It's oooonly deeeefense wasteland.
I could go on and on. But what's the point. Saints fans have been singing this tune for three consecutive 7-9 seasons. Based on Monday's performance against the Vikings, 7-9 now looks more like glory days.
Boy how preseason doeth fool the faithful soul. The Saints defense went on a sack feeding frenzy. Seventeen! Lead the league. In the preseason. Saints DBs were like flypaper to opposing WRs, in the preseason. Other teams barely scored against the Saints D. In. The. Preseason.
I have to admit. I was fooled. I knew damn well it was only preseason. Preseason never says anything about a team. But there I was. Convincing myself this one was different. After all, the defense had been just as bad in the preseason as regular season during those 7-9 years. So when this preseason defense was outstanding, I figured Saints fans were set.
Like a song stuck on an old record player, Saints fans heard the same scratchy beat over and over and over.
Minnesota 3 plays TD. Minn 5 plays TD. Saints burn timeouts. Defense fails. Minnesota 95 yards, TD. Game over.
It's not like the Saints made them work for it. Time after time like that broken record WRs were running free. Wide open. Not a fluer de lis in sight. A makeshift OL was protecting QB Sam Bradford for an eternity at a time. A rookie running back was breaking a Vikings all-time franchise record.
I like to think I see things a little before others. Go out on a limb a little. Risk looking foolish.
So here I go again
The Sean Payton/ Drew Brees era is officially over. Some will think I'm late to this party but might I guide you to my blog back in 2015. The beginning of the end of SP/DB era.
Though I'm kindof an analysts, I'm actually more of a fan first. As a fan I sometimes lead with my heart. Have to force myself to not see things as I wish they are but see them as they really are. I usually win this self-conflict. I didn't this preseason.
But now, like the little boy in that movie, I see a dead football team. They don know they're dead. They run around, practice and show up for games as if they aren't. But they are so Bruce Willis.
I feel like the wife in that movie. Keep holding on. Waiting for the Saints to give me some sign. Something I can hold onto. Some sign of life. But nothing. Just subtle reminders of an offense that once was. An OLine that protected its QB. A defense that for a fleeting moment, created turnovers and remember-me shots. But those memories are faded and out of focus as death becomes clearer.
I know its just the first game. I told myself that too. Then I looked at the schedule. New England, at Carolina, Miami in England, a bye then home for Detroit and in Green Bay. That's 1-5 BEFORE Atlanta and a much improved Tampa twice.
"But Miami, the Jets, Rams and Bills are all winnable."
Yeah, that's what their fans are saying about the Saints.
Face it. folks. After this off-season. All the focus on getting a fast start. All the preparation in mini-camps, OTAs, training camp and pre-season. Monday night happened.
It's over.
Like the wife in that movie, we'll one day look at old videos with fondness of a great team as the ring drops, rolls on the floor and stops at the end of this season.
