Blog

THE GOOD

What a game!  Before I continue, let me remove myself from the IV and heart respirator the Saints put me on from watching the end of that game. I’m sure the Who-Dat Nation knows the feeling!  The Saints were their usual ‘Cardiac Kids’ self Sunday afternoon after almost blowing a double digit lead to the Falcons in the 2^nd half. After digging themselves in an early 10-0 hole, the Saints bounced back strong going on a 28-7 scoring run. However in typical Atlanta Falcons fashion, they fought back and cut the lead to only one point late in the game. But from there the Saints DEFENSE took over.

After Matt Ryan drove his offense down the field in efforts to take the lead with a TD, the Saints defense had a HUGE goal-line stand and stopped the Falcons four consecutive times to force a turnover on downs.  The most impressive stops came on 3^rd & 4^th down at the goal-line when Malcolm Jenkins, then Jabari Greer dove in front of Tony Gonzalez then Roddy White, swatting the ball away.  This defense is definitely starting to receive fair recognition for their redzone play stemming from the Tampa Bay game, to the Monday Night game vs. the Eagles, to Sunday vs. the Falcons.

In Saints wins this season the defense has held opponents to only 8 TD’s in 20 redzone attempts, and they’ve really upped the ante these past two games holding the opponents to only 3 TD’s in 11 attempts which is only a staggering 27%.  Last time I checked POINTS determine wins and losses in this league so despite their inept ability to limit an opposing team’s yards, defense is coming up big in big moments.  Bend-don’t-break defense!

THE VERY GOOD

New Orleans had come into this game ranked dead last in rushing yards allowed per game (177) and there was a slim hope going into the Atlanta game that that area on defense would improve. However, from the very start, led by former Falcon Curtis Lofton, the defense played extremely inspired vs. the run and tackled ‘The Bowling Ball’ himself, Michael Turner, exceptionally. Turner was held to an abysmal 15 yards on only 13 carries, barely averaging a yard per carry.

Besides a late game 18-yard run by Jacquizz Rodgers, the Falcons’ running game was NON-EXISTENT.  ATL was held to a total of 46 yards on the ground, easily a season-low for them. If the Saints defense can continually stop the opponents’ run game like they did Sunday, they’ll definitely be in great shape going forward.

THE BAD

As much as I’ve been raving about the Saints defense thus far, they’re most certainly still a work in progress. Most specifically in pass coverage. Saints defensive backs had several mental lapses in coverage and got beat deep numerous times in this game. Fortunately forNew Orleans, none of the deep passes went for TD’s and didn’t drastically affect the game. However it is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed going forward, in not just the rest of the season, but in the off-season as well. As much as I think that the trio of cornerbacks, Greer, Robinson, and Patrick can be formidable going forward, they are simply very under-sized. They consistently get out-muscled at the point of attack as well as getting “Moss-ed” down the field by receivers who are just simply bigger. But for the most part that is a personnel move that has to be addressed in months to come. For now, Saints defensive backs just have to remain mentally sharp in coverage and not give up the big play deep.

THE GREAT

All hail Chris Ivory! What in the world were Aaron Kromer and Pete Carmichael thinking earlier this season keeping this beast caged up for so long?! Ivory completely went BEAST MODE on the Falcons defense on his 1^st quarter 56-yard TD run. He would’ve undoubtedly gone over the century mark in rushing yards had he got more touches in the 2^nd half. Nevertheless, Ivory finished with an impressive 7 carries for 72 yards and a TD. The 3^rd year running back solely represents the prime reason why there is still hope for the Saints to make a run at the playoffs. Since returning last week vs.Philadelphia, Chris has compiled 120 yards on only 17 carries with an amazing 7.1 yards per carry average. He has been everything plus a bag of chips with a cold glass of Kool-Aid on the side that Saints fans have been hoping he’d be when given the opportunity. As of now, the Saints are going to go as far as an efficient running game takes them with Chris Ivory leading the way.

TURNING POINT

The turning point in this game came earlier than most would expect and quite honestly, it kept this game from getting out of hand for the Saints.   After the Falcons scored an early TD on their first drive, ball-hawk Asante Samuel caught a diving interception from Drew Brees and just like that Atlanta got the ball right back and went up 10-0.  With the pressure on the offense to produce points immediately, it wasn’t Brees, it wasn’t Graham, and it wasn’t Colston who delivered…it was Chris Ivory.

Breaking to the outside on a misdirection running call, splitting two defenders near the sideline, and finishing the 56-yard TD run with a Heisman-like stiff arm on Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson, Ivory put the Saints right back in the game.  After that run, the momentum quickly shifted inNew Orleans’ favor as they went on a 21-7 scoring run to give them a commanding lead over Atlanta.  Without that game-breaking play in such an exciting fashion, who knows what the outcome of this game would’ve been.

GAME BALL

As much as I’ve been raving about Chris Ivory you’d think I’d give him my game ball right? Wrong.  Though there were few players who matched what Ivory brought Sunday, one of them had a career game.  That would be All-Pro TE, Jimmy Graham.   In my preview article to this game I had Graham as my “Player to Watch For”, and even predicted that he would have a career game.  

With no  Sean Weatherspoon on the field forAtlantato disrupt Jimmy’s production, he was virtually unstoppable. He finished the game with 7 receptions for a career high 146 yards including two pivotal TD catches.  He is well on his way to another outstanding season for the Saints, and fans can count on there being plenty more goal post dunks in the near future. Way to go JG!

UP NEXT

The Who-Dats will travel to out west to face the plummeting 3-6 Oakland Raiders this Sunday in an effort to reach a .500 record.  Every game going forward is still vital and it’ll have to be Joe Vitt as well as the Saints’ team leaders to establish that this game cannot be overlooked.

Keep an eye out for my Game Previews and Recaps on Monday’s & Friday’s!  WHODAT!

Kevin Buckles – Saints News and Saints News Radio