Well, from where I was sitting (admittedly, about as far away from the field as you can sit and still be in the Superdome), it wasn’t too easy to find Sinners for this week’s piece, but I’ll do my best. On the other hand, it’s been tough to narrow it down to the top three players whose stock improved this week, so I’ll try to give some love to some people who don’t usually find themselves in the running for this list.
SAINTS
Pete Carmichael, Jr.: For the first time in his career, Carmichael was the playcaller for an entire game, and he made it count. The offense scored on its first nine possessions, and didn’t seem to have too much trouble doing it. Clearly, this role will go back to Sean Payton when he’s ready to get back onto the sideline, but if Carmichael keeps this up through the duration of Payton’s recovery, this offense looks like it’ll be just fine.
Leigh Torrence: Like Carmichael, Torrence took advantage of some unexpected playing time, returning a pick-six 42 yards and putting the team over the 60 point mark. It looked like the Colts might be able to score some garbage time points with their starters in against the Saints second-team defense, but Torrence made sure that wouldn’t happen by taking a terrible throw by Curtis Painter to the house and ending the struggling QB’s night.
Marques Colston: Colston hit the ground running Sunday night, catching TDs on the Saints first two drives. The first of the two catches was a phenomenal one-armed highlight reel grab that let the Colts and everyone else know Colston that is back (if they hadn’t figured it out last week). Colston finished with 7 catches on 7 targets for 98 yards and 2 TD. It’s probably safe to say that Drew Brees is happy to have his favorite target back.
SINNERS
Look, I’m struggling here. Drew Brees had a 144.9 rating. He hit eight different receivers. He had more TDs than incompletions. The subpar running game ran for 236 yards, and the three backs split it relatively evenly. The big play prone secondary allowed 97 yards. Even on special teams, there isn’t anything negative to be said. Sproles averaged 28 yards per kickoff return and 7 per punt. Kasay was 2/2 on field goals. They scored a defensive TD when their second-team defense was in against the Colts starters. Thomas Morstead only punted once, and it was on the tenth possession of the game. The Saints tied records for both most points in a game and largest margin of victory since the merger, and their normal play caller wasn’t even calling the plays.
I wasn’t planning on doing this when I started writing, but I literally couldn’t find a weakness in the box score. I know the coaches will find some when reviewing the tape, but that’s why they’re coaches and I’m a writer.
I think, for one week at least, they were all Saints.
