Fat & Skinny Post- Week 12
Note: For your listening pleasure, I have included a bit of audio you might find enjoyable. Sit back, listen, read, enjoy. Cheers.
Like the pass interference flag thrown, then picked-up, followed by the referees’ quick exodus from Bank of America field, giving no explanation, and furthering the zebras’ reputation like a weekly
“Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, a la Chris Farley (What will they do next – watch me – I a
m going to eventually do something crazy) Reality Show”,
I do not want to hear any further crap about whether or not the sack on Brees was roughing or not. By the book, it was. By the letter of the rule, it was.
There is so much more that happened in that game, getting to that point. A Lance Moore fumble? A Huh? A ripe pick 6 by Cory White fumbled at the goal line? Huh. The Saints semi-rockstar “D” shutting the Niners down on 3rd down + limited Frank Gore after 1 decent run? Huh?
And, IT’S ABOUT TIME THE SAINTS GOT A BREAK. See Jet’s game – Jimmy Graham held, causing Lisfranc injury, and an INT after referees didn’t see Drew Brees call a timeout. And I could go on and on. For an 8-2 team, they have been on the short end of call enough this year and last.
Back to the Rob Ryan for Mayor, Brewmaster, Second Coming of His Holiness Propaganda.
From my pal Reid @ Saints Win,
“In consecutive games, the Saints have held the Cowboys and 49ers to under 200 yards of total offense. Moreover, the Saints have held five of their ten opponents under 300 yards of total offense this season. For four straight games, opposing offenses (Bills, Jets, Cowboys, Niners) have converted less than 30% of their third down chances (14-for-48 to be exact). To date the Saints are third in the NFL in this category, a metric of the utmost importance. Even better? In the last two games, the Saints’ defense has held the Cowboys and 49ers to a shameful 6-for-24 on third down.
And mind you, these are not bad offenses. The Cowboys’ offense is among the handful of the NFL’s best, and the 49ers came into Sunday’s game ranked 9th in offensive DVOA.”
Akiem Hicks is a beast, and as much a budding star as Cam. Speaking of, Cam Jordan and Junior Galette continue to harass O-Lines on every snap. The middle line fill-ins on rotation are now healthy and give the Saints a very deep D-Line. They sacked last year’s prima donna, Colin Kaepernick, three times, and smacked him around another six times.
Saints fans have long asked for a defense that was moderate, average, and occasionally slightly underwhelming. We’d be ok with that. With the swagger of this group and its accompanying stats after ten games, all Napoleon’d by a beer drinking loveable large “best coiffe in the NFL” guy, we didn’t expect to go from Pippi Longstocking to Alyssa Milano in one damn year. But we ain’t bitching!
After ten games, the Saints are have allowed 18.3 pts/game – fifth best in the league; sixth best in sacks and seventh best in defensive passer rating.
This past seven years complaining about the absence of a complimentary defence has been like complaining to your significant other on a nightly basis, that you must have some lovin’ at least once a month or you’ll bust. And then he/she turns around and puts out in convincing fashion, nightly. Huh?
Who Dat Nation ain’t complaining. At least our collective blood pressures have dropped, and we now have something else to hang our hat on other than a prolific record-setting offense.
NOW THE DIRTY BIRDS (Hear Doc’s interview with MIKE SMITH by scrolling to the top of this article)
Don’t have much to say except this:
Thought they were well overrated to start the season. Regardless of the addition of Steven Jackson as an upgrade in the backfield, and as strong as a 1-2 combo at wideout as exists, compounded by a future HOF tight end, two things were very evident to the over analytical pigskin type like me:
1. They lack of hogs (meat and potatoes) on both the O-line and D-Line, and have more than six years
2. Their stars cannot stay on the field, yet remain critical to any offensive production
3. And the Saints have “owned” them for the better part of the Matt Ryan era.
I have great respect for Thomas Dimitroff and Coach White (see above), and they remain class acts through their hardship.
But a 2-8 record is more of a reflection of the how critical the first two above-mentioned factors are to their success.
Prediction:
More than any other year, “Any Given Sunday” is more relevant in 2013 than ever before. A beats B; B beats C; therefore A will beat C? No way, not a chance, and don’t be so stupid.
Saints could be 15-0 and the Falcons 1-14, or vice versa, BUT this is always going to be on the leg of Matt Bryant or Garrett Hartley. Always has been, always will.
No chance Saints look past this game to Seattle next week with 1st place in the NFC potentially on the line, and Carolina now bumper-riding on a weekly basis.
Matt Ryan has 9 picks in last 3 games, and is on a downward spiral for the first time in his illustrious and sometimes underwhelming career. Drew Brees is in a good place, and offence is clicking on autopilot.
Saints are too balanced of a football team right now. Falcons are beat up bad right now.
Saints have mojo, and balance. Dirty Birds have none.
SO WHAT
Should be a walk. IT NEVER IS!
Saints should dominate. SAINTS WON’T!
Anomaly or not;
Inter-division pride exuded or not;
Force Majeure or not
Mike Smith leaves at half for some BBQ ribs, or not!
Saints 32, Falcons 28
As always you can leave your comments below. You can follow @GridironChef on twitter for all your Homegating/Tailgating needs, and the follow the site @lastwordonsport and like our Facebook Page while you are at it.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? If so, check out our “Join Our Team” page to find out how.
Football fans…check out our two partnered NFL podcasts – Thursday Night Tailgate Radio and Overtime Ireland. Both shows bring you interesting commentary, critical analysis and fantastic guests including former and current NFL players, coaches and personalities.
