Game # 9 Open Thread: Saints vs. Rams

by Sunil on Nov 10, 2007 9:42 PM CST in News Comment 32 comments

Saints (-12!!!) vs. Rams: 1 p.m. EST, Louisiana Superdome, FOX

	Off. Ypg (Rank)	Off. PPG (rank)	Def. YPG (Rank)	Def. PPG (Rank)
Saints	360.3 (6)	21.6 (12)	345 (21)	23.3 (24)
Rams	289.4 (29)	12.4 (32)	335.4 (19)	27.4 (28)

Ryan at Turf Show Times will have the Rams angle covered this afternoon.

When I first saw this game on the schedule, I thought it had the potential to be the most exciting game of the season, a 42-35 nailbiter that featured spectacular offense, no defense and a last-second Saints victory. But injuries derailed the Rams' season before it even got started. Meanwhile, the Saints seemed to be on the same path, until finding their footing and re-gaining their place at .500.

The Saints will play today's game without several key defensive players: Charles Grant and Scott Shanle are both out, as is Usama Young. Brian Young had a minor arthroscopic procedure (if such thing exists) and will also miss today's game.

It's also a homecoming for Jim Haslett, who is St. Louis' defensive coordinator. I always liked Haslett, though it was clear that he lost the team and had to leave. His defense in St. Louis is young, but has some talent in Adam Carriker, Tye Hill, Will Witherspoon, O.J. Atogwe, among others. I expect them to -- at least initially -- put up some resistance. Meanwhile, Saints linebacker-coach Joe Vitt faces a team he coached for twice, including servng as interim head coach in 2005. When illness forced Mike Martz to abdicate with eleven games remaining, Vitt was the man to take over, leading them to a 4-7 finish.

Rams left tackle Alex Barron is the second-most-penalized player in the NFL since 2004. In 2005, the Saints selected Jammal Brown over Barron in the first round of the draft. At the time, Brown was considered a safer pick, though Barron was seen to have the higher upside. As it turns out, the Saints clearly made the correct call. Barron could still become a fine player, but Brown -- even after a slow start in 2007 -- is one of the game's premiere pass protectors.

I saw these teams play in 2001, a Week 14 tilt that the Rams won, 34-21, on their way to a 14-2 regular season. Before the game, the Saints had a voodoo performer put a curse on the Rams. The curse didn't go into effect until several weeks later, when the Rams lost Super Bowl XXXVI in the Superdome. The Rams franchise has been in a downward spiral since then, with this certainly serving as the nadir. Now, the Rams return to the spot where their franchise's fortunes were inexorably altered, looking for that one luck-changing spark.

Meanwhile, the Saints have finally reached the edge of the hole that they dug to begin the season. Today represents the first step in their effort to climb back into first place in the division, to re-gain their status as the NFC's giant. In doing so, they can throw one final handful of dirt on the grave of one of their oldest rivals. Oh yeah, and if the Saints cover, they will have a positive point-differential for the first time this season.

This is one they need to win. Go Saints.

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Gameday

Is the Soothsayer challenge discontinued?
If not, here are my predictions:

Points - 45

POG - Colston

WC - Blocked punt return for TD

This game could still be high scoring with the defensive starters out.

Haslett was overmatched as a head coach. I thought he would be good as a D-coordinator. We always seemed to have too many penalties and personal fouls and locker room troubles while he was here.

Back then the Saints played up to the good teams and down to the poor teams. That was the frustrating way about them; seeing them beat the Rams (when they were the GSoT) and then lose to the sucky teams.

How about them Tigers? Beating up on my Bulldogs like that.

by southernsaint on Nov 11, 2007 7:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

soothsayer

it's still going. I just took the standings down until I get a chance to update them.

as for the tigers, well, they are a worthy number one. they should roll over kansas in the national championship game.

by Sunil on Nov 11, 2007 8:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

Geaux Tigers!

But for today, Geaux Saints!

by GeauxTigers on Nov 11, 2007 12:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

gameday

points - 31

mvp - brees

wc - brees throws 3 tds

by Saints Fan 9 on Nov 11, 2007 8:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well

Great opening drive then Bad Brees shows up to poop on it.
Excellent return by Thomas, who should see a few offensive touches, that is then pooped on.

by southernsaint on Nov 11, 2007 12:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So slow

The last two minutes of the first quarter have taken like eleventy three minutes. Brown injured, commercial, punt, commercial, three plays, challenge, commercial, overturn, clock runs out on 1st quarter, more commercials.

Excruciating.

by GeauxTigers on Nov 11, 2007 12:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You can see the signs of old Saints

3rd and 15 and Jason David eaten up by Holt. You just knew that was coming, too.

Vegas was idiotic to favor us by 12. Don't they know how we do?

Rams are doing a great job keeping these drives going. Crowd is COMPLETELY out of the game.

by GeauxTigers on Nov 11, 2007 12:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Defense

This defense can't stop anything.

Eleven random people (men, women, children) off the street could drop 21 on this D.

Classic Saints: build up hope and then poop on it.

The offense has to step it up.

by southernsaint on Nov 11, 2007 1:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You just had to know that this was coming...

We have this way of helping winless teams get their first win.

Credit the Rams though, this gameplan is perfect. They got fortunate on the Brees bad pass downfield that was picked, and then forcing Brees into an intentional grounding on the next possession (and pressuring him into a fumble that Bush recovered).

Good GOD, it's been ages since we've seen our offense. TD, commercial, kickoff, commercial. I know that's just normal but this is exactly how to stop the Saints.

We NEED a touchdown drive right now.

by GeauxTigers on Nov 11, 2007 1:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rams D is bringing the pressure

2nd pick for Brees.

Jim Haslett back for vengeance!

by GeauxTigers on Nov 11, 2007 1:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Lol

Haslett bringing it.

by southernsaint on Nov 11, 2007 1:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Bad Brees

WHO THE F**K WAS HE THROWING TO?

Seriously? Who?

by southernsaint on Nov 11, 2007 1:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Ok now we have some rhythm

Oh Lord, 3rd and long as soon as I'm typing this.

We've got to get a score here. And by score, I mean touchdown, because Olindo Mare couldn't make it from 30.

And now Brown's return is doubtful. Yikes.

by GeauxTigers on Nov 11, 2007 1:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Mare

He could make it...about 20 yards wide right.

by southernsaint on Nov 11, 2007 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Great

I am all for innovation, but don't try to invent a new snap in the middle of a game.

by southernsaint on Nov 11, 2007 1:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Back to the old ways.

Frustrating!!!!!

by Magazine on Nov 11, 2007 1:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

TOP

Wow, that is ridiculous.

by southernsaint on Nov 11, 2007 1:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Okay

We've had some bad first halves and come back (i.e. Atlanta). If there's any defense in the NFL that I'd want to have to come back from 10 on, I guess it'd be the Rams. But they came to play today. Brown's injury is obviously a problem, but we still ought to be able to protect. We get the rhythm going only to get stuffed on one big play by their D, then it disintegrates.

Baldy made a good point going into the half - third down stops by the D have just got to get better.

by GeauxTigers on Nov 11, 2007 1:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs