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Around SBN: SB Nation NFL Power Rankings for Week 11

Detroit Lions 27 @ New Orleans Saints 45: Loose Ends

Before we begin to take a look at the Philadelphia Eagles and the next game on the slate, I wanted to hit on a couple of remaining points from the Lions matchup and offer them up for discussion. I know at least one of these topics ought to get a lot of people riled up. I would, however, like you to keep in mind that I personally view this weeks contest against the Eagles to be the unnofficial start of the black and gold 2009 season. Though the Saints made sure not to look past the Lions on Sunday, it might not be completely accurate to use the game as a barometer by which to predict the success of the Saints season. Cautious optimism still prevails until further notice. 

Star-divide

Heath Evans vs. Mike Karney

During the postgame podcast on Sunday evening, CSC member coldpizza asked me whether or not I thought Payton was trying to prove something with the way in which he utilized Heath Evans against Detroit. Of couse I can't speculate on the motivation behind what we saw on the field but I will say that Payton seemed to incorporate Evans much more than he ever did Karney.

On top of that, I think it's safe to say that Evans is a certain upgrade. Karney gained only ten yards on eight carries last season and only averaged 2.0 yards on his eighteen catches. Heath Evans has nearly doubled Karney's receiving production in just one game and I can't imagine Mike being able to tiptoe his way into the endzone as Evans did on New Orleans' final score. Whether he's just better or he's being given better opportunities by Payton is up for debate but I expect to see more of Evans this season.     

 

Running Backs and Reggie

I think Who Dat Nation is expecting to see Pierre Thomas ready to go for this Sunday's game against Phildelphia but I am doubtful. The seriousness of Pierre's knee injury has still got me skeptical. Whenever he does return, however, the Saints will have a wonderfully tough decision to make with Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and their running back rotation. How will it work and who is considered the starter? Embedded in that same question, of course, is another old, old question, though it's an implied one: How does Reggie fit in and how should the Saints use him? Personally, I think the way Payton used Bush and Bell on Sunday was ideal. It's what I've been hoping to see for a while now.

Reggie was given his obligatory number of handoffs which is necessary to keep a defense honest but when it was obvious he wasn't getting it done between the tackles, the switch to have Bell carry the load was made and sucess was attained. In fact, Bush still managed to be a threat in the receiving game, picking up 55 yards through the air and second most on the team. He is a luxury, sometimes a liability; not a necessity.

In reality, it was Reggie's special teams play that was the problem on Sunday and no doubt that needs to be cleaned up. But what was great to see last week - and this is very important - was improved play calling and an absence of stubborness on the part of Sean Payton to force Reggie into this offense; something I have always felt has held them back. It has taken the Saints only one game to achieve something that took them thirteen weeks to accomplish last season: Have a player rush for over 100 yards. 


Inside the Numbers

The Saints ran off the right guard, Jahri Evans, fifteen times on Sunday; three times more than any other direction.  

Sean Payton has a 100% success rate in video challenges so far. Probably won't last long.  

Surprisingly, Tony Romo currently leads all quarterbacks with a 140.6 passer rating despite the fact that Drew Brees threw for more yards, twice the number of touchdowns and a higher completion percentage on Sunday. Brees' 137.0 passer rating was brought down by his one interception. What's a guy gotta do? 

0 recs  |  Comment 22 comments |

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evans v karney

evans is getting more looks cause he’s better. they may be even in run blocking but heath is a far better runner/receiver and that td on the screen was a nice play.

i would like to see rod harper returning the punts. i wish the would use reginald more like early last year when payton put him in to return punts when we needed a spark.

one more thing. lunchpail shanle had a hell of a game. there is just something about that guy with his hard hat and suspenders.

by knucklesmalone on Sep 15, 2009 6:33 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

I agree that Evans is better than Karney

I thought Mike Karney, even though I really liked him, was not blocking as well last season and the season before as he did in previous seasons. I also think that the best offenses and certainly the best West Coast offenses use the FB, especially in pass catching. It really messes a defense up if they have to worry about a FB catching a pass; you’ve got wideouts, TEs, RBs to cover and the two things defenses really struggle with is when a QB runs the ball and the FB catches the ball. It just overwhelms the D. Well, we don’t want Brees running the ball except in very rare instances, but I’m thinking Evans can be a valuable weapon, depending upon whether a defense concerns themselves with the threat of him getting the ball. If they do, our other weapons will be more open.

"Indecision may or may not be my biggest problem" - Jimmy Buffet

by Philinwood on Sep 15, 2009 7:28 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Surprisingly, Tony Romo currently leads all quarterbacks with a 140.6 passer rating despite the fact that Drew Brees threw for more yards, twice the number of touchdowns and a higher completion percentage on Sunday. Brees’ 137.0 passer rating was brought down by his one interception. What’s a guy gotta do?

QB rating is not the be all end all

The shows I have caught while waiting around for people all say the same thing when they talk QBs right now.

There is noone better.

Manning? Brady? They are in his class sure but the talk is not which is better. One pundit went so far to say its the system they play and if say Manning was a Saint what would his numbers be like.

MT

by MT_always on Sep 15, 2009 7:53 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

143 rush yards by bell

has reggie ever done that? i like reggie but…. man… it’s hard to when he’s not producing. granted, it’s only week 1 but i really hope to see a man on fire next week.

special teams looked HORRIBLE against the lions and they really can’t afford to make those kinds of mistakes.

there was one game that karney got a lot of looks and that was against the cowboys in 06’ i think. he had 3 TDs. but so far, evans has showed his worth and i hope to see him on more plays.

as for the qb rating… that is the most arbitrary rating ever… what kind of rating caps out at 158? i say we make a new efficiency formula.

by nanvinnie on Sep 15, 2009 9:33 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

158.3

get it right (roll eyes)

by knucklesmalone on Sep 15, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

they already do

It’s called wins and losses.

Good night!

by drbonne on Sep 15, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

haha

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by Saintsational on Sep 15, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

running backs

Hey Falcons Fan here, but I’m going to say the Saints have an embarassment of riches, and a compliment to a superior talent. If Mike Bell and Heath Evans did a good job last week, stay with the hot hand and continue to rest pierre thomas until healthy and work him slowly in. Stay with the run and the Saints offense will probably be better than the 07 Patroits. Bush can be uses as always as a decoy, split back or receiver.

by brotherbrown on Sep 15, 2009 1:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i like the way you are thinking

because you can’t rush injuries. Ask Shockey…well dont’ do that or he might have a flashback that puts him in a coma or makes him cry about his touches. I think we have been better than the Patriots offense since 06 but hey, i’m probably biased a little. Give Reggie more touches with more consistency this week though.

Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D

by skinnykinney on Sep 15, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good stable of RBs

It’ll be a nice problem to have when PT gets healthy of which RB to use. I agree totally to let him get fully healed. We’ll need two good backs for the playoff push.

As for Reggie, I think he’s better suited as a slot receiver and change up at RB. Keep him alternating as PR until Rod Harper gets back. I’ve been a little outta the loop-what’s Rod’s status? Is that why they brought back Roby?

by WhoDat_OH on Sep 15, 2009 3:25 PM CDT via mobile reply actions   0 recs

Harper is fine!

He just didn’t dress on Sunday. I’m pretty sure he’s ready to go whenever the team needs him.

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by Saintsational on Sep 15, 2009 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanx Saintsational

Quickly become my home for all Saints news. With Roby coming back Bell should be fresher at the end of game with not having to return KOs. Not sure what it says about the time frame on Pierre’s return to action though.

by WhoDat_OH on Sep 15, 2009 4:37 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

Three Headed Monster

How about this for a dilemma?

 We have two running backs, that if used properly, are very capable of gaining a hundred yards a game. We have a third threat at RB/Receiver who is capable of breaking one at any given moment.

I know we are all very disappointed in the performance of Reggie however, its really his first game in a very long time. Luckily it was like another pre-season game. He now knows the love fest is over. I was booing him in my living room too. He needs to be used as a change up to Bell and Thomas and as a threat as a receiver.

How would you like to line up as a defense against this formation? Colston Bush on one side Henderson Moore on the other with Bell or Thomas in the backfield. Either way someone is going to be open against a lesser defender and the line will open a crease for one of the two backs to run through. I like our “Problem”.

WHO DAT!!!

by CaSaintsfan on Sep 15, 2009 4:36 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

pro form

I’d like to see some more pro formations with either Reggie and Bell, or Reggie and Thomas with some fakes up the middle and then tossed to Bush or vice versa… and we constantly harp on Bush’s inability to run between the tackles. Well then how about some more plays for Bush that are actually designed to get him to the outside. He always wants to bounce to the outside anyway, so let him use the speed God gave him.

by jack_casse on Sep 15, 2009 5:12 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

exactly what i've been wanting to see

more of when deuce and reggie were in the backfield together in 06. also, more play designed to the outside will be good but he needs to get better up the middle.

Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D

by skinnykinney on Sep 17, 2009 12:46 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Another apology needed for Payloo

I’m glad we’re all on the Evans express now, but back when Karney was cut, most seemed to think it was a big mistake and/or part of a personal vendetta aginst Karney..

I know it’s just one game, but I think we see clearly now why the move was made. Evans is a weapon on his own. He’s capable of running and doing damage catching pases out of the backfield. And because of that, his presence doesn’t tip Payton’s hand like Karney’s did.

by SaintBevo on Sep 15, 2009 6:56 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I am on the Evans express

but…

when Karney was cut, most seemed to think it was a big mistake and/or part of a personal vendetta aginst Karney..

…it could have been both a personal vendetta AND an upgrade at the same time, killing two birds with one stone. I’m not saying that’s the case, I’m just saying it’s still possible.

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by Saintsational on Sep 15, 2009 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I didn’t think it was a vendetta. Mainly because that is way too strong a word. Vendetta implies (to me at least) frothing at the mouth and rage and I don’t see Payton getting that bent out of shape even if Karney was a major leader in the locker room and he was stirring up dissent against Payton. Which I also have doubts was happening in the first place anyway.

I think Payton is practically cold-blooded.. He may actually take revenge-motivated actions, but he won’t do it out a fit of rage. I’m sure he’s quite capable of getting really mad, but he also seems to have very tight control over his display of that (in public at least).

by FriarBob on Sep 16, 2009 7:47 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Karney was...

a Deuce blocker

He was like ying and yang with our man there.

He couldnt block for Reggie cause.. well Reggie doesnt follow his lead blocker. So im thinking Karney said to Coach.

 “Coach. Its not my fault i look horrible out there.. the damn kid just wont follow me. I dont want to make waves by saying it publicly can you talk to him?”

Coach talks to Bush… nothing changes.. so he cans Karney.

Tells Bush.. “Now.. I fired your lead blocker and brought in another. the only difference is this one is a reciever threat too. If you dont follow this one.. I wont be able to say its all HIS fault and you will have to ACCEPT that maybe its you!”

3 months later Bush tells the world that maybe his running is his own fault…

MT

by MT_always on Sep 16, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

lol

good theory

Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D

by skinnykinney on Sep 17, 2009 12:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

a Deuce blocker?

Heck, I use Metamucil for that my friend!

Thank you, I’ll be here all week!

by drbonne on Sep 17, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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