SaintGup

I know that the majority of the people on this site love The Saints, me being one of them, and get frustrated, angry and tearful when we lose. Especially the way we have lost our first two games. We lash out at those people we think are at fault (which is basically everyone) but we sit in hope again knowing that it is our true love and no matter what, we will always be there. This is what makes the Who Dats the best and most loyal fans...
1) Our Defense is awful at the moment. They look rudderless and lack cohesion. However, I am told that it takes a while for a new DC to have an effect (I never grew up with the game so I have to be told these things)
2) Our offense is good but not up to our usual standards that we set ourselves. My concern is our receivers. Could the departure of Curtis Johnson have anything to do with this?
3) I know people are getting on Brees's case, and I myself was begging him to throw that ball away and was so gut-punched when what happened happened. But twice he threw passes to normally reliable hands and he was dropped when a touchdown could have been the result.
4) When Tampa Bay lost it made me feel better, and we are up against Kansas next which, while it would be nothing to boast about should we win (and I do believe we will) it would be a much-needed shot in the arm and something we can build upon.
5) There is a lack of passion on the sidelines. Kromer needs to fire the team up, his body language doesn't fill me with confidence at the moment.
6) I don't want to hear that training went well. I want to hear at the end of the season "Well Al, they did it. The first team to win the Superbowl in their own city. ..and look Al, there's Goodell handing the trophy over. LOOK AT HIS FACE! Wait...is he..is he crying?! Oh my god. Look everyone, Goodell's crying. His plan failed and we've just been told this is his last act as Commissioner. YAAAAAY!

I would just like to point out that I am a rational man and that the last comment, though possible, is more of a wish than a situation based in fact...Would be nice though, wouldn't it?

SaintsBro

2) I think it has a lot to do with Curtis Johnson leaving, but also I think it has to do with the fact that Johnson's replacement Henry Ellard came in, unpacked his stuff in his office, set up shop, and then Payton was immediately OUT THE DOOR with the suspension. They only had a couple of weeks of working together and NO time at all with Payton, Ellard, Drew and the receivers all in the same room or on the practice field, meetings, etc. So Ellard is kinda coaching these younger guys in a vacuum. He doesn't know them yet, he himself is new, and he doesn't have Payton or Vitt to kinda oversee him, or give advice, or sort of mentor the whole process. In an ideal world, Payton or Vitt would be the guy to get in the film room with them and run practice drills and tweak stuff if it wasn't right. A lot of the problem with the drops is that they're slightly out of sync, a step or two off their routes, turning wrong, miscommunication, five yards away from where they should be, stopping when they should be running deeper, stuff like that. Ellard is a solid coach but it's a very weird and difficult situation to be in.

saintfan

We are down to looking to a win over KC as a 'shot in the arm' - and that's pretty low y'all. This is true and says all that truly needs to be said at this point.

TheOak

This team needs to learn how to win in their present state. Beating KC is nothing to brag about..... but it will remove that shed of doubt that hangs over the team...

They have not yes experienced a win as they are presently configured and that is a huge anchor to the teams confidence.

saintfan

Right. But it's sad that we are reduced to such a lowly state.

I want my mamma...

dizzle88

And whilst that's low, some people are still looking at KC as a definite win to get our season back

KC Will not go down easy and if our team doesn't recognise this we will hold #1 pick on the draft

Our team needs to have some damn pride, and go out like we want to win

saintfan

That's fer damn shizzle..

ScottyRo

My take (as if you care):

1. The SAINTS are getting out-coached:

If having someone coach the o-line is necessary, then they are not getting what they need while Kromer is acting HC. Same thing for LB's coach. Vitt is LB coach right(?) and he's out. That's two position groups not getting the attention they need. Add to that, Kromer as HC with zero experience and may be trying to impersonate Jim Caldwell of all people and you get beat through coaching. The players aren't focused and game plan seems lacking. I bought in to the "we can overcome the loss of Payton" thing, but it's time to sell.

2. The D sucks, but we shouldn't be surprised:

There's a reason GW used all those "exotic" blitz packages. That would be lack of talent on the D side of the ball although we've spent several high picks on it. We've seen Spags around enough really good Ds to know that his system can work, but you have to have the players and they have to buy in.

3. The Offense MUST carry the Defense:

To me, the pivotal point in Sunday's game was the first two drives of the second half. Our D came on the field for the third quarter after having been completely used by the Panthers Offense in the second quarter and made a great stop... a three and out if I recall correctly. Now, down 21 to 13 at that point, what did the offense do to continue the momentum swing back to the SAINTS favor? Yeah, punt. Next thing you know it's 28-13.

4. Some other thoughts on yesterday's game:

a) worst onsides kick attempt of all time
b) Can Patrick Robinson catch?
c) 50 yards is a little too much cushion to give Steve Smith
d) Are they using the exact same playbook as last year?
e) For every yard Ingram gets on a given play, PT would get 2 had he been in.
f) I hate say it since I was wearing a #12 jersey, but Colston looks slow.
e) Still, don't forget Colston can jump, too. He's also tall with long arms. Not every "jump ball" has to go to Graham.
g) When you're down by two TDs, don't run the ball out of the endzone on a kickoff return at an angle and only make it to the 10. Field position would have been twice as good without using any clock if you would have just kneeled, Sproles.
h) Cam Jordan ran off the field like his job depended on it when he was the 12th man one time. Awesome hustle! (See not everything was bad.)

There's more, but I'll stop now. You'd think I'd feel better after all that, but I don't. When the falcons lose tonight, I will though.

|Mitch|

You do understand that Colston is still nursing a foot injury? No way he is 100%

SaintsBro

Sproles does this, and it drives me crazy. We get behind or look flat and he suddenly feels like he "needs to get something going for the team" and he starts running them ALL out, even from the backline, and the result is like you said, usually pretty mediocre.