dizzle88

They've also turned it over a lot, giving the opposing team a short field

Cruize

Offense - Grubbs, Colston, Watson and PT cut. Trade Evans. Re-sign FA's Morgan, Kelemete and Saunders.
Defense - Bunkley, Bush, Hawthorne, JR and Morstead cut. Re-sign FA's Humber, Walker, and Virgil.

Ask Payton if he wants to stay will a whole new staff. If he declines, trade him to the Raiders.

Trade down in the draft atleast once and pick up some more picks.

Danno

Saints opponents have the worst starting field position in the entire league.

Yeah, I was surprised by that stat too.

Jankman8

Why cut Morstead? Makes no sense.

Danno

Yep, Offense isn't the main problem at all

From our friend bclemms at SR (Does not include week 15)

Saints Offense
Yards per drive- #1
Plays per drive- #1
Yards per play- #2
Points per drive- #4
3rd down efficiency- #1
Time of possession per drive- #2
Offense drives per game- #32
Offense starting field position- #32 (we have to go farther than anyone else)


Saints Defense
Yards per drive- #32
Plays per drive- #29
Points per drive- #32
3rd down efficiency- #32
Time of possession per drive- #32
Opponents starting field position- #2 (only one other team has to go farther per drive)

SaintsBro

The opponent starting field position stat is surprising, but it makes the other defensive stats show that they are even WORSE. Yards per drive #32, points per drive #32, Time of possession #32, 3rd down #32. That right there is it. What that means is, they literally can't stop anyone and they can't get off the field. It literally does not matter where the other team starts from, the result is usually a touchdown or score.

The offense is not the main problem but it's still a problem situationally, in the actual games. They have long periods where they pull a Rip Van Winkle and "go to sleep." Some of it's turnovers and some of it is three and outs. But look at the box scores by quarter, it's been a factor in all the bad games the team has had. You can't have whole quarters or whole halves without scoring ANY points, with this defense that we have on the field. You look at the points per quarter in these box scores, and the other teams just keep chugging away and scoring slowly but surely, while the Saints lay goose eggs. And these single quarters where the other team piles on and gets 14, 17, 19, 20 points, are just killing the team.

Danno

We have a bend and break defense.

dnealj

Jus focus on the o line and front 7 on defense I'd say put some speed around Lofton and Haralson stick to 3 4 and find a second corner.....and get people that can teach these young players and develop them

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Cruize

The Saints need cap space. $3 mil for a punter is ridiculous. Even for a good one. But, it will only save the Saints $1 mil so it won't happen.

lumm0x

Short field or long field, with our defense it doesn't matter. We can't stop anyone. It's ridiculous how few 3 and outs we generate and our turnovers both for and against are a joke. This defense overachieved last year and we all (including them) thought they were as good as their ranking. The players liked the change up of scheme and personality but become complacent. After a few losses they lost confidence and the effort and ability to play proper technique and fundamentals left with it. They are a bunch of broken men. And the message from coaching has gone stale and on deaf ears.

I truly don't know whether booting Rob Ryan is the answer. He can't get anyone to step up right now but players at this level, age and salary should be responsible for themselves. They shouldn't need someone to force them to know and perform the basics. That to me speaks of issues with the players themselves. The only starting caliber guys I see personally performing a solid effort are Lewis (and he gets more props because he is fighting through injury), Lofton and Jordan. There are other guys but they are depth players and should not be starters. Guys like Gallette, Hicks, Jenkins, Hawthorne, Harylson, Vaccaro are just mailing it in. I would keep Vaccaro, Jenkins and Hicks only because I think their upside can be realized during good times and it's worth risking on them. The rest can be replaced with better, younger and cheaper alternatives.

On the offense I think we all know that our scheme is being disrupted by pressure up the middle. We have always been an offense that is built on the foundation of letting Brees step up in the pocket to a clear throwing lane. Grubbs, Goodwin and Evans are the problem here. We are completely disrupted by the inability to give Brees a step up pocket. It's not like defenses suddenly know to attack this. They have always known and we dictate the play by solid interior line blocking that thwarts the opponent. This is diminishing rapidly. Grubbs and Evans are deteriorating as their pay increases and Goodwin is comical. The three are aging and becoming less effective by the game. We need serious attention to the interior of that line. I think it would immediately open up and return everything else we have. We need to continue to develop WR prospects to overcome the fact that Colston may soon be gone. Stills and Cooks are nice weapons but we must add a new big #1 to the mix. I am fine with Ingram departing. We have an eye for RB talent and will always play the by committee stable of backs.

I think we would be foolish to allow Payton to leave. Fans are quick to forget how hard it is to find a good head coach and offensive mind. I am 100% behind trying to stay the course and recapture what should be our window of opportunity in this league. If we ever lose one or both of our HC-QB combination we will quickly recall what a decade of futility looks like. Stem the panic that is this season and get back to the plan with some smart personnel decisions and character guys.