Going into this game with the news of Jairus Byrd gone for the season just isn’t the same. The Saints are 1-3 and now they no longer have what the salary cap suggests is one of the team’s top 5 players. So where does that leave the Saints? I know we all like to look into our crystal ball and figure out what the final record will be, how the divisional games shake out and which draft pick the Saints will get… but I think it’s time to start living in the now. The Saints might be 1-3 but if we’re going to write this off now we’re going to be bored and miserable for quite some time. There is a very long way to go. So I suggest we start enjoying this season because while it may not bear fruits in the playoff form it can still bear fruits. And like every season, until the Saints are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention I refuse to stop rooting for exactly that. I don’t care if the Saints have to win out and seven teams have to tied by single digit scores, if it can still happen then I’m tuned in rooting for it. I might not be optimistic about the odds but isn’t sports all about watching because you don’t know the outcome? The truth is the Saints’ defense was miserable with Jairus Byrd. He wasn’t making them better. They can’t be much worse without him and there stands to be a decent chance they’ll get better without him. I’m not suggesting addition by subtraction here, I’m suggesting other guys starting to play up to their potential and chemistry improving. The Saints are still undefeated at home this season, and here’s an opportunity to pick up a win against a division rival in the Dome and bounce back to 2-3 before the bye week. And Carolina and Atlanta losses combined with that will put the Saints in a tie for 1st place. That’s what I’m rooting for in the now and here’s five things I’ll be looking for:
1. Life after Jairus
Rafael Bush is a starting quality safety, I firmly believe that. And while Byrd’s ballhawking skills are unfortunately not something I can any longer look forward to hopefully seeing at some point this season, the end line tackling has gotten better. Bush is a much more sound tackler than Byrd based on what I’ve seen of Byrd through 4 games, and Bush takes much better angles too. The potential of getting a 5+ pick season from our free safety is gone, too, but with none through four games I think I’ll live. The big question because what happens on nickel and dime, though. Bush is the free safety now, but who benefits from the spot that’s opened up? Does Vaccaro continue in the slot, or drop back as the second safety? If he drops back, is that to the benefit of Patrick Robinson, or does Brian Dixon stay ahead of him? If Vaccaro stays in the slot, is it Vinnie Sunseri or the newly semi healthy Marcus Ball that gets some action? So many questions. The bottom line is that while pound for pound on 1st and 2nd down, I’m not that worried about Bush replacing Byrd, I’m terrified of having P-Rob, Dixon, Ball or Sunseri in the back 5 instead of Byrd on obvious passing downs. I’m curious who benefits and how they do.
2. Just one turnover PLEASE!!!!
The last interception the Saints had was in week 17 last season when Keenan Lewis intercepted Mike Glennon. Guilty confession: I typed Glennon’s first name as Sean, it felt wrong, and I had to google it to correct myself. Back to the point, the last interception was December 2013. But guess what? Glennon is coming back to the scene of the crime. Perhaps this is all part of some sick sadistic full circle futility that starts and ends with Glennon. My favorite quote this week by far was Ralph Malbrough, “the Saints couldn’t find a turnover if they were locked in a bakery.” And as Ralph suggests, I’m going to celebrate a turnover of any kind (doesn’t have to be an interception, though that would be a lot more fun) with a second line parade in my living room. Glorious celebration must ensue. Seriously people we are due for a turnover. I just need to see one, I barely remember what it looks like anymore.
3. Does Jonathan Goodwin play and look fine?
Goodwin is listed as “probable” for this game after missing practice most of the week with a neck issue. That’s after a high ankle sprain looked to seriously limit his mobility and affect his performance in the Cowboys game. Goodwin looked very strong before that injury but since his movement has been dicey. A week of treatment would give me hope he’s on the mend but if he’s missing practice with another issue I grow concerned that he’s putting himself in the lineup in a compromised state. Granted a banged up Goodwin is still probably better than a healthy Lelito. But just because he’s probable doesn’t guarantee Goodwin gets the start, especially after he seemed a bit hobble last week and he’s been nursing a new injury. The Saints may want to give him a week to recover and go with Lelito. Continuity on the line would be nice but only if the performance stays the same. Hopefully Goody is ok.
4. Any chance the Saints are still unbeatable at home and this is all just a road problem?
At this point I’m still holding on to the glimmer of hope that the Saints will go 8-0 at home again this season. Until they finally drop one in the Dome we as fans can still hold on to that narrative no matter how ridiculous it is. The Vikings win was by no means convincing but a convincing win in this one would go some ways to solidifying things in the minds of doubting Saints fans. Sean Payton did go 8-0 at home in both 2013 and 2011 and he’s riding a 17 game home win streak. Turns out the last loss was to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 2nd of 2011 (the 2010 season). So there’s bookend potential there too.
5. Do us a favor and shut everyone up, Drew
The lack of arm strength and the inability to accurately throw the deep ball is a common refrain I’m hearing these days and it’s coming less from the media than it is from the fan base. I’m not going to categorically blindly believe it’s not true, but the deep ball to Stills sure looked pretty last week. I’d love nothing more than to see Brees chuck 2-3 deep balls down the field thrown perfectly for touchdowns to put this debate to rest.
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