How would you "fix" the O
 

This is a corresponding thread to the fixing the D thread.

As I see it the Saints O last year had 4 fundamental problems:

1) Turnovers
2) Drops
3) Inconsistent running game
4) Injuries

Now that free agency is winding down, it's clear that on offense that the Saints pretty much decided to stand pat, essentially resigning all their free agents except for Faine.

So how do the Saints solve the four (or any others that you'd like to list) fundamental problems on the offensive side of the ball?

Have at it.

SFIAH

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

The talent is all there... we just need to gameplan and execute better. We saw towards the end of last year we are capable to pounding the football... we just need to stay committed. Devery is talented. Meachem is talented. Colston is all world. Patten is consistent. We just need to get on the same page and focus... stay hungry and the problems will fix itself. As for injuries, we can't help that. Just continue to stockpile talent to add quality depth. And should an injury happen, we just need to rally around our players... help build their confidence and hope for the best.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

i'm not sure if there is anything to be fixed...injuries is what hurt the saints the most last year.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

Well I would start revamping that O line. The O line proved to be suspect all year. When you can't grind out the clock by ball control because you aren't able to sustain a running game consistantly. Faine gone is probably one of the biggest improvements.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

i would put reggie bush in the slot and in motion more.. let stecker/thomas do the rushing until deuce is fully back.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

I agree. Enough with the starter roll for Reggie. Move him around and take advantage of his awesome abilities.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

I'm right with you on the O-line. Brown wasn't his old self and really needs to rgain form. Stinchcomb was solid but not spectacular, we can do with that. The inside trio seemed to lack push. Jahri Evans played the best of them but still no real holes were created. A player like Deuce is going to plow his way through a small crease and get you 4-5 yard anyways while a smaller back like Bush won't be able to do that. Alan Fanceca (spelling on that name?) would have been nice but to much money. I hope one of our young guys can step up this year otherwise we should look for a guard in round 3-5.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

As far as the offense goes the two things that really got on my nerves last year were the dropped balls and the O-Line play especially the run blocking. Am I the only one who thinks that our O-Line has been a little overrated the past couple of years? The media gives them a ton of credit because they don't give up many sacks (they do deserve alot of credit) but Brees has alot to do with that as well. Drew is great about identifying the open man and getting rid of the ball in a hurry. Also our air attack involves mainly short and intermediate routes so the pass protection doesn't have to hold up very long.

Although the unit might not be as good as the numbers would indicate they are still very solid in pass pro. The run blocking on the other hand was suspect to say the least. Reggie took alot of heat for not being able to run between the tackles but there are very few backs in the league who could have success with so little support from the O-Line. I think J. Brown and J. Evans are rock solid but you could make a case for needing upgrades at the other posistions. I would love to see us find a replacement for Stinchcomb. I have never been a fan of his and I think we could do better.

As far as the dropped balls go it was just rediculous at times last year. Even Colston would drop balls that were easy catches. And then there was Devery. What can you say about Devery that hasn't already been said?

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

I think the offensive line could stand some improvement, but overall I have no real issues with them. The main thing that should help is to commit to the running game. I know the injury to Deuce and Reggie's ineffectiveness caused most of the problem, but it was discovered later in the year that other guys can get it done. Just need the commitment to do so. That would remove a lot of pressure on the passing game, and should result in fewer drops and turnovers. It's not really a good sign when your QB is throwing in the 4500 yard range. In the NFL that pretty much shows a one dimensional type of offense.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

You keep everything the same except punish people for making mistakes (ie dropping the football). Besides that, I don't think that "improving" the offense should be a huge concern. I mean it was ranked the 4th best offense in the NFL, so I'm not really sure how much you improve on it. I think you try to keep it consistent and keep doing what you did that made you successful.

But, if I was going to play along, I'd take these steps:

1. Only play receivers that catch the ball. They drop it, they sit.
2. Use Reggie Bush better. They used him in a way which did not highlight his strengths last season. Put him on the field at the same time as a prototypical running back. Line him up in the slot. Send him out on routes. Give him end arounds. Line him up in the backfield and run him inside and outside. Don't just give him stretches and screens, give him iso's as well.
3. Keep trick plays to a minimum.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

Best way of 'fixing' the O is to fix the D. Don't let 3 string QB's lite us up and control the ball. Secondly, Deuce or his replacment.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

You know that type of accountability should be all across the board. Thinking of some defensive players (Cough: David, Siminieou, Bullocks) that had screw up after screwup and still kept playing. Sigh.

I know that. That's why I put "fix" in quotes in the title. I did however bring 4 specific concerns, of which drops were one of them.

Amen on the last one. A trick play ended up being the difference in our season.

SFIAH

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

I think with the signing of Lehr there are no needs left to fill on the o-line but maybe some consistency on the parts of the players. They do great for 4 or 5 plays then undo everything they've done with one bonehead mistake.

I think they'll get better the longer they stay together.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

Obviously the Offense was effective last year ,but there is always room for improvement. I think that after Duece's injury last year we had to junk alot our offensive plan from training camp. The prime improvement from a talent perspective is we need to replace Duece with a powerful inside RB in the draft. A TE that can block and catch is something that has been a concern since Wesley Walls left. On the offensive line we need a road grader at Guard and someone to groom at center. Hopefully Meachem can assume the #2 WR position . We also need someone to step up and become the slot reciever Last year it seemed to be a commitee aproach. Early Doucet might be available in the 2nd rd and IMHO would be a steal which would make an ideal slot reciever

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

Looks like a good place for some stats.
Saints 2007 Offense
1060 Offensive Plays most in the NFL #1
23.7 Pts/Game tied 12th
361 Yds/Game 4th
21.6 1st Downs/Game 3rd
46 3rd Down % tied 4th
68 Offensive Penalties 4th
-7 T.O. Margin 24th

Only seems like one thing needs to be fixed. It is either an offensive problem of holding onto the ball or a defensive problem create more turnovers.


All this O-line talk I need to throw in some passing stats too.
2007 Saints Passing Totals

652 Passing Attempts 1st (might be some NFL record or something)
440 Passing Compl 1st(might be some NFL record or something)
67.5 Competion % 2nd
16 Sacks 1st

Stats are just meaningless numbers they cant be used to prove a point. Big deal we threw more passes than anyone else and gave up less sacks than anyone else what does that prove? Damn just think how good that offense would have been without Devery. Brees would have completed 80% of his passes if we werent 1st in dropped passes also.

All this talk of Brees' quick feet and delivery leads me to the teams dead last givin up sacks.

Chiefs 55 sacks on 563 attempts
49ers 55 sacks on 513 attempts

We threw 100+ more passes and gave up 39 fewer sacks. Why should there be any talk of these teams drafting O-linemen? They need to draft new QBs. Dont care where you throw the ball say 1 Mississippi and let her go. 10% of your passing plays result in negative yardage that has to hurt your numbers.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

Great stats on the line comparison.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

i go along with the o line comments.few backs can run the middle without better hole opening.i didn't see much gain when we went for 3rd or 4th and short.you're good when you can consistantly make 3rd and 1 when everyone knows you are pounding it.when you do that,you break a defenses will plus open up the trick plays.we don't have that power blocker.i thought goodwin did better run blocking than faine.i guess we'll see

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

Can you get the rushing stats right quick please?

SFIAH

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

Yeah do you want those of the 1st four games when we had our starting RB or toward the end when our 4th string RB didnt seem to have any problems running up the middle. Mabye just the numbers from our 3rd down backs. I think if you look at the 5 yd/carry average from our 3rd and 4th string backs most people will just say we played against some bad defenses anyway.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

The biggest question is what happens April 15th. Besides having to pay taxes, Deuce may retire or the Saints may cut him. This changes everything. What was wrong with our running game last year is that we had a utility player playing RB in Stecker. Sure the guy did ok but we need a true RB that can gain 1000 yards sharing time with Reggie. We need someone so we don't have to lead the league in pass attempts and drops. If Pierre Thomas is so great, why couldn't he beat our Stecker?

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

Pass blocking GREAT !!!! run blocking.....for Deuce and Reggie can't really open holes. Stecker and Thomas yes we can.

Henderson catch the ball thats your only job. I agree April 15 will tell us alot.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

As much as I am going to enjoy eating crow right now.....

Draft Mendenhall in the first (I said I would die if we drafted a "O" player in the first two rounds) Yum, Yum, it's even better with a dash of "Tony's".

Move Reggie to a "Special" wideout

Make PT23 the number one RB until Duece is healed.

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

I think we would have won maybe 3 extra games if the coaching staff had used PT earlier in the year after Deuce went down. That would have taken #3 off your list. You really can’t stop/avoid injuries but the coaching staff put a strain on Bush that he wore out and end result was an injury, Brees bad pass which cause Deuce to go up and come down awkwardly. The decision process when injuries do occur is what really got me last year.

To me drops are a mental thing which I believe this year that should be diminished quite a bit, now the turnovers is another story which if not mistaken came mainly from Bush and I think that’s because they were trying to make him a feature back (we all know he’s not built for that type of pounding)

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

I'm not sure why we'd spend yet another #1 pick on a back. As pointed out elsewhere Mendenhall was a backup to PT23.

Drafting a back makes no sense simply because Coach Payton doesn't gear his offense to running the football. The Saints were #1 in attempts, #1 in completions, #3 in passing yards last year. No back is going to change that.

Just my 2 cents,

SFIAH

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

I'm fine with that. I just wonder if the staff feels the same way.

And that's really what I'm trying to address.

The Saints would have been the best offense in the league last year if they had simply held on to the ball.

You are mistaken. Brees had 18 picks. While some were not his fault (Johnson's giving away a couple come to mind), Brees in fact had a direct and significant impact on the turnover margin.

SFIAH

Re: How would you "fix" the O
 

I'd have to say that he DID beat stecker. I think Pierres performance against the Bears was alot better than Steckers overall performance when he started his 3 or 4 games.

we were just too stubborn to let Pierre start.