Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

If we had a defense worth a spit we could afford to force the run game more - we might try, even at the expense of a drive or three in the first half, just to either get it going or at least make the other guys account for it.

We don't have a defense worth a spit though, so we go in to every game looking to hang 40 on people.

Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

That is the way we are built.

The contrast would be Dallas with a 4th ranked defense hoping to keep opponents from putting 40 up every game. Their O is about as fun to watch as our D...

Salary cap means you have to lean one way or the other to be a good team... If you balance it your mediocre at best on both side of the ball... Cant really stop anyone and cant really tally up the points.

Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

The O had no tempo. They needed to stick with PT for a series and get in and out of plays quickly. Too many RB substitutions.

Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

Leaning one way or the other is one thing. We are completely upside down.

Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

I cant find anything to dislike about that statement at all LOL.

Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

Lots of thoughtful replies that I agree with--I might add, in truth, Drew wasn't at his best last night, didn't have his usual accuracy.

I just think people give the 100 million dollar man too much of a break. I think he'd probably say the same thing about his performance. I saw three or four short passes miss by "yards" and a few long ones well off the mark too.

I wondered last year, how many good defensive players some of that hundred million would buy.

Like I said on another thread--I guess we hang our hopes on a fluke, or just take the spoiler role. I know it'd make me happy if we could beat Atlanta. They seem to be barely winning a lot of games.

Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

My guess is a lot of the teams would rather play 3-4 or 4-3 teams rather than the Saints' even at 2-5, because on any given day, they can rack up points.

I still am unsure of the wisdom of taking the bye week off. Does anyone know if they're completely off, or do they actually study film and do light, conditioning work?

Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

My two cents from last night.

The defense is not the Dome Patrol. It is more like the Dough Patrol. Or perhaps the Doh! Patrol.

Our run defense was horrible last night. There were run plays where our entire defense was getting pushed 3-4 yards backyard from the outset. It was like watching Wisconsin run the ball against a Division II team. Not acceptable.

Vilma should have been benched, his mind was obviously not in the game. He looked like a zombie out there.

There were a few positive signs with our running game, but it didn't really matter. The play calling and execution on 3rd down killed us.

I also agree, Chase should have been put in the game to mop up for Brees and just hand it off to Ingram and bleed out the game. Would have been a good time to work on the running game and get Ingram some extra reps. Instead Brees, Sproles and Graham are out there trying to fill out their stat sheets, going for it on fourth down, etc. It seems that fantasy football is dictating our strategy and not a team-first, winning approach. Disgusting.

Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

I know this is cliche' but the man is human... a 1$ QB or a $100mm Qb.. they ALL have of nights.

I would rather have a Brees off night of
22/42 214 yards 2 TD 1 INT
then say a P Manning off night of
24/27 241 yards 1 TD and 3 INTs.

spend a little time looking at the bad nights of the elites... They happen more often and worse than Drew's... The moral is that they ALL have them.

As far as the 100mm man comments... Honestly bro.. our defense sucked before we had 100mm man.

Re: Mid Season Evaluation
 

Another comment.

To all those who claim our 100 million was too much for Drew and should have been spent on the defense...

We have a suckyish defense every year.... actually all of the last 5 years except for one and we didnt have a 100 mm QB then.