Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

My Wife and I were watching the game and one of the biggest disappointments in the game, for us, was that 4th down out of the endzone when we chose to punt. My Wife was screaming 'Why!?' and I was puzzled as if we went down going for it I would have accepted it more. Now I am sure some of you on here think it was right to punt but my question is this: Do you think the Payton today would have called that onsides kick in the Superbowl?

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Let Drew call his own plays.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

I definitely think so.

Since he came back after 2012 he doesn't seem to be the aggressive coach that won us the Superbowl.

He's very conservative now and often gets out coached.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Payton is just way too predictable

Inside the red zone
Roll out in the flat or Ingram up the middle. Stuffed

What worked great in 2011 and against your practice squad doesn't work on sunday

Without Brees tor stretch things he doesn't have a chance

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

I think he's gotten too technical and complicated.
Last count it was still 11-on-11, every man grab a man.
Different packages for different plays is what gives him away.
Defenses see way more film than I do and I know what's coming based on his lineups.
I just couldn't wrap my mind around that decision to punt.
I would NOT have given up the ball, down a score and minimal clock.
They would have to take the ball away after exhausting every effort.
Keeping the ball was their only "real" chance to pull the game out.
It's still early. The dust is still settling.
Week 2 at home should give us some clarity as to where we really are.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Wasn't Mike Smith and the failclowns in a similar situation a few years ago against the Saints? I think it was the game that Brees broke Marino's record.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

I don't think it was a case of Payton losing his nerve, I think he just knew the offense wasn't going to be able to get it done.....

Other than a handful of big plays, the offense had done NOTHING of note all day....beyond that nice catch by Snead and a big rumbling YAC run by Ingram, they really weren't moving the ball well AT ALL. They had previously missed a 3rd and 5, a 3rd and 9, had a pick on 3rd down, and on the three plays immediately right before the 4th down, Colston had two sad drops in a row and Drew threw a short useless dump-off to Ingram. In the previous couple of series, Khiry and Ingram were getting like a measley 1 yard a pop on the ground. Not much to inspire confidence there.

So I say Payton didn't lose his nerve, he just got sick of watching the offense and decided he'd seen enough....he knew that whatever he tried to do there, it very likely wasn't gonna work.

Then, on the other hand, there was also NO WAY the Saints defense was going to stop the Cardinals from scoring a TD at that point, if the Cards got the ball back right there on the Saints 7. They were probably going to score again anyway, no matter what, even after the Saints punted, but that way there was at least a chance the Saints could stop them, from a longer distance. So given the state of his offense and defense ON THAT DAY, there was really no choice there for Payton, but to punt it away.

The only reason why the Saints were even still alive in the game at that point, was because of periodic mistakes or miscues gifted to them by the Cardinals: gifting us first downs on penalties (this directly led to the Coleman TD), blown tackles, etc. The Saints would have had to hope the Cardinals made a gift-wrapped miracle mistake on that 4th down and 6 play, for them to pick up the first. Gaining 4 yards on a checkdown or screen or handoff, would not have worked.

Not losing his confidence. There was nothing on the play sheet or with the players on the field, that would have reliably worked there. Tough day at the office for Payton.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

They were probably going to score again anyway, no matter what, even after the Saints punted, but that way there was at least a chance the Saints could stop them, from a longer distance. So given the state of his offense and defense ON THAT DAY, there was really no choice there for Payton, but to punt it away.

The only reason why the Saints were even still alive in the game at that point, was because of periodic mistakes or miscues gifted to them by the Cardinals: gifting us first downs on penalties (this directly led to the Coleman TD), blown tackles, etc. The Saints would have had to hope the Cardinals made a gift-wrapped miracle mistake on that 4th down and 6 play, for them to pick up the first. Gaining 4 yards on a checkdown or screen or handoff, would not have worked.

Not losing his confidence. There was nothing on the play sheet or with the players on the field, that would have reliably worked there. Tough day at the office for Payton.[/QUOTE] Don't agree it was his only choice. Punt and even if we get the ball back, time would have wound down more. However, if we go for it and fail, we still lose but make it and we are still in with a shot and time to do it. Any failure would have lost us the game but by keeping the ball there was a chance of success.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

I don't know if he's lost his nerve or what, but his philosophy has definitely changed. I keep hearing or reading that we didn't go for it on 4th down because we weren't moving the ball, but I disagree with that excuse on two levels. For one, we realistically couldn't afford not to. We were going to be in a far worse situation, even if we had gotten the ball back. And second, we weren't having THAT much trouble moving the ball. It was the failure to sustain drives when we got in their territory, or the the failure to score touchdowns instead of field goals when we got in the red zone.

Playing scared is not playing safe. You don't play safe from behind.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Playing scared is not playing safe. You don't play safe from behind. THAT.
Sent wrong signal to offense: "no confidence in you". Everyone knows that the defense is rebuilding - lots of rookies and new talent so leave the game in the hands of the "hall of famer" and best unit at the present; but no: Let the defense fail - blame it on Ryan. Payton needs to get his own attitude right.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Lets get CJ back and a few more games to see if Drew develops trust in these new WR.

If Drew gets comfy with at least one new WR and CJ stays on the field I can see SP going back to wild and crazy ways.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Im not sure yet. But I did notice he is not screaming at players that get penalties or F UP a play that much.
I am seeing a little competitive passion loss there.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Yes, he bites his nails in absolute fear every game. He is a scared man, lol

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

He is not playing like the gunslinger we saw in 2006 - 2010 with a few flashes in later years. Maybe he is trying to copy BB or taking advice from another coach -- but he is not the same. I miss the old risk-taker. We clearly have nothing to lose now.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Nothing we can do but sit here and hope for the best and support our team.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Well, it's very early in the season...

Maybe it begins to ring in that Payton has got to make some changes...

Such as...

Saints offense was predictable, time to pull a Rocky II, let Carmichael call the plays for the game, if that gets smelly, hand the clipboard back to Payton, keep the defense from jumping the routes...

Two, put Dennis Allen in charge of the secondary or linebackers or both; but let Rob Roy Ryan move this thing to a 3-4 so we can get more pass rushers on the field; Cam Jordan isn't the salve to our pass rush problems...

Three, Get Marcus Murphy on the field on third downs until the other Bills disaster can get right (I actually liked the Spiller signing better than the Byrd signing)...

Four, get someone to coach up and get Peat right, we need that young big man now at either right guard or right tackle, because the two old guys we've got there now, well, it's not pretty...

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

He hasn't lost his nerve. He's lost his confidence in the offense.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

i don't know about nerve, looks like he lost his aggression and passion since coming back from 2012

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

He knew the shoulder was bad then.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

What else could explain it?

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

I didn't see anything during the game, and especially after Brees was struggling, that would make me want to attempt a 4th down that would seal the loss if they didn't get in that location. He put it on the defense who where playing well, or better than the offense at least at that point. I totally see the logic.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

I'm over Sean Payton. No edge, no passion, no creativity, no desire. Just wants to get home to his girlfriend.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

The Yoko is real LOL

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

I have long suspected drug and alcohol abuse. I think it may have gotten to the point where it is effecting his job. It's sad really.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Serious, never gave that a thought. Now that could be a bit of a problem.
I just thought maybe he was chomping on bad Juicy-Fruit.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Goes back to even before the Vicodin thing. I know some people who have seen him out and about in public pretty bad off.
The thing about addicts is they hate change. At some point the creativity stops and you get by using the same old ideas until they are no longer good ideas (art, music, cooking, and in this situation play calling)
I think he has settled in and gotten to a safe familiar place. Hes got a great job with an owner that stays out of it. Has control of everything, gets pretty much whatever he asks for and has a medical staff who probably make a habit like that easy.
Just a thought.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

One thing he should do is allow Colston to go in motion, thus creating separation, and just find the open zone. He and Drew are smart enough to see what each other sees. It would be a guaranteed 5-15 yards every play. A little backyard ball Saints style.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Now I can see the mudd clearly.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Bingo! Guy just wants to pop pills, drink and bang his young girlfriend.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

OMG we have gone from loosing his nerve to pills, drinking & banging. How did that happen? True or not he has fallen from grace regardless of what the reason.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

It's unanimous. We replace Sean Payton immediately.

Re: Has Payton lost his nerve?
 

Well... Those things are fact. It's not like we're speculating. The guy's head just isn't in it anymore.