Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers

hitta · 09-18-2023, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by BakoSaint

I laid it out before the game even started that I thought Carolina was a very bad team with a lot of injuries and that I would not be impressed unless we matched or bettered Atlanta's feat of beating them by 14. When others were doubting we would win at all, I reiterated I still thought we would probably win, but I was not happy winning a close game against one of the weakest teams on our easy schedule. Then we won a close game and I said I wasn't impressed. How can I be more consistent here? If we win at all next week I will be impressed because we play a decent team, though if our division rivals continue to win more impressively I will admit it.

We are paying Carr a lot of money and our oline is struggling with everyone healthy and active. It's not a great situation. I don't have your rose glasses. Could the offense all come together? Sure. But so could Carolinas, and Atlanta's could improve more, as could Tampa's. We are spending more 2024 money than any team in the league. Sorry if I am not impressed by beating two sub-.500 caliber teams by a combined 4 points and only being ahead of one team in our division.

Not once in that game did I ever feel like Carolina ever was a true threat to us. If things went right we could replay the game and win by 3 TDs or more. We aren't clicking yet. It is early in the season and we are making mistakes we won't be making later, that is what kept the score close. Scores can be deceiving. BTW I respect your opinion and to me, you are fine here. I just think you are wrong and a bit cynical.

BakoSaint · 09-19-2023, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by hitta

Not once in that game did I ever feel like Carolina ever was a true threat to us. If things went right we could replay the game and win by 3 TDs or more. We aren't clicking yet. It is early in the season and we are making mistakes we won't be making later, that is what kept the score close. Scores can be deceiving. BTW I respect your opinion and to me, you are fine here. I just think you are wrong and a bit cynical.

Thanks. I didn't feel Carolina was a threat to us either. They are garbage. Chicago may be drafting Caleb Williams with Carolina's 1st round pick. Arizona has looked better than Carolina. I was worried we, not Carolina, were a threat to us. Like maybe Penning or friends would whiff a block and get Carr killed, or Carr would randomly decide to throw a pick 6 directly to Carolina, or Bryce Young would get a 99 yard TD run while our entire defense threw themselves to the ground put their hands in the air begging for no flag, as must have somehow been emphasized in practice.

I do feel like teams like SF, Dallas, and Philly would be a mortal threat to our QBs life. Its an odd twist in this season that we don't play these teams in the regular season that we would have to beat in the playoffs. The NFC has 4 of the top 7 defenses in the NFL by one rankings I saw, but we don't play any of them. New England is the top D we play, and that will be interesting.

I don't know what to make of our driving but not scoring. It could be that we are close to getting it together on offense. It could also be that if these lesser defenses can shut us down in the red zone, better defenses will be getting safeties off us. We obviously have A LOT more talent at WR than oline even with our RB and TE all helping the oline at the expense of not helping the WR's. When Kamara returns he may need to work closely with Trequan Smith to hone his blocking skills. In that way our offense is very unbalanced. If the oline gets it together WITHOUT so much help it could turn things around for us. But our oline is as healthy as it had been in years now, so I don't know if they will turn it around or revert to the mean on injuries.

09-18-2023, 11:44 PM	#1
hitta 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,339	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers Originally Posted by BakoSaint I laid it out before the game even started that I thought Carolina was a very bad team with a lot of injuries and that I would not be impressed unless we matched or bettered Atlanta's feat of beating them by 14. When others were doubting we would win at all, I reiterated I still thought we would probably win, but I was not happy winning a close game against one of the weakest teams on our easy schedule. Then we won a close game and I said I wasn't impressed. How can I be more consistent here? If we win at all next week I will be impressed because we play a decent team, though if our division rivals continue to win more impressively I will admit it. We are paying Carr a lot of money and our oline is struggling with everyone healthy and active. It's not a great situation. I don't have your rose glasses. Could the offense all come together? Sure. But so could Carolinas, and Atlanta's could improve more, as could Tampa's. We are spending more 2024 money than any team in the league. Sorry if I am not impressed by beating two sub-.500 caliber teams by a combined 4 points and only being ahead of one team in our division. Not once in that game did I ever feel like Carolina ever was a true threat to us. If things went right we could replay the game and win by 3 TDs or more. We aren't clicking yet. It is early in the season and we are making mistakes we won't be making later, that is what kept the score close. Scores can be deceiving. BTW I respect your opinion and to me, you are fine here. I just think you are wrong and a bit cynical.
hitta 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,339	Last edited by SmashMouth; 09-20-2023 at 08:55 AM..

09-19-2023, 12:03 AM	#2
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,400	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers Originally Posted by hitta Not once in that game did I ever feel like Carolina ever was a true threat to us. If things went right we could replay the game and win by 3 TDs or more. We aren't clicking yet. It is early in the season and we are making mistakes we won't be making later, that is what kept the score close. Scores can be deceiving. BTW I respect your opinion and to me, you are fine here. I just think you are wrong and a bit cynical. Thanks. I didn't feel Carolina was a threat to us either. They are garbage. Chicago may be drafting Caleb Williams with Carolina's 1st round pick. Arizona has looked better than Carolina. I was worried we, not Carolina, were a threat to us. Like maybe Penning or friends would whiff a block and get Carr killed, or Carr would randomly decide to throw a pick 6 directly to Carolina, or Bryce Young would get a 99 yard TD run while our entire defense threw themselves to the ground put their hands in the air begging for no flag, as must have somehow been emphasized in practice. I do feel like teams like SF, Dallas, and Philly would be a mortal threat to our QBs life. Its an odd twist in this season that we don't play these teams in the regular season that we would have to beat in the playoffs. The NFC has 4 of the top 7 defenses in the NFL by one rankings I saw, but we don't play any of them. New England is the top D we play, and that will be interesting. I don't know what to make of our driving but not scoring. It could be that we are close to getting it together on offense. It could also be that if these lesser defenses can shut us down in the red zone, better defenses will be getting safeties off us. We obviously have A LOT more talent at WR than oline even with our RB and TE all helping the oline at the expense of not helping the WR's. When Kamara returns he may need to work closely with Trequan Smith to hone his blocking skills. In that way our offense is very unbalanced. If the oline gets it together WITHOUT so much help it could turn things around for us. But our oline is as healthy as it had been in years now, so I don't know if they will turn it around or revert to the mean on injuries.
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,400	Last edited by BakoSaint; 09-19-2023 at 04:12 PM..