After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

The New Orleans Saints, with aggressive, innovative coach Sean Payton leading the offense and star passer Drew Brees making pinpoint throws and quick decisions, have been one of the best big-play offenses in the NFL since they arrived together in 2006.

We've come to expect fast scores, high-scoring games and defenses that always seem to be on their heels.

In November, it has been more of an offense that doesn't have an identity, with a popgun passing attack and a quarterback who is missing throws he normally makes.

Consider this: In two November games, both at home where the Saints are usually prolific on offense, Brees is averaging 6.2 yards per attempt. That's his lowest number in a month since September 2007 and a big reason why New Orleans lost both games.

The Saints have three pass plays of 20 yards or more in the month, none last week in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. They had 17 in four games in October and nine in September, when the team got off to a slow start. Brees has averaged over four 20-plus completions per game the past three seasons. This season, it's 2.9 a game.

The Saints also have just six pass plays this season of 40 yards or more. The longest touchdown pass is 50 yards. The longest pass play is 57 yards.

It's not like the offense is a disaster or anything. The Saints are ranked second in total offense and tied for seventh in points per game. They are also third in passing yards and ninth in passing yards per attempt.

But the past two weeks should be cause for concern. That's why I went into a deep film dive to see what is wrong with this offense. Why is a team that has been so explosive at home in the Superdome suddenly so ordinary on the same turf?

After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled - CBSSports.com

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

We scratch our heads more and more with the sproles move ....

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Sproles isn't the reason the Saints are 4-6

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Interior deteriation is why Drew isn't playing up to par. It's been said for several weeks.
Sproles has nothing to do with it

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

We have needed upgrades on the O-Line since 2011. I almost don't care about the skill positions anymore. Give me some depth on both O and D line, please. Damn, this is just getting annoying.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Truth!!!
1. Defense
2. Defense
3. Defense
4. Turnovers
5. Defense

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Truth!!!
1. Defense
2. Defense
3. Defense
4. Turnovers/Brees
5. Defense

I fixed it for ya!

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Still think that if the O-Line gives Drew that extra two seconds he can pick apart most teams. Sproles was a clutch player Drew knew how to use him on blown plays and blitz's.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

O-Line, especially our Center

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

If we had sproles Brees would feel more comfort in the check down...

With Sproles we would be 6-4 right now... he was worth at least two games. Awful move considering Brees has never been with out a scat back (Bush and Sproles).

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I agree about needing to fix our O-line,but Brees has thrown behind WR's alot, this has me worried, say pressure or whatever but pressure wasn't there on alot of those behind throws or all the int's either.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

6.2 yds per play. I'd say Brees is comfortable checking down.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

How many of those are designed by our **** play calling?

Sproles turned the check down into first downs.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I don't usually agree with much Prisco says but I agree it starts with the O-line. I know Drew has made some bone-head decisions this year but I think he just doesn't have confidence that he's going to get the time he needs to dissect a defense and has a kneejerk reaction at times. Kind of anticipating the pressure before it even gets there.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Play calling is no different than last year. Difference is getting pressure with 4 rushers and limiting Drew's options. Sproles wouldn't change that.

Now if you'd have said missing PT has cost us some versatility this year, I'd agree with that for sure.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

But if Brees was forcing passes downfield and getting picked, we'd all be screaming for him to take the check downs instead

The difference is - Cadet is not Darren sproles, he is nowhere near as fast or elusive and sproles for a small guy had a ton of power, cadet is skinny and brings literally nothing to our team

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Cadet didn't replace Sproles. He was simply going to take some more snaps.

BTW, Sproles was nothing special last year in our offense. Cadet's receiving numbers are about the same as Sproles' were last year. They're both averaging about 8-1/2 yards per catch.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I think we'd also need to factor in the effect that sproles had on defenses though
Agreed he was not great last year, nowhere near his 2011 form but even if he wasn't the primary receiver he made an outstanding decoy because he was a threat to take it the distance at any moment

I personally don't think teams fear Cadet like they did sproles
Plus with teams getting pressure against us sending 4 guys, they can drop 7 back into coverage - the same reason Brees has struggled against teams like the rams for years.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Cadet is more of a threat to fumble than he is to score...

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I agree on the PT point, hope he is back this week.

I would like our play calling to be more in-line with the 2011 season, but it's just not. Better protection is definitely a need as Goodwin and Grubbs awful play makes Drew rush the pass, Evans is looking rather average as well.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I don't know what happened to Grubbs and Evans. Last year they were both solid and now they are struggling to be average at best. I understand getting older, but that's a very sudden drop off. Conditioning maybe?

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Haha exactly!

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

As much as I love sproles he can be an offense killer....the fact that he had one great year with us then he wasn't much help...look at McCoy in Philly, that team is looking for the big play so much with sproles that they're taking reps and plays from arguably one of the top 3 running backs coming into this season

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I blame that more on Mccoy and the lack of blocking, mind you defenses have adapted to the Kelly offense. Could have seen the 2nd year decline for Kelly coming a mile away.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Play-calling is stale...it no longer has that "innovative & explosive" stigma to it anymore.

The O-line doesn't help, especially at Center, as that 0.5 extra second matters with down-the-field passing with inside pass rush. Our 2 best games with pass protection against GB & Car had Lelito parked at Center...how bizarre?

Still saying Carmichael should have been given play-calling duties before the season started.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Yeah, I just don't understand the Goodwin/Lelito thing. I know the coaches know more than all of us put together, but thats a headscratcher to me. When Lelito is in we look good, when Goodwin starts, not so much.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I have no issur with moving Sproles on. Far too often last year he was being hit as he received the ball. He was getting beat up and as soon as he was on the field teams knew it was a passing first. The issue has been PT not being fit and Stills missing early parts of the season. Stills and Thomas on the field will make a difference as Stills speed needs respected and Thomas will get the yards needed on check downs.

I think the teams needs new ideas and new blood we have also been unlucky as the offense has hardly had a game fully fit. Goodwin, Thomas, Robinson and Stills all been out. Streif hurt and now Cooks to IR and some talk Robinson could be out all season.

I was behind Goodwin coming back after not getting a C in the draft but we need to stop changing eho plays and just give Lelito the job and see if he can handle it for next year.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

We should have gone with the top center last year......maybe the top two centers.lol

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I miss the days when our offense was feared. Now it just seems like we are good, but not explosive.

Maybe Joe Morgan and PT will infuse a little excitement.

That said I still hope we run Ingram like we have been. He's been good.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Morgan offers nothing imo

He has been on the team a few years and has as many injuries and suspensions as TDs. 11 career recptions tells its own story

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I don't need no Firetrucking tape to tell me what the problem is.

The FO would rather spend $100 million on a qb and not protect him than get a $60 million qb and put a world class OLine in front of him.

Just sayin.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

20 yds per catch tells a lot... and some of the catches he made are crazy... I am excited to see him in a bigger role.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Every aspect of our game needs work.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

The screen game wasn't working last year among the stronger defenses.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

That's because we called it every other play... More great SP play-calling for ya.

Not only that we called it against defenses with the most athletic LBs. Payton's play calling has been bad over the last two years.

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

I have to agree with you. I've never played organized football so I, like most, am limited as far as blocking assignments, positioning, etc. But I have been a football fan all of my life. Having said that even I know what's coming most of the time even before we line up. I have one word for SP's playing calling over the last few years.
PREDICTABLE!

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Our offensive line play is not good but we do not have the worst offensive line by far this season. Our offense is stale...period...defenses are just sitting on our routes. When we do have the throws we are missing them or dropping them. It's simple....in this league you have to be able to stretch the defense and hit the big play to score points....and that is something we can't do anymore.

We can spread the blame around, and there is plenty to spread, but when it's all said and done you expect your 100 million dollar, future HOF QB to make the plays that you have been accustomed to seeing over the past years

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

What do i know

Re: After Further Review: Why the Saints' high-octane offense is suddenly stalled
 

Offense stalled sounds kinda harsh.
It's more like an 8 cylinder running on 6.
We can go pretty good , we just can't pull a heavy load.
We've scored enough points to win most every game we've played.
If we could stop anybody we would be leading the South by 2 or 3 games.
We can't get off the field even in 3rd and long situations.
It's true that our weapons have been depleted and we are still upper shelf in yards and points.
Upgrades are required, but we are not losing because we can't score.