There are a number of things I could, and will, complain about from this season. From the injuries, to defensive play, to certain players being on the roster, to coaching, to the reckless (and hopefully worthless) media reports involving our head coach, it’s a very long list. But there is one thing we as fans can take away from this season that should leave a little smile on our faces all through the off-season: we beat those dirty rotten, stinking pheasants (falcons…whatever) TWICE this year and both games involved deliciously painful plays for the Falcons fan base. There are some among the Saints fan base who will bemoan the loss of a top ten pick, however my response to them is a Falcons sweep is guaranteed enjoyment. There is no guarantee that whoever is there 3 or 4 spots above the Saints could single handedly turn this team around. I care much more about them getting players who will actually PLAY than a single star. A complete team is always more valuable. There will be plenty of time to talk draft and free agency in the coming weeks though, so for now lets just look at the Saints victory in Atlanta.
The Saints defense has been largely awful all season, and there were absolutely moments in this game where they showed themselves to be exactly that. However, they also deserve props for largely containing Devonta Freeman to under 100 yards on the ground. The Saints held the Falcons to 17 points without two of their best defensive players for most of the game (Breaux and Anthony were both hurt in the first half), and even forced 2 turnovers in the fourth quarter. While there are a LOT of holes on this team, they deserve a lot of credit for fighting hard, and doing everything they could to end their season on a positive note. Remember that these are professionals and while FANS care about draft position…these guys have a lot of pride (or at least they are supposed to).
Last year’s team rolled over and died after getting screwed against the 49’ers. This year’s team fought for each other and for pride to the very end, that is something that can’t be quantified and can pay BIG dividends down the road. No player embodied that mentality more than Tim Hightower whose gritty runs, unstoppable will, and frenetic play were a HUGE part of this team winning the last two weeks. Hightower is a fantastic story, and even better person, and to me just locked up the number 2 back position for the Saints for next season.
Hightower wasn’t the only guy who impressed though. Benjamin Watson continued his CAREER year (at 35!) with a spectacular catch in the end zone as well as numerous other tough grabs in traffic. He may or may not retire this off-season, but if he comes back I want him back on my football team. Nothing but love and respect for ‘Pastor’ Watson. It was a quiet day for Brandin Cooks and Willy Snead today, but Brandon Coleman continued his late season surge towards a 2016 roster spot, and if it wasn’t for ONE play I would be dedicating half of this article to his great play. Coleman ran a great route and got free up the seam for what could have been a HUGE play, possibly even a TD. Brees hit Coleman right in the hands, but he sadly displayed the same lack of concentration that has plagued him thus far through his NFL career when he started to turn up field before he had fully secured the ball causing him to drop it. That one play aside Coleman had a great game and really did show all the tools that had the Saints so high on him. The jury is still out on him, but that drop could have been a huge catalyst for him as a player if he had caught it.
Travaris Cadet was another player who had a very good game if it wasn’t for one play. He was dynamic in the passing game showing both patience and speed to go along with very reliable hands. The only thing that prevented it from being a great game was a goal line fumble he had (that was questionable to me) that ended a 90-yard drive that would have likely put the game away for the Saints. That play aside though Cadet had a solid game and almost even completed a half back pass that was just a little short and got broken up.
My defensive players of the game were Kenny Vaccaro who flew around and made a number of stops and solid plays (and possibly one boo boo, but I need to check the film to see if I think it’s on him) and Cam Jordan who got to double digit sacks midway throughout the game, blocked a FG, and created a number of opportunities for teammates that they sadly didn’t/couldn’t capitalize on.
On offense the players of the game were Brandon Coleman, Tim Hightower, and Senio Kelemete who did a FANTASTIC job filling in at LT. If Andrew doesn’t give him an A for that performance I am going to post Nickelback posters ALL OVER SaintsNation!!
This is obviously my final post game write up for the season, but certainly not my last. I will be getting into position groups and player ‘grades’ and analysis very shortly and am eager to start trying to see a vision for how this team can get better next year which I DO believe it can. Stay with us Saints fans and here’s hoping that next year is a better year with less disappointment, but also ANOTHER SWEEP of the Atlanta Falcons… because that can just never happen enough.
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