Is this from last year or from the Dallas game week 4 of this year? This year's game Dallas held in the red zone against Teddy in his second start but really had little luck stopping the Saints offense between the 20's. After that game, nothing other than the Jags game indicates that the offense is limited.

The real problem with Dez is that he's not multiple in any way. In the future he'll be in a receiver position that really requires more than just being a receiver. Go back and check the snap counts for TQS, Carr, and Kirkwood when they play. They play special teams, where Dez cannot and will not.

For some reason this 3rd/4th receiver position just seems like a solution looking for a problem to solve. In any case, Dez isn't the solution. The only true solution as I see it is healthy players as Cook, TQS, and Kirkwood, along with Kamara being unavailable posing the biggest issue for the offense.

I just wonder if we go unblemished in November and start December at 11-1 will the forums still be talking about how the 3rd/4th receiver position is really going to be the difference in the Saints offense being successful.

SFIAH

He's referring to the Dallas game last year, the offense looked lethargic after that game and that went into the playoffs.

14-0 early deficit against the eagles and then a bunch of drives that ended with nothing vs Rams. We had multiple chances to pull away from the Rams and we let the refs dictate the outcome by keeping it so close.

Yes. That's what I thought. But this isn't last year. No "blueprint" has come to fruition in terms of stopping CSP's offense. The team is 7-1 after facing a current top 10 schedule in the league, and including facing that similar Dallas team.

To me it's been all about "What if?" What if CGM is double covered? Or CGM is unavailable for some reason? What then?

We have evidence in the last 8 games. 5+ games without Brees? The team goes 5-1. Games without Kamara? No problem. And none of this was last season. This is the Saints now.

I really think that it's just too much influence of fantasy football. FF players want to have all stars in every starting position, and in every backup position too. But that cannot be done with real teams. When CGM gets a $100 million extension, it does mean that some other part of the organization has to go without.

And going without the 3rd/4th receiver is something we can live with. The Saints have other playmakers. There's Ginn who has been productive when asked. Karama/Murray who execute outlets and screens to perfection. Cook was warming up before being injured, while TQS was injured on a play that gained 28 yards.

Also the most missing element of the lethargic finish last year was the health of the offensive line. Pretty much from tackle to tackle, from Peat, to Unger, to Warford, the line was dinged up late last season. Note that so far this season that hasn't been the case and the production and the record reflects that.

All of this to say that there's no way that the Saints' season going to hang on a 3rd/4th WR's production. That's a position that has to be multiple and productive without a bunch of targets and catches because after the balls to CGM, the backs, Ginn, Cook/Hill/Arnold, and Taysom, there's slim pickings left after that. My assertion is as long as the O-line holds up and Brees is healthy/fresh there's no defense that can defend the waves of options that CSP will throw at defenses down the stretch.

SFIAH