Well that didn’t take long.
Sean Payton’s return to the sideline produced, for the most part, the
same result it has produced during the first six years of his tenure as Saints
head coach. That is an offense with a
sharpshooting QB producing a ton of yards and points.
After a sluggish first quarter, as Payton was finding his
sea legs, the Saints had their way with the Falcons defense, outscoring them 23-7.
Payton also showed growth as a play
caller. In the past, when the running game looked like it wasn’t working,
Payton would abandon it and turn the game over to Drew Brees. Not yesterday.
Payton was so determined to stick with the run; it may have prevented the
Saints form scoring two touchdowns from first and goal. Instead, they had to settle
for field goals. On each possession, Payton called first and goal running plays
to Mark Ingram. Both plays proved unsuccessful as Ingram once again displayed a
lack of NFL speed to the edge and power in close quarters. Payton stuck with
the run to the tune of 29 carries. Although only 78 yards were gained for a 2.7
yard average, Payton accomplished his goal of softening up the Falcons pass
rush and making their linebackers respect the running game enough to be susceptible
to play action.
There were some hiccups, though, but correctable. First, Payton
is making loyalty to a running back a new art form. Clearly Mark Ingram is not
an NFL running back, at least not in Payton’s system. Ingram is known as a bruising back requiring
multiple carries to wear down a defense. But with Payton, a running back gets
small doses of carries. Unless those carries produce, 4 yards or better, Payton
is on to something and/or someone else. I will, however, defend Ingram in this
respect, when he enters the game, every defensive player’s antennae goes
up. I don’t have the percentages but it
seems the Saints are much more likely to run when Ingram is in the game. Also the Saints lack that physical offensive
line Ingram needs to keep initial defenders off of him. Yet Payton keeps going to him time and time
again.
No bigger was this point made than one fourth and inches.
Payton rolled the dice. He installed Ingram into the lineup. Every Falcon’s player, coach, and fan in the
stands new Ingram was getting the ball. The result was a two yard loss and possession
turned over to the Falcons. Ingram was
given eight more carries in the game gaining a grand total of 11 yards. His
longest run was seven yards which means he gained only four yards on the other
attempts combined. Now I’m not great in math, but that average can’t be good.
Payton has become patient, but not that patient!
Second, the Saints must score touchdowns in first and goal
opportunities. This game would not have been close had they accomplished this.
Having to settle for field goals in those situations constitutes a win for the
opponent’s defense and is deflating to your team. Even if the Saints converted
just one of those chances the last Falcons’ drive would have taken on a
different tone.
Maybe I’m just second guessing, but burning your second timeout
on fourth and one from their three yard line with about three minutes to go is a
waste. By Payton decided to try the old “draw them offside” routine anyway, he
loses a timeout he may need later. In fact, I’m all for going for it in that
spot. Hey, you score a touchdown,
convert a first down or pin Atlanta down inside their five yard line. It’s a
win win win. Instead, you burn perhaps a much needed timeout, still up by only
one possession, give up 18 yards field position and most importantly, now
Atlanta’s to drive is for a touchdown to beat you instead of a field goal to
tie and send into overtime. I know it a
philosophical decision, but I’d rather a team laying up with a wedge for a
field goal to tie than pulling that 3 wood out and going for the win.
It didn’t take long for Rob Ryan’s new look defense to
produce. Saints fans haven’t seen that type pressure since former defensive
coordinator Greg Williams was paying coin for it. Again,
after the first quarter, once Ryan got a beat on what the Falcons were trying
to do, he slammed the door shut. As for getting a heavy dose of Stephen Jackson
punishing the Saints defense into submission, as predicted, Ryan had
his men ready. Outside Jackson’s 50 yard run, he was a non-factor. On ten other
carries he gained only 27 yards and dropped the potential game winning
touchdown. Matt Ryan was forced to
attempt 38 passes. He was sacked three times and harassed the entire day. One report stated he was hit total of 23
times. Talk about remember me shots!
All in all it was a nice return for Sean Payton and debut
for Rob Ryan. From Payton and New Orleans icon Steve Gleason dropping the who
dat chant to Roman Harper’s interception on the game’s final meaningful play,
these two kindred spirits, both on a mission to right the wrongs they were
dealt, accomplished step one. Here’s hoping the ride has only just begun.
No comments:
Post a Comment