Why the Saints lost to the Bucs

I've waited all week to watch this game. I am out of the country and had to wait until it became available online. I've just watched it and I am pissed.

Why'd the Saints lose?

Was it because of the turnovers? Sure it was a big factor but it's not the rotten apple at the core of the problem.

Was it the needless penalties? Again they didn't help but they could have been over come.

Was it Sean Payton's injury? Nope, I think the Saints coped pretty well bar the lack of timeout call with 2.15 left on the game clock.

Ok so what was it? Well you see it's that big old elephant in the room that we all keep pretending/hoping isn't there but has been the achilles heel the past couple of seasons. I am of course talking about our O line.

What the one with 3 pro bowlers on it?

Yes the very same. Last year we all thought it was the injuries that did it for the running game. Having a revolving back door of backs was certainly a problem and made us throw more than was necessary. But it actually hid the underlying reason.

You see it doesn't matter how good your backs are, and for me we have the best trio of backs and balance in Saints history. No it's all to do with the fact that the big men up front could not open a hole in a soggy paper bag if their lives depended upon it. In fact they would lose out to my grandma at doing it.

All Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas saw through the middle all day was white jerseys. If they saw a black jersey it was 3 yards in the backfield being pushed fast in their direction. It was like looking for light in a vacuum!

I don't know how or what the Saints are going to be able to do about it but it all starts up front and frankly these five are going to be the undoing of us.

All comes back to Pre Season

It goes right the way back to pre season. I was bitching about it back then but got sucked into that 'well they seem to open holes in the 4th when we're winning so I guess they're ok' but frankly they're not. They have no push whatsoever. To say Nicks and Hicks are big men with big reputations is a source of embarressment. Those two need to look themselves in the eyes and figure out how to make the most of their athletic gifts or this promising season will crash down all around us when the potential is there for a genuine tilt at the big game.

Plain and simple we were in a position to win the game late in the fourth on 4th and 2 and Brees threw an interception. Why's that not on Brees you may ask? Well most other teams in the league would trust their inside running game to at least ground out some yards to get it in or failing that to have pounded out some inside yards at some point in the game on 2nd and 3rd and short situations to set up some genuine play fakes.

Instead Brees had to go to the air yet again when it was not necessary - or at the least he would have been able to make a genuine attempt at a play fake had there been any kind of a running game but instead the Bucs just sat back in coverage knowing very well it was going to be Brees or nothing.

In Mark Ingram we have an inside back who can pound out good yardage if given half a chance. He has 2nd and 3rd efforts that really do mark comparison with the great E.Smith. He's a guy who could be the mainstay of this team. Instead we hand him the ball time and again and ask him to beat the whole front 5 or front 7 all on his own. It's not fair on the kid. The big men up front are vets and they are letting him and the team down.

Time to put up or shut up in the trenches or this season is going to be one massive missed opportunity.

Big shout outs

Malcom Jenkins for impecable reading of the game. Ok he was at fault for a TD but he got there on 3 battered balls to kill drives. Heck of a team leader.

Patrick Robinson for continued development reading game and anticipation. Killed one series single handedly in its tracks.

Jimmy Graham for being the most immense addition to any Saints team in history. I love this guy.

Marques Colston for getting back to his best.

Thomas Morstead for always giving the Saints D a chance with booming kicks.

Sean Payton for dealing with a horrific injury by making it look like he'd merely been stung by a wasp and for getting on with it.

Drew Brees for almost getting it done despite a poor first half by his standards. Yes there were 3 picks but one should have been caught by Meachem, the other I've discussed leaving only one that he really put out there as a bad throw.

Saints Vs. Patriots 4th Quarter

So you join us in the 4th Quarter with the Saints leading 31 to 17 and facing a key 3rd and 12 at their own 35. All Saints fans could do with a conversion here to keep alive another scoring drive and stretch this lead as it's still tight enough.

Brees throws wide left and... it falls incomplete so Thomas Morstead will punt. Wes Welker fair catches at the Pats 15.

1st down Pats.
Brady goes deep down field and... Over throws Sam Aitken... I love you Tom Brady... please keep that up.
Faulk is chased down by Sedrick Ellis for a small gain. Great to have the big man fill that middle again. 3rd and 9.
Brady under pressure by Charles Grant and he unloads to Wes Welker who is stopped short. 4th and 5 and the Pats will punt. Great D schemes cooked up there by Williams.  I hope his mum ruffles his hair when he gets home tonight.

Eat Turf Welker - Fujita, Ellis, Grant and Jon Vilma getting it done

1st down Saints at their 25.
Drew Brees to Marques Colston who takes it and runs all the way to the Pats 48. Incredible throw again by Drew Brees.  He put it right on Colstons back shoulder so only he could make the grab in the tight coverage.

1st down Saints.
Mike Bell goes left to the 43.  2nd and 5.
Brees throws incomplete to bring up 3rd and 5.
Brees to Robert Meachem at the marker and he hauls it in.  Ooh baby I'm enjoying this lethal execution.

1st down Saints at the 37.
Pierre Thomas over left tackle for 5.  2nd and 5.
Mike Bell is stopped short for 0.  3rd and 5.
Drew Brees to Robert Meachem on the right and another first down.  Ruthlessly efficient passing and routes. Just perfect tonight.  I owe Brees some ice cream.

1st down Saints at the 25.
Mike Bell up the middle for 5 hard yards. He just pumps those legs like mini pistons and does not give up. Such a low center of gravity.  2nd and 5.
Brees to Marques Colston on the post pattern and... TOUCHDOWN!!!  Oh man. What a drive.  9 plays 75 yards, 5.18.  Just incredible.  That's the 27th TD thrown by Brees this season.  Get that man a drink.

Marques Colston TD - 'Tackle each other boys, I'm just gonna grab 6'

Patriots 17 Saints 38

1st down Pats at their own 20.
Draw play picks up 7.  2nd and 3.
Brady under pressure looks down field and... is picked by Darren Sharper at the Saints 38!! He returns it all the way to the Pats 25.  Sharper baby you are on fire.  Who Dat?

1st down Saints
Mike Bell for 3.
Mike Bell again inside for 3 more. Running down that game clock. 3rd and 4.
Brees to Henderson in the end zone and... Over shoots. I guess the guy is human afterall.
So John Carney comes in for a 37 yard field goal and... it goes wide right.  Cancan Carney can't can't.

1st down Pats.
Brian Hoyer is in to replace Tom Brady to signal the Pats have thrown in the towel so we can all enjoy the last 5 minutes.
2 runs for very little brings up a quick 3rd and 8.
Hoyer drops back and...  Throws to the fans in the stands and shows that he is no Tom Brady so the Pats will punt.

1st down Saints at their own 22 with 3.58 on the clock.
Mike Bell to the right for 5.  Drew Brees still in the game which is good to see.  He deserves to see this out as he has been just unstoppable.
Mike Bell again for 2. 3rd and 3.
Mike Bell bursts through the hole for a first... which is then called back for a flag to bring up 3rd and 14.
Pierre Thomas on a draw for 6 to bring up the 2 minute warning.
Thomas Morstead punts.

1st down Pats at their 33.
Hoyer completes for a few... ah who cares now this is over.
Will Smith chalks up another sack to close out the game a few minutes later.

That was the most complete Saints performance I have seen.  Drew Brees led the offence with incredible precision and looked totally unstoppable.   I am totally out of superlatives to describe just how great Brees is and for the way he played tonight.  He was perfect from start to finish.

Drew Dat - Drew Brees Saints Legend

The receivers were awesome.  Henderson, Meachem and Colston all got it done.  Bell and Thomas ran the ball well when called upon and that offensive line was totally dominant.  Jermon Bushrod, Carl Nicks, Jonathan Goodwin, Jahri Evans and Jon Stinchcomb all take a bow as you deserve all the platitudes you are going to get.

On the D side the banged up secondary did an outstanding job of stopping Brady, Welker and Co.  Mike McKenzie just had the game of his life and his pick was a turning point in the game.  Harper and Sharper made important tackles and crucial times.  Throw in Malcolm Jenkins who kept the likes of Randy Moss quiet and you've got one hell of a display by that unit.

Then the front 7 played great with Fujita, Shanley and Vilma all making important tackles and snuffing out 3rd down conversions.  Will Smith, Ellis, Grant and Hargrove all played their part.

In short it was just a great team effort and everyone should be mighty proud of themselves for that performance.  It was near perfect football all the way.

Saints Injury Report for Patriots game

We're only hours away from the Saints Patriots showdown on Monday Night Football and I for one am nervous beyond belief.  Not so much because of the perfect record, which to me is a bit of an albatross round our collective necks, but more because I fear loosing home field advantage to the Vikings.  My nervous disposition is not helped therefore by the following Saints injury report.

It looks like we could be without the heart of the defence Jonathan Vilma.  Along with that we also have the ongoing tragedy of the Saints banged up secondary.  It looks like we will once again be without the likes of Tracy Porter, Randall Gay and Jabari Greer.  That's not the best news when going up against Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Randy Moss and Co.

On the offensive side of the ball we could be without Reggie Bush, Lance Moore, Jonathan Goodwin and Carl Nicks.

Here's the complete list at the time of posting a couple of hours before kick off:

Bobby McCray Saints DE - Knee injury, status questionable

Jonathan Vilma Saints LB - Knee injury, status questionable

Carl Nicks Saints G - Illness, status probable

Lance Moore Saints WR - Ankle injury, status doubtful

Tracy Porter Saints CB - Knee injury, status doubtful

Reggie Bush Saints RB - Knee injury, status questionable

Randall Gay Saints CB - Hamstring injury, status questionable

Jonathan Goodwin Saints C - Ankle injury, status questionable

Jabari Greer Saints CB - Groin injury, status questionable

Big love and peace to the Saints nation.  Here's hoping we blow them out the water early but somehow I don't feel it right now.

For the latest Reggie Bush injury news week in week out please visit the Reggie Bush Injury Report.

Saints Falcons Post Game Analysis

What have we learnt from tonight?  Well number 1, don't start writing your reflections on the game before the game clock is at 0, amateur bloger. 

Number 2, despite almost being a complete Butkus by calling the game too early in my Saints Falcons 4th Quarter analysis I'm still going to publish the pre Bell fumble summassion I had written both out of complete laziness at this hour and because it mostly still stands:

I'm pretty happy that most of the Saints Falcons preview post came to fruition: 

1 - Brees beat Ryan hands down in the top QB contest. General Brees commands the troops like few others and deserves win number 7.

2 - Brees got better protection.  Take a bow Jermon Bushrod, Carl Nicks, Jonathan Goodwin, Jahri Evans and Jon Stinchcomb.

3 - The Saints Defence forced decisive turnovers.  Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter made game changing interceptions and added 7 points to the Saints secondary's tally for the season.  They're tied with the running backs for the most improved unit on the team.  (Plus Sharpers last second one, the 61st of his career).

4 - The Saints Defence just about kept a lid on Turner and Gonzalez... but only just.  Turner scared the living cr@p out of me towards the end there but we managed to hang on.

5 - The Saints crowd were fervent (hardly an incisive call there Falconer... and stop talking about yourself in the 3rd person you numb skull) but they managed to cause 1 important penalty and hey it all counts in the big win.

Oh and I picked a Saint 14 point win after a tight game... so I was only 3 out (8 in the end after the Butkus Bell).  Sue me... Clearly opening myself up for a verbal beating.

Saints Falcons Preview

I have been looking forward to the Saints Falcons game like no other this season. The fact we're riding into this Divisional match up undefeated at 6 and 0 with the potential to steal a decisive march on the Division crown has got me all pumped up and unable to work.

So here are my Top 5 reasons why the Saints will whip those Falcon tooshies:

1 - Drew Brees Vs Matt Ryan - There's only one winner in my book.  Brees is the best Quarterback in the league right now and there is no one I would rather have under centre for this match up.

He commands and directs the offence like few others and is truly the Saints on field General.  As long as he gets protection then Brees should be able to pick apart the 27th ranked Falcons Defence against the pass.

  Atten-hut, General Brees is on the field

2 - Drew Brees will get better protection - The Dolphins blew a Jonathan Stinchcomb sized hole in the offensive line and were able to pressure Brees into throwing 3 interceptions.  They exposed a potential weakness in an otherwise flawless Saints O line campaign to date which the rest of the league will be watching with interest.  Look for Stinchcomb to get extra support against John Abraham (if he plays as his fitness is questionable at time of going to post) and Co.  If the front 5 play their part they will provide the bedrock for a Saints win.

Jermon Bushrod, Carl Nicks, Jonathan Goodwin, Jahri Evans, Jon Stinchcomb

3 - The Saints Defence will force turnovers - The Saints D have already picked off 13 passes and forced 5 fumbles so far this season.  This ability to get the ball back in Brees' hands is a key component of the team's success.  Watch out for Eagle Eyes Darren Sharper to continue his already great season by making a decisive play against a quality but inexperienced Quarterback in Matt Ryan.

4 - The Saints Defence will manage Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner - With Jerious Norwood questionable through injury the Falcons will be heavily reliant on the power running of Turner.  If the Saints can restrict him to short yardage Ryan will be forced to the air and Gonzalez in particular.  This will be a key match up and the Saints Linebacker crew need to be on top form against the league's best Tight End.  If they win this battle the Saints will be well on the road to a home win.

5 - The Super Dome Crowd will be fervent - Whilst I don't normally factor home field advantage as a major game changer for pro footballers I think the noise and intensity will play a part against our division foes. The crowd have the potential to cause Falcon Offensive and Defensive linemen to be called off side especially on big 3rd downs when the volume of the crowd will be peaking.

 Saints fans are the 12th man

Monday Night Football Summary

The Saints are going to edge this but it's going to be tight.  If we can stop Michael Turner early and force the Falcons to the air whilst playing catch up I think we've got a great chance.  Brees needs better protection than last week but hopefully that was a temporary blip in an otherwise fine O line season. If we maintain a healthy balance between the run and pass on offence then look for a Famous New Orleans Saints win by 14 come the closing bell.