Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

Brian Allee-Walsh is never short on words when it comes to the Saints. Even though sometimes his words are harsh and trite, the beat writer did predict the Saints to be in the Super Bowl this year. Yesterday he wrote a column on SportsNola.com describing the lack of identity the Saints are suffering this season going into the Cowboys game.

He described the Saints team high-points on offense as...
He wasn't as complementary of the defense:
READ HIS ENTIRE COLUMN ON SPORTSNOLA.COM

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

Can't argue with anything he said in the article.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

In particular, what he said about the special teams in the article is dead on. I have to think back to the Super Bowl on-sides kick to remember a game changer from them FOR our side (not for the opposing team.) Kick return in recent years was horrible. Seems improved this year so far.

The extra point miss against the Vikings was the ball spun to the laces causing the shank. But again, the snap, hold, placement and kick are ALL responsibilities of the kicking specialty team.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

I do have to give it to Morestud however, him consistantly kicking it out of the endzone is a huge special teams advantage, but outside of that, nothing special.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

He told the truth.

Defensively, I’m unimpressed with Rob Ryan’s unit holding the punchless Vikings to three field goals. C’mon, they played without Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson, and rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater made his NFL debut as an in-game replacement for injured starter Matt Cassel.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

He may be unimpressed by holding the Vikings to three field goals, but that's better than giving up 26 points to a Browns team that didn't have Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron or Ben Tate.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

Seeing how our history of rookie QBs starting their 1st game against us looking like a HoF players is pretty long that is a win for us. Didn't see it mentioned anywhere. Dallas and NO are in similar situations with similar teams. Should be a good game. All we can do is watch.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

Lack of execution is what is missing. The D got man-handled for 2 games which resulted in losses and did not over impress me in the win. Right now we're clicking on 3 cylinders not 8, somethings got to give for us to even think of making any playoff.If our O has a bad game can our D bail us out? From what I have seen so far I would have to say no. Can the D improve? I think they can by leaps and bounds but will they? They have alot of work to do and need to start showing the own opposing O's instead of being slapped around by them.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

Right now blame shifts primarily to the defense. I was a little encouraged to see Atlanta put 56 on Tampa and Matt Ryan go 21/24. At least we did get torched by a legit offense in week 1.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

I'm just glad I don't get paid to figure any of this out.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

He never said the offense was just as much to blame as the defense for the 1st two losses. He didn't even imply it

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

I call BS, Brian.

It's not an identity I've seen before but it's "Improving". After 3 games in, that's good enough for me.

75% of the league would kill to be on this team.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

he is squirrel around our site for sure. only difference he is not getting jumped for saying what he is saying. :D

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

I think we do lack identity. That being said so did the Giants before tonight and they had a great showing in spite of several key dropped balls and an endzone interception. That organization seems to Forest Gump themselves into the playoffs by hitting its stride at the right time. 2 recent Super Bowl wins and both years they were ready to fire Coughlin mid season.
We have the talent and we have the coaching, its just got to click. I'm fine with getting the ugly out of the way now and hitting a stride when it counts.
Sometimes it takes getting ***** slapped to realize what you need to do to get up.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

So is every looking for an identity or a blowout win?

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

I think everyone is looking for the team to match the expectations of the basis of last season and the upgrades in the offseason. Probably those expectations are a bit unrealistic. I think Brian Allee-Walsh echos the most unrealistic of these: that the Saints offense with the triumvirate of Payton, Carmichael, and Brees is suddenly going to transform into a smashmouth offense that rushes for 40 times a game. We have 8 years of evidence that no matter what, the offense will have multiple formations and will throw the ball around.

I really don't see the need for wholesale changes on either side of the ball. The offense has actually been rushing pretty consistently this season. The tweak needs to be managing the 4 minute offense.

On defense Rob needs to take a page from Rex's playbook this season: Bring the house to force bad throws, and don't give up the huge play. Our defense can afford to give up a ton of yards. Even time of possession isn't that critical. The most important thing is to keep the opposition out of the end zone and to get off the field on 3rd down. Every punt and field goal drive for the defense is a win. A turnover is even better.

I'd like to ask the group if the defense makes the two critical stops in the first two games and the team was 3-0 instead of 1-2, would we be still be asking about what the identity of the team is?

SFIAH

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

I think we need to start evaluating who is more worthy of starting. Colston is too inconsistent now, and Cooks while a rookie is just a more hungry receiver to me. I never thought Stills was flawless(and I said before, eagles game). Some of our receivers outside of Cooks, Colston are inconsistent even more and this does not include Graham. Josh Hill is a good counter to Graham, and I think since Graham broke out we don't quite have the same spread the ball mentality we used to have. Before Graham, we had Colston, Meachem, PT, Moore, Shockey(sorry), Henderson. It hasn't been the same because now DCs and defenses are able to figure out who Brees is gonna target. The unpredictablity is gone and that may be why I kind of wanted saints to trade Graham for a first rounder to bring that back.

Our defense is fixable as we're not blitzing it appears and playing off the line. We are not a zone and that has to stop. Also, maybe because he missed most of offseason drills, Byrd is not fully up-to-date with the saints and hasn't made the most of it just yet.

And whose offense is it? Is it Brees'? Or is it Graham? Because it appears now the team is putting it on Graham more than the others.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

WTF is up with the identity stuff?

I don't remember ever having an "identity" before.

If I had to guess I'd say our identity is a high scoring finesse offense and a slow porous mush-mouth defense. Is that an identity?

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

The Mush-mouth Defense

I like it. That could stick.

Re: Brian Allee-Walsh - Saints lack identity going into Cowboys game
 

we don't need an identity, we need our defense to play better.

It all starts up front and until our Dline plays like it did last year you can continue to see us struggle.