Bashing is the name of the game when the New Orleans Saints lose.  Saints star running back Reggie Bush is not immune.  After fumbling a pitch-back reverse late in the game against the Bucs on Sunday, Reggie Bush reads more like George Bush in the media, forums and Saints blogisphere. 

There was a fumble that Reggie Bush was fortunate to recover. There were two short passes that slipped through his hands. Then there was the inaccurate, no-look toss on a botched trick play that may go down as the moment New Orleans truly blew its chance to get back into playoff contention.

Yet, more than any of those, the images that seemed to symbolize Bush's difficult second season occurred off the field at the end of the Saints' 27-23 loss to Tampa Bay.

 

Bush was walking toward the tunnel leading to the Louisiana Superdome locker room while what was initially called a fumble by Saints kick returner Lance Moore was in the process of being overturned. There were 14 seconds left, and head coach Sean Payton had to run Bush down and angrily order him back to the bench.

After the game, Bush sat in front of his locker for more than a half hour, still in uniform, with his hands on his head as he stared at the floor. He declined to speak with reporters.

On Monday, he was absent while reporters were permitted to talk with players in the locker room at the team's suburban training facility.  READ MORE AT WGSO.COM

 

In a New York Times article titled "Promising Season Is Bouncing Away From Saints’ Bush," Times writer JERÉ LONGMAN writes, "This is not the season Bush had planned, on or off the field."   Longman digs up some forgotten dirt reminding us that Reggie Bush "is being sued by a sports marketer who is seeking to recover nearly $300,000 in cash and gifts that he claims were provided to Bush and his family while Bush was a running back at Southern California..." and if the N.C.A.A. finds Bush guilty, "one of the penalties could be a revocation of the Heisman Trophy he won in 2005."  READ MORE AT NYTIMES.COM

 

In forums everywhere, not excluding BlackandGold.com, the fans are asking "if reggie would've gotten the ball to henderson everyone would be calling Payton a genius today instead of calling for his job." READ MORE IN THE FORUMS

 

Rotoworld.com, a fantasy football news source and fan site had a poster in their forum writes, "Every week this guy is listed as a #1 RB, and from the past couple weeks it seems like he cant put up #3 rb #'s.....He is in his second year, he had the starting job for awhile now and he still cannot put up 100yds rushing...he has score under 10points in my league the past few weeks, while ryan grant sits on my bunch.....is it me or is he the most overrated fantasy back." READ IT HERE

 

 

In watching the foibles of the New Orleans Saints over the course of three games, I have been as confused and surprised as anyone in watching the fortunes of this franchise disintegrate. The foundation has crumbled as fast as a Saltine cracker. In retrospect, after gathering information, organizing thoughts, and seperating my professional opinions from my personal feelings, my vision has been restored.  Johnny Nash wrote a song which became a big hit called "I Can See Clearly Now" which reached number one on the Billboard charts in 1972.

Ken Trahan - WGSO Sports - In watching the foibles of the New Orleans Saints over the course of three games, I have been as confused and surprised as anyone in watching the fortunes of this franchise disintegrate. The foundation has crumbled as fast as a Saltine cracker. In retrospect, after gathering information, organizing thoughts, and seperating my professional opinions from my personal feelings, my vision has been restored.

{sidebar id=9}Johnny Nash wrote a song which became a big hit called "I Can See Clearly Now" which reached number one on the Billboard charts in 1972. It proved to be the perfect song to clear my mind in viewing the carnage that is the 2007 New Orleans Saints: "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind, it's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day. I think I can make it now, the pain is gone. All of the bad feelings have disappeared. Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for. It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day. Look all around, there's nothin but blue skies. Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies. I can see clearly now, the rain has gone, I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that he had me blind. It's gonna be a bright, bright, sun shiny day."

After attending the Saints-Titans game and doing my radio show from the Superdome prior to the game, I wrote down a number of thoughts about what I had said and what I had seen. It always a good idea to collect your thoughts before expressing them. After collecting my thoughts, here is what I arrived at. The Saints did not improve during the off season. Obviously, the 2007 draft was not kind to New Orleans. The Saints did a very poor job. Just a few months past the draft, here is the report card. First round pick Robert Meacham would not have made the team had he not been a number one draft pick. Despite occupying a place on the roster, he is inactive weekly on a team that has a glaring need for a number one or number two receiver. Guard Andy Alleman and tackle Jermon Bushrod are projects. Cornerback David Jones was cut. Ditto for Antonio Pittman, who was released despite being traded up for in the draft. Marvin Mitchell did not make the active roster. Only Usama Young is dressed and playing for the Saints on Sunday from this potentially disastrous draft.

When you examine moves in free agency, only tight end Eric Johnson has made any contribution that would be considered significant. Having said this, the upgrade has been slight, not substantial, at this position. Otherwise, wide receiver David Patten is a journeyman. Defensively, the Saints signed Kendrick Clancy to help stop the run. He has been hurt and has made no difference. At linebacker, the team signed veterans Brian Simmons and Dhani Jones to upgrade the position. Jones did not even make the team. Simmons is a reserve. In the secondary, Jason Davis has been awful at one corner. At safety, Kevin Kaesviharn cannot even start despite the fact that Josh Bullocks is below average and Roman Harper is essentially a rookie.

As for returning players, the collapse has been collective. There is not one area of this football team that has performed well. Offensively, the Saints are 24th overall through three weeks after finishing last year first overall. They are 27th in points scored per game (12.7) and 28th in rushing yards per game (79.7). Drew Brees has gone from terrific to terrible, losing accuracy, making bad decisions, and turning the football over. After throwing just 11 interceptions in 18 games a year ago, he already has an astonishing total of seven in just three games this season. He is averaging a paltry 8.1 yards per completion in what has been a dink-and-dunk offense. Reggie Bush, despite a couple of touchdowns against Tennessee, has largely been ineffective. Deuce McAllister is likely done for the season and possible for his career with the Saints following another knee injury.
The offensive line has been woeful, failing to open holes for the running game while acting as a matador in their effort to protect Brees. Outside of Marques Colston, who has 18 catches for 185 yards and a score, the receiving corps has been irrelevant. The team has been outscored 103-38. 

Will Smith and Charles Grant have been admirable but not outstanding. At linebacker, all three starters return but they have made no impact thus far despite some good hits by emotional Scott Fujita. As for the secondary, they are the NFL's worst. Jason David is a square peg in a round hole, trying to play man defense when is clearly a "cover two" zone man. To call him toast would be an understatement. Young has promise and needs to play more while Jason Craft is okay. At safety, Josh Bullocks continues to show no ability to make plays. Roman Harper is a work in progress. Kevin Kaesviharn has had no impact.

The kicking game is no better. The punt return game is non-existent. Kickoff returns are decent but Michael Lewis was better. Olindo Mare is kicking off rather well but has come up short in the field goal department. John Carney was 23 of 25 in this department a year ago. Mare has already missed twice this season. Perhaps the team MVP through three games has been Steve Weatherford, who has punted very well. That is a sad statement.

To illustrate the desperation of the Saints, one needs only to examine five pivotal moments in the Saints game with Tennessee. On the first play from scrimmage, they ran an end-around with Reggie Bush. It gained three yards. Typically, that is a play utilized after setting it up with a sweep or two. There was a screen attempt on first down that got blown up, resulting in Bush losing yardage. Again, the screen is typically used to offset a big pass rush, not on first down. There was a fake handoff on the kickoff return featuring Aaron Stecker and Reggie Bush. And to start the second half, the Saints attempted a flea flicker which did nothing. Trick plays will not work if you cannot run the football or have no threat of the run. Most notably was the decision by Sean Payton to go for it on fourth down and a half yard on his own end of the field down only 3-0 on just the Saints' second possession of the game. Drew Brees threw deep for Marques Colston. The pass was nowhere near him.

While Coach Payton and his players continue to say that there is no panic in this team, these plays clearly say otherwise. Sean Payton did a remarkable job with the Saints a year ago. He richly deserved NFL Coach of the Year honors. I still believe that he is a good NFL Head Coach who is going through a slump in his play-calling duties. Of course, players can make coaches look good by executing and make the look bad by not executing.
I have heard many theories about why the same players are playing at a far lower level than a year ago. The one I have heard the most is that the Saints "overachieved" a year ago. I find that notion to be ridiculous. If you have achieved something, it simply means that you were capable of doing so, maximizing your abilities. I believe the Saints maximized their abilities a year ago. They have tapped into their talent in minimal fashion this season. Fans actually booed at the Titans game. Seems like old times.....

The big question is not whether this team can rebound from 0-3 to have a special season. As B.B. King once sang, that "thrill is gone." The bigger question is whether this organization can withstand the difficult times that are the here and now, right the ship, make good moves, and improve the team. With the bye week upon us, look for a running back to be signed. Pierre Thomas, Stecker, and Bush are speed backs who cannot run between the tackles. One real possibility is Corey Dillon, who is the 14th leading rusher in NFL history. Though he is long in the tooth at 33 years old, Dillon averaged 4.3 yards per carry, ran for 812 yards and scored 13 touchdowns a year ago. He could be a short-term fix to a long-term problem--replacing Deuce McAllister. Desperation has thus far produced desolation and sleep depravation for shocked Saints fans. The key now is to avoid devastation.

Back to Johnny Nash--"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone." It rained the day of the Titans game. "I can see all obstacles in my way." That would next be the Panthers. "Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind." Sleep helped erase the depression of the Saints performance. "It's gonna be a bright, bright, sun-shiny day." The sun did rise the morning after. "I think I can make it now, the pain is gone." Time is such a healer! "All of the bad feelings have disappeared." No doubt that there are more important things than football. "Here is the rainbow I've been praying for." In my life, all things become more optimistic following real prayer. "It's gonna be a bright, bright, sun-shiny day. Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies. Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies."

Have a positive outlook. Try to avoid depression. Anger will accomplish nothing. It is just a game, after all. With some talent on hand, the Saints are bound to find something within them that will allow them to play better than what we have seen. Sean Payton and Drew Brees were both "The Magic Man" that Heart once sang about in 2006. As Bob Dylan once declared, "The Times, they are a changin'." Things may soon improve. Things may grow bleaker before rising again. Today the present is past. Tomorrow brings another day, a brighter outlook, where hope springs eternal. As U2 and Green Day sang, "the Saints are comin'." Let us hope that they come sooner, rather than later, displaying a sense of urgency, rather than one of desperation.  

READ MORE ON WGSO.COM