Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

Right.

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

Yes, that's right. However, just because all teams are banged up it doesn't place them in exactly the same boat when it comes to the totality of injuries. There's nothing that can be done to change that fact. You are forced to play with the cards that are dealt. Those differing degrees of health, or lack thereof, are a very real factor in the outcome of the games come playoff time. That's where the luck that I have mentioned so many times comes into play.

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

This team is one of the top 5 run teams in the league ... top 5 roster ... most wins of any NFL Club in the last 3 years ... drafting well ... pursuing free agents. Look at the other top 5 teams San Fan, Seattle, LA RAMS KC and now Tampa and remember Tampa wasn’t in this discussion a year ago.

Even he greatest QB of the current day couldn’t win this year, because he couldn’t throw the ball downfield because of want Tampa was able to do the them defensively ... defensively ... and to Green Bay and us as well. And we were the only team that had a real chance to beat Tampa until the Cooks fumble causing 10-14 point swing.

Can’t stand all the After The Fact GM’ing and Post Game rip of the orginaization from those who have no insight and information on who’s capable and who’s not.

I am FAN since 1967 and this Managment group, coaching staff, player roster is the the best we have ever had .. period ... full stop.

We did not win the big one .... thats life and why you play the game. Arron Roger has won 1 Super Bowl in 2011 has not been back since. Phillip River never won, San Fan hasn’t won modern times, LA Ram haven’t won, when is the last time Seattle went to the SB ... how many have they won.

I expect us to be competitive this year won’t look the same but this organization will field a team capable of winning ... we might lead the league in salary cap right now that will be fixed. There are a lot teams not nearly as well managed even with millions of dollars in cap space and multiple high draft picks they will fail to manage Coach and play themselves out the bottom of their division.

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

Fournette was on and off the injury report all year long. Godwin had his health issues. Tom Brady had knee surgery immediately following the season’s end. All teams are banged up to a certain degree. Give Tom Brady 4 turnovers, and you’re going to lose that game.

1 fumble

3 int’s..., they were ALL terrible throws. The int’s were ALL Drew Brees, bad throws, all of them. Yes, the fumble was painful..., but so were the three interceptions. Do I think losing players during the game contributed? Yes. But all teams deal with injuries throughout the season and inside of each game. Next man up..., and adapt to the circumstances you have, not the one you wished, or hoped, or had luck prevailed, or been fortunate enough, to have.

Score was 20-20, after Drew’s first interception AND the ensuing TB touchdown from Cook’s fumble.

Put the ball in Drew’s hands, what happened?

1st possession:
PUNT (and a beautiful 55 yarder by Morestead I might add!), Time of Possession - 1:38, 5 plays 12 yards, 1 First Down due to penalty, 1 rush attempt

2nd possession:
INT#2, Time of Possession - 2:44, 5 plays, 13 yards, 1 passing First Down, 1 rush attempt

3rd (final) possession:
INT#3, Time of Possession - 0.40, 4 plays, 10 yards, 1 rushing First down, 1 rush attempt.

Bottom line, Drew Brees had his chances to move the ball, but was unable to do it, as evidenced by his 134 passing yards total for the entire game.

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

Brees was playing with a torn rotator cuff. You ever tried that?

Injuries killed us. Who cares if Fournette had injuries during the season. It's the fact he was healthy come the playoffs that gave the advantage.

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

That’s where I think you are putting a little too much blame on Drew. I think it would have been different if he had, say a Godwin, Evans, Brown and Gronk group to throw to along with a healthy 1-2 RB combo instead of
just Kamara, Sanders, and a Cook who looked like he had bet his house on Tampa. Each their own though

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

Neither Fournette nor Brady were “healthy” come playoff time. Neither was Brees, that much is obvious. They ALL played through their injuries as much as possible.

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

Gotcha, fully understand that. Who’s to “blame” isn’t my cup of tea, that’s not what I’m trying to say. My very simple point is an unbiased person who watched the game will say four turnovers were the reason the Saints lost. Blame playcalling all you want, Blame injuries all you want..., heck.., blame Covid if you feel like it, blame the mayor, blame the zodiacal portents, blame Marie LaVeau if you’re feeling nostalgic. But the stats in the stat columns paint a picture, and if you actually watched the game, and the interceptions, which I’m sure most of us did, then the painting was full on clear.

Turnovers

Also, I’ll take CGM, Sanders, Tre’Quan and Cook on that day over the four you listed. All day long. Add Kamara, even without Murray in the mix, and oh yeah. With that OL? It’s a good roster, a very good roster, and a deep one. And I’m looking forward to next season regardless of who is under center!

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

Well, if you want to put it on stats only and skip injuries and Voo Doo then the Saints lost because Tampa generated more points than the Saints did, not because of Turnovers.

And considering how banged up Thomas was, then Tampa clearly had a more potent and effective receiving/TE/RB corps available to them in that game than the Saints did. Unbiased observation supports that.

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

Bingo! 21 points directly off of 3 turnovers. The Bucs had to go 3 yards, then 40 yards, then 20 yards for those TD’s. The last turnover was the end of game possession. wrt CGM, he was targeted only four times the entire game, zero catches.

Tampa only had 189 passing yards, while the Saints had 190 total. More potent? I think not. wrt rushing, the Saints had 105 on 25 carries for a solid 4.2ypc, the Bucs had more with 127, but on 35 carries for a 3.6ypc rushing attack. I’ll take those playmakers, against the other team’s playmakers all day long, sans the turnovers.