O-Line Needs Time

If you are in that number of growing of Saints fans and prognosticators worried about the Saints offensive line, spare yourself the reflux, put the purple pill away and stop.

No, I’m not here to tell you the 2013 version of the Saints offensive line is not without its problems. I am here to tell you, though, we’ve been here before.

The same worries were present in the early part of the 2011 season.  “Brees is getting hit too much.” “The O-line is weak up the middle.” “The left tackle position needs help to keep Brees clean.” “Where’s our running game!” “We got STUFFED on 4^th and goal!”

Then after losing 2 of three games at the midway point of 2011, the Saints found themselves a shakey 5-3, and the O-line was just dominated by the Rams defensive line, losing 31-21 to a team that would go one to win only 2 games.

What happened next? The Saints finished with an 8-0 run to a 13-3 record. Wins included a sweep of Atlanta, a 49-24 thumping of eventual Super Bowl champion NY Giants and an outdoor road December win in the cold, the wet and the mud. A Saint was the leading rusher of the game in six of those final eight wins.  Something they could only do twice in the first eight games.

Did the Saints make a trade?

No.

 Cut someone?

 No.

Bench somebody.

No.

Saints coach Sean Payton and his staff figured it out. With the same personnel, the Saints made the proper adjustments and started railroading teams, scoring 40+ points in 4 of the final six wins. While scoring 49, 42 and 45 points against the Giants, Vikings and Panthers, the Saints’ Mark Ingram led all rushers with 80 yards, Chris Ivory with 74 yards, and Ivory again with 127 yards respectively. This after being stopped cold on not one, not two, but three 4^th and inches in season opener at Green Bay.

Again, I’m not saying the 2013 offensive line is without trouble.  Brees IS getting hit too much. The holes for the running backs ARE scarce. There HAVE been too many holding penalties.  Too many redzone opportunities ARE producing three points or less. We got STUFFED on 4^th and goal!

All this and the Saints are 3-0.

Offensive lines need time to gel. There’s a new starter at left tackle, a new blocking tight end and an injury to the cornerstone of the line, Jhari Evans.  Brees has a couple of new receivers he’s getting use to as well.  Causing him to hold the ball longer.

All this and the Saints are outgaining their opponents 404 to 295 yards per game. Outscoring them 23-12 per game. They are converting nearly 50% third downs. Brees is hitting 68% of his passes. In fact, the Saints lead their opponent in all but one offensive category.

The line must be doing something right.

Now, the schedule does get tougher.  Defenses will get stouter.

But my bet is on Sean Payton. He will get the O-Line to gel. And judging by the stats now, God help the NFL when they do.