This game couldn’t have started off a whole lot better for the Saints after the first drive. The only thing that was a little disturbing is the lack of cohesion between Drew Brees and Brandin Cooks. They simply are NOT in sync right now. Drew missed him badly on a couple of throws early that could have both resulted in huge gains, maybe touchdowns, and then Cooks dropped a tough catch, but one he has to make. Cooks could have easily had a hundred yards receiving in the first half alone, but it just wasn’t there. I really can’t explain at this point what is going on with them because Brandin was getting open, a lot, but they just do not have chemistry right now.
In the first half that could very well be the only complaint I can think of. Cam Jordan is on an absolute MISSION to shut up every single person who has doubted he was worth what the Saints signed him for, and he’s succeeding. He had two sacks, a near pick, at least one run stuff, and applied constant pressure….in the first half alone. Jordan is a very good football player, he is one of the keys to this defense in the present and in the future, but it’s great to see him now getting the numbers that validates that. His energy and drive, and also his play, are inspiring his teammates and spurring them to greater heights.
Speaking of players on the rise, I would be remise if I didn’t bring up the three, THREE, rookies who are having a tremendous impact on this team. Stephone Anthony continues to evolve as a player and to constantly improve, and he finally got his first interception as a Saint picking off Luck in the first half while dropping into coverage (the area he has struggled most). Delvin Breaux has continued to be a flat out phenomenal corner and everything we hoped he would be, maybe more. However the player who has maybe had the biggest impact on this team as a rookie is Hau’oli Kikaha. He now has four forced fumbles on the year, five sacks, a ton of tackles, and has established himself as an IT player. You can’t quantify it, you can’t teach it, but you know it when you see it. Kikaha is going to be (kinda already is) a star in this league and should be the leader for DROY right now. The kid is just a STUD!
Kenny Vaccaro has also continued his resurgence as he had a great game including a PBU and sack on a great blitz. He was stout around the line of scrimmage and played with great passion and poise. It’s nice to see him back. Everything was going EXACTLY how we wanted it to, and then all that changed in a single play.
Delvin Breaux had dominated TY Hilton the same way he did Julio Jones last week, then Hilton took his foot off the gas on a route, their feet got tangled, and Breaux came crashing to the ground. The result of the play? An 87 yard fluke of a TD that took away the Shutout AND momentum. The Saint’s offense failed to do much of anything as Brees protection was less than stellar (he’s also been off all day). The Colt’s would capitalize again with a 40+ yard TD to Hilton…where Breaux fell…again. Cue the Sean Payton with Mike Bell Cleats quotes.
Everything seemed to change from there. The Saints offense failed to capitalize on turnovers in the first half including a pick in the endzone where Colston just stopped running. This was a game the Saints at times looked like the team I think they can become, but also a game where they reminded us who they are now. This team is so mercurial; it can’t decide what its identity is, who its best players are, and can’t play consistently.
As much maligned as he has been, and he has deserved ALL of it, Colston came up huge for the Saints in the biggest moment of the game. I give him credit for that while also pointing out that if he doesn’t quit on his route earlier in the game the Saints don’t throw a pick in the end zone and the game is likely never in question. Bottom line: the Saints are still not a very good team, but they have won two games in a row and have shown a lot of flashes of a team that could become very good. They are not that right now, but god knows I still love them.
SAINTS WIN, COLTS LOSE, WHO DAT!!!!!
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