Rating: (0 votes - average)

MIDSEASON REPORT CARD
--PASSING OFFENSE: A --

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--RUSHING OFFENSE: C --

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--PASS DEFENSE: D-plus -- It would be easy to give the Saints a really poor grade considering they rank 29th in the league while allowing 286.7 yards per game. But there have been extenuating circumstances as their two starters at cornerback -- Delvin Breaux and P.J. Williams -- played just three quarters together before Breaux fractured his fibula in the season opener and Williams was lost for the season with a serious concussion in Week 2. Undrafted free agent Ken Crawley was thrust into the starting lineup and Sterling Moore was signed but then was lost to an abdomen injury and reportedly needed surgery. The good news is that Crawley and veteran B.W. Webb have held their own. More positive news: The Saints, who allowed an NFL-record 45 touchdown passes a year ago, have given up just nine in six games. They have also played better more recently with a three-safety lineup of Kenny Vaccaro, Jairus Byrd and rookie Vonn Bell.

--RUSH DEFENSE: C -- There have been flashes of good play, but they just haven't been consistent enough with first-round draft pick Sheldon Rankins, a defensive tackle who was expected to be their run-stuffer, being sidelined since mid-August with a fractured fibula. Rankins is expected back soon to help a defense that has moved up to 18th in the league, allowing 110.7 yards per game. The problem is they're giving up 4.3 yards per carry and have allowed 12 rushing touchdowns. They were strong in holding the San Diego Chargers to 38 yards and 1.8 yards per carry in a Week 4 win and 64 yards and just 2.0 yards per attempt in a Week 2 loss to the New York Giants. But they also were pounded for 217 yards by the Atlanta Falcons and the Oakland Raiders hit them for 167 yards in the season opener.

--COACHING: B --

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--OVERALL: C minus

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New Orleans Saints midseason report card: C minus - UPI.com


The good news is that Crawley and veteran B.W. Webb have held their own. More positive news: The Saints, who allowed an NFL-record 45 touchdown passes a year ago, have given up just nine in six games.

This is the difference between DA and RR. This is called coaching on the fly.

Cruize

3-1 in November for an A+.

The Dude

I say D at best.

WillMacKenzie

I'd give them an IR, across the board.

Danno

All things considered, B-minus.

I can't think of many teams that could overcome losing their top 6 CB's to injury heading into the season. Even some of the guys we signed off the street got hurt.

Add in losing our top DT (likely) and our best rush LB, and we're lucky to be sitting at 3-4.

If I told you we'd lose all those players before game 2, nearly everyone would say we'd be lucky to win 4 or 5 games all year.

A better way to look at is how do we compare to the other 31 teams at this point in time. I'd say we're probably upper teens

jeanpierre

If it weren't for allowing the big play at the end of games, I'd give the defense a B-, otherwise I score them a D+...

The inability to generate a legitimate front four pass rush is very disturbing, especially with a 10-million dollar defensive end...

With Onyemata getting coached up and Rankins healthy and a chance to acclimate, am curious to see what comes next for the front four...