Credit where credit is due.
 

As much as it pains me to type this, I have to give major props to the Redskins. Especially these three people:

1. London Fletcher. He had the screen sniffed out and pretty much made Darren Sproles a non-factor. What can I say about the guy? He's possibly been one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL for a long time. He is just a cerebral player that makes plays. No flash, just substance.

2. RG3. This goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. He looked like he's been in the NFL for years. I've heard people say that they threw everything in their offensive game plan at him and focused on the plays in which he was stronger. Whatever they did, it worked. He controlled the game from the onset. He made intelligent plays and came through with clutch passes when needed.

3. Jim Haslett. I want to break my own fingers for even typing his name, but truth be told, his defensive game plan made our Cadillac offense look like a Yugo. The Redskins were able to bust through a porous offensive line and get pressure on Brees. The secondary seemed to always be in position and played excellent coverage. I know that players should get the majority of the credit for making the necessary plays, but the scheme set up by Haslett was extremely effective. Spags had a plan, too. The Saints' defense just didn't execute.

These are some things about the Saints that really bothered me:

1. They are really going to miss Robert Meachem this year. His ability to stretch the field was obviously absent, because no one really stepped up in that category.

2. The entire team seemed almost emotionally drained. There just wasn't any fire or urgency on either side of the ball. Too many mental mistakes (false starts, holding calls, dropped passes, blown coverages, etc.).

3. As much as I hate to admit it, but the loss of Payton for the year is going to be bigger deal than I wanted to believe. None of the coaching staff looked to be chewing on as much tail as they should have when the team was making these mistakes. That needs to change. If it doesn't, and soon, it is going to be a very, VERY long season.

I'm not giving up after one game, but I do know that there is a ton of improvement that needs to be made, and they need to make those improvements YESTERDAY!

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Oh man. I happen to pay a LOT of attention to that kind of stuff, the sideline action and so forth, because of where my seats are, and you're 100% absolutely right. In particular, the Saints defense would come off after a Redskins score, and just sit there on the bench -- NO ONE was chewing them out or waving a white board and markers around, or getting in their faces, yelling and showing them pictures -- nothing. It was just really incredibly un-Saints-like to watch. I hope this is not a Spagnuolo thing. I am actually towards the visiting sideline, and I have seen how losing visiting teams behave on their sideline before, and the Saints sideline looked like a team that was not focused or had a fire. It was REALLY bad. Bottom line, this team was NOT ready.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

i miss sean. :/

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

I don't like hearing we beat ourselves. Yes, we played like crap, but they outplayed us

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Pardon my language but kromer needs to grow some balls and get in the players faces, that's what Vitt would do and that's what Payton would do

How we played today was unacceptable and they didn't seem bothered on the sideline, was utterly embarrassed with our teams performance

Hope you all appreciate this is just my way of getting the anger out, we need to step up next week or we won't be better than an 6-10 team

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Dude, I just listened to a clip from his presser, and he said "there were no indications this was going to happen. If you look at the Houston pre-season game we were clicking, we were stopping the run well. There was no indication this was going to happen"

I hope there was context to this that I missed

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

You know I expected the D to not be on point. I was giving them 4-5 games to get their act together.

The Offense... Where do you start?? The Oline is horrible!! That's where it starts. Brees gets guys in his face, then he gets a little skittish. He starts pressing because he knows his guys are getting beaten.

But when the passes start coming, why can't our receivers catch? This isn't about missing Meach, this is about catching a ball when it comes to you. And Joe Morgan isn't ready for prime time.

Sloppiness all over the place. Not a crisp phase in the game anywhere. Turnovers, penalties, etc. How do you get 3 false starts in your own building??

The Skins are good. I'd go so far as to say evenly matched. But when you do everything I listed above, you beat yourself. Not trying to take away from the Skins at all. But for all the crappiness we put out there, we only lost by 8... If a lot of other teams played them the way we did, the Skins would have blown them out.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is a bigger picture here that I hope everyone sees. This is still a great team. It was just a team that had a bad day. This was a huge wake up call. I for one hope they answer the phone.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

No way these two teams are evenly matched. The Saints just got punched in the mouth and whupped by an inferior team in their own house today. Unless you're telling me the Redskins have been in the post season the last three years in a row, and I missed it somehow.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

My friend, a skins fan, told me earlier that Shan has one every opening game since being there. I mean as a Skins fan that sucks a little

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

D is a good commentator.
Saintsbro, thanks for that bit of inside, sideline info of what was happening for us to know who were not at the game.
Interesting.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

The Saints lost a game! We all knew we weren't going 16-0. The Redskins, for whatever reason, won today.

This is nothing knew for the Saints; anyone remember the Rams game last year?

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

we got man handled in our own home. simple and sweet.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

We're not talking about the last three seasons. I mean today. Our team has changed and so has theirs. I mean this year.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

We got beat up by the rams last year n they were awful. I mean yeah, that day they were better too. I don't know what's going to happen rest of this year, not having Sean n all, but they were better today, sure

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

I'm going to be very blunt. All those who keep with the politically correct statements of "it's just one game guys, the season just started"... Please stop, it's far beyond annoying, and short sighted.

This was not any game. This was a season opening HOME game, after the worst offseason in NFL history. We, the fans, have vigorously defended them all offseason and so there are a lot of fired up people waiting to see this team punch someone in the mouth. Then add the fact that the area just got hit by another Hurricane, and that should have been even more motivation to play hard for the fans... And THEN add in the overturned suspensions.

How many more reason can a team possibly have to be motivated for a game? Losing is not what bothered me the most. I know that happens. The Saints lost to an inferior team, and never looked all that concerned about how they were playing. I didn't see excitement, nor anger. Just a bunch of blank stares. THAT is why this loss is disgusting. I'm not giving, not ever. But I couldn't get over how all the hype could lead to a steaming pile of horse crap.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

And all these, get rid of Spags, get rid of the defense, the seasons already over statements are not far beyond annoying? c'mon man :rolleyes:

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

I think that's fair, but I think people just mean the sky hasn't fallen, the season isn't over. I think they are all feeling the same type of frustration as you, I know I am

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Well said! Said it better than I could. Utter disappointment about sums it up.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Read my post mitch. I never said get rid of Spags or that the season is over. The whole thing was dedicated to this game, and how disgusting of a performance it was. It showed a tremendous lack of character for them to perform this way after everything that has happened. They didn't show.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

But in the end, it was only one game. All the *****ing we all are doing here isn't gonna change a damn thing. The same old team has to suit up and play next week, all we can do is hope they can start improving and the offense can play a complete game.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Correct. It is one game. And one game it will always be. That's why I'm not saying we should jump ship. I commented on today's game because this is the game we just witnessed. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I'm not trying to disrespect that, but all this one game at a time thing is quite condescending. We all know this is one game. If anyone is swearing off the Saints, then shame on them, I agree with that. I'm just upset with the lack of effort.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

As are we all, just some are more positive than others.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

And that's fine. But the rest of us don't need to be expected to ignore what happened out there. The optimist in me is what keeps me being a fan after games like this. But I'm not a sugar coater.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Thank you. Some people need to be reminded this is a forum with open discussion and it doesn't make them cool to bash people with different opinions.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Let me see if I understand what you're trying to say here...

"Everyone is entitled to an opinion and you respect that", but if it's not the same as your opinion then it's "far beyond annoying and shortsighted"?

Is that about right?

Nolaskinsfan
 

Gotta give credit where it is due. Y'all stomped us. We looked pathetic and RG3 looked to be the real deal. Congrats.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

No, that is not right. Do you see me telling people they can't be an eternal optimist? My point was toward everyone who keeps telling people like me, who call it like we see it (be it good or bad), that we need to calm down because it's only one game. Myself and everyone else understands that this game doesn't make or break us. But we don't have to pretend like that wasn't an awful performance, which it clearly was. Just because we're critical about one game doesn't mean we've jumped off the bandwagon.

Does that clear up my point a little?

I don't mind people being positive at all. Why would I? I have a problem with people who are so politically correct that they have to say something condescending about anyone who dares to say anything negative about the home team. So instead of highlighting two things I said and painting them as contradictions, you might want to read the context of which both statements were made.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Look fellas I will say this now. I just got back to my hotel room. The Saint Hotel on canal.... A block and 1/2 fron Bourbon. You guys have to be the coolest bunch of people I have ever met. Just because of what went down at the game today a handful of awesome people wearing black shook my hand, hung out with me, and bought shots.

I truly love this city and have nothing but respect for you guys. Go beat them cowboys, giants, and eagles this year and the rest of the NFC. I bought a Brees shirt and I'll rep those colors when you play anybody but the Redskins. Thank you guys for a wonderful time!! Next time the Skins are out here... ( maybe even the playoffs this year... One can hope haha) I'll be back. All are welcome to come have some drinks on me!

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Sorry man, I really didn't intend to be a jerk, but I can see that's exactly how my post came across. I was honestly trying to understand where you were coming from, I didn't mean anything by it. It was probably the frustration of the game. Again, I apologize.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

It is kinda surprising how aggressive most of these posts are between members. I'd say that alot of forum are handling adversity about as well as the team appeared to have. One game, and it was a bad one, move on and get ready for our first division game.

Re: Nolaskinsfan
 

True dat, big win for them.

Re: Nolaskinsfan
 

I give them their props. They figured out early on that our defense still sucks and they abused it all day long.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Going to give Shanahan is props for sticking to one running back and punching us in the mouth. RG3's legs are going to make him a star. His ability to extend plays and make throws on the run was a treat to watch.

Smarter more accurate Michael Vick... that's pretty damn scary.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

The Refs suck. Cost us 7 points. I know I'm off topic.

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

The lack of chatacter issue is what concerns me........we never got pizzed off, we just took it. Pretty much like the whole offseason. We just took it. I would have thought that Vilmas fight would give us some fire. It didn't happen.
Without Payton the master motivator we were less than aggressive.:biggun:AND IT SUCKS!!!!

Re: Credit where credit is due.
 

Ah don't worry about it man. I did get irritated by what I thought you were accusing me of. But I was in a bad mood, too. My apologies aswell.