Honestly, I don't think we're that strong up front. We've got a line of pretty nimble, smart blockers who've done a great job in pass protection this year, whether it's bull rushes, blitzes, stunts, you name it.
But we really haven't been money is short yardage this year; Evans is still a little inexperienced, and Faine is absolutely a pure finesse center who gets overpowered by most of the bigger DTs at the point of attack. I also don't see Jammal is a classic mauler in the Roaf mode (although Big Willie was one of the best I'd ever seen at both pass and run blocking, so that's quite a target to shoot for). In short-yardage situations, particularly inside the five where you can really cheat with the safeties (there's only so far "deep" you can get beat at that point), we can't do as much with play-action, odd formations, etc., so the same rules of engagement that allow us to run the ball with reasonable success between the 10yard lines don't apply here, and we probably should be thinking pass first at this point.
In retrospect,
Yes, after throwing the ball so well, to get close in the first half, perhaps we should have countered with a run punch and
yes, maybe since we got down there by pounding it early in the fourth, we should have gone hard play-action since they HAD to thinking we were spooked and wouldn't be throwing.....
But once again, we're piling up 595 yards with our best WR lost in the first quarter, and in each case with the first two INTs, it's FUNDAMENTAL that if Brees's head alarm clock went off, he should have tossed it out the back of the end zone and given us another shot. Maybe the pass play we had called on second down would have done it.
We can search all we want, but three INTs and a fumble lost the game, not Fred Thomas, not Mark Simoneau, not Devery Henderson, not Colston's injury, not the mystery over why Deuce doesn't get it 25 times a game, and not on two justifiable-but-tragic play calls in an otherwise terrific 8-yards-a-play day.
Time to saddle up for Atlanta.