Grading the Saints
 

Grading the Saints

Monday, October 02, 2006
Mike Triplett., Times Picayune



OFFENSE 2 fleur de lis.

Take away that 86-yard touchdown pass at the end, and the numbers aren't overly impressive. The Saints put together a handful of nice long drives, but they failed to capitalize, thanks to Reggie Bush's fumble and John Carney's missed field-goal attempt. Drew Brees was efficient, as usual, completing 28 of 38 passes with no turnovers. But the Saints were slightly below average on third downs (4-of-11) and never established the run game (63 yards rushing). Bush was hardly a factor, which is starting to become a slight disappointment. The Saints didn't appear to be as fancy with their play calls and formations Sunday as they were Monday night, but they did a good job of running clock and keeping it a tight, low-scoring affair.



DEFENSE 1 fleur de lis.

For three quarters, it was a valiant, bend-but-don't-break effort. But the defense lost the battle at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter on two long touchdown drives. And for the second straight week, they failed to force a turnover, which was a problem that plagued the defense last season. The Saints sacked Jake Delhomme just once, which came on a blitz by linebacker Scott Shanle. Panthers receiver Steve Smith was a nuisance. The back-breaker was the 100 yards rushing by Carolina in the fourth quarter, most of which came on DeShaun Foster's game-clinching, 43-yard touchdown run.



SPECIAL TEAMS 1 fleur de lis.

Carney's miss hurt, but he had to miss one sometime. Just as damaging were second-half penalties by Terrence Melton and Eric Moore in the kicking game. Punt returners Lance Moore and Bush combined for 2 yards on four returns. Punter Steve Weatherford was solid with a five kicks for 230 yards, and the coverage units did a good job.



COACHING 2 fleur de lis.

The Saints appeared ready to play, which was a question mark in many people's minds, coming off a short week and an emotional Monday night victory over Atlanta. And they were in position to win the game in the fourth quarter, which is all you can ask for. But it still felt like the team's most lackluster performance of the year. The offense was less dynamic than it has been, and the defense never rattled the Panthers, with zero takeaways and just one sack.



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RE: Grading the Saints
 

disagree with you on nearly every point. defense played very good until the final two drives. even then they still did not let up a lot of points. i thought the offense could move the ball. reggie layed one on the ground and there was a rush missed field goal. we lost but i thought we played hard. i am not going to start beating the team down for a loss against a good team. wqe can't win them all.

RE: Grading the Saints
 

oh sorry tally i thought you wrote that, just saw

RE: Grading the Saints
 

nah just a typical newspaper writer. over reaction for readership.