What a Difference a Deuce Makes
by Dave Cariello on Sep 30, 2008 6:00 AM CDT
Email
Print
My mother said it best on Sunday. It was sometime shortly after Deuce got his touchdown.
"It's nice having Deuce back isn't it?"
Keep in mind this is a woman who knows nothing about football. She's not a Saints fan. The last time she attended an NFL game was to see the Jets play...in Shea Stadium. But her comment and the amateur opinion behind it couldn't ring more true. If it was that obvious to someone like my mother then it had to be obvious to every Saints fan.
By now we have all been reminded how much this team missed Deuce. He brings exactly what this offense has been missing and after such a long time of not seeing it, I personally forgot how important he is to this team. Having a threat in the running game like Deuce keeps the defense honest and it opens things up for Drew's passing and for Payton's play calling. Pierre Thomas is a great running back and I still love him, but Deuce is just special.
Deuce brought something else with him for the Saints in this game however, either by random coincidence or as a direct result of his play.
The rest of the team.
It has been consistency's evil twin brother, inconsistency, at the very root of the Saints woes for years. If one player has a good game another player is usually slacking. A great play is often followed by an incredibly idiotic blunder (see: River City Relay). Unfortunately, games when the Saints fire on all cylinders are few and far between. Dallas in '06 was one of those games. Thanks greatly to Deuce, his talent and the influence and inspiration he brings, Sunday was one of those games. It's an awesome feeling, like when you drive to work and catch every light and make every great lane changing and traffic avoiding decision arriving in the most efficient way possible, knowing you couldn't have done it any better. The Saints finally looked as good on the field as they do on paper and it was a thing of beauty.
Think back to this summer before a down was ever played by the 2008 New Orleans Saints. What were some of this seasons main keys for success?
- Can Deuce McAllister get back to his original form after two knee surgeries? I think he is well on his way.
- Is this secondary improved and can it stop the big play? Yes sir.
- Will this be Reggie Bush's break out year? 440 yards, 3 TD's and a punt return for a TD in 4 games is pretty good to me.
- Will the pass rush be improved and will they get more production out of they're high paid ends? Check!
Sunday's win over San Francisco gave a lot of answers - very good answers - to any remaining questions about how good this team can actually be. Most importantly, questions about The Deuce. This was the game Deuce finally came back and proved himself. Even better, this was the game Meachem and Moore broke out. This was the game Devery got his hands back and won everyone over again. This was the game our defensive line dominated. This was the game the secondary came up with some big turnovers.
Now that the Saints have correctly answered all the necessary questions for success the only question remaining is, "Will it last?" The Saints are currently 2-2 and standing at a crossroads. What path they choose is yet to be determined but there are two most likely scenarios:
- The Saints start putting a few wins together, taking advantage of a home stretch and continues to get stronger as key players return.
- The Saints continue to be inconsistent - winning some, losing some - and play mediocre ball at best.
This makes the Saints week 4 win over the Niners the official turning point of the 2008 season. The Saints season officially starts right now and the decision is in every players hands. If Deuce is in fact the missing link the Saints should be well on their way to a playoff spot. It is time to start that march to Tampa. We have seen what this team is capable of and we know what we can realistically expect. This will be the week that we inevitably look back at, either angrily and wondering why we never got a chance to see such brilliance again or fondly as the moment the team finally gelled and the big picture was realized. Either way, it's a new day in Who Dat Nation.
Deuce is back and the rest of the team is right behind him. Here's hoping they stay awhile.
(A big thank you and shout out to MtnExile, CSC's photoshop genius, for the awesome picture above! He has a true talent and I hope to have him help out more and lend those talents whenever at all possible. Again, thanks so much!!)
10 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
That analysis is spot on. Deuce brings so much to this team, and I was happy to see Payton use the packages with both Deuce and Reggie at the same time.
With some of the backup players stepping up with all the injuries, I’m so excited to see what this team can do once we get the starters back.
Imagine this set.
Colston Shocky Reggie Moore with Deuce in the backfield … must be an OCs dream come true.
I like this one better
Colston and Meachem at wideouts; Shockey at tight end; Deuce and Karney in the backfield. From that set, anything can happen, from a dive play to a deep post. What in the world do you cover?
Substitute Moore for Colston and Miller for Shockey, and this is the formation I’d use most against Minnesota. Running Deuce behind Karney with Nicks clearing the way might be the best route through the Vikings’ front. Hope Karney is ready at game time. If not, I guess we’ll just have to go around them.
He really was the missing piece of the puzzle. When he is in there everybody else is better and every other skill position becomes more dangerous. Whether it be the wide outs that have less safety help because they need more people or size in the box, or tight ends who have linebackers watching them and double double checking on deuce because the dline will need help if this bulldozer starts rumbling downhill. (not to mention if bush is in there too)
Another heartburn situation is Colston and Meachem lined up to the left Shockey (or Bush) in the slot and Devery to the right with Deuce in the backfield. (I could do this stuff all day)
Nicks...
did he help the run game? Deuce returning the same week as Nicks starting means we cant tell if the Oline was what was holding back Bush and PT.
MT
Great write up SS
Man you have mad skills, writing and giving all us Who Dat’s hope and confidence
It's better to die like a lion, than to live like a pussy
Good, but...
First things first, I gotta say that’s a hell of a performance. Running, passing, blocking, defense, like the man said, things just worked Sunday.
But…
It was only the 49ers. They have no WRs. They have no D. They don’t have much outside of Frank Gore and Patrick Willis.
So I hate to say it, I hate to be the one that has to, but I want to see more, a lot more, a lot more often, before I can get back up onto the wagon.
disagree...
While the Niners’ D is certainly not the New York Football Giants D, they have a quality secondary and at least two strong LBs in Willis and Spikes. Brees and company lit them up, which against the aforementioned group is not an easy task. Credit where credit is due… Brees is the best QB right now in the league, and that includes Rivers, Romo, and both Mannings!
Is it me
Or did Deuce look like he had a point to prove the way he was running. And the dive over for the one yard TD just told me that we should really be 3 and 1 maybe even 4 and 0. Boy I sho hope Pierre was taking notes. Looks like he might have a lot of time on his hands now to do so.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
