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.

Are Saints Fans Jaded?

Are Saints fans jaded?

Moments after the Saints thrilling victory over the Tampa Bay Bucs, Facebook and Twitter blew up with Saints fans DISAPPOINTED in how the Saints won the game, feeling bad about winning ugly. Yes there was the obligatory “WE DAT!”s and “Geaux Saints” posts from the soccer mom diehards, but the “boy we got away with one” or “we didn’t deserve that one” comments outnumbered them.

Monday call in shows were worse, the general mood of callers was of a Saints defeat. Some talk show hosts expressed their “concern” that yes, while the Saints did win the game, their poor play left much to be desired.

Balderdash!

Let me get this straight. The Saints went into hostile territory to play a division rival. A rival who a week earlier snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. A rival who, in only week 2, had to call a “players only” meeting feeling their backs, already, were against the wall. A rival so determined not to go 0-2, discipline and sportsmanship was tossed aside.  

And win?!

And we wonder why coaches get testy.

Sure, Drew Brees made a couple of poor decisions. OK, the OL had its problems.  And yes, Sean Payton is obsessed with making a player out of Mark Ingram.  But the Saints didn’t deserve to win?

Let’s take a trip down Saints memory lane. 

In 1990, week one of the NFL season, the Saints played the back to back Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. The Saints were on the cusp of victory. The incomparable Joe Montana was sacked six times.  Perennial all-pro RB Roger Craig was held to 23 yards on 12 carries. The greatest NFL player of all time (as elected by an NFL Network poll) Jerry Rice had a grand total of one catch for 6 yards.  The Saints took a late 12-10 lead on a Morten Anderson 32 yard FG. Know what happened next?  That beaten down 49er offense of Montana and Rice connected on a 3^rd down 20 yard heartbreaker that turned a would be desperation 58 yard FG prayer into a 38 yard chip shot game winner. They made the necessary plays at the right time to win the game.

The 49ers finished that season 14-2, the Saints were 8-8. Do you think the 49ers cared they squeaked by a highly motivated inferior opponent, early in the season at their ballpark?

By all rights, the 49ers had no business winning that game.

By all rights, the Saints had every business winning the Bucs game.

The Saints outgained Tampa in total yardage 371-273, held QB Josh Freeman to 9/22 passing for 113 yards and a pic, a sack fumble and held the Bucs scoreless defensively. But for those poor decisions by Brees and a Tampa goal line stand, this was a Saints blowout.

Had the Saints lost this game, it would’ve been a giveaway.

The Saints inglorious past is littered with heartbreaking defeat after heartbreaking defeat.  Wins that were seemingly in the bag, teams beaten, tantalizing, only to be ripped away by a Hail Mary, a punt return or hyper-conservative coaching.

So come on, Saints fans, don’t be jaded. I, for one loved that ugly victory over Tampa. I’d take 17 more just like it.

 

 

Quick Results for Kindred Spirits

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.  

Desperately Seeking Defense

In the wake of the worst NFL defensive performance in the history of mankind, one wouldn't be surprised if a message appeared in the NFL personals. "Deparately seeking defense. Meet me at Saints Drive. Keep the faith. Love, Sean"

When Saints HC Sean Payton returned from his year long abeyance, he wanted to send a message. In less time than it took Doug Thorton to get the Super Bowl relit, he fired DC Steve Spagnuolo and DB coach Ken Fajole.  If this didn't get the attention of the remaining defensive impersonators, Payton hired NFL mercenary Rob Ryan to take over.

Next message, the axe. First on the list, DT Sedrick Ellis. The underwhelming top ten draft pick was told he was not in Payton's plans. Ellis joins other Saints first round DL disasters such as Jonathon Sulllivan and Shawn Knight. To be fair, Ellis had his chance. The Saints brought in DT after DT to compliment him to no avail. Also released, CB Johnny Patrick. When the former third round pick from Louisville wasn't getting iced in the tub, he was getting burned on the field. Validating Payton's move on Patrick was San Diego scooping him up within a week. The Chargers are the NFL's Nicki Minaj at judging talent. "I tink you awe awlreddy a soopastawr", said Minaj to a jerseylicious, tone-deaf, cross-dressing American Idol wantabe. Also, safeties Dawan Landry(JAX) and Adrian Wilson(ARZ) are now available free agents, safeties who play well against the run and pass(imagine that). Roman Harper may want to start thinking about his second career.


Message three, "you didn't earn that". Broderick Bunkley, David Hawthorne and Curtis Loften have already agreed to new terms of their contracts. Surely Will Smith and Jon Vilma will be next. In fact, anyone not named Cameron Jordan should be holding off plans to build that new house.

If there was ever a season the Saints have to make a splash in free agency, this is it. With the offense still hummimg, the Saints, it would seem, should be an attractive destination.  Good luck with that. Most of the impact UFA's have been franchised. The Saints will have to reach for proven veterans on their way out or younger overshadowed veterans on their way up. That formula worked in 2009 when Darren Sharper worked his magic. Not so much in 2012 when David Hawthorne was injured most of the year. DL's John Abraham(ATL) and Jason Jones(SEA), LB's James Harrison(PIT) and Paul Kruger(BAL) and DB's Sean Smith(MIA),Wilson and Landry are names to watch.

Finally, help must arrive via the draft. With only five picks, the Saints have to be better on draft weekend then they have been recently. Luckily, at the fifteenth position, impact palyers are projected to be there for the taking. Mock drafts have either one or all of the following, LB's Barkivious Mingo(LSU) or Jarvis Jones(UGA), and DT Star Lotulelei(Utah) available at fifteen. All are physically talented but have queston marks with Jones' spinal stenosous the most concern. Some scouts feel there's value in the late first round so trading down and picking up a second round pick is also a possibility.

Now other NFL teams are on the move, San Francisco and Seattle are legit.  The Vikings and Rams look to be on the cusp. Carolina owned the Saints last season while the Falcons had the best record in football. With an offense so good the Saints won seven games despite having the worst NFL defense ever. By comparison, in 1980 the defense was horrid, not the worst ever, but awful. That team won only one game. This puts the Saints in a precarious position. That proverbial window wil not be open long. That's why Payton is seeking defense. Desperately.

LSU Needed a Coach Not a Mad Hatter

Still reeling from the LSU loss to Alabama in Death Valley, I can't shake the feeling that the better team lost. I'm not talking about the old cliche meaning the team that played better in the game that night.  I'm mean the better team overall.

LSU was about 90 seconds from exposing Alabama for what they are.  An overhyped team that's good but nowhere near deserving of the media genuflecting they have received this season.  I said last Friday on my weekly spot with 690am's Eric Asher that if LSU gives QB Zach Mettenberger time, bama's secondary is vunerable. They did.  They were. If only Les Miles could see it. 

If he could, he would have seen that bama's secondary was no match for LSU.  Mettenberger and his WR's were schooling them.  Converting third down after third down, bama had no answer.  Not even close. Saban was desponded.  So when LSU drove inside bama's 25 yard line twice in the 4th quarter by third down passing, instead of forcing an exhausted bama defense whose pass rush had disappeared and DB's were gassed to continue to chase, Miles let them off the hook.  LSU never attempted at least one pass in either sets of those downs. Miles truned to the runnng game and played into the hands of bama' strength.  Even trying to convert a 4th down by astonishingly taking the very player who had him poised for victory off the field. Lining up in a formation so obvious a jumbotron message announcing the play would've been less conspicuous.

The problem with LSU was their head football coach believed the media's version of 2012 bama. He seemed to think that was the BCS version of bama in Tiger Stadium Saturday night. Miles thougt the Mad Hatter was needed when really, LSU only needed a coach.  Someone who trusted what he was seeing. A QB growing up in front of his very eyes. The whole world saw it.  Miles didn't.

Miles defenders always point to his won/loss record.  They point out his near 80% winnig percentage.  They will say he had his team posied to beat the best team in the country.  In truth, he continues to make questionable decisions each week. Decisions that unnecessarily get in the way of success.  Decisions that make easy wins a struggle.  Decisions his players must work much harder to overcome.

Decision 1.  Fake FG on 4th and 12. Fail.
Decision 2.  54 yard filed goal attempt from a kicker whose career long is 44 yards.  Les, that's ten yards futher than the very best your kicker has ever done. Bama takes the short field and drives to a TD just before halftime. Fail.
Decision 3.  Fourth and 1. To go or not to go. Either choice is fine.  The play called wasn't. Fail.
Decision 4. No attempt to score TD on the final possession.  Result is missed FG and bama allowed off the mat to survive an eight count. Fail.

That fourth down play was vintage Miles.  Fourth and one. Late in 4th quarter. You're up a field goal. Another FG puts you up a touchdown.  A first down allows the clock to bleed and solidify the legend of Saturday night in Death Valley.  Miles is brain frozen. Finally with the playclock winding down and his QB pleading for a decision. Field goal or go for it? Coach, we need a decision. Finally, in haste, Miles sends in short yardage personell. A RB lines up as QB.  Not in the wildcat, but under center. Everyone bunched in. The play? QB sneak. Can be seen from Pluto.  Hurried! Playclock winding down! 3,2,1...FAIL. So Miles takes his hot hand 6"6" 230lb QB to insert a 5'9" 215 lb RB to run a QB sneak to gain one yard.

Sadly, Miles went to the mad hatter on that play and thruout the game. LSU was the better team.  Miles just didn't belive it.

Spagnoulo Not What the Saints Needed

Let's face it, the 2012 edition of the NO Saints defense has been more painful to watch than season three of Treme.  Each week it breaks an NFL record for futility.  Can't stop the run.  Can't stop the pass.  Can't create turnovers. Can't get off the field.  I haven't seen a defense this bad since Buddy D did his sportscast with a bag on his head.  As Saints fans across the world bear witness to the unfolding of the worst defense in the history of the NFL, a concensus is growing that the problem is not coaching, it's personnel.

Don't count me among that number.  Sure the Saints lack the playmakers needed to build a solid defense, but the coaches have let them down by forcing a scheme that doesn't match the personnel..

Which brings me to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnoulo.  I'm sure a fine man and a good coach.  That's what we were all told upon his hire.  He did take an underachieving Giants defense ranked 28th in the NFL in 2006 and lead them to the 7th ranked total defense and #1 in sacks in 2007 en route to a Super Bowl victory.  As head coach of the Rams, after three seasons his defense ranked a mediocre 22nd.  Just two spots better than the Saints of that year.

There's no doubt, Spagnoulo knows how to build a defense.  But to build a defense in New Orleans it will take multiple successful drafts and free agent pick ups.  Something a newly hired head coach would want from a DC. That's not what the Saints situation calls for.  What they need is a proven turnaround specialist.

Bum Phillips ounce said a good coach can "take his'n and beat your'n then take your'n and beat his'n".  When it comes to coaching defense, Bum's son Wade is that coach.  With Wade Phillips, your defense is better the instant he steps into the building.  At every stop as defensive coordinator, he has turned that defense around immediately. Why? See above quote.  Houston is a prime example. In 2010, the Texans defense ranked 30th in the NFL. Gary Kubiak was in the verge of being fired.  Mario Williams was being called a bust.  Desperate and given one last chance, Kubiak hired Wade Phillips for the 2011 season.  He took that team's talent, moved Williams to OLB. Result? The Texans improved from #30 to #2 in the league in total defense!  Williams got paid!  He signed a huge free agent contract with Buffalo.  As of this point he's back to being called a bust again.  As for Phillips, from New Orleans in the early 80's to Houston now, his'n is consistently in the upper echelon in the NFL. 

Vic Fangio is another one.  Currently the DC of the 49ers, he took the players on hand from #13 to #4 and lead that team to the NFC chanpionship game.  Ask Pierre Thomas about that D.

The Ryan twins, Jack Del Rio and Dom Capers. All turnaround DC's.  All are able to create quality defenses using mostly players they already have.

Saints fans have seen such a coach.  Gregg Williams, 2009.  The further removed from that defense the more remarkable that feat appears.  He did it with a bunch of unknowns, castoffs and has-beens.  Scott Fujita was once buried in Dallas's dept chart.  Jonathon Vilma was cast off from the Jets.  Darren Sharper was written off.  These three fed off Williams' personality and brought it to the field, younger players followed suit and for the only time in the Payton/Brees era, fans went to games to see how much choas the defense would create. Thus creating a season for the ages.

However, Williams could never recreate that magic.  But with the explosive Saints offense, you can believe other potential defensive turnaround specialist would love to try.

LSU Offense in Disarray...Again!

Jimbo Fisher, Gary Crowton, Steve Kragthorpe and Greg Studrawa.  These are the last four offesensive coordinators at LSU. 

Fisher, a tireless recruiter, began his LSU career under Nick Saban.  A QB guru, Fisher developed Josh Booty and Rohan Davey, underachieving leftovers from the Dinardo era, into NFL draft picks. In Davey's case, an SEC and Sugar Bowl champion.  He molded a strong armed pro baseball reject, Matt Mauch, into a BCS champion.  He was able to  bring along an enormanously gifted but immature Jemarcus Russell into the number one pick in the entire NFL draft.  He laid the ground work for Matt Flynn to win the BCSNC in his first and only season as a collge starter. After one season with Les Miles, Fisher bolted to become the head coach in waiting at Florida St.  That wait was four seasons. He chose losing for four seasons rather than win under Miles as OC.

Gary Crowton was considered an offensive "Wizard".  As head coach and OC of Louisiana Tech, his offense averaged 36 points per game over four years including upset wins over SEC teams at Mississippi St and at Alabama. After a short stay as OC for the Chicgo Bears, he was chosen to replace BYU legendary head coach Lavell Edwards. Before LSU he lead the offense at Oregon. Known for his wide-open spread option, Crowton was thought to be a perfect fit for the speed of LSU's skilled players.  Indeed in his 39 games, LSU scored at least 30 points in 25 of those games. However, with multiple sets and personell packages, LSU was often disorganized. This lead to penatlies, turnovers and infuriating clock mismanagement. He is now coaching the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.

Steve Kragthorpe's tenure as OC at LSU ended before it began due to the tragic onset of Parkinson's Disease.  Known as a QB developer, he stepped down as OC and focused solely on the QBs. The only LSU player to benefit from his tutelage was Jarrett Lee.  Lee showed poise and leadership as his team raced to an 8-0 record. However, after a poor showing against Alabama, Lee never saw the field in a meaningful way for LSU again.  Kragthorpe had zero effect on Jordan Jefferson and up to now, his prized pupil, Zach Mettenberger shows no sign of development.  This despite two springs and two falls under Krag's watch.

Greg Studrawa took over for Kragthorpe as OC. After an incredible string a victories against highly ranked teams and an 8-0 start in 2011, he demoted Lee for poor play during the Alabama game.  Jordan Jefferson was inserted as the starter.  Coach "Stud"continued to succeed with JJ under center as he benefitted from a world class defense and a dominate running game.  However, as his offense unraveled in the BCSCG, he stubbornly called run play after run play with no success.  He absolutely refused to replace Jefferson for the same reason he replaced Lee.  We all know how that turned out.

2012 started with great promise for the offense.  The deepest set of RB's in America. An OL returning multiple starters.  Finally, FINALLY, a legit QB with an NFL arm.  As the season started and the offense was slow out of the gait, the thought was they needed time to gel and by the start of SEC play, they would be ready to roll.  After two conference games, this offense looks worse than Obama's debate against Romney. With key injuries to the O-line and RB and no confidence in the passing game, LSU has become one dimensional.  Make that non-dimensional.  Starting in the Auburn game, defenses have lined up in run stopping formations with no fear of being attacked in the passing game.  LSU has obliged and unlike Obama, they show no sign they can improve their performance.  Sadly, LSU just isn't as good as we all thought they were.  It's not that the OL is missing blocks, it's that they are unable to block.  It's not that the WR's aren't trying, they just can't catch.  LSU has no where to go, no one to turn to.

This was boldly demonstarted last Saturday in Gainesville, in their possesion just before halftime.  After the defense provided a huge gift and gave the ball to the offense at the Gator six yardline.  LSU could not get closer than the three. On third down, confused, LSU called a timeout to regroup.  As they lined up after the timeout, the playclock had ticked down so much that another timeout had to be called.  This would be embarassing to a playground team. So what did LSU get for their two timeouts? Zip, zilch, nada. A humiliating attempt at a jump pass from the worst down/distance and most obvious formation and personell package possible.  Gee, I wonder why a former high school QB is in at tailback on this play? His ONLY play of the game.  Way to disguise it, Stud. how did they ever figure it out?!

The one constant through all these OC's has been Les Miles.  The OC's change but the style remains they same.  Toss up the middle, gain of two.  Toss up the middle, no gain.  False start. Pass. Complete!  Holding. Sack. Punt.  Defense forces three and out.  Toss up the middle, gain of 5.  Toss up the middle, gain of one.  Third and three.  Toss up the middle, no gain. Punt.  Defense holds again.  Ware up the middle, no gain.  Ford tries the edge, gets three.  Pass complete.  Illegal formation.  Delay of game. Timeout. Sack. Punt.   The only person who could possible think this is fun to watch is Miles. But because of the greatest recruit Miles ever signed, John Chavis. LSU will be in all games going into the fourth quarter.

So prepare yourself for this until the Miles era comes to a merciful end.