New Orleans Saints' Eight Lessons Learned from the Loss to the Redskins

The Saints fell to 1-1 on the season with a loss to the Washington Redskins. While a loss is never a good thing, there are always lessons to be learned. 

1. Drew Brees can't do it all by himself.

The offense threw the ball 33 times, compared to just 19 rushes. I know that the rushing numbers were horrible, but you can't expect the offensive line to get any kind of rhythm with that ratio. No Saint carried the ball more than 10 times. 

In contrast, while Clinton Portis also started slowly, the Redskins kept pounding the ball. They finished with 31 carries, 21 of them by Portis. His longest rush was only 13 yards, but he averaged 4.6 after averaging less than three early in the game.

2. Drew Brees needs to roll out more.

I do not claim to be a football genius, but I do know that Brees' biggest detriment is his lack of height. This has been evident in the number of passes he has thrown that have been tipped and either intercepted or fallen incomplete.

I believe that if Brees rolls out five to 10 plays per game, this will eliminate some of his tipped passes. A rollout or the threat of a rollout will slow down the pass rush and keep his passes away from the out-stretched hands of taller defenders.

3.  The Reggie Shuffle needs to go out of style.

Let me start off by saying that I like Reggie Bush. I'm wearing his jersey as I type this article. I think he brings a great dynamic to the offense and is one of the top players in the league, when he is in open space. 

He needs to stop dancing in the backfield. By my unofficial count, seven of his 24 carries this season have gone for either no gain or a loss. That's right around 30 percent of his carries that are wasted. 

One cut in the backfield is one thing. Two or three is quite another. He needs to learn from Deuce or backs more his type, like Warrick Dunn, and learn to hit the hole quickly and accept what's there. If there is no hole, he needs to lower his shoulder and drive forward.  This league is too fast to constantly reverse field.

4. With that said about Reggie and the run game, the offensive line needs some work.

The right side of the line, particularly Jon Stinchomb, appeared out-matched. On the plus side, Goodwin looked improved from last week.

5. Every rookie has a learning curve.

Terry Porter played great against Tampa Bay. He looked almost Jason David-ish against Santana Moss and Antwan Randle El. Porter got burned on Moss' game-winner. When a corner makes nine tackles in a game, it's not because of his superb run support.

I'm confident, though, that he'll learn from this. Let's hope so. Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal are up next.

6. Turnovers kill - no matter who you are.

The Saints gave up three and forced one. That interception by Vilma on the two-point conversion does not count on the stat sheet. 

Shockey must feel ill. He was involved on two Saints' turnovers. He had one fumble and Brees' first interception bounced off his hands. 

7. What a pickup Vilma has been.

Jonathan Vilma has led the Saints in tackles in each of the first two games, including 16 against the Redskins. He has been the best defensive player for the Saints and is on pace for 200 tackles.  He is showing that he worthy of wearing No. 51.

8. Despite the fourth quarter against Washington, the defense is improved. By a good margin. 

With the field position the Saints' offense gave the Redskins, Washington could have easily gone up 28-0 early in the game. Instead, the defense held them to four field-goal attempts on the first four drives. 

The Saints' defense wore out in the end, with a combination of a lack of depth (McKenzie, Fujita, Gay, and Harper all out) and ball control. The Saints' offense held the ball for less than 26 minutes.