MVN - Most Valuable Network

Saints Abandon Run: Fall to Rams 37-29

The Saints lost today for the first time in a month.  With a 0-8 record, the St. Louis Rams entered the Super Dome with nothing to lose and played a complete game against an unfocused Saints team. 

In their opening drive, New Orleans looked like the team that had won four games in a row.  They quickly moved the ball down the field and scored easily on a Reggie Bush 7-yard run. 

Things fell apart after that.  Mark Bulger and Torry Holt went to work on the Saints secondary.  Jason David, who couldn’t cover a single bed with a king size comforter, allowed reception after reception, giving Bulger the rhythm he needed to run the offense effectively.

The Rams soon took a 17-7 lead and from there, the Saints never recovered.  Playing from behind, the Saints are a completely different football team.  I don’t know why the Saints get so freaked when they lose the lead.  It’s like they assume the game can’t be won if they’re not winning.

Where the Saints went wrong against the Rams on Sunday was their overdependence on the pass.  In the opening drive, Reggie Bush and Aaron Stecker both ripped off big runs.  It looked like the Saints would be able to run all day on an overmatched Rams defense.

Then the Rams roll down the field and score, the Saints get the ball back and Brees throws and interception.  The Rams score again making it 14-7 and the running game is completely abandoned. 

Here’s the problem.  Reggie Bush is a playmaker.  When the ball is in his hands, good things usually happen.  Against St. Louis, Bush had seven carries.  Seven carries is just not enough touches. 

In a game like this, where St. Louis is expecting to come in and get whooped, why not pound away with Bush and break the Rams spirit?  Why risk throwing a couple of interceptions that give the Rams all the momentum they need to think they can win?

Yes, it’s been the passing game that has carried the Saints in their past four victories.  But when it’s not working, you’ve got to be able to make adjustments.  In the NFL, the teams that win are the teams that are versatile. 

If the passing game isn’t clicking, switch it up.  Hand the ball to Bush and let him be your workhorse.  He’s shown he can do it.  They are paying Bush way to much money for him to only get seven carries. 

With all of that said, the Saints are still very much in the playoff hunt.  Carolina lost to Atlanta today which means, like the Saints, they are 4-5.  Tampa Bay had the week off.  With a 5-4 record, they are only one game ahead of the black-and-gold. 

With an easy remaining schedule, this loss could eventually be considered a minor pothole on the road to the playoffs, rather than a huge roadblock.

Nevertheless, New Orleans must fix what went wrong today and work on becoming a more balanced offensive team if they want to make a push.  I think they’re capable of doing it.  Whether it gets done will remain to be seen.   

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 11th, 2007 at 5:06 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.