The Saints were defeated in their regular season opening game in Arizona on Sunday and on the road. If that sounds familiar its because the Saints have not been a good road team the past few years. This first game was a reminder of little progress from last years team. Does the loss and the way they played indicate another sub par season? That depends how they handle the number 15, that is the number of games they have left to play.
This writer has the following thoughts on the Saints based on Sunday's performance: (a) The Saints are allergic to playing and winning on the road. Since half of their schedule is on the road (8 games) they need to win there to avoid another sub par season. (b) Brees and the offense is still having problems like last year. Their running game needs a jolt. Brees continues to be out of sync and off target and their last two offensive series before the game ended was sorry. (c) Having to settle for four field goals indicates those offensive problems exist. (d) Payton has to let the defensive coordinator alone and stop bothering him on the sidelines. How can the defensive players have any confidence in Ryan or Payton with that going on. Besides, Payton is not doing such a good job with the offense. (e) Payton and the Saints players said a lot of positive things about the team when they reported to camp this year but they were not on display Sunday.
This writer believes the coaching staff and players still have a problem between each other and is a carry over from last season. Also, the effects of bounty gate is still haunting them and continues to play a role in the problems they have. The coaching staff and the players show little confidence on the field. Sunday's game did little to make this writer believe all is well in Saint land.
Note: New Orleans Sports writers have taken "PolitiDose" at heart and that is a positive development. So far this year their reporting has been mostly void of all the hype and cliches they were know for in the past.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
