New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com

[quote="JKool"]With Atlanta and Tampa Bay losing, we didn't drop back in our division. Thus, the real questions for the coaches are what can we learn from this game, and where do we go now.
quote]

Kool, as always, a pleasure to hear from you. Good to see that you have your eye on the ball, per usual.

In response to the question of "where we go now?"

1. Defensive Line -- I don't know what the problem is with the d-line. We have poured more money, effort, free agents and draft picks into this unit than any other and don't seem to be getting results. I'm at a loss to explain this. I thought the idea was to be able to a) contain scrambling QBs with the front 4 and b) generate pass rush without having to resort to blitzing. Against the Packer patchwork line, we really should have managed both of these tasks better. I cannot seriously believe that we need better players here, even though a true 2 gap guy would be nice. I'm not optimistic about the balance of our season if we can't get pass rush from the front 4. We have 11 sacks on the season so far, which is still better than Tampa's 9, but I'm not as impressed with our D as Tampa's.

2. Offensive Line, Running Game -- The running game flat our scares me. In pre-season, I was most confident in our ability to run the ball between the tackles with the addition of Mayberry and a year's experience at center for Bentley. Deuce only averaged 2.8 yds per carry today. Not acceptable. The fact is that we are putting all the pressure on AB to win with his arm and he's too streaky to count on. Without significant improvement in offensive line play soon, we are simply not going to be able to keep up with the rest of the division for a wild card berth. (Note here that I'm pretty much writing off our ability to win the division outright.) I'm disappointed in Deuce, I'm disappointed in the run blocking, and I'm disappointed with the new offensive look.

3. A-Mac -- He probably needs practice reps. I think the question with him becomes: are you ready to admit you're going to have a rebuilding year? IF the Saints want to even consider starting A-Mac, then they need to consider dealing AB right now. If we bench AB for A-Mac at midseason, we are going to kill AB's trade value. With his cap number, I think we should at least get something back from him. I guarantee you that teams like the Jets, the Fins, the Ravens, the Chiefs, the Bears and the Lions might be willing to mortgage their future for a shot at the playoffs now. Teams like the Lions, the Chiefs, the Ravens and the Jets might believe they have enough defense to deal with AB's streakiness. I believe that if you start A-Mac with AB on the roster, we have no chance of dealing him for any value at all. If we trade him before the trade deadline, fine. Otherwise, keep starting him until next year and give A-Mac lots of time in practice.

4. Linebackers -- I think we need to make a big move in free agency (and probably over-pay) for a proven commodity. We don't have any luck (or ability to evaluate college players) with the position via the draft.

5. O-Line, generally -- I want to like these guys. Either Deuce is the problem, or the run blocking is the problem.

6. Secondary -- I like where we stand at safety too. We probably need to draft a 1st rounder at CB to be serious about the position. Problem is we seem to have a lot of 1st round needs. I'm not sure where we get a quality CB in the offseason. Woodson will be available, but he hasn't impressed me at all over the past couple of years.

7. Wide Receivers -- Is it the passes or the drops? Is it the route running? The only guy we can really count on is Horn. I agree, we have to get the ones that hit us in the numbers.

8. Katrina -- I don't get it, we've always been a better road team anyway. I didn't really expect us to be at THAT much of a disadvantage this season. I'd think that not being boo'ed would only help AB. Granted it is a HUGE distraction for guys who have built a life in New Orleans, but this is the same kind of play we've seen from them for 5 years now.

Given the rate of recovery, I think it's likely that the Saints won't be back in NO next season either. I'd be open to purging the coaching/front office staff and most of the veteran players and do a full rebuild. Make a good clean break with the past. Not what anyone wants to hear, but I've recently begun to believe that we are suffering systemic problems. i.e., I'm not sure that fixing the d-line makes us a playoff contender, or getting 3 quality LB's makes us a playoff contender. I'm beginning to wonder if somehow the blend of people we have brings out the worst in each of them and keeps them from playing well?