New Orleans Saints defeat Carolina Panthers 30-20

Jake does what is asked of him. Maybe I’m wrong or I missed something, but he has no turnovers in the last two games. I’m probably wrong, but I know he has fewer turnovers than Brees. He played at a level that we ask him to, and when he plays like he did in the second half, we usually win. If he played like that against Buffalo, we would’ve won. However, besides two D-Will TD runs, I think we averaged less than 3 yards per carry. On the Saints long drive that resulted in a FG, they ran the ball to where Thomas the Monster used to play until he got hurt. His injury changed their gameplan. They kept running to that side and getting first downs all the way down the field. There were a couple passes where it looked like Smitty and Jake were running two different plays, and then D-Will’s fumble happened cuz the ball was never secure in the first place. Those mistakes killed us, but the false starts didn’t help us either.

We have the talent to run the table and finish 11-5. I doubt anyone can argue that point. But the play calling, execution and penalties are doing us in. Against a sorry team, we could win playing like that, but not against a good team.

Okay, we could win out and even win the division, but I doubt it. I doubt I could find anyone who truly believes that. It’s possible that we have a new coach come the last week of February. So I think Hurney and company need to really dig in and figure out what to do, even if Hurney is gonna be gone. There is a nice list of guys who will be potential unrestricted FAs, and the draft is gonna be deep in QBs, and there are some good receivers available. I think we should sign Peppers before 1 Feb, or let him go altogether. Then we move on to FAs. Abrayo, Wilfork and Pickett should be available as DTs. They play NT in 3-4 schemes, but could do well next to Kemo in our 4-3. Kampman might be available for a nice price as he could use a move back to the 4-3. I like bringing in a couple QBs to compete, like Mike Vick, but I think we’ll draft a QB with our first pick, whenever that might be. The development of Jarrett and Barnidge will determine how high we pick a WR, or if we go after a WR FA like Antonio Bryant or Andrew Walter. It is possible that Smitty is a couple more non-factor games away from demanding a trade also. I’m all for bringing in a couple OL to compete as well.

There’s a lot to think about, but we gotta get it done.

14. Carolina (3-5). In the last eight days, they won in Arizona and — some say — should have won at New Orleans.

Yeah, he has limited turnovers the past few games, but look at the high sailing passes to recievers that should have been sure completions. If they are able to make a great catch (TE Barnadge), they are put in a position where stretching the play for more yards is practically impossible.

Yeah, maybe Deangelo needs to make that catch in the end zone, but again, he was open enough to put it in his gut, not that back shoulder bullet- there was no need to throw that with that kind of zip, and to back shoulder it. Jake has no touch, and most of his passes look more out of panic, than any real feel for any kind of touch.

Early in the second half he threw a check down to Deangelo that looked like a shot put, as if he was telling himself not to “overthrow”.

Also, Playcalling sucks. I’m going to have to go on bloodpressure meds the rest of the season! Looking at that play at the 2, looked to me like it was supposed to go to Deangelo, not the FB, but the FB’s shoulder got a piece of the ball, knocking it out of Jake’s hands- didn’t look like he was trying to take it, nor Jake was trying to hand it off to him. Certainly we cuold’ve followed up with something a little better than what we did.
With the defense tight at the goal line, why would you try to throw the quick hit? that could’ve easily been a looooong pick-6. Thank God it was just knocked down…

are a pretty good team, as much as I hate to admit. We played a good team and they matched us and on the day they got the win. Credit to them.

As far as the Panthers go, I think that Fox and company…. and the fans have to realize that D-Will has become the leader of this offense. And I think D-Will has to realize that too. He is too good to be dropping that pass and he is too good to be fumbling at inside our 5.

As you can see I am huge D-Will fan and I expect him to carry the team a little more. Hopefully, we will see it happen the simple way – more carries when we are ahead in the game.

Of course there will be days when Beef Stew will have to step up. But for now we should let D-Will and the O-line carry the offense.

…so please pardon my criticism on the playcalling. It cost us the game….

So, you’ve held the Saints to 6 points in the first half. You’ve done it by grinding it out on the ground, chewing up the clock to limit their on-field time, and added a nice dose of heavy defense. Good job going into the half, you lead 17 – 6. The gameplan is working nicely.

You open up the 3rd quarter and immediately give up a touchdown, 17-13. In a way, no problem you still lead by 4, against the Saints. Now is the PERFECT time to introduce the shock and awe that IS our virulent passing attack! … (?!?) Of the first 8 plays, You call 3 run plays to 5 pass plays. Um…Why?… 2 of those 5 pass plays are on 3rd and 5, and 3rd and 1. Really? Pass? 3rd down with 1 yard to go for a fresh set of downs and you’re going to PASS it? Okay, luckily enough they both worked out, but again, WHY are you starting to rely on the pass right now? You regroup – no prob – pass on 1st, run on 2nd & 3rd – you’re moving the chains and chewing the clock. Atta boy! You grind almost 8 ½ minutes off the clock, get it to the 1 yard line with a fresh set of downs, and are ready to score…. then the worm turned. Delhomme looks clueless, confused, and clearly not on the same page. He burns a timeout! (Okay that’s going to come back to haunt us, and it did.) On the sidelines he looks like he’s cracking under the pressure. No prob Jake, just hand the ball off. 1st down, he muffs the handoff and has to fall on it. Minus 6 yds. (…great…) 2nd down, run for 1 yd. (Why Sutton was running it rather than the stalwart "DT" I do not know). 3rd and 6, let’s see….pass it. (???) Yeah….incomplete… too late getting it there, off target and too much zip to a Running Back. Nice. We get 3 pts anyway, then surrender another touchdown to tie the game heading into the 4th.

No prob. Game ON. Just leave that little experiment with our passing attack alone and we’ll be fine. Playing the Saints right now is NOT the time to diddle with unleashing our aerial assault or trying to rebuild someone’s passing confidence. Just win the damn game. Leave those types of things for when we play the Buc’s. Seriously. Just win the damn game.

So you go into the 4th quarter, tied with the Saints at 20. Not a bad place to be, especially since you get the first possession of the 4th quarter. Clock starts at 15:00, you start 1-10 at the 20. All is normal. All is stable. Remember the gameplan – grind it out on the ground and chew up the clock.

1st possession, you just can’t let go of that passing game can you? 2 run plays to 5 pass plays. 3 ½ minutes later, punt it away. Nice. Give New Orleans the ball back with plenty of time.
Our defense holds them to 3pts. Way to go Guys! Now, just win the damn game. There’s 4:36 on the clock, you’ve got the ball, 1-10 on the 20. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to use some of that passing game now. SOME of the passing game…. Not ALL… remember: pass on 1st, run on 2nd & 3rd – keep the chains moving. You still have 2 timeouts available if you want to mix it up a little. A LITTLE, not a lot! This is "do-able", you’re only down by 3. So here we go, 1st and 10 from the 20: You call… 2 run plays to 5 Pass plays… (?!?), the last of which is a sack, fumble, turnover to New Orleans mid-field. Damn! Are you not getting it?! LEAVE THE PASSING GAME ALONE!
A heavy dose of defense forces them to punt it back to us, but at the cost of: any remaining timeouts, horrible field position, very little time remaining with 2:17 left on the clock, momentum for your opponent – the Saints, an unbeaten team who now has you pinned to your own 2 yard line. On a positive note, you only need to get it in Kasay’s range to send it to overtime and regroup.
You now have the ball starting on your own 2 yard line. You’re pinned. 1st and 10 from the 2…. You remember that "Run" thingy…. Unfortunately, the RB fumbles and it’s recovered by the Saints and returned for a touchdown.
You are now down by 10 at the 2:00 warning. How’s that obsession with the passing game doing? Oh yeah… remember that wasted timeout in the 3rd quarter because Jake didn’t have his head on straight? It would be nice to have that back right now wouldn’t it? No can do. You’ve boxed yourself in, nicely. The onside kick is now part of the equation, and you’re going to NEED to rely on that dysfunctional passing game you’ve been so obsessed with. Nice.
You start the final death march 1-10 from your own 23 with 2:00 on the clock and no timeouts. You call 6 pass plays and 1 run(?) to move the ball across field, down to the 2 yard line. Threatening to score, but Delhomme has to burn a down to stop the clock by spiking the ball. (That run play for 6 yards up the middle, with no timeouts was pure genius! – it burned 15 seconds off the clock and cost a down.) Mental Note – "It’s okay to work the sidelines, getting out of bounds to stop the clock during your 2 minute drills". So now you’re 3rd and goal on the 2 yard line. You need 2 scores for overtime. It doesn’t matter what order they come in because either way, without the onside kick, you lose this game. You need 2 yards. Playcall: Pass. Result: Incomplete. 4th and 2. Do you take the 3pts, knowing the order of the points doesn’t matter? Nope. Emotion gets the better of you and you try to force the Touchdown. At this point, it’s okay to run the ball if you’ve decided to go for it. Failure on this next play is game over, regardless. Play call: Pass (?) Result: Incomplete, lights out.
How’d that passing game work for you?