The first offensive play for the Saints
 

I don't see it mentioned anywhere.
That play took confidence considering it's outcome as the last play of last weeks game. You know that Payton did it because of all the scrutiny he received last week. It was gutsy and I loved it. That was a good time to run it and it it gave the Saints a first down after Devery ran for 15 yards.

I still like Payton but I didn't like that play last week regardless of it's outcome. He thumbed his nose to the media (and to me in a sense) by running that play last night.
I also liked his comments to Horn after the game. I appreciate what Horn did for the Saints as a receiver but always considered him a flashy punk.

Re: The first offensive play for the Saints
 

I didn't have a problem with running that play either. it was the timeing last week. It's fine in the first half but not when the game is on the line late in the forth quarter. However if you noticed it wasn't the exact same play.

Re: The first offensive play for the Saints
 

Good observation Joesam, Brees handed directly off to Devery on the reverse.

Re: The first offensive play for the Saints
 

It wasn't a toss this time so it prevented the dangerous catch attempt.
It has been beat to death but to have the top butterfingers on the team play toss and catch in the game, especially late in the game, is just silly.
Good game. Brees was sharp.

Re: The first offensive play for the Saints
 

Do you think Sean Payton was trying to send a message?
When he called the first offensive play. It did look almost identical to the play that lost the game for us in Tampa.
If he did, I give me mad props

Re: The first offensive play for the Saints
 

I was ticked off with the call itself. It was needless, careless, and unnecessary. It would have been better if it had been the direct handoff like the first play of the Falcons game. If would have been even better if they had simply ran the ball downhill. But reversing and tossing exposing the ball for any reason despite execution was a terrible idea. So terrible that just calling the play probably cost us the game.

Actually I'm still not sold. To be where I want the Saints to be they need to have a consistent, effective running attack and a defense that can get off the field. And right now the team has neither. Even worse both are directly attributable to personnel, scheme, and coaching, all of which are directly managed by the head coach.

Payton has shown some signs of willingness to change. I think he's finally getting the fact that he needs to rush the ball into the line consistently 20 times a game to make the passing game more effective.

I've been happy with the defense defending the run. But when you give up the most 20+ yard plays and the highest opposing QB rating in the league, there isn't much need to run the ball is there? Gibbs refuses to apply QB pressure from all angles, so opposing QBs have to get rid of the ball quickly.

Consistency is the difference between a run of the pack team and an elite one. I want to see more.

SFIAH