Marijn Pessers (@Monedula_)
This feels weird. This quarter was 3 really really good games that only resulted in 2 wins because of awful awful special teams play. And 1 really disgusting game to end this 4 game stretch. I am angry at I do not know what just still because of the bad taste that last game left in my mouth. I do not know who to be angry at. The offense was abysmal. I think the Lions got the key to the Saints failing and it is probably because of their defensive capabilities. Either that or Sean Payton was so tired he laid an egg after coming up with a brilliant way of defeating Gregg Williams in the dome. I believe it is a combination of the 2. The defense gave up more points then they did normally. Were they bad? No they were about as good as they have been the 3 games before that. But if your offense fails to get first downs… It is hard to give up only 20. Before we go into the specifics Brian, how do you feel. What is your take on the last 4 games?
Brian Bauer (@SaintBrian9)
General disgust honestly. When you chose 2-2 last time, with losses to the Rams and Lions, I rolled my eyes a tad and thought nice try dude, no way that’s happening. It didn’t, yet this feels worse. To go 1-3 and have two of those games plucked from their hands in the closing moments is brutal. But Detroit? That was a tough one. It’s not often you see the Saints outplayed in every phase of the game, but what happened Sunday was utter domination. I don’t park it at the feet of Payton or anyone else, frankly, I think it’s just time to realize that Detroit is a pretty darn good team, and a playoff bound one at that. Anyone thinking these guys are an easy out better think again. Still, even knowing that, it doesn’t help that it’s once again December, and for the third straight season, the word playoffs is strictly a Jim Mora sound byte gag around these parts.
MP
Nice write-up! So lets see what we predicted last time. Indeed you mentioned I said 2-2. And I wrote it because the Saints can pump themselves up for a big game and win it, then the game after they usually play bad. Trap games. I forgot about the Gregg Williams factor otherwise I would have said 3-1 and that is what nearly happened too. But just as I predicted, after a big win, a big loss. You predicted 3-1, Nearly true but not in the way you thought it would be right?
BB
The funny thing about that is for whatever reason, I was far less irritated after the first quarter pole than after this one. Getting handled by Detroit, blowing games against Carolina and especially that highway robbery against Denver … it makes it very hard to sit down and write, I’ll tell you that much. The Rams game was fun, and developments in the muddled mess that is the NFC made us all think once again that the Saints had a shot. I think THAT was the real illusion – beating down a Rams team that so many other teams have inexplicably struggled with made us think the Saints were better. They’re not. They just took out their aggression from every crap call, suspect interference penalty, special teams gaffe and near miss they’d had in 2016, and brought it all down on Gregg Williams head.
I’m beating the horse into the ground, I know. But my frustration level after last week has left me borderline disinterested in the rest of 2016 (and I hope hasn’t jaded me already beyond that). This constant mediocrity is far more frustrating than being bad.
Anyway, let’s talk about goats and GOATs. Last time around I think I went with Armstead as the bad, Cooks with the good. Armstead remains in and out of the lineup, so for my purposes, I guess that wasn’t too far off. Cooks? Yeesh. In a game where the Saints clicked in every phase, did we really need a Cooks sideshow heading into an all important game against the Lions? Now there’s fake Rapoport trade reports, Cooks denials, agent denials, Sean Payton re-tweeting nobodies … and all from a guy I always liked for (so far) being as quiet as Marques Colston. Remind me who you went with?
MP
Ah man, it is not that bad. I called the season finished after 2 games. The only bad game in 11 games had them lose to the falcons but they still put up a good offense. This was just a complete crapfest. Still if they win out all.. Only down 1 game really if they beat Atlanta and TB twice. 1 Loss from the falcons and it is a tie-breaker. I am SO sorry to get your hopes up again haha.
Anyway, Rapoport is a Troll. He is like a successful Jeff Duncan. Rapoport had the guts to say “He could not see the guy was out” vs the Broncos. He does not care but I blocked his ass. He should keep opinion to himself and rephrase that to “He clearly is out but there is no visual evidence #BanWhiteShoes” But he chose not to. So I am done with that troll.
As who I had for goat and GOAT. Well I want to say “Nailed it!” with the goat. But it just makes me sad. Will Lutz. 3 tipped/blocked FGs in 4 games and 2 costing us the game. That is me scoring a 100 out of 100. The GOAT… if I remember correctly – and I do – it was Thomas. But he was an other goat. He was still pretty great for a rookie had he not aided and abetted an INT and fumbled twice in one game. So yeah. lets hope there are some GOATs in the next 4 games.
So before we do out predictions of roster and goat/GOAT for the next 4 games, what do you think needs to change/stay the same? Just this season. We will talk in length what needs to change after this season. But what can or should they do now?
BB
Shut everyone down and tank for draft picks. Haha, I kid, I kid. I think at this point it might be best to start “experimenting” with an eye for next year. (As much as it drives me crazy) keep feeding Fleener. Can he be a TE1 for this team or is that an offseason priority? How about Thomas – the guy has played like a 1 this year, maybe it’s time to give him the routes and find out. Let’s put Cooks in the slot and see if we can’t find a better role in this offense than a latter day Devery Henderson. Same thing on defense – let’s let Ellerbe freelance and see what kind of chaos he can truly create. And – you’ll love this – figure out what the heck we have in Lutz. If we’re within 60 yards of three points, give him the green light. Why not?
MP
I like your approach. If you are clear to the team that you might win some and loose some they might not feel to bad about losing, but that is not how Sean Payton is build. I think that only happens if the Saints lose this next game. otherwise he is all in every game. You will see Armstead go to IR, maybe Lasco gets healthy and Ingram goes to IR. Just rest your guys and don’t aggravate stuff. Play Anthony more and see if he is broken and get him some personal LB trainer in the off season. Oh wait, that is me looking too far ahead. Anyway, to start winning; clear your heads. Focus. Do your job. More special teams focus. An other tipped ball that barely made it though this week. I thought we had a new ST coach? Defense is doing great and will continue to improve. Do not let them back down. They are doing great. In 40 minutes of defense they gave up 28 points. Add a better offense to that and it again is just 21 or fewer points given up.
BB
I see where you’re going and I like the whole “we’re still in this” attitude … unfortunately, at 5-7 you’re in a world of problems. The schedule is “winnable” – you have 2 with tampa, a date at the cardinals and another tilt with Atlanta – but the wildcard picture is not. Washington has a very favorable remaining schedule, and a tie that says even if they falter slightly they can likely eek out one fewer loss. That said, I know this team too well and I know what’s coming – a workmanlike, 24-13 win at Tampa that will leave us all saying man, if only last week … well, don’t go too nuts. This is the forever .500 or worse era of the saints, and another loss is sure to follow the week after that. But yes, Saints win this week
MP
Washington is not in our division. I am talking a division win. Like I said, win all that put you over Tampa (they lose 2 vs Saints) and 1 behind the Falcons (they lose 1 vs Saints). The Falcons are right now right about to fall of a cliff so Carolina can not catch up either; that is a division title. That said, I say the Saints go 1-3 these next 4 games. they will win Tampa at home but that is it. How do you feel about the rest of the games this quarter?
BB
HAHAHA a division win? I mean I love the Falcons falling into Hell narrative and all, but I just can’t see it. In fact, if it literally came down to that last game with winner take all, I suspect the gods of Murphy’s Law would go bananas. Think the end of the Denver game times 10. I will reverse course in this column though and give them (what else?) a .500 mark in these last four, a nice fat 2-2 that will probably go W (yes! playoffs still alive!) L (no. no no no. goddamn it). L (stupid saints). W (screw you Atlanta!)
BTW, we never did new Goats and goats.
MP
Falcons are about to lose it all. Finally injuries are happening and like I thought all year, they are an injury away from losing everything. Anyway I do see the validity of your prediction. I think that if there will be 1 GOAT and it will be Rankins. He will get 3 more sacks. Got the guy for free in my Fantasy football dynasty league and he is a keeper. Steady as the DL spot. That is what you need. As for the GOAT, it is going to be… lets say Lewis. Got to go Special Teams right? He is gonna muff at least one ball and return under 25% past the 25 yard line. Terrible stats and I predict a draft 3rd rounder special teams returner ace. Who do you have?
BB
That Falcons injury may have happened already with Julio btw … stay tuned. The GOAT? I’m gonna go with Ellerbe. The guy is gonna continue his tear and give us all something to be excited about next year. LOVE how Rankins is playing however. If only … The goat … hmmm. I hate to say it, but I think we got a preview of it the other day – Breaux. Good player, not a great one, who’s expected to guard each opponents go to and simply can’t. I think a look back at these final four will show guys like Evans, Fitzgerald and Jones teeing off at Breaux’s expense.
MP
Breaux just has not been himself since his injury. Give him one off season and he will be ok. He might indeed be the goat, but if we lose vs the Bucs next game, he might sit out the rest of the season. Anyway, let’s hope we get to see some more fun games rather then a game like the last one. See you when the (regular) season ends. WHO DAT!
BB
WHO DAT!
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