Saints Choke: All Too Familiar In New Orleans!

Kyle T. MosleyDec 28, 2009

Enigma is defined as "a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation", or the second definition should read, "the New Orleans Saints."

Sean Payton became a Conservative. Marques Colston and Devery Henderson are becoming pedestrian. And, Garrett Hartley and the New Orleans Saints special teams became true the storyline of a game this season. The New Orleans Saints appear to be a below average team for the first time. And, for the first time this season, the Saints fail to score in the second half of a game. I wondered is Spike Lee was on the Saints' sidelines and Reggie Miller was playing for the Bucs and giving him the choke sign. Where's the Kryptonite buried at in the Superdome. The Super, Superbowl bound Saints just don't look too Super any longer.

Sean Payton called a lousy second half of plays. Just as lousy as his first half against Dallas. Gregg Williams' defense deserves most of the blame as well. Let us not forget the Special Teams. Was it me, or did Spurlock look like he was running in quicksand and all of the Saints pursuers were running like lame ducks! No speed on the punt returns to catch a faster target is inexcusable. The punter had the best chance and he was blocked by the Umpire! What a mess.

Sean Payton had two opportunities early in the game to go for first downs with one yard to go. Both times, he passed! What? He is being "un-Payton" like since the Dallas game. Maybe he is the one losing confidence. Gregg Williams' needs some speed in the line-backing corps. The two outside linebackers, Shanle and Fujita, can't cover faster Tight Ends/Running Backs. Also, they cannot cover enough ground to catch running backs coming around the corner. Cadillac Williams exposed this flaw by rushing for over 120 yards with simple cutback moves on the Saints. Hold-on, Grant and Smith over pursued time and time again. WHERE'S VILMA!!!!

Let's not forget this. Reggie Bush caught 6 out 7 passes thrown his way. He had 2 carries. Pierre was out of the game the second half. Mike Bell was missing in action. Hamilton was okay at times. Payton abandoned the run. This for the Reggie Bush bashers; but, for the past few games, when Bush runs well on one play, Payton conveniently takes him out of the game on the next play(s). Why? Was he too winded? Did he fumble? Did he tweak something again? Note to Payton: Allow Reggie to run the ball. Please! The Saints have not had a 100 yard performer for recent straight weeks.

The coaches have become unpredictable. The team has become predictable. But, most of all, the results have become "all too familiar" inside the Superdome. Will the team learn to win out of this adversity? Drew Brees believes so. A very rejuvenated Carolina team is ready to play spoiler to the enigmatic Saints on Sunday. Let's hope this result will not be "all too familiar" as well. Oh and by the way, Drew Brees was not the problem.