SaintsBro

I think some of the dropsies this year had to do with people believing their own hype, reading their own headlines from last year... Especially Graham, who looked like a spoiled kid out there, lack of discipline, lack of concentration, turning his head away, and sometimes he even seemed to be thinking about the goalpost dunk before he caught the ball and got across the goal line! He is exactly the type of fiery, explosive guy who needs a coach or a mentor type older person to talk to him and keep his feet on the ground, and for whatever reason that wasn't happening this year.

A lot was due to coaches coaching two positions, like Dizzle mentioned. It's harder than many people realize, because it's a time issue --only so many hours in the day to look at film or talk to the team and get them ready. Attention to detail, and the small things -- fundamentals -- are usually the first thing to go in those type of situations. You had linemen missing routine blocks, kickers missing chip shots, guys not jogging off the field fast enough-- that's just pure fundamentals, and not enough accountability, not enough coaches to go round.

Plus you had a new receivers coach, who unfortunately had virtually no contact with Payton within two or three weeks after first being hired, so there was no continuity there-- no sense of "this is how we do things around here on the Saints, this is the Payton offense and this is who our receivers are" going into the year. He was coaching in a vacuum with guys he didn't know, and not enough input from above.

Just imagine what kind of insight Payton would have had, if he had been able to sit down with Henry Ellard week in and week out, having known our receivers and Drew as long as Payton has, and studied them on film etc.

He'd tell Ellard, this is what we want from you, this is how we did things with Curtis Johnson, he'd give individual feedback about this guy or that guy and their personalities and when and why they might drop the ball. Imagine that type of conversation they would have, about each individual receiver, if Payton had been there. It would have made a huge difference, I'm sure of it.

hagan714

this season was a team effort. in one way or another each unit loss the game for us.

Funny thing is the saints were alive in all but what? 3 games. Funny they shot themselves in the foot over and over yet they we could have pulled a 13-3 season out easily. well with some divine help.

Jamessr

The only game I say we were truly beaten like red headed stepchildren was the Denver game. All others had stupid killer mistakes multiple times

SaintsBro

And even in the Denver game, they panicked. Once this team gets spooked or goes into crazy panic mode, early in a game, it is very difficult for them to recover.

UK_WhoDat

The number of drops stats are fully unexceptable.

But can someone tell me the catch percentage (receptions divided by receptions plus drops) of our guys. I am looking for some consolation - maybe one of our trio had a decent percentage because the ball came their way so much.

Mardigras9

Too bad, I really thought we were going to have a real chance at that #1 spot against the Panthers.

darstep

This had to be my most disappointing stat.
Even Lance Moore was dropping balls, Huh?
Payton should get the boys back on point.
Hands drills morning, noon and night.

Vrillon82

nahhh, with Payton we would of never lost to Washington, KC, or Carolina.

doubt we would of lost to GB either.

Utah_Saint

This season,

Colston 83 catches/132 targets - 63%
Moore 65/105 - 62%
Graham 85/135 - 62%
Sproles 75/104 - 72%
Morgan 10/21 - 48%
P. Thomas 39/53 - 73%
Henderson 22/47 - 47%

Season totals
2012 - 63%
2011 - 71%
2010 - 68%
2009 - 69%
2008 - 65%
2007 - 67%
2006 - 64%

During the last season, the Saints had the worst completion percentage since Drew's been a Saint. A significant drop off from what we've seen over the last 3 years.

voodooido

A whole lot of injuries helped this. I still like our wr crew. Roby and Henderson should be gone. Getting Nicks and Tanner back will help. Maybe draft one late.