The good that came with a loss by the Saints

To look on the bright side, the Saints have tasted the sweetness in the nectar. Somebody just pulled the fruit away from them. Now they have the hunger to get back and get over the hump next time.

We got this part out of the way. We have playoff experience. We learned a lot yesterday in handling such a big stage (Bush's antics for one, Payton not being balanced enough in his game plan, etc). This can only be good. It's a lot better than losing to Philly and second guessing yourself all off season as to why you didn't get further and all the "curse" bullcrap. We can be really thankful we're not talking about that kinda stuff this offseason.

Sean Payton has turned the corner in his very first year. Now it's time to knock the wall down. Who Dat!

 

Tampa and Cleveland were early early in the season. This is when we really didn't have an identity or consistent flow to the offense. And Reggie sure wasn't the Reggie he turned out to be in the 2nd half of the season. If those games were played at the end of the season they would have been blowouts, as you saw when we played TB the 2nd time around. The Redskin game I agree with. We did not come out ready to play and you saw what happens when a well coached team (Gibbs) can do to you even when they are the inferior team. I think Payton learned his lesson there.

I would worry about the letdown next year if we didn't have Sean Payton as our head coach. He is the perfect coach to keep this team playing on an even keel.

And just think when this defense will be just as formidable as the offense? Good things are a coming.

 

You definitely brought up a good point. Something to consider, no doubt.

 

I think Gibbs did an outstanding job with the defense. I would say his coaching was just as substantial as Payton was with the offense. He did it with a supposed rag tag group of players (inexperienced safeties, no-name linebackers, a questionable d-line, etc). I cannot begin to tell you what an incredible job he did with what he had. And you never hear his name mentioned, which baffles me.

We're just missing impact players at LB and at the FS/CB positions. 19 turnovers in 18 games is just not acceptable. And it came back to haunt us yesterday. If we had even had a push on the turnover battle against the Bears (4 turnovers each, for example), Saints win easily.

 

I agree with this assessment totally. I think Payton needs to work on his redzone offense. Again, he falls in love with the passing game a little too much, and it's quite difficult to fit a pass into such a small area in those situations. You got Deuce and Karney. Use them, please.

If you look at the final stats, the Saints were first in yardage, but nowhere close to first in points scored. This team should have averaged closer to 30 points than their 26 point average they ended up with. Those extra 4 points go a long way to winning more games. I think he will work on this aspect of the team's offense next season.