Four weeks in, and the New Orleans Saints have yet to chalk up a victory. Although player performance as a whole has been below average, some have raised their game considerably over the past month. Others, however, continue to fall short of expectations, leading to an overall negative effect on the entire squad.
SAINTS
QB Drew Brees
Welcome back, Mr. Brees! Although the Saints ended up losing the game, Week 4 marked a comeback for the New Orleans signal-caller. Brees was able to throw for over 446 yards against the Packers, slicing the Green Bay secondary with a variety of throws. His 80 yard touchdown bomb to Joe Morgan late in the 3rd quarter trumpeted the return of a sorely missed deep passing game. More importantly, Brees did not turn the ball over once on Sunday, which is something that has somewhat plagued his early this season. With a new found deep threat, a healthy stable of running backs, and an offensive line that seems to be getting its bearings back, Brees looks locked in and back to his 2011 form.
WR Marques Colston
The main beneficiary of Drew’s return? Marques Colston. He was able to haul in a team-leading 9 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown score. Questions over the health of his foot, which had given him problems over the past few weeks, have all but dissipated. Colston looked healthy and confident Sunday, providing a sure handed target for Brees the entire game. His consistent presence will help the offense get back on track as the season rolls along.
Offensive Line in Pass Protection
Pressure on Brees has been an area of concern for the offense this season. Against Green Bay, the offensive line played very well, only allowing two sacks the entire evening. Brees was able to run the offense from a clean pocket for much of the game, finding the open receiver and keeping the score close in the second half. Offensive line consistency will be key for the Saints moving forward, and given the unit’s performance against Green Bay, things seem to be pointing up.
SINNERS
CB Patrick Robinson
Poor Patrick. It seems like every week this season, he is listed as a Sinner. On Sunday, he earned that distinction by getting routinely beat by Green Bay receivers and being caught out of position. Although he did come away with an interception, Robinson remains somewhat of a liability. He sometimes gets caught being too aggressive, depending on his raw athleticism to make plays. Aaron Rodgers realized this early on, and went after Robinson throughout the afternoon. Without a pass rush, Robinson struggles in coverage and will continue to get exposed.
Interior of Defensive Line
The interior of the defensive line, both against the pass and the run, failed miserably for a fourth straight week. The rotation of Sedrick Ellis, Broderick Bunkley, and Tom Johnson has done little as far as creating any sort of push either to apply pressure on the opposing quarterback or to eliminate the presence of the run. The front has been physically dominated all season long. By far, the defensive line, especially the interior portion, has been one of the biggest disappointments this year.
K Garrett Hartley
For a second straight week, Hartley has missed a crucial kick to win his team the ballgame. Being a professional kicker has to be one of the tougher jobs in sport, but making clutch kicks is a main feature of the job description. Hartley’s confidence has to be completely shattered, and that is certainly not good, especially heading into this weekend; a matchup with San Diego might lead to another tightly contested contest, meaning Hartley might be called to kick another last second field goal.
