Rugby Saint II

We were not getting any push in the run game from the get go. There weren't any holes for the running backs to hit. The offensive line just din't seem to be cohesive. Armstead out and Unger missing time really affected our rhythm. We always seem to get slow starts and then build up momentum aa we go or build up points in garbage time.

The strength of this offense started early on with good drafts under Payton. We need to keep investing in the O-line. Apparently Ramczyk was a nod in the right direction but we need more mass and ass on the line.

spkb25

I am going to be honest, you did express this concern multiple times .

Danno

Armstead (pro-bowler) - Out
Strief - (pro-bowler) Injured during game
Unger - (pro-bowler) only 2 weeks back from injury

Is anyone really shocked that our O-line struggled?

burningmetal

Two weeks back from injury is two weeks back from injury. If he's cleared to play, I expect he should play well enough. Nobody is asking him to sprint down the field; he's an offensive lineman. Ya know, when Unger's injury was first reported, some people were freaking out about he and Armstead being out for extended periods of time and I seem to remember you telling them to chill out because you read that Unger would be back in time for week one... Or something like that. And I think a couple of other people echoed your sentiments.

But now, we are using his injury as an excuse, when 4 months ago, or whatever, everyone was told not to worry about him? Personally, I couldn't tell if he was playing well or not (I was usually looking at the rookie to see how he would hold up), but I would expect he's healthy enough by now.

As for Strief, let's please stop using the pro bowl logic. So many players reject the pro bowl, with various excuses as to why they "can't go", that every year we have guys go who have no business being there. Strief is ok enough for what he is, and relative to expectations anyone had when he was drafted. But he's no more of a pro bowler than Jermon Bushrod was, that one year. The guy relied on chip blocks to help him out, and yet was selected to the pro bowl for some reason. He went on to Chicago, and I don't recall hearing from him in a long time.

Is Strief better than Kelemete playing right tackle? Absolutely. But the line wasn't exactly dominating before his injury.

Armstead being out was something we already knew was going to be a problem. But you gotta devise a plan to get around that, at least somewhat. That jail break screen pass to Ingram early in the game was a good call. Then they abandoned it. They ran those isolated swing passes to Kamara, where if everyone didn't already know what was coming, Drew gave it away with his three second stare downs of his receiver. That's the kind of predictability that grinds my gears. Stop staring at your primary target and forcing it in when it's not there.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

RailBoss

Offensive Line + Out-Coached

pherein

when was the last time NE went 0-2 ? This is one of the best teams in the NFL and they are not playing around. So we go 0-2 or Patriots do.. we have a serious problem.

burningmetal

I'm not afraid of New England. That doesn't mean that I think we'll definitely beat them. Not at all. But we should be able to move the ball against them and anytime we can at least get into a shootout, we have a chance. It's the inability to compete consistently against the better defenses, and knowing that we still don't have a competitive defense at the moment, that leaves me questioning our chances of being contenders for anything.

Rugby Saint II

I expect Sean Payton to bring his A-game Sunday. Will it be enough to beat the Patriots? I hope so!

Cruize

Ram is solid. Peat is solid. Unger is solid. Warford is solid. Strief is solid. You have to run at the Vikings. Their strength is their pass rush. Payton is never going to run first or often. Even when it's working. And it was working early while Strief was in. There was a second and two situation at midfield. Predictably, pass,pass, punt. Plus, Ingram needs to come out when he raises his hand. It's coaching. It's game plan. It's Payton and Brees thinking they can outplay and out smart everybody else. Run the dang ball. That would out smart Saints opponents.