Graham that Brees could not have walked up and placed the ball any better. TD! A 16 yard back shoulder to Moore. TD! Two point conversion! A lucky bounce of the ball in Houston's favor followed. No worries, Brees has this. Sproles the the left, Moore on a quick slant, Graham up the seam. RB Mark Ingram, a 13 yard run. TD! Two 2 point conversion!
Throw in a pic from Jabari Greer and an end of game defensive stand and Houston was Texas toast.
You could almost see the little birds flyng around their collective heads as they sat, crossed eyed, in amazement.
You could almost hear them mumbling just above a confused whisper. "Uh, what just happened?
What Just happened you ask?
Two words.
Drew Brees!
Is there anything else to say?
After Sunday's performance agianst the Texans, that's all I can think of.
Brees lead his team to a 40 point day. A day which he threw his first two interceptions of the year. That bears repeating. Drew Brees lead his team to a 40 point day despite throwing two pics!
You don't have to be Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory" to figure this out, that there Saints QB is pretty darn good.
Ask the Texans.
After being smoked like a brisket on a Texas spit, all they could do was spew cliches and platitudes. "They're not unstoppable, we just couldn't stop them", claimed the chorus of Texans' DBs fresh off giving up nearly 400 yards. You can hardly blame them for sounding so lame, I'm sure their heads are still spinning. Spinning to left for Lance Moore, spinning to the right for Jimmy Graham. Spinning like Linda Blair for Darren Sproles. I mean, who can blame them for such foolish talk.
Once again Brees displayed why he should always be mentioned in the same breath as Brady and Manning. After Matt Schaub hit TE James Casey on a 26 yard pass to put Houston up 26-17 with 14:54 remaing in the game, it looked like the Saints defense was gong to have to take another one on the chin. Then Sean Peyton went to the empty backfield set. This left Brees with the game in his hands. Houston was forced to man coverage which created great match ups for the Saints. Sproles, Graham and Moore were the benefactors of Brees' uncanny knack for pre-snap reads. A 27 yard pass to Graham that Brees could not have walked up and placed the ball any better. TD! A 16 yard back shoulder to Moore. TD! Two point conversion! A lucky bounce of the ball in Houston's favor followed. No worries, Brees has this. Sproles the the left, Moore on a quick slant, Graham up the seam. RB Mark Ingram, a 13 yard run. TD! Two 2 point conversion!
Throw in a pic from Jabari Greer and an end of game defensive stand and Houston was Texas toast.
You could almost see the little birds flyng around their collective heads as they sat, crossed eyed, in amazement.
You could almost hear them mumbling just above a confused whisper. "Uh, what just happened?
What Just happened you ask?
Two words.
Drew Brees!
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