So, safe to say I started digging the grave a bit prematurely? Such is the "beauty" of The NFL, where are all you really know is that you actually know nothing at all. One week you think a woeful defensive team is just taking advantage a broken and battered quarterback, and the next that woeful defensive team has gone into full lockdown mode while that broken and battered quarterback is dominating the reigning champions on the road. Now, given that Jay Cutler had about as much interest in being in London as I had in being awake for a 9AM game that felt a hell of a a lot like a Week 4 preseason game, I'm not sure how much can be taken away from what eventually turned into a dominant performance...
Call me a skeptic, but years of optimism gone awry and abject disappointment have taught me not to let myself get too high on the narcotic that is the moment. After all, the Saints merely avoided a soul crushing loss to a team with a recently retired quarterback who probably would have rather been anywhere else in the world than under center (or split out wide). Still, you can only play who is on your schedule, and - considering the Saints early schedule has been unforgiving - it was nice to see an encouraging effort that couldn't have been any better mathematically give them the opportunity to start with a clean slate coming out of the bye week. With Green Bay and Detroit on the horizon, the two weeks following said bye week should tell us whether this young defense is bi-polar or steadily improving. Hopefully the time off gives players like Zach Strief, Terron Amstead, and Willie Snead the chance to make sure this offense remains the one that methodically choked the life out of the Dolphins in the second half. The Saints are going to have to make complimentary football their calling card if they want to get over .500 for the first in what feels like an eternity, but - for once - an energetic secondary and the appearance of a pass rush are giving us reason to believe that that's not entirely out of the question. Sidenotes: - Alvin Kamara is absolutely electric, and I'm pretty sure we've only scratched the surface in regards to his talent. - On a related note, if Alvin Kamara is going to continue his meteoric rise to more touches then I'm not sure I see where 'AD' fits into the offense. Now, usually a backup running back that's merely around for insurance purposes doesn't have to fit into the offense. I'm just not sure that won't result in unnecessary locker room tension in a situation as rare as having a backup running back who is a future first ballot HOFer with a chip on his shoulder. I wasn't one of those people calling for him to be traded after one extremely telling sideline stare, but giving someone who is used to being a workhorse 6 extremely predictable snaps isn't really helping him or the team...
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