Any rookie debuting on Monday Night Football feels the pressure. Add to the fact, the New Orleans Saints Ian Book tried to fight their way into a victory. Book was literally the last man up against the Miami Dolphins. Both Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill were out due to COVID-19.
Saints Fight with Little Firepower Behind Ian Book
The start of the game for Book couldn’t have been worse. On the first series, Book threw a pick-six on a third down and three from the Saints 23-yard line. The pass was deflected to alter the ball into Miami Dolphins Nick Needham’s hands. The Dolphins took advantage and scored a quick seven points. From then on, the teams traded field goals to give the lead to the Dolphins the lead 10-3.
In the first two quarters, Book ran from pressure. The offensive line were without both starting tackles, and it showed on almost every single time Book dropped back.
The lone bright spot in the first half featured Marquez Callaway. Callaway caught a couple of passes but the offense struggled early on. Alvin Kamara found little room too as the Dolphins stymied the Saints offensive line.
Saints Book Under Pressure All Night Long
Blocking turned into a deluge of flooding defensive players in the backfield. Unfortunately, giving a fair assessment on Ian Book deemed impossible.
“I think that it’s one of the challenges that, sometimes, it can take place even in the later part of the preseason games, where you want to try to evaluate, especially at the quarterback position; but, just keeping him upright tonight was a challenge,” Payton said after the game. “I’m sure that there are some plays that we will look at and he’ll look at. The first interception is a throw that he’ll want back. It’s a tough position for him to be in.”
Nonetheless, Book at least got one shot to be to play as a starter for the Saints. There are plenty of guys throwing footballs that will never get one shot in a real-time NFL game. Not to mention, being on a national stage on Monday Night Football.
Still, the main takeaway after the Saints loss to the Dolphins 20-3 — COVID is the most dominant team right now. It may not strike this week or next, but eventually the disease will disrupt a team’s locker room at some point. With this in mind, teams best be ready by having a long phone tree. The Saints are a prime example. Some of the players weren’t even on the practice squad. Further planning may be needed to have a backup practice squad going into 2023.
Adversity Creates Opportunity
The thought going forward will have to be updated even if there are updated protocols. The Saints are still alive for a playoff berth amazingly enough. And what happens in the playoffs in January is anyone’s guess. Linebacker Zack Baun took it as an opportunity, not a dilemma. “We can’t seem to get away from adversity,” Baun said. As the week went on, you kind of expected more guys to test positive. You just have to roll with the punches and it’s next man up. I got my opportunity and tried to make the most of it.”
There really is no other choice. The Saints have little time to dwell on Monday’s loss. On a short week, the Carolina Panthers come to town for a Sunday afternoon matchup in the Ceasars Superdome. Hopefully, the home team can stay clear of the virus for at least a week or two. The playoffs are still within reach.
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