Article Week 6 Rapid Response: Go Ahead and Break the Glass (1 Viewer)

[St. Widge]

Honestly--it depends on what the Saints' priority is now. The trade deadline is looming and the offense needs some juice.

I'm not necessarily advocating for it, but Adams would undoubtedly improve the offense's resiliency and adaptability. But it really depends on where the front office and the coaches' goals are at this point--and how deep they think the issues run.

I though this part of what you wrote was the most spot on:

"But this is the NFL, where injuries provide context, not excuses. In fact there is no excuse for the way the Saints mismanaged the Eagles and Falcons games, a pair of matches lost by a combined five points. Now fold in the last two games—a 26-13 loss to the Chiefs and a 51-27 thwacking at the hands of the Buccaneers—and the truth becomes much clearer.

The injuries haven’t foiled the Saints. They’ve just exposed them. Peeled back the veneer of a talented starting lineup to reveal a paper-thin team. One that lacks not only depth, but resiliency. Adaptability. A team that has done an inadequate job of replacing key departures to trade and free agency and—in some cases—retirement."


It seems to me in that context that a coach or GM looking at the long term future of the team would not trade for Adams. Yes, he might help some in the short term but I doubt he does enough to make this a playoff team. And if that isn't going to happen all he can possibly do is enough to save DAs job while also spending future assets (picks and cap space) that we need to fix the depth and talent issue on the team.

So to me trading for Adams would only be about saving DA's, and maybe Loomis', job and not about making this team better in the long run. But I could be wrong. Maybe Adams can flip the script and continue to be a great player until he's 34 or 35. But I wouldn't bet on it since it looked like at the end of the Tampa game the team just quit. The defense stopped even trying to tackle and several offensive players didn't seem to be giving full effort or to care. That's to be expected when you are down that much, but it could carry over into the next game and beyond.

 

[BreesusSaves]

Honestly--it depends on what the Saints' priority is now. The trade deadline is looming and the offense needs some juice.

I'm not necessarily advocating for it, but Adams would undoubtedly improve the offense's resiliency and adaptability. But it really depends on where the front office and the coaches' goals are at this point--and how deep they think the issues run.

I found Adams a more understandable trade when the defense was holding teams to less than 15 points per game but the offense was too depleted to compliment the defense.

Unfortunately after the last two games, Adams doesn't move the needle because the defense has fundamentally broken. I've never seen a second half defense come out that flat after having gained so much momentum in the second quarter. It is like the whole defense quit at halftime.

 

[SoggyBottomBoy]

i thought I went to a scripted WWE wrasslin' match, yesterday. Home team is getting pummeled early and looks to be dead, but bounces up off the canvas and commences to return the favor in miraculous fashion. Then evenly exchanged for a little while and it looks like it's headed for a nail-biter finish, but the visiting resumes their early dominance and inflicts a major, humiliating beat down.

We've always kept up hope because our defense could keep us in games and that is huge. And we needed that to help a rookie quarterback and banged up offense. Our defensive line has been my biggest disappointment this entire season. Can't stop the run AND can't get pressure on the QB, equally.

I was able to take it in stride, yesterday, as I was disappointed, but not surprised. But, I did kinda lose it when the Bucs were mercifully trying to milk the clock with a three score lead near the two-minute warning and we call our last two time-outs. Let them run the clock out, DA, and let's get out of this without any more injuries. Or embarrassment. But, no.

We deserved to have that last TD rubbed in our faces. That P.O.ed me more than the traffic grid-lock in Baton Rouge making the drive back to Lafayette 3.5 hours.

 

[texasjefe]

the diagnosis of which, to any coach, could not be more clear.

Say the line Dan, say it.

 

[TCUDan]

Do you blame the poor tackling on the players, or coaching?
The 2nd H has to be some of the most 'just burn and bury the ashes' type of film...
Payton may not have the weapons of TB right now, but Nix can really play and I have to imagine he can smell some blood in the water when it comes to our defense...it could get Ugly on TNF. Then what?

It's both. It's definitely a discipline and effort issue with the players but I think when you have DD in his prime and PW on the field, it covers for some of that--not to mention a prime Cam Jordan and more effective DL in general so some of these fits are cleaner.

 

[TurboWhoDat]

giving up pick for adams at this point would be absolutely reckless.

 

[lurking around]

Investing in aging players and not hitting the reset button when Sean left.

 

[St.Dan]

Credit: Michael Bacigalupi

By Dan Levy - Staff Writer - Saintsreport.com

The New Orleans Saints’ 2024 season began with such promise. A veritable sugar high—the sweet, insulin-spiking convergence of flawless execution, dominant wins, and whispers of a magical season not seen since 2009, when the Saints brought home the franchise’s first—and, to date, only—Lombardi trophy.

Now one quarter and change into the season, those immaculate vibes are gone. Those beautiful wins, a distant memory, as four consecutive losses have since brought the Who Dat Nation careening back to Earth, wondering where it all went wrong. How could we—a fan base so marred in scars and disappointment, with some of the most historically heartbreaking losses logged in our annals (I’m looking at you, River City Relay, Minneapolis Miracle, and 2019 NFC Championship Game)—have so dramatically misjudged this team?

To be fair, it’s not just the fans who missed the mark. Joining them is the local and national media—and, it seems, the Saints’ coaches themselves. Each of us collectively realizing, in near-simultaneous fashion, that all that glitters is not, in fact, black and gold.

At the core of the Saints’ troubles are a variety of headwinds, starting with their mounting pile of injuries. The entire interior offensive line is a mangled patchwork. Starting WLB Pete Werner, who’s been in contention with Alontae Taylor for the team’s best defender, just missed his second game in a row. Taysom Hill, who has emerged as the single most important piece of the revamped offense (if you don’t believe me, just look at points scored with Hill on the field vs. without), has unfortunately missed more snaps than he’s played. Starting QB Derek Carr. Starting S Will Harris. Go ahead and add WR1 Chris Olave and star S Tyrann Mathieu to the list of walking wounded, each injured early in the Bucs’ game.

Suffice to say: the New Orleans Saints are not at full strength.

But this is the NFL, where injuries provide context, not excuses. In fact there is no excuse for the way the Saints mismanaged the Eagles and Falcons games, a pair of matches lost by a combined five points. Now fold in the last two games—a 26-13 loss to the Chiefs and a 51-27 thwacking at the hands of the Buccaneers—and the truth becomes much clearer.

The injuries haven’t foiled the Saints. They’ve just exposed them. Peeled back the veneer of a talented starting lineup to reveal a paper-thin team. One that lacks not only depth, but resiliency. Adaptability. A team that has done an inadequate job of replacing key departures to trade and free agency and—in some cases—retirement.

This situation, however unfortunate, is not unprecedented. To the contrary—we have all witnessed teams that have beat the odds and managed a late-season resurgence, overcoming injuries and setbacks and even strings of early losses to become that year's cinderella.

So why not this one? Who’s to say the 2024 New Orleans Saints can’t be America’s bounceback team?

While it’s certainly possible—and, if you look hard enough, you'll find reasons to be bullish—the odds are looking slimmer by the week. For starters, the Saints’ failed to bank a pair of early wins against conference and divisional foes. Critical wins that would have provided a much-needed cushion to weather these two most recent, more decisive losses. The Eagles and Falcons games were winnable. More than winnable—they were there for the taking, and the Saints failed to do what good teams do.

But far more disconcerting than any single loss or scoreline is the pattern on display. Poor decisions in critical situations. A demonstrated inability to read and respond to the ebb and flow of the game. A progressively undisciplined defense, operating under a befuddling philosophy, and an offense that is not only cratered by health but by an identity not compatible with its current strengths (which, to be fair, are few). Combined with a lack of urgency on both sides of the ball that is not only infuriating, but paralyzing, these become symptoms of a larger disease—the diagnosis of which, to any coach, could not be more clear.

The Saints have run out of answers.

Poor coaching. Poor execution. A roster plagued by injury. This is what the team is facing. Yes, the season is still young and each of these issues is manageable—but not without answers. And in the spirit of being honest, I must say—given the pattern I’ve seen unfolding—that I do not have confidence in this current group to find the answers in time. To patch the holes in this leaky ship before it takes on too much water.

But I’ll remain hopeful, nevertheless. Football is a crazy game, and perhaps with one or two shrewd roster moves, some better luck on the health front, and a few lessons learned from the head coach on down—the Saints can find the answers they need.

(Hey, Mickey Loomis... you hear that?)

(It's Davantae Adams on line one... )

Thought I’d choose the TCUDan thread to posit any response to yesterday’s loss. He’s a coach, after all, and knows how these things work.

As big a piece as Taysom is, he’s already up in age and will be difficult to replace. Hope the injury heals before any more of the season slips away. Having just Kamara out there with a patchwork o-line isn’t cutting it.

And nice ending, with the Adams reference. Truth is, though, he’s not the right move to make right now. This team will have to rebuild the quality depth over a period of years. That process might outlast both DA and KK.

 

[Gumbo's Dad]

i thought I went to a scripted WWE wrasslin' match, yesterday. Home team is getting pummeled early and looks to be dead, but bounces up off the canvas and commences to return the favor in miraculous fashion. Then evenly exchanged for a little while and it looks like it's headed for a nail-biter finish, but the visiting resumes their early dominance and inflicts a major, humiliating beat down.

We've always kept up hope because our defense could keep us in games and that is huge. And we needed that to help a rookie quarterback and banged up offense. Our defensive line has been my biggest disappointment this entire season. Can't stop the run AND can't get pressure on the QB, equally.

I was able to take it in stride, yesterday, as I was disappointed, but not surprised. But, I did kinda lose it when the Bucs were mercifully trying to milk the clock with a three score lead near the two-minute warning and we call our last two time-outs. Let them run the clock out, DA, and let's get out of this without any more injuries. Or embarrassment. But, no.

We deserved to have that last TD rubbed in our faces. That P.O.ed me more than the traffic grid-lock in Baton Rouge making the drive back to Lafayette 3.5 hours.

Perhaps it is time to go back to being a fan of constant sorrow?

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

Great movie terrible ending. No thanks to acquiring Adams, or anyone. The team should be sellers, if anything.

The only thing that should be brought in to the building is a new staff.

 

[TCUDan]

Guys, it's not remotely the main point of the article... but on the Adams stuff...

I am not advocating for it one way or the other. But I am advocating for answers. Right now, unless around 8+ players are about to be healthy and game-ready, those answers aren't coming from inside the building.

Part of being an NFL GM is you don't make a decision based on one season. Part of being an NFL coach is you don't make a decision based on one game. The argument against going after Adams (or making any aggressive trade moves, it would seem) is that the season is over.

Or, at the very least, the future needs to take precedent.

Two things can be true at the same time. 1) the season is not over; 2) the future should not be sacrificed for the now. For #1 to have a chance of remaining true, answers have to be found. And the degree to which a "now" investment can be made in finding those answers really depends on the outlook of the season, according to the coaches and front office.

As fans we are reeling from watching the worst defensive performance in recent memory. But is that who this defense is? While they haven't been stellar this season (I've voiced my criticisms since day 1), they have not been even remotely as bad as they were Sunday night. So to use that single performance as the case for the rest of the season is just as knee-jerk (though far less optimistic) as us all being convinced (myself included) that the first two games were an iron-clad indicator of an elite, historic season ahead.

So yes, draft capital and the future and Adams' age is all part of the discussion. But this isn't really about Adams. This is about "do you throw in the towel 6 games into a 17-game season?" Or do you do your damn job and find the answers this team needs? This rash of injuries the Saints are experiencing now--it's gonna happen to other teams these next 6 weeks. And then another group of teams the next 6. This losing streak--it's gonna happen to someone else.

What position do you want to be in when parity strikes?

I am, as I said, not confident that the Saints can turn it around with this group of coaches and players. But I say that with THE DESIRE to be proven wrong. Whether Davante Adams becomes a Saint or not isn't the point.

But how and where this team looks for answers--and whether or not they find them--that's gonna have implications for this season and beyond. As a coach and GM, it could decide whether or not they keep their jobs.

As fans--the stakes are much lower, sure, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna stay up late on the other side of the world to watch a team that doesn't even care take the field. That's not what this game is about, and it's not what any of us signed up for.

And if I feel this way--I promise you, so do the players. They aren't out here to put their bodies on the line for a club that's ready to go into "rebuilding mode" 6 games into the season.

So yea... Fork* that s***. I don't care if it's Adams or the ghost of Earl Campbell himself--find some answers and put up a fight. Otherwise you'll find yourself trying to rebuild more than just a roster.