Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers

AsylumGuido · 09-19-2023, 11:42 AM

- First of all, it's clear that defenses are WAY ahead of offenses in the games I have seen so far this season. Clearly with the Saints, but also teams across the league. This makes sense given the lack of playing time the collective offensive lines and key skill position players have seen in the preseason. I expect improvement weekly.

- The offensive line had their hands full with Burns, Houston, and company, but so will most teams this season.

- Penning looked much better.

- Defense was dictating what the offense could do for both teams. See the first point above.

- Thomas is still Thomas and accounted for multiple big first downs.

- Even with all of the pressure in Carr's face he still made throws that we haven't seen in years.

- For the second straight week we won the turnover battle (2 to 1) even without the one we would have had if Adebo hadn't fouled.

- I like that we showed a commitment to the run. 33 runs to 37 passes. 134 yards on the ground against that Carolina defense isn't bad.

- Getting Kendre Miller back next week and Kamara the following week will be a shot in the arm for the offense, I believe, coupled with another week to gel for the line.

- Taysom finally got some sizable usage out there and it paid off big.

- Grupe once again looked great in every phase and Hedley, not as much. Not horrible (42.0 average), but nothing special.

- Granderson is becoming a beast.

- Cam Jordan never seems to age.

- Olave, Shaheem, and Thomas all made great catches at key moments.

- Tony Jones came through big when needed.

stickman · 09-19-2023, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

- For the second straight week we won the turnover battle (2 to 1) even without the one we would have had if Adebo hadn't fouled.

I only saw the one replay of that call, but did anybody else thing it was kind of a ticky-tack call? I've seen much worse go ignored.

AsylumGuido · 09-19-2023, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by stickman

I only saw the one replay of that call, but did anybody else thing it was kind of a ticky-tack call? I've seen much worse go ignored.

Yeah. It was a foul, but something that is usually overlooked. That it negated a huge play just made it even that much more glaring.

K Major · 09-19-2023, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by stickman

I only saw the one replay of that call, but did anybody else thing it was kind of a ticky-tack call? I've seen much worse go ignored.

In the back of my mind, I bet this ref was thinking ...

"Let's see if the Panthers are able to get a 1st down before I throw a late flag to keep their drive alive"

.

It was the right call, but damn it was super late.

AsylumGuido · 09-19-2023, 12:12 PM

This will be a bit of a hit for the Panthers moving forward.

AsylumGuido · 09-19-2023, 12:14 PM

Gotta love Cam.

AsylumGuido · 09-19-2023, 12:20 PM

Here's at least some good news on Penning. He's one of only four regular tackles in the league (at least 64) that has not committed a penalty.

Crusader and SmashMouth like this.

AsylumGuido · 09-19-2023, 11:54 AM

I'll take winning these so called "ugly" games over losing them any day of the week. Last year we would have lost both of these first two games. Winning can become contagious, as can losing. Our offense managed to run out the clock with the lead both weeks. That's something we were totally unable to do the last couple of years.

2-0 baby!

09-19-2023, 11:42 AM	#1
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers - First of all, it's clear that defenses are WAY ahead of offenses in the games I have seen so far this season. Clearly with the Saints, but also teams across the league. This makes sense given the lack of playing time the collective offensive lines and key skill position players have seen in the preseason. I expect improvement weekly. - The offensive line had their hands full with Burns, Houston, and company, but so will most teams this season. - Penning looked much better. - Defense was dictating what the offense could do for both teams. See the first point above. - Thomas is still Thomas and accounted for multiple big first downs. - Even with all of the pressure in Carr's face he still made throws that we haven't seen in years. - For the second straight week we won the turnover battle (2 to 1) even without the one we would have had if Adebo hadn't fouled. - I like that we showed a commitment to the run. 33 runs to 37 passes. 134 yards on the ground against that Carolina defense isn't bad. - Getting Kendre Miller back next week and Kamara the following week will be a shot in the arm for the offense, I believe, coupled with another week to gel for the line. - Taysom finally got some sizable usage out there and it paid off big. - Grupe once again looked great in every phase and Hedley, not as much. Not horrible (42.0 average), but nothing special. - Granderson is becoming a beast. - Cam Jordan never seems to age. - Olave, Shaheem, and Thomas all made great catches at key moments. - Tony Jones came through big when needed. MatthewT, neugey, stickman and 1 others like this.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

09-19-2023, 11:50 AM	#2
stickman 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Gonzales, LA Posts: 1,799	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers Originally Posted by AsylumGuido - For the second straight week we won the turnover battle (2 to 1) even without the one we would have had if Adebo hadn't fouled. I only saw the one replay of that call, but did anybody else thing it was kind of a ticky-tack call? I've seen much worse go ignored. AsylumGuido likes this.

09-19-2023, 11:55 AM	#3
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers Originally Posted by stickman I only saw the one replay of that call, but did anybody else thing it was kind of a ticky-tack call? I've seen much worse go ignored. Yeah. It was a foul, but something that is usually overlooked. That it negated a huge play just made it even that much more glaring. stickman likes this.

09-19-2023, 12:02 PM	#4
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,830 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers Originally Posted by stickman I only saw the one replay of that call, but did anybody else thing it was kind of a ticky-tack call? I've seen much worse go ignored. In the back of my mind, I bet this ref was thinking ... "Let's see if the Panthers are able to get a 1st down before I throw a late flag to keep their drive alive" . It was the right call, but damn it was super late. Crusader and stickman like this.

09-19-2023, 12:12 PM	#5
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers This will be a bit of a hit for the Panthers moving forward. Twitter

09-19-2023, 12:14 PM	#6
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers Gotta love Cam. Twitter

09-19-2023, 12:20 PM	#7
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers Here's at least some good news on Penning. He's one of only four regular tackles in the league (at least 64) that has not committed a penalty. Twitter Crusader and SmashMouth like this.

09-19-2023, 11:54 AM	#8
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Observations from the Saints Win vs Panthers I'll take winning these so called "ugly" games over losing them any day of the week. Last year we would have lost both of these first two games. Winning can become contagious, as can losing. Our offense managed to run out the clock with the lead both weeks. That's something we were totally unable to do the last couple of years. 2-0 baby!