Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

No more WTF large contracts hamstringing the team.
Need new beef on the OL. Brees spoiled us with his quick reads and release, made many look better than they really were, even WRs.
Taysom's legs helped out, but just how long is that sustainable? Play him more games, but let's get a looksee with the kid, Ian Book, at some point. If Taysom's finger is effed, maybe this forces SP's hand.

Re: Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

The age old Madden adage still holds true. "if you have two quarterbacks, you have none"

• We have not had a QB since Drew's retirement.
• We have not had offensive leadership on the field since Drew's retirement.

Sadly leadership can not be fixed in the draft or free agency. Leaders are not appointed they are bred.. :bng:

Re: Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

I think Jameis was doing a solid job filling the leadership void before the injury in his own way.

Anyway, there were some positive signs for the offense from this game. Payton's playcalling was generally better and we did a good job of stretching the defense horizontally at times (the Taysom quick rollouts where he threw to the TE in the flat, the edge run by Harris, the play where the play looked like it was going left and Taysom swept right). We just went to deep drop play action too often - it is not our strength and we need to cut back on those.

Especially after we get Kamara and our tackles back, we will have more success stressing defenses horizontally and that will set up everything else, including the very occasional shot play. This is fundamental, sustainable west coast offense and we have a great offensive mind in Payton to make it work if he commits to it. This will be the case whether it's Taysom, Book, Winston or whoever (though in my opinion Book is the best QB for this style - we'll eventually see if I'm right).


There are elements of a very productive new way of doing offense if we embrace it. It will look a lot different than the Brees offense, but this is the path forward.

Re: Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

-Humphrey with a couple more plays
-Vannett looks like a keeper.
-Harris is a true difference maker.
-Love Hill. True warrior. Not a NFL QB When he hurt his finger, should have been pulled. The game was still in reach. Bad contract.
-Backup OLine competed.
-How did Callaway go from potential star to a bust?
-One more loss and they should pull the plug on some guys and let Book play. The Saints need a cheap QB for a couple years. Would have been nice to have gotten Jones.

Re: Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

I do not know for the life of me why Callaway is still starting, except for a handful of great plays he hasn't looked good at all this year. As for Kenny Stills, I believe he will get released from the team this week, or at least deserves to be released.

Re: Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

The game was lost a few seasons ago. Signing guys off the street & ignoring the skill position @ WR via the draft. Timestamp 1:34 or so, Sean low-key called out Kenny Stills for Alligator arm on that lack of "going to get it". That was a costly PICK.

Saints lack talent offensively. We are simply not good enough, especially now with injuries. We perform like a pre-season team on offense.

Defense is the only reason why we are in games at the end.

Honestly, the lug nuts were coming loose once Winston went down.

Re: Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

Callaway can make great catches but the route running is pretty lousy. I wish we had a frenetic slot receiver like Edelman, Welker or Beasley. It's almost imperative we find our Cooper Kupp in this next draft. And/or get Michael Thomas back, but at this point it hurts just thinking about him.

Re: Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

How about them SAINTS!!!!???

Re: Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

I mentioned the defense in my previous post ...

Kwon Alexander - thought he covered and tackled well. Extremely stout against the run. Zeke had nowhere to go.

PJ Williams - he gets raged on more than most but he's an excellent tackler in space. Lamb probably wondering what Mack truck hit him on that 3rd and short.

Lattimore - stats say he gave up 6 receptions, but they were minimal yardard gained. Not to mention pass breakups on Gallup.

Offensively, Nick Vannett showed up. Brings physicality to the position we have been missing & was good in the screen game.

Business as usual for Deonte' Harris and Blake G. > Ballers all season.

That blindside block penalty from the refs :dunce: ... smdh.

Re: Observations from the Saints' Loss to the Cowboys
 

Agree will all points and we need to give props to the defense - we made the Cowboys one-dimensional and that was what kept the game within reach. Just the one Pollard TD run got us, and that was just a great play by him, somewhat Kamara-like.